Booklists

Luke Manchett is 16 years old with a place on the rugby team and the prettiest girl in Year 11 in his sights. Then his estranged father suddenly dies and he finds out that he is to inherit six million dollars! But if he wants the cash, he must accept the Host. A collection of malignant ghosts who his Necromancer father had trapped and enslaved! Now the Host is angry, the Host is strong, and the Host is out for revenge! Has Luke got what it takes to fight these horrifying spirits and save himself and his world?

Tick and his friends are still trying to work out how to defeat Mistress Jane, but when there are 13 realities from which to draw trouble, the battle is 13 times as hard.

Tick, Sophia and Paul have agreed to work with Master George as realitants, protecting the 12 realities from Reginald Chu and his desire for total domination of all the realities. But Mistress Jane, in her warped 13th reality, has other ideas. And when Chu decides he needs either Tick or Jane to fulfill his plans, the unlikely duo find themselves having to work together for the greater good. But what is it about Tick that has everyone, even Master George, determined to stop him?

Early in the twentieth century, scientists interested in quantum physics made a momentous discovery. Now, 13 year old Tick has received a letter that invites him to solve twelve clues in order to stop reality from 'splitting at the seams'. Along the way, Tick has to face up to some of his biggest fears and suspend his disbelief. The obvious reward might be saving many lives, but the unexpected rewards include seeing how awesome his dad really is and making some real friends for the first time in his life.

International antiquities fraud and Computer Crime come together in Sydney. Can Jazz and Phoenix save their friend's father and themselves from some very dangerous people?

Enne Salta is a naive young lady with strengths yet to be revealed. Lost and alone in a new city which is rife with criminal gangs and corruption, Enne is in a desperate search for her lost mother. Along the way she finds out incredible truths about her mother and her family background, whilst discovering untold strengths. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

What happens when the lights go off after what might truly be an end-of-the-world event? How do you stay alive? Who do you trust? How much do you have to sacrifice? Seventeen-year-old Pru Palmer lives with her twin sisters, Grace and Blythe, and their father, Rick, on the outskirts of an isolated mining community. The Palmers are doomsday preppers. They have a bunker filled with non-perishable food and a year's worth of water. One day while Rick is at the mine, the power goes out. At the Palmers' house, and in the town. All communication is cut. No one knows why. It doesn't take long for everything to unravel. In town, supplies run out and people get desperate. The sisters decide to keep their bunker a secret. The world is different; the rules are different. Survival is everything, and family comes first. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Benjamin and Janie are trying to live a safe, normal life in America. But, they have the power to prevent nuclear disaster and sinister forces are circling. The advice of a mysterious, unscrupulous magician propels them into danger and towards the land of the dead. When their friend, Jin Lo, washes up on a remote island and finds herself on the trail of a deadly threat in China, they must somehow reach her to help.

Since her parents died, Sophie Teague's life has fallen apart. She's just enrolled at a new high school, hoping for a fresh start. But, Eve, a beautiful ghost, starts making terrifying nightly appearances, wanting Sophie to be her hands, eyes and go-to girl to tie up loose ends. Dealing with the dead might just involve the greatest sacrifice of all. Dark, thrilling and unrelentingly eerie. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Agatha Christie's exciting murder mysteries brought to life in rich text, well-illustrated, large format graphic novels. Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Have you heard these most bizarre tales from around Australia? Did a UFO drag a family's car off the road in the middle of the outback? How did rocks rain from the sky in WA? And what became of the prime minister who went into the surf and was never seen again? Explore the strangest tales, most incredible encounters and creepiest urban legends in Australia's history. Read about the investigations and weigh up the facts, do you believe the official explanations for these weird and wonderful events?

After her mother's death, Grace is sent to live with her grandfather, a powerful United States Ambassador. Grace believes her mother was murdered and that, one day, she will find the killer and make him pay. But, nobody believes her so there's no one she can completely trust. Not her grandfather or her new friends on Embassy Row. Not Alexei, the Russian boy next door, who is keeping his eye on Grace for reasons she neither likes nor understands. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Maeve Chambers does not have any special gifts. That is, until she finds a dusty old pack of tarot cards. She finds herself able to give readings with uncanny accuracy. When she reads for an ex-friend, a strange card appears and begins a series of events that ensure Maeve faces her inner demons and a power much older and more powerful than even the cards have proven to be.

For Marie-Laure, blind since the age of six, the world is full of mazes. The miniature of a Paris neighbourhood, made by her father to teach her the way home. The microscopic layers within the invaluable diamond that her father guards in the Museum of Natural History. The walled city by the sea, where father and daughter take refuge when the Nazis invade Paris. And a future which draws her ever closer to Werner, a German orphan, destined to labour in the mines until a broken radio fills his life with possibility and brings him to the notice of the Hitler Youth. In this magnificent, deeply moving novel, the stories of Marie-Laure and Werner illuminate the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

"Call me Bathsheba." The whales of Bathsheba's pod live for the hunt. Led by the formidable Captain Alexandra, they fight a never-ending war against men. Then the whales attack a man ship, and instead of easy prey they find the trail of a myth, a monster, perhaps the devil himself... With their relentless Captain leading the chase, they embark on the final hunt, one that will forever change the worlds of whales and men.

Antonio lives with his parents in the tower of an old house. In the same area lives a recluse actor called Theodore Guzman. Antonio draws him out by presenting a play. In turn, Guzman leads Antonio into the magical world of theatre.

In 1952, after her parents are identified as communists, Janie must move from Los Angeles to the safety of London. The war has ended but it's a tense time, and Janie is uncomfortable at her new school. She notices Benjamin, a curiously defiant boy, who dreams of becoming a spy. When his father, an apothecary, is kidnapped, Benjamin and Janie are embroiled in a plot involving real espionage and nuclear threats.

It's two years since Janie Scott last saw Benjamin Burrows, the mysterious apothecary's defiant son who stole her heart. Benjamin has been experimenting with a new formula, allowing him to communicate with Janie across the globe. When a mystery threatens them all, Janie, Benjamin and their friend, Pip, are thrown into a desperate chase around the world to find one another, while trying to unravel the mystery.

Jessica has been accepted to star in a YouTube reality program where one day a week, she is filmed from wake up until midnight. She and four other applicants are chosen and allocated their days, Monday-Friday. Jess is the Monday star. Her 'hook' is that her mother was the first of 13 women murdered by a serial killer dubbed the The Magpie Man and Jess has vowed to catch him. This show is just the exposure she needs.

Alex Rider is in hospital, recovering from a rifle shot that had been aimed at his heart. The complications begin when a fellow patient is targeted for an abduction. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

Avicenna Crowe's mother, Joanne, is an astrologer with uncanny predictive powers and a history of being stalked. Now she is missing. The police are called, but they're not asking the right questions. Like why Joanne lied about her past, and what she saw in her stars that made her so afraid. But Avicenna has inherited her mother's gift. Finding an unlikely ally in the brooding Simon Thorn, she begins to piece together the mystery. And when she uncovers a link between Joanne's disappearance and a cold-case murder, Avicenna is led deep into the city's dark and seedy underbelly, unaware how far she is placing her own life in danger. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the Academy would touch. And Ty's squad isn't even his biggest problem. That'd be Aurora Jie-Lin O'Malley, the girl he's just rescued from interdimensional space. Trapped in cryo-sleep for two centuries, Auri is a girl out of time and out of her depth. But she could be the catalyst that starts a war millions of years in the making, and Tyler's squad of losers, discipline-cases and misfits might just be the last hope for the entire galaxy.

Is this the end? What happens when you ask a bunch of losers, discipline cases and misfits to save the galaxy from an ancient evil? The ancient evil wins, of course. Wait... Not. So. Fast. When we last saw Squad 312, they were working together seamlessly (aka freaking out) as an intergalactic battle raged and an ancient superweapon threatened to obliterate Earth. Everything went horribly wrong, naturally. But as it turns out, not all endings are endings, and the team has one last chance to rewrite theirs. Maybe two. It's complicated. Cue Zila, Fin and Scarlett (AND MAGELLAN!) making friends, making enemies and making history? Sure, no problem. Cue Tyler, Kal and Auri joining forces with two of the galaxy's most hated villains? Um, okay, yeah. That too. Actually saving the galaxy, though? Now that will take a miracle. The squad you love may be out of time, but are they out of luck? Find out in the epic finale to the bestselling and award-winning Aurora Cycle series!

Grace is a risk taker and never one to say no to a dare. So when she is challenged to walk "the pipe" at a local disused quarry, she accepts the challenge. But partway along the pipe, she has a supernatural experience she just can't explain. No one believes she has been hearing the voice of Hannah since walking the pipe, because Hannah is dead. As Grace sinks deeper into a decades-old local mystery, she herself starts to fear she is becoming a Mad Girl. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Adventure and suspense mixed with touch of the supernatural. Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Barnaby Grimes is a tick-tock lad, running errands in his city, day and night, and high-stacking around the rooftops in search of new mysteries to solve. In this first adventure, Barnaby is swept up in a world of crooked doctors, poor and ill-advised patients, strange tonics and very expensive furs.

In Dickensian times, people were terrified of being buried alive, so they were left in their coffin with a wire, attached to a bell, tied to the little finger. Anyone still alive could wiggle their finger to summon help. One night, Barnaby takes a shortcut through a graveyard and is horrified to hear the tinkling of little bells.

Barnaby Grimes delivers letters and packages all over London. In the competitive world of early photography, the rewards are immense but so are the risks. After an experiment goes disastrously wrong, Barnaby finds himself on the trail of a mad chemist with a talent for disappearing into thin air.

After collecting a strange parcel from a deserted ship in the fog of the docks and delivering it to the local schoolmaster, Barnaby thinks he's earned a moment to sit on the rooftops and eat his favourite pasty. But, he soon realises that all is not well at the school.

Returning home from his lavish eighteenth birthday party, Bruce Wayne stops a criminal's getaway - disobeying the police and crashing his car during the chase. Sentenced to community service in Gotham City's Arkham Asylum, he encounters some of the the city's most dangerous and mentally disturbed criminals. Among these, Bruce meets the intriguing Madeleine who has ties to the Nightwalker gang that is terrorizing Gotham City. She's a mystery Bruce has to unravel but can he trust her? The Nightwalkers target the rich, and Bruce's name is next on their list.

Bestsellers. Award-winners. Superstars. This anthology has them all. With brilliantly entertaining short stories from beloved young adult authors Amie Kaufman, Melissa Keil, Will Kostakis, Ellie Marney, Jaclyn Moriarty, Michael Pryor, Alice Pung, Gabrielle Tozer, Lili Wilkinson and Danielle Binks, this all-new collection will show the world exactly how much there is to love about Aussie YA.

Camellia Beauregard is a Belle. In the opulent world of Orleans, Belles are revered, for they control Beauty, and Beauty is a commodity coveted above all else. In Orleans, the people are born gray, they are born damned, and only with the help of a Belle and her talents can they transform and be made beautiful. But it's not enough for Camellia to be just a Belle. She wants to be the favourite, the Belle chosen by the Queen of Orleans to live in the royal palace, to tend to the royal family and their court, to be recognised as the most talented Belle in the land. But once Camellia and her Belle sisters arrive at court, it becomes clear that being the favourite is not everything she always dreamed it would be. Behind the gilded palace walls live dark secrets, and Camellia soon learns that the very essence of her existence is a lie, that her powers are far greater, and could be more dangerous, than she ever imagined.

Poirot, the Belgian detective, again finds himself plunged into a world of intrigue when an uninvited stranger, coated in dust from head to foot and with a gaunt face, stands staring at him and then collapses in his doorway. Poirot must uncover the truth and solve the mystery of the piece of paper the stranger clutched with figure 4s scribbled over it. Beautifully illustrated by Alain Paillou.

Thirteen year old Oskari is sent into the Finnish wilderness, armed only with a bow and arrow, to survive in an ancient test of manhood. But, he stumbles upon an escape pod from a burning airliner. Terrorists have shot down the President of the United States. To survive, this improbable duo must trust each other and become a team capable of overcoming the danger that is imminent.

Ebony Marshall is in her final year of high school. She can't wait to leave quiet, little Dainsfield, where she's known only as Black due to her name. But, there's another reason. Everyone says Black is cursed. Three friends have died in tragic accidents. Now, it's easier to be on her own. When her formal date ends up in intensive care, the gibes and rejection escalate. Black is in danger. She has to fight for her life, find help when uncertain of who to trust, and strike out at the superstition and hysteria.

Saffie Grundig decides to find out about her older sister, Ruby, and the secrets she is keeping. What's really going on at the sleazy Comedy House where Ruby has a cleaning job. Saffie, assisted by retired TV actor, Sarge, begins her investigations.

The man in the photo is so blurry it's impossible to make out what he really looks like. The Diamond Brothers - Tim, the world's worst private detective, and his wise-cracking younger brother Nick - have been hired to find the blurred man.

Ruby's younger brother has died and her family is torn apart. Ruby feels his death so personally that she has shut herself off from her usual world. When she meets Fox, an idiosyncratic but gentle loner, Ruby is drawn into his special, little community. Fox seems to understand what she's going through and offers her a chance to find peace. But, Ruby discovers that he lives in a terrifying, secretive cult community that is far from the ideal world she expected. Gripping, confronting read. Usually read by Years 9, 10 or above.

Ruth Rose, wild stepdaughter of the local preacher, believes he caused the disappearance of Jim Hawkin's father. Investigating the mystery puts both teenagers in mortal danger. A harrowing story with strong language in context. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

This book includes three stories, The shortest horror story every written, The monkey's ear and Burnt.

An historical, political thriller set in Melbourne during the Depression in the 1930s. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Simon Snow might be the worst Chosen One ever, at least according to his roommate, Baz. And Baz might be evil and a vampire, but he could also be right. Most of the time, Simon can't make his wand work, he mostly can't find his mentor, and there's a magic-eating monster causing mayhem. Baz would be loving it, except he hasn't even bothered to come back to school for the final year. Carry On is a ghost story, a love story and a mystery. You think you've read this book before, but you haven't. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

When Sherlock Holmes' right-hand man, Dr Watson, goes missing everyone is in shock. Enola Holmes, Sherlock's sister, is determined to investigate and find Watson. With her knowledge of floral language, she notices the arrangements delivered to Mrs Watson are symbols for death. Enola is a resourceful sleuth who needs to use her courage, wits, and cunning to solve the mystery before it is too late, all the while avoiding discovery by her brother.

Daisy and George find themselves caught up in a world of mystery and glamour when they try to unmask the jewel thief before it's too late.

On Israeli's West Bank, a cat sneaks into a small Palestinian house that has just been commandeered by two Israeli soldiers. The house seems empty until the cat realises that a little boy is hiding beneath the floorboards. This is no ordinary cat and she wonders what to do. When the boy's teacher comes looking for him, tensions rise quickly and, as Israeli tanks approach, the cat realises she must diffuse the situation.

Nothing's been the same for Beth Teller since she died. Her dad, a detective, is the only one who can see and hear her - and he's drowning in grief. But now they have a mystery to solve together. Who is Isobel Catching, and what's her connection to the fire that killed a man? What happened to the people who haven't been seen since the fire? As Beth unravels the mystery, she finds a shocking story lurking beneath the surface of a small town, and a friendship that lasts beyond one life and into another. Told in two unforgettable voices, this gripping novel interweaves themes of grief, colonial history, violence, love and family. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

I know quite a lot about people. Let's start with you. Obviously, I know where you live. I know where you are right now. I know where you buy your clothes and where you eat for lunch. I know what all your fandoms are, who your OTPs are and where you wish you could go on vacation. Lots of people have gadgets that pretend to be an AI. Those gadgets are listening all the time, day and night to everything people say around it. They're not really AIs. But if they listen to you, then so can I. I know you all so well. And sometimes... Sometimes I wish somebody knew me. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

When the Bat's away, the Cat will play. It's time to see how many lives this cat really has . . . Two years after escaping Gotham City's slums, Selina Kyle returns as the mysterious and wealthy Holly Vanderhees. She quickly discovers that with Batman off on a vital mission, Batwing is left to hold back the tide of notorious criminals. Gotham City is ripe for the taking. Meanwhile, Luke Fox wants to prove he has what it takes to help people in his role as Batwing. He targets a new thief on the prowl who seems cleverer than most. She has teamed up with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn, and together they are wreaking havoc. This Catwoman may be Batwing's undoing. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his true gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free. However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school's resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He's determined to find out what happened and tie off some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Danika Glynn is used to struggling to survive. When the tyrannous king launches an attack on her city, she risks her life in a daring escape and joins a crew of refugees, who seek Magnetic Valley, a legendary safe haven. Danika also grapples with her burgeoning magical abilities and, when she meets the mysterious Lukas, she must balance her feelings against her crew's safety.

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Danika and her crew of escaped refugees are seeking the safety of the Magnetic Valley and trying to evade the king's most lethal hunter. They must cross the smugglers' territory, the Borderlands, which are lawless and steeped in ancient magic. When one of the crew is badly wounded, Danika seeks the smugglers' help and accepts a bargain that might prove deadly. But, it is Lukas who hides the most dangerous secret.

Danika Glynn and her crew of refugees finally reach the Magnetic Valley. But, they don't know whether it will provide the safe refuge and land of freedom they imagine. When a runaway girl is shot down before their eyes, Danika and her friends realise that this new land is no paradise. They must try to fit in at all costs, even if revealing their secrets will mean a death sentence.

It's 200 years since Cinderella found her prince, but the fairytale is over. Sophia knows the story though, off by heart. Because every girl has to recite it daily, from when she's tiny until the night she's sent to the royal ball for choosing. And every girl knows that she has only one chance. For the lives of those not chosen by a man at the ball are forfeit. But Sophia doesn't want to be chosen - she's in love with her best friend, Erin, and hates the idea of being traded like cattle. And when Sophia's night at the ball goes horribly wrong, she must run for her life. Alone and terrified, she finds herself hiding in Cinderella's tomb. And there she meets someone who will show her that she has the power to remake her world ...

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Spunky 12-year-old Clarice Bean Tuesday and her adventures at home and at school! Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

A fragile peace. An apocryphal warning. Chaos waiting in the heart of the storm. With his dying words, H - Jacob's final connection to his grandfather Abe's secret life - entrusts Jacob with a mission: Deliver newly contacted peculiar Noor Pradesh to an operative known only as V. Noor is being hunted. She is the subject of an ancient prophecy, one that foretells a looming apocalypse. Save Noor, save the future of all peculiardom. But with only a few bewildering clues to follow, time is running out. With enemies behind him and the unknown ahead, Jacob Portman's story continues as he takes a brave leap forward into The Conference of the Birds, the newest installment of the beloved, #1 bestselling Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

J.K. Rowling's five-film Fantastic Beasts adventure series continues with the original screenplay for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. At the end of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald was captured in New York with the help of Newt Scamander. But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escapes custody and sets about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all nonmagical beings. In an effort to thwart Grindelwald's plans, Albus Dumbledore enlists Newt, his former Hogwarts student, who agrees to help once again, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.

Thank heavens, Macey knows something about boys to guide the girls through the labyrinth of lies and deception that young people use to protect themselves. Life is complicated for the girls of the famous, secret spy school when boys appear on the premises and the girls are sure they are not to be trusted. Cammie must decide if Zach is the real thing even though she is still very confused after Josh.

How do you go from living a perfectly normal suburban life with your family to finding out your mother was once married to a powerful and violent warlord fairy and your sister is half fairy too? What happens when you are taken away to live with this man's family in the fairy world - how do you survive when you have no fairy powers or qualities to protect you. What happens when you meet the dangerous and cruel Prince of Fairies who seems to particularly resent you living in his world? And can you ever grow to love the man who is your father in the fairy world. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Celia and Alice share their secrets, hopes and increasing horror via email about the killer on the loose, abducting schoolgirls just like Celia. As the police scramble to investigate, who can the teenage girls trust.

When Aiden is lost in the forest, he is drawn into the mystery of a boy who disappeared in the same forest two years before.

Fleur's recurring nightmare is being hunted through a dark forest by a sinister archer. When her mother inherits a fabulous book collection, they travel to France together. They are in the heart of King Arthur country, steeped with mystery and hidden wealth. Fleur meets Remy, the boy of her dreams, and it's love at first sight. But, Fleur's nightmare is just about to begin. Strong language in context and mature themes. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Miss Muffet, yes the one in that nursery rhyme, doesn't have one problem - she has thousands, all of them with 8 legs. Harry Pigg is on the case and unfortunately he hates spiders, but he needs the work.

The Curse of the King chronicles the adventures of Jack McKinley and his friends as they face their greatest challenge yet the long-lost Statue of Zeus. In their struggle to undo what's been done and unlock the secrets of this Wonder of the Ancient World, our heroes must confront gods, relive old battles, and face down their own destiny to save themselves and the world from destruction.

Fero isn't a spy. But, he looks exactly like Troy Maschenov, a ruthless enemy agent. What starts out as mistaken identity quickly turns into a complicated and dangerous plan. Fero is recruited to fight for his country. He has to impersonate Troy, enter enemy territory, hunt down a missing agent and bring her home in time to prevent a devastating terror attack. Hastily trained, loaded up with gadgets and smuggled across the border, Fero discovers the truth about espionage. Getting in is easy. Getting out alive is hard.

Joshua and his cousin, Zoe, see two men fighting and hear a gunshot. The police believe the murder is linked to armed robberies in the area. The cousins decision to investigate places them in danger.

Sorina is 16 and lives in the travelling city of Gomorrah - famous for it's talent shows, jynx-workers and criminality. She's the daughter of the 'Proprietor' and therefore due to inherit control over the city. This inheritance takes a deadly turn when members of her 'illusion' family start dying. Will Sorina find the killer before more of her illusions are taken from her and what will she do when she discovers the truth of how close to her the killer is? Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Jinx and MacKenna are thrown into survival mode as they fight their way across a war-torn country to rescue their little brother Charles. They will question themselves, their ideas and the integrity of everyone around them, before they get to the bottom of the political conspiracy that caused the civil war. Their only hope for survival, and rescuing Charles, might be following Dr. Doomsday's Guide.

Poirot, the amazing Belgian detective, is on vacation. But, some dirty business finds him as he falls foul of a murder on a Nile River steamer, followed quickly by two obviously connected murders. An elegant setting for a very sophisticated group of players, with an ingenious plot and some clever deduction on the part of our hero. Plus, a little romance on the side for glamour. Beautifully illustrated by Frank Leclercq.

They say the thirst of blood is like a madness - they must sate it. Even with their own kin. On the eve of her divining, the day she'll discover her fate, seventeen-year-old Lil and her twin sister Kizzy are captured and enslaved by the cruel Boyar Valcar, taken far away from their beloved traveller community. Forced to work in the harsh and unwelcoming castle kitchens, Lil is comforted when she meets Mira, a fellow slave who she feels drawn to in a way she doesn't understand. But she also learns about the Dragon, a mysterious and terrifying figure of myth and legend who takes girls as gifts. They may not have had their divining day, but the girls will still discover their fate... Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

It's been three months since Henry disappeared and Chloe wants answers as badly as Mason wants her to just back off and leave him alone. The evidence mounts and friendships are tested in this gripping YA thriller set in the Southern Highlands of NSW.

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Mama, if I was to dig a hole in our garden, would I find a diamond? No, darling, there are no diamonds here. Where are diamonds, then? Oh, in other countries. In Africa for example ... A powerful parable that explores how the desire for endless riches perpetuates chains of inequality and corruption.

A new version of this much-loved anthology features an exclusive, new tale - written by Naomi Alderman, author of The Power - that will star the Thirteenth Doctor, as she battles to save the universe with her three close and trusted friends. Other authors featured are: Eoin Colfer, Michael Scott, Marcus Sedgwick, Philip Reeve, Patrick Ness, Richelle Mead, Malorie Blackman, Alex Scarrow, Charlie Higson, Derek Landy, Neil Gaiman, and Holly Black.

Cameron and his mum have been on the run for five years. His father is hunting them. At least, that's what Cameron has been told. When they settle in an isolated farmhouse, in the middle of nowhere, Cameron starts to see and hear things that aren't possible. Soon, he's questioning everything he thought he knew and, even, his sanity. Cameron must uncover the dark secrets buried in the past, before they tear him apart.

When Cammie visits Macey in Boston to watch Macey's father accept the nomination for vice president, they get trapped in a kidnappers' plot, with only their espionage skills to save them. Cammie can't shake the memory of Boston and even the Gallagher Academy doesn't feel safe. Shocking secrets and old flames seem to lurk around every corner as Cammie and her friends struggle to find out who is after Macey.

AJ Flynn is seen as a lost cause but he still manages to get a job in a lawyer's office. In the office records, he finds a key, mysteriously labelled with his name and date of birth. He is determined to find the door that fits the key. An amazing journey back in time not only helps solve the mystery of the key but helps solve a series of crimes, including murder, in Victorian London. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen. This series is usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

A mysterious bequest sends Rosy and Jaz on a race against time to identify thirteen strange and wonderful objects - which turn out to tell the story of medicine, from the superstitions of ancient Egypt to the modern-day ethical dilemmas of genetic testing. Can unicorns cure leprosy? What secrets of the brain did Michelangelo conceal in his Sistine Chapel paintings? Did a zombie discover the cure for scurvy? Does homeopathy actually work? Why did an Australian scientist decide to drink dangerous bacteria? Is grapefruit evil? Did the bumps on Ned Kelly's head predict his fate? And how exactly did parachuting cats save a village from the plague?

Alex Rider survives a bullfight, a high-speed bicycle chase through Amsterdam and even being the target in a human video-game, only to face his most disturbing challenge yet. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Relaxing in France, reluctant MI6 agent Alex Rider is finally able to feel like any ordinary fourteen year old. But, a sudden, ruthless attack on his hosts plunges him back into violence and mystery. Alex is determined to track down his friends' attackers, even if he must do it alone. But, it leads to a long-buried secret and a discovery more terrible than anything he could have imagined. Alex has ninety minutes to save the world.

Zara Evans has come to the Aurelia Theater, home to the visionary director Leopold Henneman, to play her dream role in Echo and Ariston, the Greek tragedy that taught her everything she knows about love. When the director asks Zara to promise that she will have no outside commitments, no distractions, it's easy to say yes. But it's hard not to be distracted when there's a death at the theater, and then another, especially when Zara doesn't know if they're accidents, or murder, or a curse that always comes in threes. It's hard not to be distracted when assistant lighting director Eli Vasquez, a girl made of tattoos and abrupt laughs and every form of light, looks at Zara. It's hard not to fall in love. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Allie and her family move into a new home. The last thing they expect is an unwanted guest. But Bethan's room seems to be inhabited by a ghost who writes on the walls. Layers of paint, experts on psychic phenomena and Feng Shui don't help.

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

The gothic tale of Michael Rogers, likeable, charming and unable to settle, who secretly marries a young, American heiress, Ellie. Together, they build Michael's modern and exotic dream house but evil encroaches on their isolated paradise. There may be supernatural forces at work or it may be Michael's paranoia, but it is a dark and scary tale. Beautifully Illustrated by Frank Leclercq.

Meet the Outhwaite children. There's teenage Else, the violinist who abandons her violin. There's nature-loving Clancy. There's the inseparable twins, Oscar-and-Finn, Finn-and-Oscar. And then there is Sibbi, the baby of the family. They all live contentedly squabbling in a cottage surrounded by trees and possums...until a letter arrives to say they have inherited the old family home in London. Outhwaite House is full of old shadows and new possibilities. The boys quickly find their feet in London, and Else is hoping to reinvent herself. But Sibbi is misbehaving, growing thinner and paler by the day, and she won't stop talking about the mysterious endsister. Meanwhile Almost Annie and Hardly Alice, the resident ghosts, are tied to the house for reasons they have long forgotten, watching the world around them change, but never leaving. The one thing they all agree on - the living and the dead - is never, ever to open the attic door...Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Enola Holmes is the much younger sister of her more famous brothers, Sherlock and Mycroft. But she has all the wits, skills, and sleuthing inclinations of them both. When a young professional woman, Miss Letitia Glover, shows up on Sherlock's doorstep, desperate to learn more about the fate of her twin sister, it is Enola who steps up. It seems her sister, the former Felicity Glover, married the Earl of Dunhench and per a curt note from the Earl, has died. But Letitia Glover is convinced this isn't true. The Earl's note is suspiciously vague and the death certificate is even more dubious, so Enola goes undercover, soon finding out that this is not the first of the Earl's wives to die suddenly and vaguely - and that the secret to the fate of the missing Felicity is tied to a mysterious black barouche that arrived at the Earl's home in the middle of the night.

Any three titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

A girl wakes up on a bus, but has no memory of how she got there and what she's doing there. There are other passengers too and it soon becomes obvious that they don't have any memories either. Then begins a series of tests where the passengers decide the outcome. At first the tests seem harmless enough but soon it becomes obvious the passengers are doing more than making judgements on imagined scenarios - in fact the tests become a case of life or death. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10, or above.

Ever since the witch cursed Babs, she turns invisible sometimes. She has her mum and her dog, but teachers and classmates barely notice her. Then, one day, Iris can see her. And Iris likes what they see. Babs is made of fire. Iris grew from a seed in the ground. They have friends, but not human ones. Not until they meet Babs. The two of them have a lot in common: they speak to dryads and faeries, and they're connected to the magic that's all around them. There's a new boy at school, a boy who's like them and who hasn't yet found his real name. Soon the three of them are hanging out and trying spellwork together. Magic can be dangerous, though. Witches and fae can be cruel. Something is happening in the other realm, and despite being warned to stay away, the three friends have to figure out how to deal with it on their own terms. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Jake and Alex. Best mates. One terrible mistake. Two lives that will never be the same. Told in reverse, this powerful and gritty novel moves through the wreckage of a broken friendship, back to the moment when everything changed.

Five gatekeepers stand between humanity and supernatural chaos. Fourteen year old Matt has inner powers that are still beyond his control when he discovers another gatekeeper, Pedro. They face gun battles and kidnapping while experiencing the uglier side of Peru. Only when all the gatekeepers have found each other will they stop the black magic and unimaginable evil of the Old Ones. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Set in Victorian London, a former Special Constable who loves science and inventions must solve a case for her Majesty's government. Mystery, conspiracy and even a touch of the supernatural. Blasphemous language may offend some readers. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

A few years after rebel Tally Youngblood takes down the Specials regime, a cultural renaissance sweeps the world. Tech-heads flaunt their latest gadgets, kickers spread gossip and trends, and surge monkeys are hooked on extreme plastic surgery. Popularity rules, and everyone craves fame. Fifteen-year-old Aya Fuse is no exception. But Aya's face rank is so low, she's a total nobody. An extra. Her only chance at stardom is to kick a wild and unexpected story. Then she stumbles upon a big secret. Aya knows she is on the cusp of celebrity. But the information she is about to disclose will change both her fate - and that of the brave new world. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Everyone seems to know who Fero is, except Fero. He's either a ruthless boy soldier from Besmar or an innocent teen recruit from Kamau. Whatever, he's running out of time to decide. If he doesn't help a renegade spy steal a politician's briefcase, his two countries could end up in a full blown nuclear war, the kind that no one wins. Sequel to The cut out.

The world's worst private detective is saved by his little brother.

Colin is pleased when an old school friend of his father appears in their small New Zealand town, as the man offers his dad a job. It seems, however, that the man has a mysterious hold over Colin's family. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Powerful story of innocent, persecuted children, estranged from society. One special messianic child never gives up hope that they will be rescued. When mass conformity and degeneration replace hope and humanity, what would it take to overcome the absolute power of the oppressor? An allegory for the experiences of the Jewish people in Nazi Germany. Strong language used in context. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

What if there was a secret organisation of the leading medical experts that allowed young medical students to carry human experiments out - on themselves? This is the premise of this psychological thriller. Miri is a gifted 17 year old medical student who is willing to test her theories on herself. But, who really is in control? What is Miri up against, and what has she got to loose? Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

One December night, fourteen year old Alex goes to bed. He wakes up to find himself in the wrong bedroom, in an unfamiliar house, in a different part of the country and it's the middle of June. Six months have disappeared overnight. At breakfast, he doesn't know the family and, in the mirror, another face stares back at him. A boy named Flip. Unless Alex finds out what's happened and how to get back to his own life, he may be trapped forever inside another person's body.

Beth Millar has always lived in Deni. In a small rural town. Her biggest problem is telling her over protective and fiercly private father that she has a boy friend. Whey her father disappears into thin air, Beth discovers that he's not who she thought he was, in fact nothing is what she thought. Her family's secret past has caught up with them and now someone wants them all dead. Beth has been training for this moment her whole life without even knowing, but will it be enough to keep ahead of her hunters? Usually read by students in Year 9, 10 and above.

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters by her best friend, Decker. By then, her heart had stopped beating and her brain had stopped working. Delaney is declared officially dead. Then, she starts breathing and the doctors are mystified. Outwardly, Delaney has completely recovered but she knows something is wrong. Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying.

No sooner have they arrived in Paris than the brothers are up to their necks in danger. There's a nasty smell in the air and it's not the cheese. If Nick and Tim aren't careful, their dream holiday could end up being a nightmare from which they'll never wake up.

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Friday is not running away. Yes, she did get on a train to Norway without telling anyone where she was going - but she had to help Binky. He may or may not have been attacked by a polar bear. Now he's facing court martial for dereliction of duty. Obviously, Friday had to drop everything and travel 3000 kilometres to solve the case. The fact that it's easier to handle her feelings for Ian Wainscott if there's a continent between them is just a coincidence. When Friday arrives in Oslo, there are so many mysteries to solve. Is someone trying to keep Binky and Princess Ingrid apart? How can a painting leave a museum when all the doors are sealed? And will Melanie persuade Friday to go to the royal ball without wearing a brown cardigan? If Friday survives her trip to the remote Global Seed Vault, we may find out.

Friday Barnes has a new case and it's personal. Her mother, a physicist, has been kidnapped. When a beautiful, rich, new student, Princess Ingrid of Norway arrives, Highcrest Academy is thrown into chaos. Despite heightened security, things start to go missing. And the Princess has her eye on Ian Wainscott. Friday must crack the case of her missing mother, reign in a royal brat and unmask the elusive thief.

When four former headmasters arrive at Highcrest Academy to take part in the school's anniversary celebrations, the students are warned to be on their best behaviour. Unfortunately, no one told the headmasters to stay out of mischief too! Which means Friday Barnes soon has a case to solve. But unravelling the truth isn't easy when the whole school is being forced to eat paleo because the cook is on a diet; her best friend's brother won't stop blubbering about the terrible boat accident he may or may not have caused; and Friday is being trailed by a mysterious admirer- or is it a stalker? Can Friday find the facts among the mayhem? She'd better. The fate of Highcrest depends on it!

Friday Barnes is forced to face her biggest fear, her own emotions. She must wave goodbye to Ian as he takes off to join his father in the Cayman Islands. But, when your dad is a white-collar criminal, family reunions never go to plan. Ian is kidnapped en route and it's up to Friday to rescue him. On her return to school, the Headmaster has a treat in store, a four-week camp for students to learn wilderness survival skills. Camp Courage is even worse than Friday imagined. All her book smarts aren't much help when she's got wood to chop, potatoes to peel and latrines to dig.

When Friday Barnes solves a bank robbery, she uses the reward money to send herself to the most exclusive boarding school in the country. But, she is shocked to discover her new school is actually a hotbed of crime. Friday must solve the mystery of the disappearing homework and the Yeti in the school swamp. And Friday must work out why good-looking Ian Wainscott who seems to hate her, loves playing pranks on her.

Friday's days at Highcrest are numbered! The new headmaster is turning everything upside down. Friday's irritatingly high IQ has her fast-tracked to graduation while a pair of incriminating pants puts Ian on the rocky road to expulsion. When a rumour emerges of embezzled gold stashed on the school grounds, Friday is determined to uncover the truth. But some big questions remain- Can she stay out of detention long enough to solve the mystery? Will Melanie survive without Friday to tell her what class she's in? And will Friday ever get that first kiss with Ian? With implosions and explosions everywhere, Friday Barnes will have to use her head and get a grip on her beating heart in order to find the gold that lies within.

It's two years later . . . Friday steps out of prison, a shell of her former self. She's still wearing the same brown cardigan, but she swears she's never solving mysteries again! Yeah right - who is she kidding? She can't suppress her brilliant deductive mind and is soon drawn back into the intrigues of Highcrest Academy. Then Uncle Bernie rings, pleading with Friday to fly to Italy and help him protect the Uffizi Galleries from a team of art thieves - and she can't say "no" to family. Even if it means travelling to the city where Ian, her ex-boyfriend/nemesis is living. Will Friday be able to protect Italy's finest artworks? Will Melanie stay awake long enough to help her? And will Ian still be as gorgeous as a Greek god and twice as annoying?

Friday Barnes has been deported to Switzerland. With their in-school detective gone, Highcrest Academy has descended into chaos. Someone's fired all the teachers and the Headmaster claims it wasn't him. When suspicion falls on Ian Wainscott, Friday won't stand by and let her favourite nemesis take the blame. Apart from probably being innocent, he's also seriously good-looking. Friday must try to save Ian's scholarship and find the pranksters before they bring down the school.

Friday Barnes is being attacked on all counts. When she gets involved in her frenemy Ian Wainscott's family dispute, it appears her knack for uncovering the truth may ruin their friendship once and for all. No one said high school would be easy.

When Friday Barnes cracked the case of the mysterious swamp yeti, she didn't expect to be placed under arrest. Now with the law on her back and Ian Wainscott in her face, Friday is not so sure boarding school was the smartest choice. From a missing or not-so-missing calculator to the appearance of strange holes in the school field, she is up to her pork-pie hat in crimes. There's also a new boy called Christopher.

Sixteen-year-old Olivia Prior is missing three things: a mother, a father and a voice. Her only companions are the ghouls she sees and her mother's journal, which captured a mind in turmoil. Until she receives a letter from an uncle she's never met, summoning her to his estate - Gallant. But when she arrives, she discovers her uncle is dead and the estate is empty, save for her cousin Matthew and the servants. Gallant is a house of secrets. Olivia searches for answers about her family, her past, she discovers a dark reflection of everything she knew, an ancient realm where ghosts take form and the dark master sits waiting for her... Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Jamie is a sixteen year old maths whiz. His wild, older sister, Summerlee, has dropped out of school. Tensions at home run high. With Jamie's help, Summerlee wins millions in a lottery and cuts all ties with the family. But, money can cause big trouble. When their younger sister is kidnapped for a ransom, Jamie thinks he can use game theory, the strategy of predicting an opponent's actions, to outfox the kidnapper and get Phoebe back. It's a very risky strategy. Mature themes and language. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Hanna, the commander's pampered daughter, and Nik, the reluctant member of a crime family, are struggling with life aboard the space station. When an elite strike team invades, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home from alien predators. And, there's a malfunction in the station's wormhole. Soon, Hanna and Nik are fighting to survive. The fate of everyone on the Hypatia, and possibly in the known universe, is in their hands. Mature read. Usually read by Years 9, 10 or above.

A thrilling sci-fi in which Noah, and sixty-four members of his class are trapped in a computer simulation called Project Nemesis. There are no rules, except survival. The desperate survivors form into groups as the world rapidly descends into chaos and violence. Min and Noah, former friends, are now adversaries in the most deadly of games, where the consequences are more real than any of them know. Usually read by students in Year 9, 10 and above.

George and Annie are off on another cosmic adventure inspired by the Mars Expedition in the fifth book of the George's Secret Key series from Stephen and Lucy Hawking. George and his best friend, Annie, have been selected as junior astronauts for a program that trains young people for a future trip to Mars. This is everything they've ever wanted -- and now they get to be a part of up-to-the minute space discoveries and meet a bunch of new friends who are as fascinated by the universe as they are. But when they arrive at space camp, George and Annie quickly learn that strange things are happening -- on Earth as well as up in the skies. Mysterious space missions are happening in secret, and the astronaut training they're undertaking gets scarier and scarier...

George and Annie are off on another cosmic adventure to figure out why strange things are happening on Earth in the fourth book of the George's Secret Key series from Stephen and Lucy Hawking. George and his best friend Annie haven't had any space adventures for a while and they're missing the excitement. But not for long, because seriously strange things have started happening. Banks are handing out free money, supermarkets aren't able to charge for their produce so people are getting free food, and aircrafts are refusing to fly. It looks like the world's biggest and best computers have all been hacked. And no one knows why... It's up to George and Annie to travel further into space than ever before in order to find out what--or who--is behind it.

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Brendan finds himself accompanied by a ghost who communicates through his computer, further complicating his adolescent life. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

An aeroplane is discovered in the Amazon jungle. Will Jaeger; The Hunter, lead's a team of elite special forces on a desperate race which uncovers secrets and a conspiracy from Nazi Germany during World War Two. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

An intriguing summer adventure where thirteen year old Beau meets wild, irrepressible Lelee, a girl from the sea. Together with Beau's younger sister, they search in their boat for a box believed to contain a fortune, but smugglers are looking too. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

A young British boy called Bill narrowly survives the sinking of his yacht in a huge storm off the coast of Morocco. After many days alone at sea in a small boat he rescues another survivor, clinging for her life to a barrel. She is a girl called Aya, from the nomadic Berber tribe, whose migrant ship was destroyed by the same storm. Through endless days, a mere speck on the vast, empty sea - hungry, sunburned, and with no idea what will happen next - Aya recounts the tales of Shahrazad of the Arabian Nights, who told 1001 stories to quell the murderous desire of the Persian King. As hope of rescue begins to fade, from Aya's tales of magic, brave heroes, wily thieves, greedy kings and cruel sultans, they find the strength they need to stay alive.

Agatha has always been made to feel different because of the condition she was born with. Despite this, she patrols the sea wall with pride, even though there are some in her clan who question her right to be there. Jaimie is selected to be different. The clan choose a life path for him that may make him an outcast. He is a reluctant Angler, full of self doubt and afraid of the sea. When disaster strikes, the pair must embark on a terrifying journey to a land where forgotten magic and dark secrets lurk in every shadow. Everything has been taken from them What will they do to get it back?

In a world where women have no rights, sisters Serina and Nomi face two very different fates: one in the palace, the other on an island prison where women must fight to survive. Serina has spent her whole life preparing to become a Grace - selected to stand by the heir to the throne as a shining example of the perfect woman. But her headstrong and rebellious younger sister has a dangerous secret, and one wrong move could cost both sisters everything. Can Serina fight? And will Nomi win? Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Bod appears to be a very normal boy, except that Bod is short for Nobody Owens, and Mr and Mrs Owens are not his real parents. Since babyhood, he has been raised and educated by ghosts trying to protect him from the mysterious Jack who has already brutally stabbed Bod's whole family. No one is to be trusted. For mature readers. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

The first volume of a glorious two-volume, four-colour graphic novel adaptation of Neil Gaiman's #1 New York Times bestselling and Newbery Medal-winning novel The Graveyard Book. Bod is an unusual boy who inhabits an unusual place - he's the only living resident of a graveyard. Raised from infancy by the ghosts, werewolves, and other cemetery denizens, Bod has learned the antiquated customs of his guardians' time as well as their ghostly teachings - such as the ability to Fade so mere mortals cannot see him. Can a boy raised by ghosts face the wonders and terrors of the worlds of both the living and the dead?

The second volume of a glorious two-volume, four-colour graphic novel adaptation of Neil Gaiman's #1 New York Times bestselling and Newbery Medal-winning novel The Graveyard Book. Bod is an unusual boy who inhabits an unusual place - he's the only living resident of a graveyard. Raised from infancy by the ghosts, werewolves, and other cemetery denizens, Bod has learned the antiquated customs of his guardians' time as well as their ghostly teachings - such as the ability to Fade so mere mortals cannot see him. Can a boy raised by ghosts face the wonders and terrors of the worlds of both the living and the dead?

The brothers are hired to investigate a death threat made to world-famous pop singer and actress, Minerva. However, the Greek celebrity seems to have plenty of enemies so it is hard to prove who actually wants her dead.

When thirteen year old Andrew Ferguson goes to stay in an old house in Ireland, he is immediately plunged into the mysteries of Irish legend.

Harriet's best friend at the ballet academy is suffering from an eating disorder. The ghost of a ballerina who died tragically young attempts to contact the girls to save Marianne from death.

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

When Lily Frost's parents move to a country town called Gideon, things are dire. Lily has left her best friend and knows no one. But, someone seems to know her and it isn't exactly welcoming. Lily is thrown into the path of cute local boy, Danny, but he's not giving anything away. It's up to Lily to make sense of the watery footprints on her floor and the cold air that constantly seeps into her bones.

Heartstream: The app that allows you to feel everything. Amy Becker is a star. She's used Heartstream to broadcast every moment of her mother's illness. It's the realest, rawest reality TV imaginable, and it's everywhere. On the day of her mother's funeral, she goes home to find a fan of hers in the kitchen. The woman has rigged the house, and herself with explosives - and she's been waiting to talk to Amy for a very long time. Amy is about to discover just how far true obsession can go. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

In eighteenth century Devon, Caleb, travels with his father, living off the earnings from their Punch and Judy show. When his father is wrongly arrested for stealing and transported to the Colonies, Caleb is left alone. After a desperate journey in search of an aunt he's never met, he receives a strange, cold welcome. Then, a body washes up on the nearby beach and Caleb is caught up in a terrifying net of lies and intrigue. Soon, he and his new family are in mortal danger.

'Once upon a time, in a dark city far away, there lived a boy called Walter, who had nothing but his name to call his own...' The handwritten book, with its strangely vivid illustrations, has been hidden in the old house for a long, long time. Tonight, four kids and their teacher will find it. Tonight, at last, the haunting story of Walter and the mysterious, tragic girl called Sparrow will be read - right to the very end...

Hayley tends to her bees and follows the rules in the only world she has ever known. Until she witnesses the impossible: a drip from the ceiling. A drip? It doesn't make sense. Yet she hears it, catches it. Tastes it. Curiosity is a hook. What starts as a drip leads to a lie, a death, a boy, a beast, and too many awful questions.

Can Harry Pigg find and save Santa before it's too late. Why would anyone want to kidnap such a great guy.

September 3, 1940. Ten peculiar children flee an army of deadly monsters. And only one person can help them - but she's trapped in the body of a bird. The extraordinary journey that began in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children continues as Jacob Portman and his newfound friends journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. There, they hope to find a cure for their beloved headmistress, Miss Peregrine. But in this war-torn city, hideous surprises lurk around every corner. And before Jacob can deliver the peculiar children to safety, he must make an important decision about his love for Emma Bloom. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

This #LoveOzYA anthology - the first to focus entirely on horror - unites a stellar cast of Australia's finest YA authors with talented new and emerging voices, including two graphic artists. The stories in this wide-ranging collection dig deep and go hard. While some are straight-up terrifying rollercoaster rides, others are psychologically rooted in our society's deepest fears and concerns: acceptance and fitting in, love and loss, desire and temptation, and the terror of a world threatened by catastrophic change -- and even collapse. From body horror to the supernatural, hauntings to transformations, and the everyday evil of humans to menacing outside forces, Hometown Haunts will have you glued to your chair... until you leap out of it! Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Short stories with twisted endings and horror themes including Bath night, Killer camera, Light moves, The night bus, Harriet's horrible dream, Scared, A career in computer games, The man with the yellow face and The monkey's ear.

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Lewis Barnavelt discovers there is a wizard in his family when he comes to live with his Uncle Jonathan. Experimenting with Uncle Jonathan's spells Lewis uncovers the mystery behind the ticking that can be heard throughout the house, sometimes loud sometimes quiet, sometimes slow, sometimes fast. It's an evil clock and it could destroy humankind. It is up to the Barnavelts to find where the clock is hidden in the walls - and stop it. Tick tock, a deadly clock... a terrifying race against time...

The trials of high school start to feel like modern day witch hunt for Samantha Mather, who has all the wrong connections to Salem's past. To say Sam is unwelcome in Salem would be an understatement. She is the target of the Descendants, a mysterious group of girls whose ancestors were persecuted in the Witch Trials. Complicating her life further is Elijah, an inconveniently handsome resident ghost, and her cute new neighbour, Jaxon. When a centuries old curse is rekindled, Sam finds herself in the centre of it. Can she stop history repeating itself?

In Thalia's world, there is no more food and no need for food, as everyone takes medication to ward off hunger. Her parents both work for the company that developed the drugs society consumes to quell any food cravings, and they live a life of privilege as a result. When Thalia meets a boy who is part of an underground movement to bring food back, she realizes that there is an entire world outside her own. She also starts to feel hunger, and so does the boy. Are the meds no longer working? Together, they set out to find the only thing that will quell their hunger: real food. It's a journey that will change everything Thalia thought she knew. But can a "privy" like her ever truly be part of a revolution? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Neil is a young gamekeeper. When his boss is mysteriously hurt, Neil is left to look after the woods and pheasants on his own. There have been rumours of a panther on the loose and Neil has to survive nights alone, before the truth is revealed by the light of the hunter's moon.

Nick's got a bad feeling and it's not indigestion. It's a dangerous life being the younger brother of the world's worst private detective. Tim invites him to a school reunion on a remote island and the guests start dying one by one.

Behind the facade of a genteel, private school, the Gallagher Academy operates as a school for highly-trained spies. Girls are fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man with a stick of uncooked spaghetti. But, that doesn't stop these likeable teenagers obsessing about boys and experimenting with make-up and high heels. Cameron's life is even more complicated than that of the average teenager.

How do people decide on a path, and find the drive to pursue what they want? Ida struggles more than other young people to work this out. She can shift between parallel universes, allowing her to follow alternative paths. One day Ida sees a shadowy, see-through doppelganger of herself on the train. She starts to wonder if she's actually in control of her ability, and whether there are effects far beyond what she has considered. How can she know, anyway, whether one universe is ultimately better than another? And what if the continual shifting causes her to lose what is most important to her, just as she is discovering what that is, and she can never find her way back? Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

It's 1972 in Gibber's Creek, and across the nation, the catchcry is, 'It's time'. As political ideals drift from disaster to the dismissal, it's also time for Jed Kelly to choose between past love, Nicholas, the local Labor member, and Sam from the Halfway to Eternity commune. It's time too for Matilda Thompson to face her ghosts and the life that took a young girl from the slums of Grinder's Alley to being the formidable matriarch of Gibber's Creek. During this period of extraordinary social change and idealism, modern Australia would be born. And although the nation would dream of a better world, it would continue to struggle with opposing ideas of exactly what that better world might be.

Ebo: alone. His sister left months ago. Now his brother has disappeared too, and Ebo knows it can only be to make the hazardous journey to Europe. Ebo's epic journey takes him across the Sahara Desert to the dangerous streets of Tripoli, and finally out to the merciless sea. But with every step he holds on to his hope for a new life, and a reunion with his sister.

When their planet, Kerenza, is attacked by an unknown enemy, Kady and Ezra are separated and evacuate in different space ships. A deadly virus is spreading in one ship, the lead ship's computer has gone rogue and the enemy is close. Through long distance communication, Kady and Ezra try to find out what went wrong. As gamers, hackers and video geeks, they have great skills but reconciling their hearts, amidst machines and software, proves much more difficult. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Frey was raised to take a bullet. She's the body double for her twin sister Rafia - the precious heir of the first family of Shreve - and her existence is a closely guarded secret. So while Rafi was schooled in poise and diplomacy, Frey was drilled in weapons and combat. Her purpose: to protect her sister from their tyrannical father's many enemies. When Frey is sent in Rafi's place as collateral in a precarious business deal, she becomes the perfect impostor - as elegant and charming as her sister. But Col Palafox, the son of a rival leader, is getting close enough to spot the killer inside her. As layers of deceit peel away, can Frey become her own person, and risk everything in a rebellion? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Lil and her sister Mella have always been close. But one day, after a fight, Mella goes missing. Four months later, and no sign of Mella, a mysterious girl named Alice turns up in Lil's life. In the midst of the worst storm in Welsh history, Alice and Lil work together to bring Mella home.

As Scarlet Bergen leaves her home to be trained in her psychic Solitaire abilities at the Arcadia Institute she can't forsee how much her life will change. As she delves into the mystery surrounding her mother, more truths and conspiracies will be uncovered.

Fourteen year old Kat Jones' life has been on hold since the death of her mother. When Kat is woken by an intruder looming over her bed, she is saved by her neighbour, Edwina, whom she believes betrayed her dying mother. And Kat certainly doesn't want Hercules, the world's ugliest guard dog, in her life. But, to stop the prowler, Kat will need to accept Edwina's help, develop friendships and learn to trust again.

Hugo is an orphan, clock keeper and thief, living in a Parisian railway station at the turn of the nineteenth century. The story, in words and pictures, includes the invention of the earliest moving pictures and automatons. A hidden message from a dead father is the key to this spellbinding mystery.

Welcome to the Island. Where your worst fears are about to come true. A week-long trip for six teenage friends on a remote tropical island is supposed to be the perfect holiday. When their guide dies of a stroke leaving them stranded, this trip turns into a nightmare because someone on the island knows each of the group's worst fears. One by one they are becoming a reality. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Set in post-war Britain in 1949, fourteen year old Henry has no friends and misses his war-hero father. He resents his stepfather and stepsister, and escapes by going to the cinema, his passion. When Henry develops an old camera film, he uncovers a mystery and events spiral until Henry's life resembles the drama of the big screen.

After a break-in at their London home, Kat Wolfe and her veterinary-surgeon mum decide it's time to move to the country. Dr Wolfe's new job in idyllic Bluebell Bay comes with a condition: they have to adopt Tiny, a huge, near-wild Savannah, who resists Kat's best attempts at cat whispering. When she starts a pet-sitting agency to make pocket money, her troubles escalate. The owner of her first client, an Amazon parrot, vanishes from his fortified, gadget-filled mansion, leaving a half-packed suitcase and a mysterious parcel. The only person who shares Kat's conviction that he's the victim of foul play is Harper Lamb, the American daughter of a palaeontology professor. A language and coding whizz, Harper is laid up with two broken legs thanks to her racehorse. What starts out as mystery-solving holiday fun quickly turns deadly for Wolfe and Lamb. When all clues point to an army base, can they count on their unruly animal friends to save the day - and their lives?

After a pandemic wiped out most of the human race, The Key took power. Under their rules, touching is forbidden, and books are banned. Break the laws, and face execution. Elodie, a young nurse, has been brought up to believe that The Key govern to keep people safe. Elodie obeys the rules she trusts the system. At least, Elodie used to - Aiden, a constant rebel, knows there is another side to The Key, a truth beneath the surface. Aiden wants to be free but freedom means questioning their motives. Aiden is on his last chance - When Elodie and Aiden's lives collide, the fallout will be devastating. Especially when they realise that rather than playing protector, The Key are playing God. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Includes two macabre and twisted tales. Killer camera, in which everything Jamie photographs either breaks or dies, and Night moves, where Henry's new computer has a life of its own and gambles with the lives of others.

Emily's dad is accused of killing a teenage girl in the woods. He has admitted to manslaughter, believing he was in a flashback from his army days. Emily is convinced of his innocence as she tries to untangle the events of that night. Things become even more uncertain when she comes into contact with Damon, the boyfriend of the dead girl. What really had been happening in the woods at night, what dangerous games had they been playing? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Renowned detective Hercule Poirot has been secretly summoned to an exclusive estate to solve the mystery of who killed Frank Devonport. With 2 confessions and an unexpected second body, Poirot will have to piece together a tangled web of clues before the real killer can be identified.

What does it mean to be queer? What does it mean to be human? In this powerful #LoveOzYA collection, twelve of Australia's finest writers from the LGBTQ+ community explore the stories of family, friends, lovers and strangers, and the connections that form us. This inclusive and intersectional #OwnVoices anthology for teen readers features work from writers of diverse genders, sexualities and identities, including writers who identify as First Nations, people of colour or disabled. With short stories by bestsellers, award winners and newcomers to young adult fiction including Jax Jacki Brown, Claire G Coleman, Michael Earp, Alison Evans, Erin Gough, Benjamin Law, Omar Sakr, Christos Tsiolkas, Ellen van Neerven, Marlee Jane Ward, Jen Wilde and Nevo Zisin. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Lear, the aging king of Britain, decides to step down from the throne and divide his kingdom evenly among his three daughters. First, however, he puts his daughters through a test, asking each to tell him how much she loves him. Goneril and Regan, Lear's older daughters, give their father flattering answers. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Darkus Knightley's father was London's top private detective until he went into a coma four years ago. Now, he has woken up to discover his thirteen year old son has inherited the family talent. With a bestselling book seemingly making people do terrible things, and clues pointing to the involvement of a shadowy organisation known as the Combination, Alan needs the help of his tweed-wearing, brainiac son to investigate.

When the vuvv first landed, it came as a surprise to aspiring artist Adam and the rest of planet Earth, but not necessarily an unwelcome one. Can it really be called an invasion when the vuvv generously offered free advanced technology and cures for every illness imaginable? As it turns out, yes. With his parents' jobs replaced by alien tech and no money for food, clean water, or the vuvv's miraculous medicine, Adam and his girlfriend, Chloe, have to get creative to survive. And since the vuvv crave anything they deem "classic" Earth culture (doo-wop music, still-life paintings of fruit, true love), recording 1950s-style dates for the vuvv to watch in a pay-per-minute format seems like a brilliant idea. But it's hard for Adam and Chloe to sell true love when they hate each other more with every passing episode. Soon enough, Adam must decide how far he's willing to go - and what he's willing to sacrifice - to give the vuvv what they want.

Lee Raven, boy thief, has stolen something he really didn't mean to. Now he faces a perilous flight through London and the murky sewers below as he tries to escape capture. Lee has stolen the Book of Nebo, a book that has existed for thousands of years and tells every story and legend known to man.

Eighteen-year-old art student Susan Arkshaw arrives in London in search of her father. But before she can question crime boss Frank Thringley he's turned to dust by the prick of a silver hatpin in the hands of the outrageously attractive Merlin. Merlin is one of the youngest members of a secret society of booksellers with magical powers who police the mythic Old World wherever it impinges on the New World - in addition to running several bookshops, of course! Merlin also has a quest of his own: to find the Old World entity who arranged the murder of his mother. Soon they become involved in an even more urgent task to recover the grail that is the source of the left-handed booksellers' power, before it is used to destroy the booksellers and rouse the hordes of the mythic past. As the search for the grail becomes strangely intertwined with both their quests, they start to wonder... Is Susan's long-lost father a bookseller, or something altogether more mysterious?

Any three titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

This is not a threat. I have no demands. This is a statement of fact. Leave...or die. Jarli has lost a day. His missing memories may reveal the identity of Viper who just announced a plan to DESTROY the town of Kelton. Meanwhile, Doug is trapped in Vipers hidden prison. Hes been given up for dead by his family and friends...but he has a daring plan to ESCAPE. Jarli and his friends are close to unmasking Viper, but the master criminal has spies everywhere. Can Jarli tell his friends from his enemies in time to thwart Vipers final, terrible scheme? The TRUTH wont set them free...

Life had just begun to settle down for Jarli. After his Truth App went viral and set the mysterious crime lord Viper against him, he's been trying to lay low. But when a small plane crashes into one of his schoolmate's house and all of the crew and passengers have disappeared, his life is thrown into chaos once again as he tries to unravel the mystery behind the crash - and protect his life!

Jarli is attempting to have a normal life, but it's hard when you've created the Truth App, which can tell when someone is lying by analysing their voice. When Jarli and his best friend enter a robobattle, he's approached by government bodyguards for the Minister of Defence. They want Jarli to appear at a press conference to prove the Minister isn't lying but then Jarli is framed for a crime he didn't commit, and someone has hacked the truth app, making it impossible to prove his innocence. Jarli will have to rely on his friends and quick thinking to clear his name and save his life!

The Library of Souls is the thrilling conclusion to the Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series. Jacob, who has discovered a new ability, Emma Bloom a girl with a powerful gift of fire and Addison MacHenry, a dog who can find lost children are battling to follow the trail of their friends and beloved Miss Peregrine. They will journey to Devil's Acre, the worst slum of Victorian England times, where the future of all Peculiar Children will be decided. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 & above.

The son of a zookeeper, Pi Patel has an encyclopedic knowledge of animal behavior and a fervent love of stories. When Pi is sixteen, his family emigrates from India to North America aboard a Japanese cargo ship, along with their zoo animals bound for new homes. The ship sinks. Pi finds himself alone in a lifeboat, his only companions a hyena, an orangutan, a wounded zebra, and Richard Parker, a 450-pound Bengal tiger. Soon the tiger has dispatched all but Pi, whose fear, knowledge, and cunning allow him to coexist with Richard Parker for 227 days while lost at sea. When they finally reach the coast of Mexico, Richard Parker flees to the jungle, never to be seen again. The Japanese authorities who interrogate Pi refuse to believe his story and press him to tell them "the truth." After hours of coercion, Pi tells a second story, a story much less fantastical, much more conventional--but is it more true? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

On an island junkyard beneath a sky that glows with radiation, a deadly secret lies buried in the scrap. Seventeen-year-old Eve isn't looking for trouble--she's too busy looking over her shoulder. The robot gladiator she spent months building has been reduced to a smoking wreck, she's on the local gangster's wanted list, and the only thing keeping her grandpa alive is the money she just lost to the bookies. If she's ever had a worse day, Eve can't remember it. Her discovery of a handsome android named Ezekiel--called a "Lifelike" because they resemble humans--will bring her world crashing down and make her question whether her entire life is a lie. With her best friend Lemon Fresh and her robotic sidekick Cricket in tow, Eve will trek across deserts of glass, battle unkillable bots, and infiltrate towering megacities to save the ones she loves...and learn the truth about secrets of her past. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

A prophecy has been spoken. A monster has awoken. As the conquering hold of the United Regions continues to spread, time is running out for Lintang, Captain Shafira and the crew of the Winda to find allies in their quest for peace. But when they arrive in war-torn Kaneko Brown, the local rebels are too scared to help. The Vierzans have summoned a category ten mythie that devours the star of anyone who dares stand against them. Worse, the mythie has been prophesied to mean the end of Captain Shafira. Lintang must find a way to stop the most dangerous mythie in the guidebook or she'll lose her beloved captain forever.

The time has come to visit the forbidden island of Allay. But first Lintang needs to find her captain, and it seems the only way to get to the Winda is to join - then escape - the Vierzan navy. Only then will Captain Shafira set sail for Allay, where the crew of the Winda must uncover what really happened to the country's missing ruler. When disaster strikes, and Lintang is separated from her captain again, she and her friends must sneak through the heart of Allay, battle terrifying new mythies and overcome Captain Shafira's enemies to return to where they belong. Lintang was left behind once. She won't let it happen again.

Lintang dreams of having adventures on the High Seas. When a deadly mythie attacks the same day the infamous Captain Shafira visits her island, Lintang gets her chance, defending her village with the bravery that earns her a place on the pirate queen's ship. But they've barely left the island when Lintang discovers her best friend, Bayani, has stowed away. Telling Captain Shafira means betraying her friend, but keeping Bayani's secret risks everything...including their lives.

As a supernatural outbreak baffles Scotland Yard and causes protests against the psychic agencies, Lockwood and Co continue to demonstrate their effectiveness in exterminating spirits. A new haunting in an old school involves bloody handprints and the appearance of a glowing boy. But, ghosts seem to be the least of their concerns when living assassins attack during a carnival in the centre of the city.

Anthony, Lucy, and George of Lockwood & Co are searching for the mysterious Dr Bickerstaff to find the secret of communicating with the dead. A rival agency also wants the commission and the search becomes a challenge. The loser must publicly admit defeat. A fearsome phantom seems a real challenge until the whispering skull that Lucy has brought along becomes the key to saving life, limb and friendships.

Psychic Investigation Agencies have sprung up everywhere to deal with a horrifying epidemic of ghosts. Ambitious agent, Lucy Carlyle, arrives in London, hoping for a notable career. Instead, she joins the smallest most ramshackle agency, run by charismatic Anthony Lockwood. When a case goes horribly wrong, the agency must salvage its reputation. This means spending the night in a haunted house and trying to escape alive.

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

It's been five years since Wendy and her two brothers went missing in the woods, but when the town's children start to disappear, the questions surrounding her brothers' mysterious circumstances are brought back into the light. Attempting to flee her past, Wendy almost runs over an unconscious boy lying in the middle of the road . . . Peter, a boy she thought lived only in her stories, asks for Wendy's help to rescue the missing kids. But, in order to find them, Wendy must confront what's waiting for her in the woods. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

When Luke goes missing, his friends are dragged into the terrifying world of Malice, the underground comic. The evil Tall Jake takes children into a fantasy world where they can really die. It takes heroes like Seth and the loyalty of Kady to survive the violent, brutal comic-book pages. Be prepared to be very scared.

An English theatre troupe travelling in the New Orleans area, in a world of voodoo, black magic and gangsters, are dragged into a suspenseful mystery that involves murder, blackmail and intrigue. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

When 16-year-old Shaun discovers a dead body in the lake of a quiet mining town in outback Queensland, he immediately reports it to the police. But when he returns to the site with the constable, the body is gone. Shaun's father drowned a few years ago, and now his mum and the authorities questions whether he saw a body at all. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Having defeated the monstrous threat that nearly destroyed the peculiar world, Jacob Portman is back where his story began, in Florida. Except now Miss Peregrine, Emma, and their peculiar friends are with him, and doing their best to blend in. But carefree days of beach visits and normalling lessons are soon interrupted by a discovery - a subterranean bunker that belonged to Jacob's grandfather, Abe. Clues to Abe's double-life as a peculiar operative start to emerge, secrets long hidden in plain sight. And Jacob begins to learn about the dangerous legacy he has inherited - truths that were part of him long before he walked into Miss Peregrine's time loop. Now, the stakes are higher than ever as Jacob and his friends are thrust into the untamed landscape of American peculiardom - a world with few ymbrynes, or rules - that none of them understand. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

After surviving a shipwreck in 1766, Billy Marvel finds work in a London theatre. His family flourishes for generations as brilliant actors until 1900, when young Leontes Marvel is banished from the stage. Nearly a century later, Joseph Jarvis runs away from school and seeks refuge with an eccentric uncle in London. A gripping adventure and an intriguing invitation to decipher how the two narratives interconnect.

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Tanmar's older brother is dead, her mum's gone away and her dad avoids talking about the things that really matter. Plagued by nightmares about her brother, Tamar has no interest in school or friends. When she discovers an old handwritten sheet of music and plays the tune, Tamar meets gifted violinist, Nathaniel, a man from her house's past. She is unwittingly drawn into a journey through time and music.

When a piece of glass angel smashes in front of him, Chris doesn't take any notice. Not even when a stranger tells him it's a warning. But, when Chris and his girlfriend are trapped on the moors, strange things start to happen.

Ed Kennedy is nineteen. His life is one of peaceful routine and incompetence until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery. When he receives his first playing card with three addresses written on it, Ed becomes the messenger. A cryptic journey with laughter, fists and love. Adult themes and strong language, used in context, may offend some readers. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

An horrific family tragedy sets sixteen year old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, and a strange collection of very curious photographs, it becomes clear that the children who once lived here were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. One of them was his grandfather. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Mackenzie's world has been turned upside down with the disappearance of her mother following a scientific journey photographing bats in Panama. Her father's sudden and rash decision for Mackenzie to join him in searching for Maggie where she was last seen becomes even more unsettling when he becomes ill and Mackenzie must decide what to do when she comes across some potentially helpful information.

Suitable for mature readers. We follow the growing relationship between a young pickpocket and 'the creature', as together they pursue the elusive Dr Frankenstein. Set in 1800s London.

Fatimah is a devout Muslim. Steve has never given much thought to faith. Both are in the street the day a terrorist bomb explodes and their lives are changed forever. While their families are breaking down barriers, the terrorists have another target in mind. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

The Ravens sorority are witches. They need to protect themselves and their secret. After the last semester's disaster, they are determined to restore the balance and get back to being the ruling sorority on campus. When magic starts to go wrong, and a rival sorority is gaining power, their future could be in jeopardy. Scarlett, Vivi and their sisters need to protect their coven and Westerly from an unknown evil.

Short stories with twisted endings and horror themes including The hitchhiker, The sound of murder, Burned, Flight, Howard's end, The elevator, The phone goes dead, Twist cottage and The shortest horror story ever written.

In an alternate reality a lot like our world, every person's physical size is directly proportional to their wealth. The poorest of the poor are the size of rats, and billionaires are the size of skyscrapers. Warner and his sister Prayer are destitute - and tiny. Their size is not just demeaning, but dangerous: day and night they face mortal dangers that bigger richer people don't ever have to think about, from being mauled by cats to their house getting stepped on. There are no cars or phones built small enough for them, or schools or hospitals, for that matter - there's no point, when no one that little has any purchasing power, and when salaried doctors and teachers would never fit in buildings so small. Warner and Prayer know their only hope is to scale up, but how can two littlepoors survive in a world built against them? Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Colonel Protheroe, the much-loathed magistrate of St Mary Mead, has been found shot through the head. It isn't his murder that raises eyebrows, it's the scandalous secrets his death exposes. Miss Marple has her work cut out to find the right trail to the killer who obviously has something to hide. Beautifully illustrated by Norma.

When the wife of the expedition leader of a large archaeological dig in Mesopotamia starts receiving letters from her dead husband, she is terrified. When she turns up dead in a room that nobody could have entered, it is up to Hercule Poirot, the famous Belgian detective, and the nurse to find the answer. Beautifully illustrated by Chandre..........

When Ben's Dad leaves home, Ben and his Mum move to the country to find a better life. Their neighbour, Luke, bullies Ben remorselessly about his city ways and his pet crow, Joe. When Luke threatens to hurt Joe, the crows take their own revenge.

The murder of a wealthy widow in a small English village leads Hercule Poirot into a strange mystery involving a determined, curious spinster, the local doctor and a wide range of suspects. All have possible motives and mysterious, sinister relationships. Beautifully illustrated by Bruno Lachard.

By the time Hercule Poirot, the famous Belgian detective, receives Monsieur Renauld's urgent plea, the millionaire has been stabbed to death and is lying in a newly dug grave on the golf links adjoining his estate. The suspects are many - the ignored wife, the embittered son and the demanding mistress. The police think they have the culprit but Poirot begs to differ. Beautifully illustrated by Marc Piskic.

Aboard the luxurious Blue Train running from London to the Riviera, a pampered millionaire's daughter, Ruth Kettering, is found murdered and her expensive jewels stolen. There is talk of the infamous jewel thief, the Marquis, but Poirot's suspicion falls closer to home and Ruth's unhappy marriage. The Belgian detective is not to be trifled with. Beautifully illustrated by Marc Piskic.

Shey can't resist exploring the locked room in Uncle Ruben's house. Looking through a pair of antique opera glasses, Shey is transported to a strange land depicted in one of Ruben's paintings where there are lots of clues to be followed.

Two eccentric classmates deduce a range of cryptic clues from a magician's notebook which allow them to solve a kidnapping and set to rest a story of displacement.

The evil corporation, Nightrise, has amassed an immense amount of power and the devastating force of the Old Ones is about to be unleashed around the globe. To stop this from happening, Matt and three of the Gatekeepers head to Hong Kong to meet the final Gatekeeper, a girl named Scarlet, whose fate is inextricably joined to their own.

Alex Rider is trying to get his life back on track after the traumatic events of his last mission. But even Alex can't fight the past especially when it holds a deadly secret.

Under the streets of London lies a world most people could never dream of. When Richard Mayhew helps a mysterious girl he finds bleeding on the pavement, his boring life changes in an instant. Her name is Door, she's on the run from two assassins in black suits and she comes from London Below. His act of kindness leads him to a place filled with monsters and angels, a Beast in a labyrinth and an Earl who holds Court in a Tube train. It is strangely familiar yet utterly bizarre. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Jamie Riley is on probation and has arrived in desolate Port Barren. It's a mysterious town with a number of dark secrets, a strange assortment of people and a number of unsolved crimes, Jamie's arrival leads to a number of unexplained events, culminating in a heroic journey through the desert, which brings the truth of these ghastly events to light. Includes adult themes. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

After the Newington Emerald is stolen at the height of a conjured storm, eighteen year old Lady Truthful Newington goes to London to search for the magical heirloom. But, as a well-bred young lady cannot hunt the metropolis for a stolen jewel, she has to disguise herself as a man. Lady Truthful is soon caught up in a dangerous adventure where she must risk her life, her reputation and her heart. Her father's life and even the fate of England may depend upon her recovering the Newington Emerald.

Three stories in one book - The night bus, The hitchhiker and The man with the yellow face - including the scariest passengers on the Halloween night bus, the hitchhiker harbouring the deadly secret and the mysterious man replacing Peter in Peter's passport photo.

In 1886 a mysterious travelling circus becomes an international sensation. Open only at night, constructed entirely in black and white, the Cirque des Reves delights all who wander its circular paths and warm themselves at its bonfire. There are contortionists, performing cats, carousels and illusionists - all the trappings of an ordinary circus. But this is no conventional spectacle. Some tents contain clouds, some ice. The circus seems almost to cast a spell over its aficionados, who call themselves the reveurs - the dreamers. And who is the sinister man in the grey suit who watches over it all? Behind the scenes a dangerous game is being played out by two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who, at the behest of their masters, are forced to test the very limits of the imagination - and of love. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Fourteen year old twins, Scott and Jamie, have extraordinary powers. When Jamie, framed for murder, tries to rescue the kidnapped Scott, he is catapulted thousands of years into the past to fight a horrifying and violent battle. As one of the five Gatekeepers, he joins in a seemingly doomed stand against the massed forces of evil and black magic. Not for the faint-hearted. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Fourteen year old twins, Scott and Jamie, possess extraordinary powers. When Scott is kidnapped and Jamie is framed for murder, they must use the powers to survive. But, when Jamie is catapulted into the past, to face the horror of the Old Ones, he learns that he is one of the five Gatekeepers, standing in the way of eternal chaos. The brothers must fight the evil and win. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Viola can't go out in the sun. If she does, it will kill her. Even fluorescent lights can do her harm. So, her parents invest in night vision goggles and let her roam the nearby forest at night for fun. When Viola sees something that she will not ignore, she has a choice to make. But, choices come with consequences and hers may have dangerous implications. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Alex Rider is sent by MI6 Special Operations to infiltrate a new and sinister organization known only as Nightshade. Alex is on his own, with the fate of thousands of people resting in his hands.

Marcie is a real human girl. Almost 18, she has had her fair share of problems and bad decisions. When her imaginary friend Thor reappears after 8 years, Marcie has to work out whether she still needs Thor to guide her now that she is approaching adulthood. And Thor needs to figure out who he is without Marcie to keep him in existence. Usually read by students in Year 9, 10 & above.

It is 1982 and the FBI studies serial killers in order to know how they operate, why they do the things they do and more importantly how to spot the clues and be able to catch them. But how do you study teenage serial killers? Which teenage serial killers are willing to talk to the FBI professionals? That's where teenagers Emma and Travis come into play. Both victims of serial killers in their own ways, they've been asked to take part in a program of interviewing young serial killers and trying to help study them. But what happens when they get caught up in an active case, what happens when they get caught between two serial killers? Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Having escaped from Hong Kong, the five gatekeepers - Matt, Pedro, Scott, Jamie and Scarlett - are scattered in a hostile and dangerous world. As they struggle to re-group and plan their next move, the malevolent King of the Old Ones gathers his forces in Oblivion: a desolate landscape where the last survivors of humanity must fight the ultimate battle.

Kady, Ezra, Hanna, and Nik narrowly escaped with their lives from the attacks on Heimdall station and now find themselves crammed with 2,000 refugees on the container ship, Mao. With the jump station destroyed and their resources scarce, the only option is to return to Kerenza, but who knows what they will find seven months after the invasion? With time running out, a final battle will be waged on land and in space, heroes will fall, and hearts will be broken. Usually read in years 9, 10 or above.

Sixteen-year-old Regina seeks romance, adventure, and approval. Of course, getting approval from a mother like Cora is next to impossible. For Regina, friendships have always been a rare commodity. Could it be that Regina has finally found a true friend? Or is it too good to be true? As Regina struggles to find her own identity and create her own destiny, she discovers that her fate might just be to become everything she despises.

On Thursday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention. Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule. Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess. Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing. Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher. And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High's notorious gossip app. Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention, Simon's dead. And according to investigators, his death wasn't an accident. On Thursday, he died. But on Friday, he'd planned to post juicy reveals about all four of his high-profile classmates, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder. Or are they just the perfect patsies for a killer who's still on the loose? Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Bayview High is just about recovered from the death of gossip king Simon Helleher a year ago. Now there's a new copycat in town who isn't ready to forget him just yet. A school-wide game of Truth or Dare seems fun, right? But this game is lethal. Choosing the truth may reveal your darkest secrets, but accepting the dare could be dangerous - or even fatal. The teenagers of Bayview must work together once again to find the culprit, before it's too late... Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

When Cammie Morgan enrolled at the Gallagher Academy, she knew she was preparing for the dangerous life of a spy. What she didn't know was that the serious, real-life danger would start during her junior year of high school. But that's exactly what happened two months ago when Cammie faced off against an ancient terrorist organisation dead set on kidnapping her. Now the danger follows her everywhere, and even Cammie "The Chameleon" can't hide. When a terrifying encounter in London reveals that one of her most-trusted allies is actually a rogue double-agent, Cammie no longer knows if she can trust her classmates, her teachers, or even her own heart.

Wealthy Rachel Armstrong was struck on the back of the head by a heavy, iron poker and died instantly. Everything points to her estranged, adopted son, Jacko. His alibi that he was picked up by a stranger cannot be confirmed. Jacko is sentenced and dies in prison. But, one day, the stranger returns and the case is reopened because Jacko couldn't have done it. Beautifully illustrated by Chandre.

The last thing Cammie Morgan remembers is leaving the Gallagher Academy to protect her friends and family from the Circle of Cavan-an ancient terrorist organization that has been hunting her for over a year. But when Cammie wakes up in an alpine convent and discovers that months have passed, she must face the fact that her memory is now a black hole. The only traces left of Cammie's summer vacation are the bruises on her body and the dirt under her nails, and all she wants is to go home. Once she returns to school, however, Cammie realizes that even the Gallagher Academy now holds more questions than answers. Cammie, her friends, and mysterious spy-guy Zach must face their most difficult challenge yet as they travel to the other side of the world, hoping to piece together the clues that Cammie left behind. It's a race against time. The Circle is hot on their trail and willing stop at nothing to prevent Cammie from remembering what she did last summer.

Rico is unusual. His head gets mixed up but Rico is brilliant at noticing little things - like the strange goings-on in the next apartment block. When his new and only friend, the gifted, anxious Oscar is kidnapped, Rico gets a chance to put all his special skills to the test in a violent, dangerous adventure.

Don't get yourself noticed and you won't get yourself hanged. Bartholomew Kettle and his sister live by these words. They are Peculiars, half-human, half-faery, and hated by both. But, one day, when a mysterious lady magically whisks away a little boy, Bartholomew forgets the rules. And gets himself noticed.

As the city of San Juan pulses to summer's sluggish beat, its teenage football prodigy El Brujito, the Little Magician, vanishes without trace. Paul Faustino, South America's top sports journalist, is reluctantly drawn into the mystery. As a story of corruption and murder unfolds, he is forced to confront a bitter history of slavery, and the power of the occult. Includes some adult themes. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

When Kasumi leaves her remote village for the teeming city of Edo, her life is transformed. She has been chosen by a samurai to become a lady-in-waiting to his new wife. Kasumi is surprised as she has no skills for this role and, worst of all, she is always in trouble for speaking her mind. Surely, this will get her into trouble with her new mistress. When Kasumi learns of a secret that puts them both in danger, she must solve the mystery, behind the danger they face, in order to save herself and her mistress.

An arresting story about a strange and sinister religious sect called The Temple and how Frances discovers its secrets. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Includes two macabre and twisted stories, The phone goes dead, in which David seems to have a hotline to heaven and hell, and Bath night, in which the Victorian bath tub presents Isabel with more of a blood bath than a bubble bath.

Beatrice May Ross, otherwise known as Bee, is in her element working at the taxidermy department at the Museum of Natural History. But, her summer job is full of surprises. For starters, there's a dead body, a mysterious benefactor, a large stuffed tiger and a pocketful of glass eyes. Bee must sift through the clues to discover whether a murder has been committed.

Two of the world's most powerful men, both of whom had sons at Point Blanc Academy, meet 'accidental' deaths. Fourteen year old Alex Rider, reluctant M16 spy, must infiltrate the academy as a pupil to find the truth. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Two of the world's most powerful men, both of whom had sons at Point Blanc Academy, meet 'accidental' deaths. Fourteen year old Alex Rider, reluctant M16 spy, must infiltrate the academy as a pupil to find the truth.

Following the death of her father, Bayley's family is not coping, with her sister's rebellious behaviour and her brother feeling guilt about his role in the accident. Bayley is trying to keep things together for everyone. Mum decides a move to an old family home in the country is best, where there is the 40 year old unsolved disappearance of Bayley's cousin, who is using Bayley to seek revenge. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Tally has finally become pretty. Now her looks are beyond perfect, her clothes are awesome, her boyfriend is totally hot, and she's completely popular. It's everything she's ever wanted. But beneath all the fun -- the nonstop parties, the high-tech luxury, the total freedom -- is a nagging sense that something's wrong. Something important. Then a message from Tally's ugly past arrives. Reading it, Tally remembers what's wrong with pretty life, and the fun stops cold. Now she has to choose between fighting to forget what she knows and fighting for her life -- because the authorities don't intend to let anyone with this information survive. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 & above.

Jenna is excited to be chosen to act in a movie about a princess, amazed when her mother gives her permission to fly off for the filming and confused when she realises she is the spitting image of the missing Princess of Scandia.

Thirteen year old Nick Diamond is in prison, framed for a jewel heist. Nick finds himself sharing a cell with public enemy number one, Johnny Powers. Nick's only chance of clearing his name is to nail the Fence, a master criminal.

When her grandmother dies, Deirdre is left alone in a crumbling block of flats. Looking out the window one misty night, she sees a boy who seems familiar. Together, he and Deirdre must discover the secret of the old building, before it collapses and the secret is lost forever.

A missing neighbour, a mysterious boy, a murder? Fifteen year old Annie is off to her basketball game in her sleepy New Zealand town when she sees a raincoat floating down the river. This starts a chain of events that will rock Annie's world. Police want to investigate her neighbour for murder, but before they can, he blows up his own house and goes on the run. Strangers come to town, including a dark-haired cowboy with the most amazing horse Annie has ever seen. As her world begins to crumble around her, Annie sets out to uncover the secret that could rip her small community apart.

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Will and Maddie are imprisoned at Chateau des Falaises. Baron Lassigny is scheming to recruit them as spies for hire, but Maddie raises the stakes when she challenges Lassigny's garrison commander to a duel on horseback. Will is horrified - especially when he realises the treacherous baron won't fight fair. If Maddie can survive the duel, they still need to escape the heavily guarded chateau and rescue the kidnapped prince they were sent to retrieve. It will take all their ingenuity, courage and determination to triumph this time - and to solve the mystery of who betrayed them.

King Philippe of Gallica appeals to King Duncan for help. His son is being held hostage by a power-hungry baron, and Philippe wants Duncan to send a Ranger to rescue the boy. Will and Maddie are perfect for the task. Travelling as father and daughter to allay suspicion, they will pose as entertainers to infiltrate the Chateau des Falaises, where the prince is being held. But travelling through Gallica has its own risks: armed bandits, wild weather and even a mysterious follower all have to be faced and overcome. Will they ever find the prince? And if they do, how will they rescue him from the evil Baron Lassigny?

In this eerie mystery, Eddie Haite becomes involved in monitoring the behaviour of radiation-affected rats on a remote tropical South Pacific island. Their roles appear reversed and the man who runs the lab seems to be going slowly mad.

Matt thinks he has trouble when the police catch him for a not so petty crime but that is nothing compared to when he is rescued by a supposedly do-gooding guardian. The darkest, black magic is unleashed and Matt begins to understand that he is not only different, but that it is up to him, alone, to escape the torture of these cruel, violent, supernatural forces and to stop them. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Sent to Yorkshire on a rehabilitation programme, Matt finds himself in the midst of a conspiracy of witchcraft and murder, and that he, alone, stands between the forces of evil and the annihilation of humanity. Featuring striking, high-contrast black-and-white art, this distinctive graphic novel captures the requisite brooding atmosphere. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

At first glance, The Ravens seem like typical sorority sisters. These girls are the most admired at Westerly College. Looks can be deceiving, and these are not just girls but a coven of witches. With a new intake of Littles and a painful secret returning to haunt them, the girls will need to put rivalry aside to save a fellow sister.

Evie sees things. She's wary of the other kids at school- she doesn't want them to see her drawings or know how different she is...what would they say? She tries hard to block it all out and pretends to be normal, just like every one else. But a missing girl is trying to tell Evie something. A girl who is very persistent, who will not give up. A girl who once wore the red cardigan Evie now wears. As much as she tries, Evie can no longer ignore the question that demands an answer...who is the girl in the red cardigan? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Taylor and Sierra have been best friends their whole lives. But, Taylor's fed up because Sierra always gets what and who she wants. So, when Sierra asks her friends to cover for her while she meets Jacob, a guy she's chatted to online, Taylor 's refuses to show any interest. But, Sierra doesn't come back for one, two, three days. When Taylor finally tells Sierra's mum that her daughter is missing, Taylor and her friends are thrown into a dark world they never even knew existed.

Robin is a skilled archer but when his archery gets him in trouble with the leader of the town gangsters, he heads for the Sherwood Forest to stay alive. However, unlike his classic counterpart, this twenty-first century Robin uses his computer hacking skills to steal from the rich and give to the poor.

When Ian Rider died at the hands of the assassin, Yassen Gregorovich, Alex was thrust into the world of international espionage and vowed revenge. Yet, years ago, it was Alex's father who trained and mentored Yassen, turning him into the killer he would eventually become. In some ways, Alex and Yassen are mirror images of each other but they are mortal enemies.This is Yassen's story. A journey down a darkened path.

When Greer MacDonald is one of a select few invited to a weekend of hunting, shooting and fishing at historic Longcross Hall by the mysterious Henry De Walencourt she cannot believe her luck but things may not all be what they seem. It does not take long for the students to realise that there is something more sinister afoot at Longcross than simply the dark corridors and animal heads hanging in every room. In fact their very lives might be at stake! A thriller full of twists and turns for lovers of The Hunger Games. Includes mature themes. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Sassycat is lightning fast and beautiful but, so conceited. She places her human carer, Rebecca, in great danger of being possessed by evil ghosts. Sassycat must stop thwarting the local pets and become a team player to protect Rebecca. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Three sinister stories with chilling twists, including Scared, where the countryside hates Gary as much as he hates it; A career in computer games, in which Kevin's computer seems to break all the rules, and Howard's end, that might be heaven or hell.

Alex Rider is determined to find out more about his father. He travels to Italy where he manages to infiltrate the world of Claudia Rothman, a member of the crime organization, Scorpia. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

Alex Rider wants his life back. But, when you're the world's most successful spy, there's only one way out. One bullet. One life. The ends starts here. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Teenage spy, Alex, travels to Venice to discover the truth about his past. But, the truth lies with a criminal organisation known as Scorpia, and Alex must make a choice to work for MI6 once more or betray everything he believes in.

In a perfect world, what is there left to fear? In a world where disease, war and crime have been eliminated, the only way to die is to be randomly gleaned (killed) by professional scythes. Citra and Rowan are 16 year old teenagers who have been selected to be scythes' apprentices, and despite wanting nothing to do with the vocation, they must learn the art of gleaning and understand the necessity of what they do. Only one of them will be chosen as a scythe's apprentice and as Citra and Rowan come up against a terrifyingly corrupt Scythedom, it becomes clear that the winning apprentice's first task will be to glean the loser. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Meet Tommy and Tuppence, two likeable 1920s' upper class detectives, in their globetrotting quest to locate their missing client and some very important papers. This is a devious plot that goes back to the sinking of the Lusitania. The story includes international intrigue, secret treaties, disguises and blackmail. Beautifully illustrated by Frank Leclercq.

Anthony Cade is looking for adventure and a bit of quick cash. The good-natured drifter accepts a messenger job from an old friend. It sounds perfectly simple to deliver the provocative memoirs of a recently deceased European count but the murder of someone shadowing Anthony leads to the discovery of dark deeds and terrible secrets at Chimneys, a rambling estate. Beautifully illustrated by Laurence Suhner.

It all starts with a magician and a mysterious box of vials. Investigating would be very dangerous. Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Ever since MI6 recognized his potential, Alex Rider has constantly been thrust into the line of danger. From a routine visit to the dentist that turns into a chase through the streets of London, to a school trip with a deadly twist, no day has ever been ordinary for the teenage super-spy. This collection of seven thrilling adventures features familiar and new assailants from the best-loved world of Alex Rider, and also includes three, brand new and action-packed adventures.

For the past three years, Grace Blakely has been desperate to find out the truth about her mother s murder. But, the truth has only made her a target. The only way to put the past to rest is for Grace to kill it once and for all. On Embassy Row, power can make you a victor or a victim. Love can turn you into a fool or a fugitive, and family can lead you forward or bury you deep. Trust is a luxury and death is a real threat. Grace must be very careful about which secrets she brings to light. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Living in a walled city where every aspect of life is controlled, Teddy is unable to pursue her creative passions for risk of being Sanitised. When truths are revealed, Teddy finds herself living in a city under the city. A darker world where creativity is embraced but survival is everything. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

PSS 118 is just your typical school, except that it is a rickety old spaceship orbiting Ganymede, a moon of Jupiter. Jack's dad used to be the science teacher, until he got fired for tinkering with the ship. Now Jack wants to get through the last day of school without anything going wrong.. But when the school is mysteriously attacked, Jack discovers that his dad has built humanity's first light speed engine and given Jack control of it. Jack catapults it hundreds of light years away and right into the clutches of the first aliens humans have ever seen. School hasn't just got out, it has gone clear across the galaxy. Now it is up to Jack and his friends to get everyone home.

Premonition is a band hoping to make it big but they need somewhere to practise. Tom suggests the old warehouse but Billy has a bad feeling about it. Tom is angry, thinking Billy is putting it on but, as anger grows, a shadow falls over the band.

Henrietta can burst into flames. Forced to reveal her power to save a friend, she's shocked when, instead of being executed, she's invited to train as one of Her Majesty's royal sorcerers. Thrust into the glamour of Victorian London, Henrietta is declared the girl who will defeat the Ancients, bloodthirsty demons terrorising humanity. Her fellow trainees are handsome young men, eager to test her power and her heart. One will challenge her. One will fight for her. One will betray her. But Henrietta Howel is not the chosen one. As she plays a dangerous game of deception, she discovers the sorcerers have their own secrets to protect. With battle looming, how much will she risk to save the city - and the one she loves?

Any two books from this series may be read as Challenge books and up to five more can be read as personal choice books. Go to the online booklists for the PRC ID of the individual books in this series.

Rafi's engagement party is the talk of the feeds. Her dress is spectacular and her fiance, Col Palafox, is charming. But Rafi and Col are both prisoners - with bomb collars around their necks. Surveillance dust records their every move, tracks every glance. And there will be deadly consequences if Rafi's father realises that it's Frey who stayed behind in Shreve, while Rafi escaped with the rebels. With help from the rebels, Frey and Col must try to reach the neighbouring city of Paz, where they hope to be safe. But Frey and Rafi's father has destructive plans even for the City of Peace. When the dust settles after the disaster he initiates, will Frey be able to find a way to survive? Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Layla is a young singer who is just hitting the big time. But, with all of the excitement of her growing fame comes the eerie presence of an unknown heckler who begins to follow all her performances. She doesn't know who he is or why he's doing it. And, she just wants it to stop.

"We can't wait three days. There is a man coming to kill us." A Man with a silver hand. It's 1918 and the Great War is entering its final phase. In Northern France, young Aimee has just found out that her mother is part of a spy network working with the British. After reluctantly befriending Marius, a young German boy who has been left behind by his countrymen, she must try and help him get back behind German lines while they evade a traitor she helped to discover.

Trying to return to his normal life as a schoolboy, four weeks after his last MI6 adventure, Alex Rider is recruited right off the soccer field to check out some suspicious goings-on at Wimbledon. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Though he's about to discover that being a skeleton doesn't stop you from being tortured, if the torturer is determined enough. And if there's anything Skulduggery hates, it's torture. Will evil win the day? Will Stephanie and Skulduggery stop bickering long enough to stop it? One thing's for sure: evil won't know what's hit it.

As the Skulduggery Pleasant series nears its end (again), relive the adventure in this lavishly illustrated compendium of all things Skulduggery. Featuring a unique run-down of the books so far, it also includes an invaluable reference tool for the dizzying cast of characters, as well as bonuses, surprises, and a dark story all of its own. The Grimoire is an essential book for any Skulduggery fan.

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

A brand new Skulduggery Pleasant novella for World Book Day: a hilarious and thrilling standalone story in the internationally bestselling series - perfect for new readers, and essential for Skulduggery fans! Three ancient gods are freed from their prison with only one desire: to destroy the planet and everyone on it. To save us all, Skulduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain must go undercover in a Dublin school. Skulduggery has to blend in with the teaching staff, while Valkyrie has to pass for an ordinary schoolgirl. Above all else, no matter what happens, they both must act completely and utterly normal. We are so dead.

On a desperate journey to recover her sister's lost soul, Valkyrie Cain goes up against the High Sanctuary itself, and there's nothing Skulduggery Pleasant can do to stop her. With Abyssinia's grand plan about to kick off in a night of magic, terror, and bloodshed, it falls to Omen Darkly to save the lives of thousands of innocent people. And as the madness unfolds around him, as hidden enemies step into the light, and as Valkyrie is sucked into a desperate, lawless quest of her own, he has no choice but to become the hero he never really wanted to be or die in the attempt.

Valkyrie Cain must undertake a dangerous rescue mission to retrieve Skulduggery from a hellish dimension, ruled by the Faceless Ones. There's no time for her to take a breather afterwards, though. There's the matter of the Desolation Engine, a bomb that could wipe out thousands, that has fallen into the wrong hands

The death bringer has risen. Skullduggery has seven days to uncover the necromancers' secret before it is too late. The clock is ticking.

Infected by a rare strain of magic, normal people are developing unstable magic powers, endangering their own and other peoples' lives. Their only hope lies with the Sanctuary, which has its own problems. Skulduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain must find out what's causing the infection and prevent the takeover of the Sanctuary by international sorcerers. And, normal teenager Kitana and her friends are infected and will tear the city apart unless they can be stopped.

War has finally come between Sanctuaries and Skulduggery must team up with Valkyrie and the rest of the dead men to stop it.

For years, Valkyrie Cain has struggled to keep her loved ones safe from harm, plunging into battle, time and time again, by Skulduggery Pleasant's side, and always emerging triumphant. But now the very thing that Valkyrie fights for is in danger, as a ruthless killer snatches her little sister in order to lure Valkyrie into a final confrontation. With Skulduggery racing to catch up and young sorcerer Omen scrambling along behind, Valkyrie only has twelve hours to find Alice before it is too late. The clock is ticking!

Skulduggery Pleasant is back and reunited with his original head. But, all is not well in the magical world. Foreign powers are conspiring to take over the Irish Sanctuary and, for another thing, Valkyrie has discovered she might be the sorceress set to destroy the world.

With Serpine dead, the world is safe once more. At least, that's what Valkyrie and Skulduggery think until the notorious Baron Vengeous makes a bloody escape from prison, and dead bodies and vampires start appearing all over Ireland. With just about everyone out to kill Valkyrie, the daring detective duo face their biggest challenge yet.

Valkyrie Cain has been out of action for years, recovering from the war against her alter-ego Darquesse. But bad people still want to do bad things, and Skulduggery Pleasant is still there to stop them. So when Skulduggery learns of a plot to resurrect a terrifying evil, he persuades Valkyrie to join him for just twenty-four hours. But they need someone else. Someone inconspicuous, someone who can go undercover. Enter Omen Darkly. Not a warrior. Not a detective. And definitely not the chosen one.

At the funeral of her gothic novelist uncle, fourteen year old Stephanie glimpses an overdressed, bespectacled figure hidden under a broad brimmed hat. When her uncle's will is read, she inherits a mansion and a fortune. She unites with the weird and witty skeleton, Skulduggery Pleasant, sighted at the funeral and joins forces with him to save the world from the Faceless Ones.

To avert catastrophe, Skulduggery and Valkyrie are sent on a secret mission that takes them away from everything they know, to a forsaken land of magic and grim, unrelenting terror.

A Skulduggery short story. Fifteen year old Ryan is running away from home, looking for escape and adventure. Ryan hasn't gone far before he is set upon by a bunch of scary, nihilistic punk-sorcerers who need him to set off a doomsday device that will destroy the planet and everyone on it. Skulduggery and Valkyrie only have a few hours to figure out what's going on, while saving Ryan and, incidentally, the whole world.

Third bone-breaking, belly-busting adventure in the series. If you've read the previous Skulduggery books then you know what the Faceless Ones are. You can probably take a wild guess that things in this book are going to get awfully sticky for our skeletal hero and his young sidekick.

In a future where wild beasts, humans and mechanical beings battle for control, two children, Mei and Rom, on opposite sides of the earth, connect through a mysterious journal that comes alive to reveal a powerful primal force and a frightening destiny. Mei and Rom must work together to overcome evil. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Kieran finds the body of a homeless person floating in the Thames River. The police regard the death as an unfortunate accident but Kieran is obsessed with CSI and determined to find the murderer. Kieran's methodical note taking, his outstanding artistic abilities and unshakeable perseverance eventually provide many answers, not only to the murder but also to secrets in his own family.

Alone in Sydney, Alex is recruited by the Australian government to infiltrate an organised people-smuggling ring, the violent criminal underworld of the Snakeheads. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Drew isn't worried when his little brother, Martin, digs up a bone in the garden. Bu, Martin finds more bones in the shape of a hand, which then starts leaving spooky messages for Drew.

My name is Tori Spring. I like to sleep and I like to blog. Last year - before all that stuff with Charlie and before I had to face the harsh realities of A-Levels and university applications and the fact that one day I really will have to start talking to people - I had friends. Things were very different, I guess, but that's all over now. Now there's Solitaire. And Michael Holden. I don't know what Solitaire are trying to do, and I don't care about Michael Holden. I really don't. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 above. This novel depicts a number of mental health issues including depression, eating disorders and OCD. Please refer to the author's website for information about potentially triggering ideas and content.

For as long as A can remember, life has meant waking up in a different person's body every day, forced to live as that person until the day ended. A always thought there wasn't anyone else who had a life like this. But A was wrong. There are others. A has already been wrestling with powerful feelings of love and loneliness. Now comes an understanding of the extremes that love and loneliness can lead to --and what it's like to discover that you are not alone in the world. In Someday, David Levithan takes readers further into the lives of A, Rhiannon, Nathan, and the person they may think they know as Reverend Poole, exploring more deeply the questions at the core of Every Day and Another Day: What is a soul? And what makes us human? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Luke Miggs wants more than small town life: the grind of chores on the family farm, playing lacklustre footy, beers with mates. Like maybe doing something about his crush on Amanda Hunt, a barmaid at the local pub who's smart, funny and ambitious. Or maybe playing footy in the big league. At eighteen it can't be too late, can it? There's his place in the Curlews, at least, although the team's little more than a bunch of battlers who play for the beers afterwards. If only they could take their footy seriously, like the reigning champions, the Little Reach Scorpions, who have dominated the competition for ten years. By the looks of this season, nothing is going to change. But when Adam Pride emerges from the night and tells the Curlews he wants to play for them, everything begins to change. A story of friendship, family, and coming of age, and how the choices of our past can come back to shape our future.

Tim is broke. When a mysterious stranger offers him money for his overcoat, it seems like a stroke of good fortune. But there are worse things than being broke, being shot for one. The Diamond Brothers could soon share the fate of the stranger.

Fern Marlow is alone, datawiped and in hiding. Her mobie says she's Delia Greene, a refuse sorter. Every day, she queues to work, to earn enough to stay alive. She dreams of the past and the life she's meant to be living, for those wealthy enough or lucky enough to be genetically designed. Her rescuers said her former life was a lie. They said they'd come back for her but they haven't. Fern doesn't know who to trust or believe. To save herself, Fern must answer the one question she can't face. Usually read by Years 9, 10 or above.

"Special Circumstances": The words have sent chills down Tally's spine since her days as a repellent, rebellious ugly. Ordinary pretties might live their whole lives without meeting a Special. But Tally's never been ordinary. And now she's been turned into one of them: a superamped fighting machine, engineered to keep the uglies down and the pretties stupid. The strength, the speed, and the clarity and focus of her thinking feel better than anything Tally can remember. Most of the time. One tiny corner of her heart still remembers something more. Still, it's easy to tune that out -- until Tally's offered a chance to stamp out the rebels of the New Smoke permanently. It all comes down to one last choice: listen to that tiny, faint heartbeat, or carry out the mission she's programmed to complete. Either way, Tally's world will never be the same. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Three loyal teenagers witness a murder and theft of a priceless dinosaur fossil. They are not supposed to be in the National Park at night and are in great danger. An international crime gang is not going to let them get in its way.

Fourteen year old Alex Rider's guardian dies in suspicious circumstances. Within days Alex goes from schoolboy to superspy. He must take up his uncle's mission and find out the truth behind multi-millionaire Herod Sayle's act of charity. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Fourteen year old Alex Rider's guardian dies in suspicious circumstances. Within days, Alex goes from schoolboy to superspy. He must take up his uncle's mission and find out the truth behind multi-millionaire Herod Sayle's act of charity. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

Clark Kent has always been faster, stronger, better than everyone around him. But he wasn't raised to show off, and drawing attention to himself could be dangerous. Plus, it's not like he's earned his powers . . . yet. Lately it's difficult to hold back and keep his heroics in the shadows. When Clark follows the sound of a girl crying, he discovers a dark secret lurking in Smallville. Teaming up with his best friend, Lana Lang, he throws himself into the pursuit of the truth. What evil lies below the surface of his small town? And what will it cost Clark to step into the light to become the future Man of Steel?

Mhairi is walking to Scotland. She has to get there, has to find safety in her grandmother's house. But all she has is a gun with no bullets and her precious identity papers. In this dystopian new world, the journey from the African continent to the top of the UK is fraught with danger. When Mhairi comes across a lone, mute boy she finds kindness within her to help him to safety as well, even though this could jeopardise everything she is working towards.

Dom's almost there, the end is in sight and the Debt wants proof that Dom has what it takes to become one of them. Dom is desperate to be rid of his debt, but can he kill another person to prove himself. He is alone, so terribly alone.

Centuries ago, the royal family of Adria was killed. But, Grace Blakely knows the truth, there was one survivor, and that blood runs through her veins. The truth may cause a revolution and some are desperate to keep it a secret. To save herself, her family and the boy she loves, Grace must outmanoeuvre her foes and cut through the web of lies, despite the risks. If she wins, Grace will inherit a throne. If she loses, she will inherit the fate of all the dead princesses who came before her. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Before Miss Peregrine gave them a home, the story of peculiars was written in the Tales. Wealthy cannibals who dine on the discarded limbs of peculiars. A fork-tongued princess. The origins of the first ymbryne. These are but a few of the truly brilliant stories in Tales of the Peculiar - known to hide information about the peculiar world - first introduced by Ransom Riggs in his Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series. Riggs now invites you to share his secrets of peculiar history, with a collection of original stories, as collected and annotated by Millard Nullings, ward of Miss Peregrine and scholar of all things peculiar. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Set in Chile, this political thriller takes the reader on a physical and emotional journey into a military coup. A powerful and disturbing novel about one boy's attempt to reveal the abuse of power and torture used by the state. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Rey Tanic is not like other 14 year olds. His dad is a mafia boss. His dad also in jail. When Rey's life explodes, every decision he makes will shape the rest of his life. How far does the apple really fall from the tree?

A collection of ten gripping short stories about fear and hope. A boy helps his sister by disguising her birthmark on her first day of school. A seventeen-year-old awakens to find himself trapped in an elderly body. A teenage girl discovers her boyfriend has a life-threatening virus the day after they share their first kiss. A high school student tries to communicate to his hospitalised brother who is in a vegetative state. Brian Falkner serves up bite-sized tales of fear - fear of rejection, fear of dying, fear of disease, fear of the unknown, fear of exclusion, fear of being caught and fear of embarrassment - showing how that stubborn seed of hope hungers our darkest moments.

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Any two books from this series may be read as Challenge books and up to five more can be read as personal choice books. Go to the online booklists for the PRC ID of the individual books in this series.

Meet the talented, teenage girls at one of the foremost spy schools, posing as an exclusive college for exceptional women. Any two books from this series may be read as Challenge books; up to five more can be read as personal choice books. Go to the Series lists for individual book titles.

When her best friend's sister is snatched, Rae is determined to find answers. She travels to the royal court and unexpectedly begins serving the new princess. This alliance draws her deep into a dangerous quest for answers about the Snatchers. As each strand of the web is unravelled, Rae slips further into danger.

A high stakes murder trial includes a perfect murder, a faceless witness and thirteen year old Theodore as the only person who knows the whole truth.

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

When Theodore's best friend, April, goes missing in the middle of the night, fear ripples through the town. The police run out of leads and Theo uses his legal and investigative mind to track her down.

Big trouble is brewing for Theodore Boone. While all of Strattenburg anxiously awaits the new trial of infamous murder suspect Pete Duffy, problems arise for their own kid lawyer. There's been a robbery and Theo is the accused. His reputation is on the line and, with the evidence building against him and dangerous threats looming, Theo will do whatever it takes to prove his innocence. Even if it means breaking a few rules.

Theodore Boone is back in action. All of Strattenburg sits divided over a hot political and environmental issue and Theo finds himself right in the thick of it. The county commission is fighting hard to change the landscape of the town and Theo is strongly opposed to the plans. But, when he uncovers corruption beneath the surface, no one, not even Theo, is prepared for the risks and potential harm. Torn between his conscience and the law, Theo will do whatever it takes to stand up for what is right.

On a field trip to Washington, DC, Theo spots a familiar face on the Metro. He sees accused murderer and fugitive Pete Duffy, who jumped bail and was never seen again. Theo's quick thinking helps bring Duffy back to Strattenburg to stand trial. But, now that Duffy knows who he is, Theo is in greater danger than he's ever been in before. Even when everything is on the line, Theodore Boone will stop at nothing to make sure a killer is brought to justice.

Thirteen year old Theodore Boone knows every judge, police officer and court clerk in Strattenburg. But, even a future star lawyer like Theo has to deal with statewide, standardised testing. When an anonymous tip leads the school board to investigate a suspicious increase in scores at another local middle school, Theo finds himself thrust in the middle of a cheating scandal. With insider knowledge and his future on the line, Theo must follow his keen instincts to do what's right.

Harry Pigg, the only surviving brother from the Big Bad Wolf attacks, has set up business as a private in Grimmtown, only things aren't going too well. Down on his luck, with bills to pay and no clients in sight the outlook is poor. But then in walks local businessman Aladdin who needs someone to help him track down an old lamp.

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

In this tooth-rotting adventure, Cass's mum has been kidnapped by the evil dessert chef and chocolatier, Senor Hugo. The ransom...the legendary tuning fork. Can Cass and Max-Ernest find the magical instrument before it's too late. Will they discover the evil secret ingredient to Senor Hugo's chocolate success. If you're tempted, take a taste, but just remember...this book is not good for you.

Cass may be in grave danger. She's eaten the dreaded time travel chocolate. I won't even begin to tell you what trouble this delicacy has caused in the past. If only Cass could leave the past behind but it appears she is literally stuck in it. Meanwhile, Max-Ernest is worried for his best friend. Can our expert hypochondriac diagnose Cass's condition before it's too late and will he have what it takes to save the survivalist.

In 1818 Geneva, men built with clockwork parts live hidden away from society, cared for only by illegal mechanics called Shadow Boys. Two years ago, Shadow Boy Alasdair Finch's life shattered to bits. His brother, Oliver - dead. His sweetheart, Mary - gone. His chance to break free of Geneva -lost. Heart-broken and desperate, Alasdair does the unthinkable: He brings Oliver back from the dead. But putting back together a broken life is more difficult than mending bones and adding clockwork pieces. Oliver returns more monster than man, and Alasdair's horror further damages the already troubled relationship. Then comes the publication of Frankenstein and the city intensifies its search for Shadow Boys, aiming to discover the real life doctor and his monster. Alasdair finds refuge with his idol, the brilliant Dr. Geisler, who may offer him a way to escape the dangerous present and his guilt-ridden past, but at a horrible price only Oliver can pay...

When a lone soldier, Cole, arrives with news of Lachlan Agatta's death, all hope seems lost for Catarina. Her father was the world's leading geneticist, and humanity's best hope of beating a devastating virus. Then, hidden beneath Cole's genehacked enhancements she finds a message of hope: Lachlan created a vaccine. Only she can find and decrypt it, if she can unravel the clues he left for her. The closer she gets, the more she finds herself at risk from Cartaxus, a shadowy organisation with a stranglehold on the world's genetic tech. But it's too late to turn back. There are three billion lives at stake, two people who can save them, and one final secret that Cat must unlock. A secret that will change everything. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Three books in one - The French confection, The blurred man, I know what you did last Wednesday.

It's been a year since Rowan went off-grid. Hunted by the Scythedom, he has become an urban legend, a vigilante snuffing out corrupt scythes in a trial by fire. Citra, meanwhile, is forging her path as Scythe Anastasia, gleaning with compassion. However, conflict within the Scythedom is growing by the day, and when Citra's life is threatened, it becomes clear that there is a truly terrifying plot afoot. The Thunderhead observes everything, and it does not like what it sees. Will it intervene? Or will it simply watch as this perfect world begins to unravel? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Hermux, a watchmaker and an unlikely hero, finds himself in a world of danger and intrigue.

Soldier Otto Hundebis defies Death but walks a dangerous path. A half beast half man gives him shoes and dice which lead him deep into a web of dark magic and mystery. He meets the beautiful Safire, pure of heart and spirit, the scheming Mistress Jabber and the terrifying Lady of the Nail. He learns the powers of the tinderbox and the wolves, whose master he becomes. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Toby Lolness may be only one and a half millimetres tall but he is involved in a huge and harrowing fight for his life and the safety of his family. A thrilling tale of state control, betrayal, cruelty, heroism, friendship and survival in a violent, miniature world that is not for the faint-hearted. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Toby's world is under greater threat than ever before. A giant crater has been dug right into the centre of the Tree, moss and lichen invade the branches, and one tyrant controls it all. Leo Blue, once Toby's best friend, now his worst enemy, is holding Elisha prisoner and mercilessly hunting the Grass People. But returning after several years among the Grass People, Toby will fight back. And this time, he's not alone. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Three friends are living on a heap of trash, a lifetime of sifting rubbish. One day they find something extraordinary. From that moment on they are hunted without mercy. But they can't run forever. The reality of a slum society in the modern world combined with an action packed mystery.

Two spooky stories including one about Twist Cottage, where all the previous owners have died in mysterious circumstances, and Harriet's horrible dream, the story of Harriet who is having a nightmare and doesn't seem to be able to wake up.

Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. In just a few weeks she'll have the operation that will turn her from a repellent ugly into a stunning pretty. And as a pretty, she'll be catapulted into a high-tech paradise where her only job is to have fun. But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to become a pretty. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world-- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally a choice: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. Tally's choice will change her world forever... Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen. This series is usually read by students in year 9, 10 and above.

Millie Osborne is an errand girl for King's company, the famous troupe of actors who, beset by misfortune, have decided to put on a spectacular performance of Hamlet to announce their comeback. When mysterious Oliver Parry arrives to audition for Hamlet, Millie is intrigued and wonders why he is so secretive. She investigates and Millie uncovers secret identities, betrayal, lies, revenge and, perhaps, even murder.

Mia and Jules are desperate to warn their home planet about the impending invasion from the Undying. They escape the Undying's ancient spacecraft, crash land back on Earth managing to avoid being killed, only to find that no one will believe them about the alien threat in orbit. When they realise that no one is going to take them seriously, they must take things into their own hands. All they need to do is escape the powerful International Alliance, avoid being killed by aliens, prevent a horrific plague, while racing across Europe to save the people they love...no pressure. Mature themes, Usually read by students in Year 9, 10 and above.

Cammie Morgan has lost her father and her memory, but in the heart-pounding conclusion to the best-selling Gallagher Girls series, she finds her greatest mission yet. Cammie and her friends finally know why the terrorist organisation called the Circle of Cavan has been hunting her. Now the spy girls and Zach must track down the Circle's elite members to stop them before they implement a master plan that will change Cammie -- and her country -- forever.

A world of water is all seventeen-year-old Tempe has ever known. When the Great Waves destroyed her planet, its people had to learn to survive living on the water. Relics of the old world hold great value, so Tempe spends her days diving through drowned cities to scavenge anything of value to trade for notes. But it's not food or riches Tempe is after, but the chance to buy back her dead sister's life for 24 hours. But it's not a heartfelt reunion Tempe is after. Her sister died keeping a terrible secret, and she wants answers.

Bren Own was born and bred in a small port town. Map may appear to be dull and unadventurous to young Bren in 1599 before the arrival of a Dutch ship. A dying sailor and strange gift change his life forever. Bren will travel far and make new friends. There will be challenges and mysteries. There are codes and legends to unravel and danger in all corners. This is an adventure story set during the Age of Discovery.

Meet the brave young women from tales of yore...Vasilisa who must try to outwit the fearsome witch Baba-Yaga. Katie Crackernuts who sets out to save her sister from dark magic. Flora, the gardener's daughter, who marries a giant serpent to save a prince. Fairer-Than-A-Fairy, a princess who is kidnapped by an evil one-eyed enchantress. Lullala, in love with a prince cursed to be a lion by day and a man by night. Rosemary, a Scottish lass whose baby is stolen by the wicked faery folk of the Sidhe. Ursula, a princess replaced by a walking, talking automaton.These are not your usual passive princess, waiting forlornly for their prince to come. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Alfred is keen to give up bogling, since he almost lost his last apprentice, Birdie. When children start disappearing, Alfred and Jem join forces, waging an underground war. They even seek help from Birdie, dragging her away from the safe home with Miss Eames. Together they learn that there's only one thing more terrifying than facing a whole plague of bogles - and that's facing some of the sinister people from Jem's past.

The plague of child-eating bogles in London means that Ned's now working as an apprentice to Alfred, the bogler. Alongside Jem and Birdie, Ned must lure bogles out of their lairs so that Alfred can kill them. This means spending a lot of time in murky underground waterways - especially when Alfred is hired to stamp out a deadly infestation. But times are changing, as magic and folklore give way to the machine age.

Monsters have been infesting London's dark places for centuries, eating every child who gets too close. That's why ten-year-old Birdie McAdam works for Alfred Bunce, the bogler. With her beautiful voice and dainty looks, Birdie is the bait that draws bogles from their lairs so that Alfred can kill them.

It's the end of the world. Literally. Time travel is possible, but only forwards. And only a handful of families choose to remain in the 'now', living off the scraps that were left behind. Among these are eighteen-year-old Juliet and the love of her life, Romeo. But things are far from rosy for Jules. Romeo is in a coma and she's estranged from her friends and family, dealing with the very real fallout of their wild romance. Then a handsome time traveller, Ellis, arrives with an important mission that makes Jules question everything she knows about life and love. Can Jules wake Romeo and rewrite her future? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Fairy-Tale Survival Rule No. 52: No matter how difficult the obstacles or all-powerful the evil villain, one can rest assured that the hero of the story never dies. The sidekicks though...they should be worried. Rexi Hood is proud to be an outlaw. After all, she's the daughter of the infamous Robin Hood. But sidekick? Accomplice? Sorry, that wasn't in her story description. Yeah, she and Princess Dorthea of Emerald have been inseparable since they teamed up to fight the wickedest witch. But if Rexi doesn't figure out how to break the curse that binds them, forget being overshadowed by the spirited princess, Rexi's going to become a Forgotten, wiped from the pages of Story and reduced to a puddle of ink. Not happening. No way in Spell.

Adele loves being one of the popular girls at Keziah Christian Academy. She knows the upcoming semester at school will be great with her best friend Delia at her side. Then Delia dumps her for a new girl with more money, and Adele is forced to share a room with Lottie, the school pariah, who doesn't pray and defies teachers' orders. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above. As they share a copy of Jane Eyre, Lottie's gruff exterior and honesty grow on Adele, and together they take on bullies and protect each other from the vindictive and prejudiced teachers. When a boy goes missing on campus, Adele and Lottie must work together to solve the mystery, in the process learning the true meaning of friendship.

My name is Amy Gumm, and I'm the other girl from Kansas. After a tornado swept through my trailer park, I ended up in Oz. But it wasn't like the Oz I knew from books and movies. Dorothy had returned, but she was now a ruthless dictator. Glinda could no longer be called the Good Witch. And the Wicked Witches who were left? They'd joined forces as the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked, and they wanted to recruit me. My mission? Kill Dorothy. Except my job as assassin didn't work out as planned. Dorothy is still alive. The Order has vanished. And the home I couldn't wait to leave behind might be in danger. Somehow, across a twisted and divided land, I have to find the Order, protect the true ruler of Oz, take Dorothy and her henchmen down, and try to figure out what I'm really doing here. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Raxter's School for Girls was meant to be the perfect place for young woman to receive an outstanding education. But when the Tox hits, leaving most of their teachers dead and their peers' bodies mutated, Raxter's becomes a living nightmare for Hetty, Reese and Byatt. Left to fend for themselves by the authorities, the surviving students of Raxters adhere to the strict quarantine designed to protect them from the wild and mutated beasts that roam the forest. When Byatt goes missing, Hetty is determined to do everything to bring her back - even if it means breaking quarantine and facing the horrors beyond Raxter's fence. Once outside though, she uncovers much more to the Tox and life at Raxter than she ever thought possible. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10, and above

Todd is running late for school when he witnesses a ruthless attack and robbery on Mr Wilson, a local shopkeeper. Something is vaguely familiar about the attacker and, when Todd finally recognises him, Todd's life and that of his friends are in danger.

The No.1 bestselling series from the author of How to Train Your Dragon. Can Xar and Wish unite their worlds in time to save the Wildwoods? Will it be Never... or Forever? The final book in the magical The Wizards of Once series. Xar and Wish have found the ingredients for the Spell-to-get-rid-of-Witches. Now the Kingwitch is calling them to the lake of the lost. But first they must mix the potion in the Cup of Second Chances ... Can they defeat the hungry Tatzelwerm monster and escape with the cup? And will the spell be strong enough to lift the CURSE OF THE WILDWOODS... or will Witches reign FOREVER?

Tamara Bennett is going to be the first journalist to strictly report only good news. Finished with high school, Tamara is ready to say goodbye to her sleepy little town and part-time job at the local paper. But things take an unexpected turn when Tamara arrives home to find her house ransacked and her life in danger. What is the mysterious note her attacker wants - and why is he willing to kill for it? A tragic boating accident five years ago holds the clue that could keep Tamara alive. But how can she find the truth when she can't tell who's lying?

Morrigan Crow has been invited to join the prestigious Wundrous Society, a place that promised her friendship, protection and belonging for life. She's hoping for an education full of wunder, imagination and discovery - but all the Society want to teach her is how evil Wundersmiths are. And someone is blackmailing Morrigan's unit, turning her last few loyal friends against her. Has Morrigan escaped from being the cursed child of Wintersea only to become the most hated figure in Nevermoor? Worst of all, people have started to go missing. The fantastical city of Nevermoor, once a place of magic and safety, is now riddled with fear and suspicion...

Kirra's so-called friends bully her, her mother has taken to alcohol ever since her dad left them for another woman and, now, a teenage ghost is speaking to her through a broken phone booth. Kirra and the ghost make a pact. She'll prove who murdered him almost twenty years ago if he makes her popular, gets her parents back together, and promises not to haunt her. But, things aren't so simple and Kirra realises that people can be haunted in more ways than one. Mature themes. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

My name is Amy Gumm. Tornadoes must have a thing about girls from Kansas, because-just like Dorothy-I got swept away on one too. I landed in Oz, where Good is Wicked, Wicked is Good, and the Wicked Witches clued me in to my true calling: Assassin. The way to stop Dorothy from destroying Oz-and Kansas-is to kill her. And I'm the only one who can do it. But I failed. Others died for my mistakes. Because of me, the portal between the worlds has been opened. And if I don't find a way to close it Dorothy will make sure I never get to go home again. Now it's up to me to: join the Witches, fight for Oz, save Kansas, and stop Dorothy once and for all. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

A class trip to the natural history museum turns dangerous, or perhaps deadly when Cass accidentally breaks a finger off a priceless mummy. Forced to atone for this crime, Cass and her friends go to work for the mummy exhibit's curator, only to be blamed when tragedy strikes. To clear their names the trio must travel deep into a land of majestic pyramids, dusty tombs, mysterious hieroglyphs, and the walking dead.

The Austin family find themselves endangered by the Alphabat gang's evil use of lasers.