JUNIOR FICTION
Artie and the Grime Wave (Richard Roxburgh)
Artie and his best friend Bumshoe have stumbled upon a Cave-of-Possibly-Stolen-Stuff, and along with it a gang of shady characters including scary Mary, fang-toothed Funnel-web and the devious Mayor Grime.
Artie and Bumshoe’s attempt to solve the mystery sparks a chaotic chain of events that involves kidnapping, puppy-dog cutlets, modern art and pioneering the sport of the bungee- wedgie.
It’s a sticky situation and if Artie’s going to escape, he might need help from family, friends, a little old lady, a small dog and the Fartex 120Y.
A riotously funny adventure from the multi-talented Richard Roxburgh.
Olive of Groves and The Right Royal Romp (Book 3) (Katrina Nannestad)
How absolutely splendid! Dust the doorknobs. Polish the silver. Roll out the red carpet. The Queen is coming to Mrs Groves’ Boarding School for Naughty Boys, Talking Animals and Circus Performers for tea! Nothing, absolutely nothing, could possibly spoil this right royal moment…
Except for the return of scheming villain, Pig McKenzie … and the arrival of a strange, harsh woman called Thistlebloom … and the fact that the Inspector of Schools has promised to close the doors of Groves forever if the Queen’s visit does not run smoothly …
Oh deary, deary me! Nothing ever runs smoothly at Groves! Someone needs to take control. Someone clever, brave and practical. Someone with big ideas and an even bigger heart. Someone named Olive. But does our beloved heroine have what it takes, or is this the end of Groves, once and for all?
The third adventure in this incomparably witty and charming series from award-winning author Katrina Nannestad.
(Ages 8-12)
Ruby Redfort: Blink And You Die (Book 6) (Lauren Child)
Ruby Redfort: undercover agent, code-cracker and thirteen-year-old genius – you can count on her when the ice starts to crack. All good things come to an end…
Ruby Redfort is running scared, a whole bunch of people want her dead and worst of all one of them is on her team. But just who is this agent of doom? You can run, Ruby, but you can’t hide…
The mind-blowing conclusion to the thrilling series by award-winning author Lauren Child.
(Ages 9+)
Bad Guys Episode 4: Apocalypse Meow (Aaron Blabey)
Its a ZOMBIE KITTEN APOCALYPSE! Should you panic? Should you cry? Should you poop your pants? NO!
Just sit back and watch the fur fly as the world’s baddest good guys take on Mad Marmalade’s meowing monsters!
A Most Magical Girl (Karen Foxlee)
Magical machines, wizards, witches, mysterious underworlds, a race against time – and two most magical girls.
Annabel Grey has been brought up to be a very proper Victorian young lady. But being ‘proper’ isn’t always easy – especially when you can sometimes see marvellous (as well as terrifying) things in puddles. But parlour tricks such as these are nothing compared to the world that Annabel is about to enter…
After the rather sudden departure of her mother, Annabel is sent to live with her aunts. They claim to be Shoreditch witches, and from a very old family line of them too. They’re keen to introduce Annabel to their world of transformation, potions and flying broomsticks (which seem to have strong personalities of their own) but are horrified when Annabel announces not only does she not know any magic, young ladies shouldn’t believe in such things. But before Annabel has time to decide whether she does or not, she is swept into an urgent quest.
The trees of Highgate have been whispering to Kitty – an extraordinary urchin of a girl, who Annabel’s aunts seem very fond of – and so have the fairies. They talk of a terrible, dark magic that wants to devour all of London. And of a most magical girl who might be able to stop it . . .
This sparkling and enchanting story is sure to bewitch you, so curl up in front of the fire, and prepare to be swept away . . .
(Ages 12+)
The Book of Whispers (Kimberley Starr)
Tuscany, 1096 AD. Luca, young heir to the title of Conte de Falconi, sees demons. Since no one else can see them, Luca must keep quiet about what he sees, or risk another exorcism by the nefarious priest Ramberti.
Luca also has dreams—dreams that sometimes predict the future. Night after night Luca sees his father murdered, and vows to stop it coming true. Even if he has to go against his father’s wishes and follow him on the great pilgrimage to capture the Holy Lands.
Far away in Cappadocia, Suzan has dreams too. Consigned with her mute mother to a life in an underground convent, she has a vision of a brown-haired boy riding through the desert. A boy with an ancient book that holds some inscrutable power. A boy who will take her on an adventure that will lead to places beyond both their understanding.
Together, Luca and Suzan will realise their true quest: to defeat the forces of man and demon that wish to destroy the world.
Winner of the Text Prize for Young Adult and Children’s Writing 2015
(Ages 12+)
Odd and the Frost Giants (Neil Gaiman, Illustrated by Chris Riddell)
Odd’s luck has been bad so far. He lost his father on a Viking expedition, his foot was crushed beneath a tree, and the winter seems to be going on for ever. But when Odd flees to the woods and releases a trapped bear, his luck begins to change. The eagle, bear and fox he encounters reveal they’re actually Norse gods, trapped in animal form by the evil frost giants who have conquered Asgard, the city of the gods.Can a twelve-year-old boy reclaim Thor’s hammer, outwit the frost giants and release the gods?
With Neil Gaiman’s wit and style this story transcends the everyday and becomes a humorous, rich and layered tale of a life lived courageously. With incredible illustrations from Chris Riddell, this is a stunning companion to their previous collaboration, The Sleeper And The Spindle.
The Beginning Woods (Malcolm McNeill)
Dare you follow your dreams?
A mystery no one can solve – The Vanishings started without warning. People disappearing into thin air – just piles of clothes left behind. Each day, thousands gone without a trace.
A baby no one wanted – Max was abandoned in a bookshop and grows up haunted by memories of his parents. Only he can solve the mystery of the Vanishings.
A secret that could save the future – To find the answers, Max must leave this world and enter the Beginning Woods. A realm of magic and terror, life and death. But can he bear the truth – or will it destroy him?
A story that will take you to another world – Greater than your dreams. Darker than your fears. Full of more wonder than you could ever desire
Welcome to the ineffable Beginning Woods…
TEEN FICTION / YOUNG ADULT
Swarm: Zeroes 2 (Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan and Deborah Biancotti)
Every power has a dark side. Keep the secret. Use your power for good. Keep out of trouble. Stick together. Or things will fall apart.
It’s the holiday season, but the celebration at the Zeroes’ underground nightclub is blown apart when two strangers with new powers take to the dance floor. The Zeroes pursue them, only to discover that they’re fleeing an even more sinister power-wielder, Swarm. The Zeroes must learn all they can about this dangerous new player if they are to stay safe.
Meanwhile each of the Zeroes also has their own issues to deal with. Bellwether’s confidence is challenged, and Mob questions the nature of her power. Crash’s conscience gets a workout, and Anon and Scam face harsh truths about belonging. And it’s up to Flicker to pick up the reins and lead the Zeroes into a terrifying showdown.
A terrific sequel with a cracking pace that raises the stakes in this brilliant and unique superheroes series.
Goldenhand (Old Kingdom Book 5) (Garth Nix)
Lirael is no longer a shy Second Assistant Librarian – she’s now the Abhorsen-in-Waiting, with a new hand, one of gilded steel and Charter Magic. When she discovers Nicholas Sayre lying unconscious, she uses her powers to save him. But the attack has left Nicholas tainted with Free Magic, so together they embark on a dangerous journey to seek help at Lirael’s childhood home, the Clayr’s Glacier. A young woman from the distant North is travelling to meet them bearing a message from Lirael’s long-dead mother, Arielle. It is a warning about the Witch with No Face. But who is the Witch, and what is she planning? Lirael must save the Old Kingdom from this great danger – and it must be forestalled not only in the living world but also in the cold, remorseless river of Death.
Replica (Lauren Oliver)
Turn Replica one way and read Lyra’s story; turn the book over and upside down and read Gemma’s story!
Lyra’s story begins in the Haven Institute, a building tucked away on a private island off the coast of Florida that from a distance looks serene and even beautiful. But up close the locked doors, military guards, and biohazard suits tell a different story. In truth, Haven is a clandestine research facility where thousands of replicas, or human models, are born, raised, and observed. When a surprise attack is launched on Haven, two of its young experimental subjects – Lyra, aka number 24, and the boy known only as 72 – manage to escape.
Gemma has been in and out of hospitals for as long as she can remember. A lonely teen, her life is circumscribed by home, school, and her best friend, April. But after she is nearly abducted by a stranger claiming to know her, Gemma starts to investigate her family’s past and discovers her father’s mysterious connection to the secretive Haven Institute. Hungry for answers, she travels to Florida, only to stumble upon two replicas and a completely new set of questions.
While the stories of Lyra and Gemma mirror each other, each contains breathtaking revelations critically important to the other story. Replica is an ambitious, thought-provoking masterwork.
Fever Code (Prequel to Maze Runner) (James Dashner)
Once there was a world’s end.
The forests burned, the lakes and rivers dried up, and the oceans swelled.
Then came a plague, and fever spread across the globe. Families died, violence reigned, and man killed man.
Next came WICKED, who were looking for an answer. And then they found the perfect boy.
The boy’s name was Thomas, and Thomas built a maze.
Now there are secrets.
There are lies.
And there are loyalties history could never have foreseen.
This is the story of that boy, Thomas, and how he built a maze that only he could tear down.
All will be revealed.
A prequel to the worldwide Maze Runner phenomenon, The Fever Code is the book that holds all the answers – How did WICKED find the Gladers? Who are Group B? And what side are Thomas and Teresa really on? Lies will be exposed. Secrets will be uncovered. Loyalties will be proven. Fans will never see the truth coming…
Magnus Chase and the Hammer of Thor (Book #2) (Rick Riordan)
My name is Magnus Chase. Two months ago I died fighting a Fire Giant and woke up in Hotel Valhalla as one of Odin’s warriors. Time for a rest? I wish.
When I meet Otis, an informant with a lead on Thor’s missing hammer, all I get is the name ‘Provincetown’ before a wolf-masked assassin takes him out and warns me to stay away.
Someone really doesn’t want me to find the hammer, and even if I could it’s rumoured to be underground, guarded by powerful magic.
But the giant armies are on the move, preparing to invade. If I don’t find it, they’ll ravage the Nine Worlds, starting with the streets of Boston.
There’s just one person who could help. Someone who demands a very high price: the gods’ worst enemy, Loki.
Our Chemical Hearts (Krystal Sutherland)
Henry Page has never been in love. He fancies himself a hopeless romantic, but the slo-mo, heart palpitating, can’t-eat-can’t-sleep kind of love that he’s been hoping for just hasn’t been in the cards for him—at least not yet. Instead, he’s been happy to focus on his grades, on getting into a semi-decent college and finally becoming editor of his school newspaper. Then Grace Town walks into his first period class on the third Tuesday of senior year and he knows everything’s about to change.
Grace isn’t who Henry pictured as his dream girl—she walks with a cane, wears oversized boys’ clothes, and rarely seems to shower. But when Grace and Henry are both chosen to edit the school paper, he quickly finds himself falling for her. It’s obvious there’s something broken about Grace, but it seems to make her even more beautiful to Henry, and he wants nothing more than to help her put the pieces back together again. And yet, this isn’t your average story of boy meets girl. Krystal Sutherland’s brilliant debut is equal parts wit and heartbreak, a potent reminder of the bittersweet bliss that is first love.
John Green meets Rainbow Rowell in this irresistible story of first love, broken hearts, and the golden seams that put them back together again.
Holding Up the Universe (Jennifer Niven)
You are wanted. You are necessary. You are loved.
Everyone thinks they know Libby Strout, but no one’s ever looked past her weight to see who she really is. Since her mum’s death, Libby’s been hiding, but now she’s ready for high school. I want to be the girl who can do anything.
Everyone thinks they know Jack Masselin too – sexy, aloof and too cool for school. But Jack’s swaggering confidence is hiding a secret he must keep at all costs. Be charming. Be hilarious. Don’t get too close to anyone.
Then Jack meets Libby. And their worlds change. Because sometimes when you meet someone, the whole universe just comes into focus.
Jennifer Niven delivers another poignant, exhilarating love story about finding that one person who sees you for who you really are – and seeing them right back.
The Everywhere Bear
The Grand, Genius Summer of Henry Hoobler
Marge and the Pirate Baby
Snow Man and the Seven Ninjas (Epic Fail Tales Book 1)
The Cruelty
Wipeout (Seven Signs Book 3)
