Chance is a black-and-white thinker until she realises that sometimes there are shades of grey.
Chance is in Year 7 and thinks she has it all – a loving mother, dog Tiges, best friend and almost-sister next door. But when a reality TV team makes over her house, she discovers newspaper cuttings from the past that cause her to question the world as she knows it and everyone in it. www. goodreads.comThe boy at the back of the class by Onjali Q. Raúf
Told with humor and heart, ‘THE BOY AT THE BACK OF THE CLASS’ offers a child’s perspective on the refugee crisis, highlighting the importance of friendship and kindness in a world that doesn’t always make sense.
A funny and heart-warming queer Indigenous YA novel, set in a rural Australian community, about seventeen-year-old Jackson finding the courage to explore who he is, even if it scares him.
‘I don’t paint so much anymore,’ I say, looking to my feet.
‘Oh. Well, I got a boy who needs to do some art. You can help him out,’ Aunty Pam says, like I have no say in the matter, like she didn’t hear what I just said about not painting so much anymore. ‘Jackson, this is Tomas. He’s living with me for a little while.’ www. goodreads.comA burning by Megha Majumdar
For readers of Tommy Orange, Yaa Gyasi, and Jhumpa Lahiri, an electrifying debut novel about three unforgettable characters who seek to rise—to the middle class, to political power, to fame in the movies—and find their lives entangled in the wake of a catastrophe in contemporary India. www. goodreads.com Call me by your name by Andre Aciman
Call Me by Your Name is the story of a sudden and powerful romance that blossoms between an adolescent boy and a summer guest at his parents’ cliff-side mansion on the Italian Riviera. Unprepared for the consequences of their attraction, at first each feigns indifference. But during the restless summer weeks that follow, unrelenting buried currents of obsession and fear, fascination and desire, intensify their passion as they test the charged ground between them. What grows from the depths of their spirits is a romance of scarcely six weeks’ duration and an experience that marks them for a lifetime. www. goodreads.comThe constant princess by Philippa Gregory
Splendid and sumptuous historical novel from the internationally bestselling author, Philippa Gregory, telling of the early life of Katherine of Aragon. We think of Katherine of Aragon as the barren wife of a notorious king; but behind this legacy lies a fascinating story.Crush the King by Jennifer Estep
A fierce gladiator queen must face off against her enemies in an epic battle in this next thrilling installment of New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Estep’s Crown of Shards series—an action-packed adventure full of magic, murderous machinations, courtly intrigue, and pulse-pounding romance.An orchestra of minorities by Chigozie Obioma
A contemporary twist on the Odyssey, An Orchestra of Minorities is narrated by the chi, or spirit of a young poultry farmer named Chinonso. His life is set off course when he sees a woman who is about to jump off a bridge. Horrified by her recklessness, he hurls two of his prized chickens off the bridge. The woman, Ndali, is stopped in her tracks.The silent corner by Dean Koontz
Meet Jane Hawk—a remarkable new heroine certain to become an icon of suspense, propelled by the singular narrative genius of #1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz.
“I very much need to be dead.”
These are the chilling words left behind by a man who had everything to live for—but took his own life. In the aftermath, his widow, Jane Hawk, does what all her grief, fear, and fury demand: find the truth, no matter what.Spin the dawn by Elizabeth Lim
Project Runway meets Mulan in this sweeping YA fantasy about a young girl who poses as a boy to compete for the role of imperial tailor and embarks on an impossible journey to sew three magic dresses, from the sun, the moon, and the stars.
Maia Tamarin dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land, but as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia poses as a boy and takes his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she’ll take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin. There’s just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors vying for the job.The tyrant’s tomb (book four) by Rick Riordan In his penultimate adventure, a devastated but determined Apollo travels to Camp Jupiter, where he must learn what it is to be a hero, or die trying.
It’s not easy being Apollo, especially when you’ve been turned into a human and banished from Olympus. On his path to restoring five ancient oracles and reclaiming his godly powers, Apollo (aka Lester Papadopoulos) has faced both triumphs and tragedies. Now his journey takes him to Camp Jupiter in the San Francisco Bay Area, where the Roman demigods are preparing for a desperate last stand against the evil Triumvirate of Roman emperors. White Eagles by Elizabeth Wein
Summer 1939. With Europe on the brink of war, eighteen-year-old Kristina Tomiak has been called up to join the White Eagles, Poland’s valiant air force. When the Nazis reach the town where she is based, Kristina makes a daring escape, but she doesn’t realise that she’s carrying a stowaway in her plane. Will Kristina be able to navigate the most challenging flight of her life and reach safety amid the turmoil of war? Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 13+ The history of mischief by Rebecca Higgie
When Jessie and her older sister Kay find a book called The History of Mischief, hidden beneath the floorboards in their grandmother’s house, they uncover a secret world. The History chronicles how, since antiquity, mischief-makers have clandestinely shaped the past – from an Athenian slave to a Polish salt miner and from an advisor to the Ethiopian Queen to a girl escaping the Siege of Paris. Jessie becomes enthralled by the book and by her own mission to determine its accuracy.Frostheart: Escape from Aurora by Jamie Littler
Ash and the rest of the Frostheart’s brave crew have finally arrived at the majestic stronghold of Aurora – and Ash’s mind is blown. It’s an extraordinary place – unlike anything he’s ever seen – and he can’t wait to solve the next clue that will lead him to his parents. But it’s quickly clear that even Aurora isn’t safe for Song Weavers. A fanatical Pathfinder captain has turned the city against Ash and his kind – and it’s not long before the Frostheart has to make another break for freedom.A good girl’s guide to murder by Holly Jackson
The case is closed. Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh. The police know he did it. Everyone in town knows he did it.
But having grown up in the same small town that was consumed by the murder, Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn’t so sure. When she chooses the case as the topic for her final year project, she starts to uncover secrets that someone in town desperately wants to stay hidden.Invisible Emmie by Terri Libenson
This is the story of two totally different girls—quiet, shy, artistic Emmie and popular, outgoing, athletic Katie—and how their lives unexpectedly intersect one day when an embarrassing note falls into the wrong hands.Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeer’s Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among the tools of sorcery—magical grimoires that whisper on shelves and rattle beneath iron chains. If provoked, they transform into grotesque monsters of ink and leather. She hopes to become a warden, charged with protecting the kingdom from their power.
Zombie finally made it through 7th grade…And he even made it through one really crazy summer!
But will Zombie be able to survive through the first weeks of being an 8th grader in Mob Scare School? www. goodreads.comBullies and buddies by Zack Zombie
12 year old Zombie is back for another hilarious and exciting adventure.
This time Zombie is up against some of the meanest and scary mob bullies at school. Will he be able to stop the mob bullies from terrorizing him and his friends, and make it back in one piece? www. goodreads.comThe bone shard daughter by Andrea Stewart In an empire controlled by bone shard magic, Lin, the former heir to the emperor will fight to reclaim her magic and her place on the throne.
The emperor’s reign has lasted for decades, his mastery of bone shard magic powering the animal-like constructs that maintain law and order. But now his rule is failing, and revolution is sweeping across the Empire’s many islands. www. goodreads.comThe bone weaver’s orchard by Sarah Read
He’s run away home. That’s what they say every time one of Charley Winslow’s friends vanishes from The Old Cross School for Boys.
It’s just a tall tale. That’s what they tell Charley when he sees the ragged grey figure stalking the abbey halls at night. www. goodreads.comCome from away by Genevieve Graham
In the fall of 1939, Grace Baker’s three brothers, sharp and proud in their uniforms, board Canadian ships headed for a faraway war. Grace stays behind, tending to the homefront and the general store that helps keep her small Nova Scotian community running. The war, everyone says, will be over before it starts. But three years later, the fighting rages on and rumours swirl about “wolf packs” of German U-Boats lurking in the deep waters along the shores of East Jeddore, a stone’s throw from Grace’s window. www. goodreads.comA court of thorns and roses by Sarah J. Maas
Feyre’s survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price …A deadly education by Naomi Novik
A Deadly Education is set at Scholomance, a school for the magically gifted where failure means certain death (for real) — until one girl, El, begins to unlock its many secrets.
There are no teachers, no holidays, and no friendships, save strategic ones. Survival is more important than any letter grade, for the school won’t allow its students to leave until they graduate… or die! The rules are deceptively simple: Don’t walk the halls alone. And beware of the monsters who lurk everywhere.Rebel Gods by Will Kostakis
Newbie gods Connor, Sally and Locky want to change the world, no biggie. When their first attempted miracle doesn’t quite go to plan, they find themselves at odds with their families, the media and each other. To make matters worse, they’re drawn into a centuries old conflict between the gods of Love and Fear that just might destroy the world they’re striving to make better.The Sentinel by Lee Child
As always, Reacher has no particular place to go, and all the time in the world to get there. One morning he ends up in a town near Pleasantville, Tennessee.
Following Ivy Sparrow’s discoveries in The Crooked Sixpence, the adventures continue in the second instalment of The Uncommoners trilogy, The Smoking Hourglass. As soon as Ivy and her brother Seb set foot back in the mysterious underground city of Lundinor, they know that something has changed . . . Where before there were cobbled streets, now the squares and lanes between the city’s enchanted shops are lush with spring blooms – but something dark is stirring just below the surface, and uncommon traders are uneasy. Ivy and Seb have stumbled into a plot that could condemn every uncommoner to a disastrous fate .Stormcaster by Cinda Williams Chima
The third book in the thrilling four-book Shattered Realms series from New York Times bestselling author Cinda Williams Chima
The empress in the east—the unspeakably cruel ruler whose power grew in Flamecaster and Shadowcaster—tightens her grip in this chilling third installment in the series.Unravel the dusk by Elizabeth Lim
Maia Tamarin’s journey to sew the dresses of the sun, the moon and the stars has taken a grievous toll. She returns to a kingdom on the brink of war. The boy she loves is gone, and she is forced to don the dress of the sun and assume the place of the emperor’s bride-to-be to keep the peace.
But the war raging around Maia is nothing compared to the battle within. Ever since she was touched by the demon Bandur, she has been changing . . . glancing in the mirror to see her own eyes glowing red, losing control of her magic, her body, her mind.You should see me in a crown by Leah Johnson
Liz Lighty has always believed she’s too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed midwestern town. But it’s okay — Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana, forever: attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor.The invisible life of Addie Larue by V. E. Schwab
A Life No One Will Remember. A Story You Will Never Forget.
France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.
Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.The Uncommoners: The frozen telescope by Jennifer Bell
After the thrilling events which concluded The Smoking Hourglass, Ivy, Seb and Valian think they’ve vanquished their enemies, and those of Lundinor, forever. It turns out their adventure was only just beginning . . .
Ivy and Seb can’t wait to join Valian for their first ever overseas uncommon adventure – they’re meeting in Nubrook, the completely astonishing and totally different to Ludinor trading market hidden underneath New York. Hey, Sherlock! by Simon Mason
Amy Roecastle is beautiful. Selfish. And missing. Vanished without a trace in the middle of the night, she’s taken her ferocious dog – and something else, too. Something deadly. Amy’s best friend is lying to Inspector Singh, who has no leads and no idea. Cue Garvie Smith. Teenage slacker. Undeniable crime-solving genius.A murder most unladylike: A spoonful of murder by Robin Stevens
The sixth mystery from the bestselling, award-winning author of Murder Most Unladylike.
When Hazel Wong’s beloved grandfather passes away, Daisy Wells is all too happy to accompany her friend (and Detective Society Vice President) to Hazel’s family estate in beautiful, bustling Hong Kong.Monument 14: Sky on fire by Emmy Laybourne
Trapped in a superstore by a series of escalating disasters, including a monster hailstorm and terrifying chemical weapons spill, brothers Dean and Alex learned how to survive and worked together with twelve other kids to build a refuge from the chaos. But then strangers appeared, destroying their fragile peace, and bringing both fresh disaster and a glimmer of hope.
A Murder Most Unladylike Mystery Series 8 Books Collection Set by Robin Stevens:
Murder Most Unladylike: At Deepdean School for Girls, Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong have set up their own detective agency. But they are struggling to find any real crimes to investigate.
Arsenic For Tea: Daisy’s glamorous mother is throwing a tea party for Daisy’s birthday, and the whole family is invited, from eccentric Aunt Saskia to dashing Uncle Felix.
First Class Murder: Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are taking a holiday on the world-famous Orient Express – and it’s clear that each of their fellow first-class passengers has something to hide.
Jolly Foul Play: As they return to Deepdean for a new school term, Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are faced with some big changes.
Mistletoe and Murder: It’s Christmas, and the snow is falling in Cambridge, where the detective duo Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are spending the festive period.
A Spoonful of Murder: When Hazel Wong’s beloved grandfather passes away, Daisy Wells is all too happy to accompany her friend.
Death in the Spotlight: Fresh from their adventure in Hong Kong, Hazel Wong and Daisy Wells are off to the Rue Theatre in London to face an entirely new challenge: acting.
Cream Buns and Crime: Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are famous for the murder cases they have solved – but there are many other mysteries in the pages of Hazel’s casebook. (robin-stevens.co.uk)The Once Series by Morris Gleitzman
My name is Felix Once I saved a girl called Zelda from a burning house I had a plan for both of us Pretend to be someone else Be safe forever
Then the Nazis came (schoolessentials.com.au)The Tomorrow series is a series of seven young adult invasion novels written by Australian writer John Marsden, detailing the invasion and occupation of Australia by a foreign power. The novels are related from the first-person perspective by Ellie Linton, a teenage girl, who is part of a small band of teenagers waging a guerrilla war on the enemy soldiers in the region around their fictional home town of Wirrawee. The name of the series is derived from the title of the first book, Tomorrow, When the War Began. (wikipedia.org)A Series of Unfortunate Events is a series of thirteen novels written by American author Daniel Handler under the pen name Lemony Snicket. Although they are classified “children’s novels”, the books often have a dark and mysterious feeling to them. The books follow the turbulent lives of Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire. After their parents’ death in a fire, the children are placed in the custody of a murderous relative, Count Olaf, who attempts to steal their inheritance and, later, orchestrates numerous disasters with the help of his accomplices as the children attempt to flee. As the plot progresses, the Baudelaires gradually confront further mysteries surrounding their family and deep conspiracies involving a secret society known as V.F.D., with connections to Olaf, their parents, and many other relatives. The series is narrated by Lemony Snicket, who dedicates each of his works to his deceased love interest, Beatrice, and often attempts to dissuade the reader from reading the Baudelaires’ story. (wikipedia.org) The Baby -sitters Club Series by Ann M Martin The Baby-Sitters Club is about a group of friends who live in the fictional, suburban town of Stoneybrook, Connecticut.These friends run a local babysitting service called “The Baby-Sitters Club”. The original four members were Kristy Thomas (founder and president), Mary Anne Spier (secretary), Claudia Kishi (vice-president), and Stacey McGill (treasurer), but the number of members varies throughout the series. (wikipedia.org/)
Tom Weekly is the main character in my kids’ book series, My Life & Other Stuff I Made Up, illustrated by funnyman Gus Gordon. Tom Weekly has been with us since 2010. Now, five books, 50+ stories, and 125,000 words into our journey, I wonder if I really know him. I mean, can you ever truly know a weird dude like Tom? (https://www.tristanbancks.com/)
Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah 1. Chinese Cinderella (1999) 2. The Secret Dragon Society (2004) 3. The Mystery of the Song Dynasty (2009) 4. Along the River (2010)
Alex Rider Series by Anthony Horowitz It’s best to start at the beginning of the series to get the back story. Stormbreaker, book 1 in the series, introduces us to 14-year-old Alex Rider, a normal teenager thrust into working for MI6 in the wake of his uncle’s suspicious death. Before he knows it, he is operating in a murky world of secret gadgets, weapons, terrorists and most of all danger. We love the Alex Rider books for their fast-paced action and nail-biting mysteries and Toppsta readers do too. Check out their five-star reviews for these exciting adventure stories, recommended for readers aged 9+. (https://toppsta.com/books/series/12040/alex-rider)Anne of Green Gables Series by L M Montgomery Centered on Anne for the majority of the series, this eight-book collection is prized and loved by many. Located in a lovely spot in Prince Edward Island, Canada, the first two books are based in Avonlea, a quaint town that is based on the real-life town of Cavendish. Anne of Green Gables Anne of Avonlea Anne of the Island Anne of Windy Poplars Anne’s House of Dreams Anne of Ingleside Rainbow Valley Rilla of Ingleside (https://anneofgreengables.fandom.com/wiki/Anne_of_Green_Gables_series)The Worlds Worst Children Series by David Walliams Are you ready to meet the World’s Worst Children? From Dribbling Drew – a boy whose drool gets him into terrible trouble – to Sofia Sofa – a TV super-fan so stuck to the sofa that she’s turning into one! – the uproariously funny cast of characters will delight David Walliams’ readers. A wickedly funny and wonderfully surreal collection of ten stories about ten delightfully dreadful children, THE WORLD’S WORST CHILDREN is David Walliams’ unique take on the classic cautionary tale. (https://www.worldofdavidwalliams.com/)
The Trials of Morrigan Crow Series by jessica Townsend This series centers around Morrigan Crow, a cursed child living in the Wintersea Republic. When it comes time for her to die on Eventide day, she is “whisked away” to the city of Nevermoor by Jupiter North, a hotel owner and part of the Wundrous Society, a prestigious group of units, each member with a “knack,” a small superpower that allows them to be better than average. (wikipedia.org)
Our Australian Girl Series by Various Authors With 32 individual titles now in the series, the ‘Our Australian Girl’ books bring Australian history to life. Whether it is 1840s central Victoria or aboard a ship bound for the Antipodes, the series engages readers in the stories behind these events. Not only do the books illuminate some of these historic events but they weave through important themes about immigration and family life. (https://childrensbooksdaily.com/)The Girl, the dog and the writer Series by Katrina Nannestad and Cheryl Orsini HE’S A VAGUE NOVELIST. SHE’S A SHY AND UNUSUAL CHILD. TOGETHER, THEY’RE TRAVELLING THE WORLD, ONE BOOK AT A TIME. Freja, Tobias and Finnegan are back for an all-new adventure through the countryside of Provence. PRAISE FOR BOOK ONE: ‘this beautifully paced story is sure to be treasured by adventure lovers’. The mysteries are addictive and divine, and the story centres around adventurous, independent Freja taking the lead and kicking butt … The Girl, the Dog and the Writer in Rome is the start of something wonderful. And you are going to want book two as soon as you finish book one, because not all the questions are answered in this magical first instalment’ (www.wheelers.co.nz)
Tutor Series by Lucy Worsley Lucy Worsley is Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces, the independent charity that runs the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace and other sites, which attract more than four million visitors a year. Lucy also presents history programmes for the BBC on topics including royal palaces and the court, such as Britain’s Tudor Treasure with David Starkey. Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan Percy Jackson & the Olympians is a five book series. The main story that started in The Lightning Thief is wrapped up in The Last Olympian. I believe it’s important for a series to have a strong ending, and I always knew that Percy’s story would be five books. (https://rickriordan.com/)
Pippa’s Island Series by Belinda Murrell A new series about about friendships, family and seaside adventures on a gorgeous tropical island. Pippa’s Island, is about a girl called Pippa, who moves with her family from London, to a small tropical island on the other side of the world. She has to leave her home, her school and all her friends behind her, which is really tough. Her arrival causes ripples at Kira Island Primary School – but Pippa soon starts to make friends with eco-warrior Meg, boho-chick Charlie, and fashionista and cupcake baker Cici. The gang of best friends, form a secret club, who meet after school in a round tower on top of a boat-house. (https://belindamurrell.com.au/)
Emmie & Friends is a popular middle grade series by Terri Libenson. The series (so far) includes: Invisible Emmie Positively Izzy Just Jaime Becoming Brianna YOU-Niquely You (https://terrilibenson.com/emmie-friends-series/)
The Smile Series by Raina Telgemeier Smile The true story of how Raina severely injured her two front teeth when she was in the sixth grade, and the dental drama that followed! Sisters Raina can’t wait to be a big sister. Amara is cute, but she’s also cranky and mostly prefers to play by herself. Their relationship doesn’t improve much over the years… can they figure out how to get along? Guts Raina has tummy trouble, and it seems to coincide with her worries about food, school, family, and changing friendships. A thoughtful, charming, and funny true story about growing up and gathering the courage to face — and eventually conquer — fear. (www.booktopia.com.au)
Great reads in the McAuley library ready for the September Holidays.
24th August, 2020
Battle Born (Elementals #3) by Amie Kaufman Though Anders and his friends have delayed a war between ice wolves and scorch dragons, their mission is far from over. With adults on both sides looking for them, they’ve sought refuge in Cloudhaven, a forbidden stronghold that could hold the key to saving their home. (Goodreads)Ice Wolves (Elementals #1) by Amie Kaufman
Everyone in Vallen knows that ice wolves and scorch dragons are sworn enemies who live deeply separate lives.
So when twelve-year-old orphan Anders takes one elemental form and his twin sister, Rayna, takes another, he wonders whether they are even related. Still, whether or not they’re family, Rayna is Anders’s only true friend. She’s nothing like the brutal, cruel dragons who claimed her as one of their own and stole her away. (Goodreads)The Secrets of Magnolia Moon by Edwina Wyatt
Magnolia Moon is very good at keeping secrets.
She knows just what to do with them, and has a way of talking to the jumpy ones to stop them causing trouble.
Which is why people are always leaning in and whispering:
“Can I tell you a secret?”
Edwina Wyatt introduces a character whose irrepressible joy and vivid imagination will remind readers just how much can happen in a year of being nine. (Goodreads)
Kristy’s Great Idea (Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels #1) by Raina Telgemeier Ann M. Martin
In this new graphic novel edition of the very first Baby-Sitters Club book, Raina Telgemeier captures all the drama of the original in warm, spunky illustrations. Witness Kristy’s eureka moment, when she gets the idea for a “baby-sitters club” and enlists her best friends, shy Mary Anne and artistic Claudia, in an exciting new venture. (Goodreads)Guts (Smile #3) by Raina Telgemeier
Raina wakes up one night with a terrible upset stomach. Her mom has one, too, so it’s probably just a bug. Raina eventually returns to school, where she’s dealing with the usual highs and lows: friends, not-friends, and classmates who think the school year is just one long gross-out session. (Goodreads)Drama by Raina Telgemeier
PLACES, EVERYONE!
Callie loves theater. And while she would totally try out for her middle school’s production of Moon Over Mississippi, she can’t really sing. Instead she’s the set designer for the drama department stage crew, and this year she’s determined to create a set worthy of Broadway on a middle-school budget. But how can she, when she doesn’t know much about carpentry, ticket sales are down, and the crew members are having trouble working together?
Worse Things by Sally Murphy
Worse Things follows the lives of three main characters: Blake, an Aussie Rules football player who suffers a devastating injury; Jolene, a hockey player who hates the game and and is grieving over the recent death of her father; and Amed, a soccer-loving, non-English speaking orphan who feels like an outsider since arriving in Australia after being raised in a refugee camp. (Goodreads)Under Suspicion (Friday Barnes #2) by R.A. Spratt
Who knew boarding school could be this perilous!
When Friday Barnes cracked the case of Highcrest Academy’s mysterious swamp-yeti, the last thing she expected was 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. (Goodreads)The Apothecary (The Apothecary #1) by Maile Meloy and Ian Schoenherr
It’s 1952 and the Scott family has just moved from Los Angeles to London. Here, fourteen-year-old Janie meets a mysterious apothecary and his son, Benjamin Burrows—a fascinating boy who’s not afraid to stand up to authority and dreams of becoming a spy. When Benjamin’s father is kidnapped, Janie and Benjamin must uncover the secrets of the apothecary’s sacred book, the Pharmacopoeia, in order to find him, all while keeping it out of the hands of their enemies—Russian spies in possession of nuclear weapons. (Goodreads)Everything I’ve Never Said by Samantha Wheeler
Ava would like nothing more than to tell her family she loves them, particularly her big sister, Nic. But Ava has Rett syndrome – she can’t talk, can’t nod her head, can’t even point at a communication card. She understands everything, but no one understands her. (Goodreads)
What do you do when the voice inside tells you you’re wrong? You can’t do that? Or you say something silly and the other kids laugh at you?
Ellie and Alyssa have been best friends since pre-school. One chatty, one shy, one adventurous, the other considered, one Australian, one with Chinese heritage, both supportive and giving. It’s easy together. (Goodreads)The Little White Horse By: Elizabeth Goudge
For a fleeting instant Maria thought she saw a little white horse with a flowing mane and tail, head raised, poised, halted in mid-flight, as though it had seen her and was glad.’ The beautiful valley of Moonacre is shadowed by the memory of the Moon Princess and the mysterious little white horse. When Maria Merryweather comes there on a visit she finds herself involved with an ancient feud. (Goodreads)
Graphic Novels
Mary Anne Saves the Day (Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels #3) by Raina Telgemeier Ann M. Martin
Who would have guessed that when the BSC girls get in a huge fight, it’s shy and quiet Mary Anne who manages to save their friendship?When a terrible fight breaks out among the four Baby-Sitters Club friends, Mary Anne is left to her own devices. She has to sit by herself at lunch, make new friends, and deal with her overprotective father without advice from the BSC gang. (Goodreads)Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier
Catrina and her family are moving to the coast of Northern California because her little sister, Maya, is sick. Cat isn’t happy about leaving her friends for Bahía de la Luna, but Maya has cystic fibrosis and will benefit from the cool, salty air that blows in from the sea. As the girls explore their new home, a neighbor lets them in on a secret: There are ghosts in Bahía de la Luna. (Goodreads)
Just Because they are so GOOD
Chinese Cinderella: The Secret Story of an Unwanted Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah
This is the story of a Chinese woman who suffered appalling emotional deprivation and rejection by her family as a child growing up in China and Hong Kong in the 40s and 50s, and of its consequences in her adult life. Above which she rose to make a happy marriage and become an extremely successful doctor and business woman in the USA. (Goodreads)Sophie’s Secret War: A Second World War Girl’s Diary, 1939-1940 (My Story: Girls) by Jill Atkins
In 1939 at the start of the war, Sophie becomes a messenger for a resistance group in Northern France. But as the German invaders overwhelm the British forces on the French coast, she finds herself more deeply involved with the Resistance – in a dangerous plan to save a young Scottish soldier. (Goodreads)White Bird (Wonder) by R.J. Palacio
A Wonder story.
In R. J. Palacio’s collection of stories Auggie & Me, which expands on characters in Wonder, readers were introduced to Julian’s grandmother, Grandmère. This is Grandmère’s story as a young Jewish girl hidden away by a family in Nazi-occupied France during World War II told in graphic novel form. (Goodreads)Akarnae (The Medoran Chronicles #1) by Lynette Noni
With just one step, sixteen-year-old Alexandra Jennings’s world changes—literally.
Dreading her first day at a new school, Alex is stunned when she walks through a doorway and finds herself stranded in Medora, a fantasy world full of impossibilities. Desperate to return home, she learns that only a man named Professor Marselle can help her… but he’s missing. (Goodreads)
The Glimme by Emily Rodda Marc McBride
Lone Annie sees dragons in your future. She sees giants. She sees fire and water. She sees death. Finn’s life in the village of Wichant is hard. Only his drawings of the wild coastline, with its dragon shaped clouds and headlands that look like giants, make him happy. Then the strange housekeeper from a mysterious clifftop mansion sees his talent and buys him for a handful of gold and then reveals to him seven extraordinary paintings. Finn thinks the paintings must be pure fantasy: such amazing scenes and creatures cannot be real! (Goodreads)Scorch Dragons (Elementals #2) by Amie Kaufman
The struggle for power heats up in book two of this heart-stopping adventure series about siblings with magical shapeshifter powers, from New York Times bestselling author Amie Kaufman.
After the fateful battle between the ice wolves and the scorch dragons, Anders and his twin sister, Rayna, have been reunited. But there’s no time to celebrate. (Goodreads)The Thing About Oliver by Deborah Kelly
Sometimes I feel just like the glass in my fish tank— people look right through me.
Twelve-year-old Tilly dreams of becoming a marine scientist, but she doesn’t even own a swimsuit. She lives in a drought- stricken town with her mum and younger brother Oliver, who is autistic.
Oliver’s meltdowns are making life unbearable. He needs so many different kinds of therapy that there’s never any time—or money—left over for swimming lessons. Tilly knows Oliver’s needs have to come first, but it’s hard feeling invisible all the time. (Goodreads)
Claudia and Mean Janine (Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels #4) by Raina Telgemeier
Claudia and her sister, Janine, may as well be from two different planets. Claudia, who pays more attention to her art than her grades, feels she can’t compete with her perfect sister. Janine studies nonstop, makes straight As, and even takes college-level courses. The girls are nothing alike, and they can’t agree on anything. While Janine devotes all her time to working on her Web site, The Baby-sitters Club is busy with their new summer play group. (Goodreads)The Truth About Stacey (Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels #2) by Raina Telgemeier Ann M. Martin
Poor Stacey. She just moved to a new town, is still coming to terms with her diabetes, and is facing baby-sitting problems left and right. Fortunately, Stacey has three new friends — Kristy, Claudia, and Mary Anne. Together they’re the BSC, and they will deal with whatever’s thrown their way…even if it’s a rival baby-sitting club! (Goodreads)
Once Upon a Slime by Andy Griffiths, Terry Denton
“Have you ever wondered where ideas come from and how stories are made?
Would you like to know the true stories behind some of Andy and Terry’s books and characters?
Are you looking for simple, practical and inspiring writing activities?
Would you like to discover 45 great ways to have fun with words and pictures? (Goodreads)Two Wolves by Tristan Bancks
One afternoon, police officers show up at Ben Silver’s front door. Minutes after they leave, his parents arrive home. Ben and his little sister Olive are bundled into the car and told they’re going on a holiday. But are they? (Goodreads)Little Women (Little Women #1) by Louisa May Alcott
Grown-up Meg, tomboyish Jo, timid Beth, and precocious Amy. The four March sisters couldn’t be more different. But with their father away at war, and their mother working to support the family, they have to rely on one another. Whether they’re putting on a play, forming a secret society, or celebrating Christmas, there’s one thing they can’t help wondering: Will Father return home safely?(Goodreads)
Graphic Novels: tell stories in both visual and written form
Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth, and what follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached.
Catrina and her family are moving to the coast of Northern California because her little sister, Maya, is sick. Cat isn’t happy about leaving her friends for Bahía de la Luna, but Maya has cystic fibrosis and will benefit from the cool, salty air that blows in from the sea.
Raina can’t wait to be a big sister. But once Amara is born, things aren’t quite how she expected them to be. Amara is cute, but she’s also a cranky, grouchy baby, and mostly prefers to play by herself.
Babysitters Little Sister Graphix Books Karen lives next door to an old lady named Mrs. Porter. Mrs. Porter wears long black robes and has wild grey hair. Her black cat is named Midnight. No wonder Karen thinks Mrs. Porter is a witch! Mrs. Porter is having a meeting at her house. Karen is sure the meeting is for witches.
Raina wakes up one night with a terrible upset stomach. Her mom has one, too, so it’s probably just a bug. Raina eventually returns to school, where she’s dealing with the usual highs and lows: friends, not-friends, and classmates who think the school year is just one long gross-out session.
Callie loves theater. And while she would totally try out for her middle school’s production of Moon Over Mississippi, she can’t really sing. Instead she’s the set designer for the drama department stage crew, and this year she’s determined to create a set worthy of Broadway on a middle-school budget.
Babysitters Club Graphic Novels When Kristy Thomas has the great idea to form a baby-sitters club–a chance to earn money and spend time with her friends, all the while doing something they each love to do–she has no idea how much the club will change everything.
Series: popular on Netflix and Stan, watch the series, read the books, hook the reader
Humorous: generally, hook the reader in with funny and playful storylines
A very funny Tom Weekly story from the slightly warped brains of the author and illustrator of My Life and Other Stuff I Made Up.
Think your grandpa’s angry? Think again. I’m Tom Weekly and my Pop is the angriest grandpa in Australia.
Introduce your young reader to the baddest bunch of do-gooders in town — Mr. Wolf, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Snake, and Mr. Shark, the main characters in author and illustrator Aaron Blabey’s The Bad Guys series. Whether they’re breaking 200 dogs free from the Maximum Security City Dog Pound or saving the world from evil Dr. Marmalade’s meowing monsters, these unforgettable characters will entice even the most reluctant readers.
Other recommended books/series:
The seven dragon tribes have been at war for generations, locked in an endless battle over an ancient, lost treasure. A secret movement called the Talons of Peace is determined to bring an end to the fighting, with the help of a prophecy — a foretelling that calls for great sacrifice. (SERIES)
There’s something strange behind the basement door…
After a family tragedy, Emily, Navin and their mother move to an ancestral home to start a new life. On the family’s very first night in the mysterious house, Em and Navin’s mom is kidnapped by a tentacled creature. (SERIES)
From worldwide bestselling author and artist Dav Pilkey comes Dog Man, the canine cop who’s part dog, part man, and ALL HERO! George and Harold have created a new breed of justice. With the head of a dog and the body of a human, this heroic hound digs into deception, claws after crooks, rolls over robbers, and scampers after squirrels. (SERIES)
He’s the first teacher to cook us breakfast. Is his spark-maker beetle really that dangerous? I heard he drank yak’s milk in Mongolia. He’s the only person who isn’t afraid of Canteen Carol. My mum says he used to be in the circus. (SERIES)
orget finding the elusive Fortnite llama or taming your Minecraft llama – 2020 is the year of the League of Llamas!
The League of Llamas (LOL) are a group of secret llama agents and they’re on a mission to save the world – if only Agent 0011 Phillipe Llamar could stop looking in the mirror at his luxurious fringe. (SERIES)
From Australia’s best-selling female author, Sally Rippin, comes Polly and Buster – a brand new junior fiction series about the magic of friendship.
Who ever heard of a witch and a monster being friends? (SERIES)
I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.
August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid. (NOVEL)
The book that started it all–now in paperback!
Judy Moody was in a mood. Not a good mood. A bad mood. A mad-faced mood.
Judy Moody doesn’t have high hopes for third grade. But she does have an abundance of individuality and attitude, and when Mr. Todd assigns the class a special Me Project, she really gets a chance to express herself! (SERIES)
Ever wonder why pigeons always act so weird? It’s because they’re out there chasing the bad guys and saving your butts!
Did you know your city is protected by a secret squad of crime-fighting pigeons? It’s true! With master of disguise Rock Pigeon, bendy Tumbler, strong Frillback and super-finder Homey, the REAL PIGEONS will solve any mystery. (SERIES)
A ten-year-old pirate captain? Absurd? Not in the world of Atticus Van Tasticus, a fabulously funny new illustrated junior fiction series from the brilliant and whacky creative minds of Andrew Daddo and Stephen Michael King. (SERIES)
Can the SIDEKICKS start their own SUPER team?! New York Times bestselling cartoonist Gavin Aung Than delivers caped-crusaders, dinosaurs, and goo in this hilarious new graphic novel series, perfect for fans of CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS and HILO! (SERIES)
Introducing Kensy and Max – an action-packed spy-adventure series for girls and boys from bestselling author Jacqueline Harvey!
What would you do if you woke up in a strange place? If your whole life changed in the blink of an eye and you had no idea what was going on? (SERIES)
This year we have not been able to hold our Significant Adult and Daughter Book Club. At this stage we are not able to have parents on site. I would still like to provide the girls with an opportunity to join a book club and talk about books. It would be great if your daughter is attending, that you also read the book, as it is a great way to increase chat and book talk at home.
Book Club begins with purchasing or borrowing a copy of the text from your local library or from a bookstore. The book is read over several weeks before we gather to share afternoon tea and chat about the book. The afternoon finishes with selecting the next text for the next book club.
The book club caters to all readers: the prolific and the reluctant. Click here to RSVP.
When it is cold outside there is nothing better than a good book, warm blankets and large jumpers!
The Highland Falcon Thief by Elisa Paganelli Harrison Beck and his Uncle Nat are enjoying the final journey of the Highland Falcon, Britain’s most famous steam train. But when a precious jewel goes missing, Harrison and his friend Lenny find themselves at the centre of the investigation. Can they solve the mystery and catch the culprit before they reach the end of the line?Detention by Tristian Bancks Sima and her family are pressed into the rough, cold ground among fifty others. They lie next to the tall fence designed to keep them in. The wires are cut one by one. When they make their escape, a guard raised the alarm. Shouting, smoke bombs, people tackled to the ground. In the chaos Sima loses her parents. Dad told her to run, so she does, hiding in a school and triggering a lock down. A boy, dan, finds her hiding in the toilet block. What should he do? Dob her in? She’s breaking the law, but is it right to lock kids up? And if he helps, should Sima trust him? Or run?Catch a Falling star by Meg McKinlay It’s 1979 and the sky is falling. Skylab, that is. Somewhere high above Frankie Avery, one of the world’s first space stations is tumbling to Earth. And rushing back with it are old memories. Things twelve-year-old Frankie thought she’d forgotten. Things her mum won’t talk about, and which her little brother Newt never knew. Or did he? Does he? Because as Skylab circles closer, Newt starts acting strangely. And while the world watches the sky, Frankie keeps her own eyes on Newt. Because if anyone’s going to keep him safe, it’s her. It always has been. But maybe this is something bigger than splinters and spiders and sleepwalking. Maybe a space station isn’t the only thing heading straight for calamity.The Unforgettable What’s his name by Craig Smith Even before all this happened, I had never been like the other kids. I tried not to be seen. If I climbed a tree or hid among the bins, no one could find me. ‘Where’s What’s His Name?’ they’d say. Then, one weekend, I got what I wanted. First, I blended in with things. But on the second day I changed. I mean, really changed.Kensy and Max: Breaking News by Jacqueline Harvey In a split second, twins Kensy and Max’s lives are turned upside down — they are whisked off to London where they discover their parents are missing! As the situation unfolds, so many things don’t add up for Kensy and Max: their strange school, the bizarre grannies on their street, the coded messages that keep popping up in unusual places and the feeling that all the adults around them are keeping secrets! No matter what happens next, things can never go back to the way they were…Cream Buns and Crime: A Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens
Daisy and Hazel invite you to discover their untold stories . . .
Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are famous for the murder cases they have solved – but there are many other mysteries in the pages of Hazel’s casebook.
From the macabre Case of the Deepdean Vampire, to the baffling Case of the Blue Violet, and their very first case of all: the Case of Lavinia’s Missing Tie.
Just like Daisy and Hazel’s cases, there’s more to this book than meets the eye, including:
Brilliant mini-mysteries, including two brand-new and never seen before stories
Daisy and Hazel’s own tips, tricks and facts. (Goodreads) Death in the Spotlight (Murder Most Unladylike Mystery #7) by Robin Stevens Someone will take their final bow . . .
Fresh from their adventure in Hong Kong, Hazel Wong and Daisy Wells are off to the Rue Theatre in London to face an entirely new challenge: acting.
But the Detective Society is never far away from danger, and it’s clear there’s trouble afoot at the Rue.
Jealousy, threats and horrible pranks quickly spiral out of control – and then a body is found. (Goodreads)Mistletoe and Murder (Murder Most Unladylike Mystery #5) by Robin Stevens Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are spending the Christmas hols in snowy Cambridge. Hazel has high hopes of its beautiful spires, cosy libraries and inviting tea-rooms – but there is danger lurking in the dark stairwells of ancient Maudlin College.
Two days before Christmas, there is a terrible accident. At least, it appears to be an accident – until the Detective Society look a little closer, and realise a murder has taken place. Faced with several irritating grown-ups and fierce competition from a rival agency, they must use all their cunning and courage to find the killer (in time for Christmas Day, of course).
The Girl who Speaks Bear by Sophie Anderson Found abandoned in a bear cave as a baby, Yanka has always wondered where she is from. She tries to ignore the strange whispers and looks from the villagers, wishing she was as strong inside as she is on the outside. When Yanka flees her house, looking for answers about who she really is, a journey far beyond anything she ever imagined begins – from icy rivers to smouldering mountains, meeting an ever0growing herd of extraordinary friends along the way.The Chickens Curse by Frances Watts Felix and Livia are being pursued across the Roman empire, from the darkest, dampest corner of Gaul to the dry, desert sands of Tadmor. They must reach Rome by the Ides of April to rescue Livia’s brother before he is sent into the arena to do battle with lions – and perhaps a vicious ostrich or two! Along the way, the pair are helped (and hindered) by a selfish sacred chicken, a foolish camel and a grumpy magic carpet as they encounter bandits, a shipwreck and a false accusation. Will they save Livia’s brother in time, or will they all fall victim to the chicken’s curse?The Anti-Princess Club: Bella’s backyard bullies by Samantha Turnbull Design genius Bella Singh has built a clubhouse in her backyard, where the Anti-Princesses meet to thumb their noses at the notion that boys are best. But when they receive angry anonymous emails telling them to act like girls or else, followed by sabotage of their beloved clubhouse, it’s clear they have a new mission.The year the maps changed by Danielle Binks
One extraordinary year will change them all…Sorrento, Victoria, 1999. Fred’s family is a mess. Her mother died when she was six and she’s been raised by her Pop and adoptive father, Luca, ever since. But now Pop’s had to go away, and Luca’s girlfriend Anika and her son have moved in. More and more it feels like a land-grab for family and Fred is the one being left off the map. Even as things feel like they’re spinning out of control for Fred, a crisis from the other side of the world comes crashing in. When a group of Kosovar-Albanian refugees are brought to a government ‘safe haven’ not far from Sorrento, their fate becomes intertwined with the lives of Fred and her family in ways that no one could have expected.Just a Dog by Gerard Bauer Mr Mosely isn’t a pedigreed dog, but he is just the dog Corey and his family want: he is loyal, protective and loving. And he is much more than that. He might well be the one thing that holds them all together.Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend Ellen Rosen often think of life before the war. It’s now 1943 and their life in Copenhagen is filled with school, food shortages, and the Nazi soldiers marching through town. When the Jews of Denmark are “relocated,” Ellen moves in with the Johansens and pretends to be one of the family. Soon Annemarie is asked to go on a dangerous mission to save Ellen’s life. (Goodreads)Jolly Foul Play (Murder Most Unladylike Mystery #4) by Robin Stevens The fantastic new mystery from the author of Murder Most Unladylike.
Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong have returned to Deepdean for a new school term, but nothing is the same. There’s a new Head Girl, Elizabeth Hurst, and a team of Prefects – and these bullying Big Girls are certainly not good eggs.
Then, after the fireworks display on Bonfire Night, Elizabeth is found – murdered. (Goodreads)Top Marks for Murder (Murder Most Unladylike Mystery #8) by Robin Stevens Daisy and Hazel are finally back at Deepdean, and the school is preparing for a most exciting event: the fiftieth Anniversary.
Plans for a weekend of celebrations are in full swing. But all is not well, for in the detectives’ long absence, Deepdean has changed. Daisy has lost her crown to a fascinating new girl – and many of the Detective Society’s old allies are now their sworn enemies.
Felix and Livia are being pursued across the Roman empire, from the darkest, dampest corner of Gaul to the dry, desert sands of Tadmor. They must reach Rome by the Ides of April to rescue Livia’s brother before he is sent into the arena to do battle with lions – and perhaps a vicious ostrich or two! Along the way, the pair are helped (and hindered) by a selfish sacred chicken, a foolish camel and a grumpy magic carpet as they encounter bandits, a shipwreck and a false accusation. Goodreads.com.auGangsta Grannyby David Walliams
Another hilarious and moving novel from David Walliams, number one bestseller and fastest growing children’s author in the country. A story of prejudice and acceptance, funny lists and silly words, this new book has all the hallmarks of David’s previous bestsellers. Goodreads.com.auTwig by Aura Parker
Finding friends isn’t easy when no one can find you!
One, two, three. One, two three.
Why won’t someone play with me?
Heidi is a stick insect, long and thin like the twig of a tree. It’s her first day at Bug School, where she hopes to learn lots and make new friends. But no one will talk to her . . . and no one will play with her at lunch. Goodreads.com.auThe Impossible Boy by Ben Brooks
Believe in the impossible this Christmas – a magical story celebrating the power of imagination, from the bestselling author of STORIES FOR BOYS WHO DARE TO BE DIFFERENT.
Oleg and Emma entered their den to find a cardboard spaceship standing exactly where they usually sat. Slowly, the front door opened and out stepped a boy. ‘My name’s Sebastian Cole,’ he said. ‘But you already know that.’ Goodreads.com.auThe Most Ungrateful Girl in the World by Petra James
When Izzy Winkle – The Most Grateful Girl in the World – enters a competition to find The Most Ungrateful Girl in the World, she is plunged into a hidden society of secret agents, brave pigeons and warring manners. Daphne du Bois, Etiquette Queen of the Southern Hemisphere, says children should be seen and not heard. Horace Unthank, Professor of Appalling Behaviour, says children should roll in mud, helter-skelter down hills, chew furiously, spit words while chewing furiously … Goodreads.com.au
Do Not Open This Bookby Andy Lee
This guy will do anything for you not to open this book! Threats, bribes, reverse psychology – you name it! A hilarious new book from radio extraordinaire and all-round funny guy, Andy Lee. Goodreads.com.auThe Girl Who Speaks Bear by Sophie Anderson
Found abandoned in a bear cave as a baby, 12-year-old Yanka has always felt out of place in her small village. When she wakes up to find that her legs have become bear legs, she sets off into the forest to discover who she is, on a journey that takes her from icy rivers to smouldering mountains, with an ever-growing group of misfits alongside her… Interwoven with traditional stories of bears, princesses and dragons, Yanka’s journey is a gorgeously lyrical adventure from the best-selling author of The House With Chicken Legs. Goodreads.com.auTilly and the Lost Fairytales by Anna James
A magical adventure to delight the imagination. The curl-up-on-the-sofa snuggle of a series from a uniquely talented author.
Tilly Pages is a bookwanderer; she can travel inside books, and even talk to the characters she meets there. But Tilly’s powers are put to the test when fairytales start leaking book magic and causing havoc . . . Goodreads.com.auThe Wonderful Wisdom of Ants by Philip Bunting
Ants. What exactly do these tiny, easily overlooked creatures have to teach us? Quite a bit, according to Philip Bunting, whose picture book is funny and informative as he goes about telling us some factoids about these animals who are otherwise barely considered by the human population. According to the book there are roughly 10 quadrillion ants in the world, and to clarify this preposterous number Bunting draws individual ants holding up zeros (there are many, many zeros). Booksandpublishing.com.auArsenic for Tea by Robin Stevens
Schoolgirl detectives Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are at Daisy’s home, Fallingford, for the holidays. Daisy’s glamorous mother is throwing a tea party for Daisy’s birthday, and the whole family is invited, from eccentric Aunt Saskia to dashing Uncle Felix. But it soon becomes clear that this party isn’t really about Daisy at all. Naturally, Daisy is furious. Goodreads.com.auLunch at 10 Pomegranate Street by Felicita Sala
Something smells good at 10 Pomegranate Street! Delicious, actually!
In each apartment, someone is preparing a special dish to share with their neighbours. Mr. Singh is making coconut dahl with his daughter while Maria mashes some avocados for her guacamole. Will everything be ready on time? Goodreads.com.au
Events for the kids: Where the Wild Things Are Book Store
MATT STANTON – FUNNY KID! Friday 29 November 2019 5:45 PM – 7:00 PM Where the Wild Things Are Register until 29 November 2019 5:30 PM
WONDER CLUB: CATCH A FALLING STAR (10 -13 YRS) Friday 06 December 2019 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Where the Wild Things Are Register until 06 December 2019 3:00 PM
DIY CRACKERS – CREATIVE CHRISTMAS Saturday 14 December 2019 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Where the Wild Things Are Christmas Cracker Ticket $15.00 Tickets available until 14 December 2019 1:30 AM
KINDNESS STORYTIME WITH SOPHIE BEER Monday 16 December 2019 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM Where the Wild Things Are Kindness Ticket $0.00, Kindness Makes us Strong Book $16.99, Love Makes a Family Book $16.99, Book (Kindness Makes Us Strong) $16.99 Tickets available until 16 December 2019 9:00 AM
CREATIVE CHRISTMAS – DIY CARDS AND WRAPPING PAPER Tuesday 17 December 2019 2:00 PM – 3:15 PM Where the Wild Things Are DIY Cards and Wrapping Paper $15.00 Tickets available until 17 December 2019 1:45 PM
CHRISTMAS HIGH TEA Wednesday 18 December 2019 12:30 PM – 1:45 PM Where the Wild Things Are Christmas High Tea Ticket $30.00 Tickets available until 21 November 2019 1:24 PM
Events for Parents: Riverbend Book Store
6 DEC 6.30PM – SUMMER BOOKCHAT
11 DEC 6.30PM – SUMMER BOOKCHAT $ 10.00
Get your summer reading book stack sorted! Our Christmas book chats are a highlight of the year! Be sure to come along for a fabulous evening to sort out your reading list for the summer. Suzy Wilson and the Riverbend crew will be discussing their favourite books from 2019, and what to look out for in the coming months. Tickets include a drink and 10% off all the recommended titles. Seats at the Summer Book chats are always in high demand so be sure to book in quickly!
29 NOV 6.30PM – LAUNCH NEVER SAY DIE FREE
The inspirational story of the past, present and future of Australian women’s football – its players, fans and the game they love. Join us for the launch of Never Say Die: The Hundred-Year Overnight Success of Australian Women’s Football with Authors Lee McGowan and Fiona Crawford at 6.30pm on Friday 29th November. Australian women’s football rides high on the sporting landscape now, but this book shows that success has been one-hundred years in the making. It shares stories of triumph in the face of overwhelming odds, and tales of heartbreak and obstacles that seem insurmountable. But it is also about community, endurance and collective success. Eye-opening and celebratory, it tells the story of amateur women kicking a ball around a century ago to Australia’s national team being one of the best in the world. The Matildas are forty years old and no longer have to wear hand-me-down men’s kits, pay for their own medical insurance and do it all for love not money. But there have been no free kicks along the way as they have faced prejudice and even outright hostility. Never Say Die takes in dusty archives, rainy pitch-side evenings and heart-breaking and heart-warming interviews — including with FIFA and FFA board members, Matildas past and present, W-League coaches and players, state and club administrators. But at its heart are fans from every level of the game who could not love it more.
7 DEC 6PM – THE BETOOTA ADVOCATE $20.00 CLICK ON THE LINK TO BOOK!
It’s been a tough few years. We’ve had three prime ministers in four years, a scandalous ball-tampering scandal, our own #Metoo moments (Defamation laws apply*), the Murray-Darling fish kills and, worst of all, the cancellation of both the NRL and AFL footy shows. Join us on Saturday 7th December at 6.00pm at The Outpost in Fortitude Valley, as Clancy Overell and Errol Parker from The Betoota Advocate, along with Pip Courtney from the ABC’s Landline, take us on the nation’s journey through chaos and confusion, to the start of a new era via their new book, How Good’s Australia. Join Australia’s most trusted newspaper from the remote but vibrant town of Betoota, as we detail the last four years in news – how bad things got, and how lucky we, as a nation, have been to survive it all.
SPECULATIVE FICTION BOOKCHAT WITH CHLOE $10.00
December 13th, 6:30pm, at Riverbend. Our Christmas book chats are a highlight of the year. Be sure to come along for a fabulous evening to sort out your reading list for the summer. Chloe is the convener of our new Down the Rabbit Hole Book Club and specialises in everything weird and wonderful. If you love fantasy, science fiction, or literary magical realism, this is the book chat for you! Tickets include a drink and 10% off all the recommended titles.
Events for the family: QPAC and QUT Gardens Theatre
THE MIDNIGHT GANG A play by Maryam Master based on the bestselling novel by David Walliams Twelve year old Tom unexpectedly finds himself lonely and lost in the children’s ward of St Crook’s Hospital, away from his family and at the mercy of evil Matron. Tom feels like he’ll never leave, but his fellow young patients have other ideas. They might be stuck in hospital, but their imaginations can take them anywhere as The Midnight Gang. Each night when the clock strikes midnight, The Midnight Gang go on a series of amazing journeys as they turn the hospital into the places they’ve always wanted to go and make dreams come true. The team behind The 13-, 26- 52- 78- and 91-Storey Treehouses, Mr Stink and Billionaire Boy, bring David Walliams’ bestselling book to life on stage in a celebration of friendship, love and the power of the imagination for children 6+ and their families. Performances 12th Dec – 21st Dec
FANTASTIC MR FOX ROALD DAHL’S CLASSIC RETURNS THESE SUMMER SCHOOL HOLIDAYS! Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox returns to QPAC to delight and dazzle audiences of all ages these summer holidays thanks to award-winning theatre company – shake & stir theatre co. Following a smash hit, sold out season in 2019, Dahl’s much-loved Fox leaps off the page (and all around the stage) in this mind-blowing, visually stunning production. No one outfoxes a fox, especially not the horrible and greedy farmers Boggis, Bunce, and Bean – one fat, one short, one lean. When Mr Fox needs to save his family and friends, he’ll go to any length (above or underground) to outwit the mean humans. Join Mr Fox and his team of furry friends as they bounce, burrow and bewilder their way to safety. Packed with Dahlicious mischief, hilarious mayhem, and humongous belly laughs, Fantastic Mr Fox is the perfect holiday tail for the whole clan. You’ve read the book and seen the movie – now chase your tail all the way to the theatre and experience this critically-acclaimed stage adaptation from the wacky mind of the world’s No. 1 Storyteller firsthand. You won’t believe your eyes. ROALD DAHL’S Fantastic Mr Fox Adapted for the stage by shake & stir theatre co 9 to 18 Jan 2020
A CHRISTMAS CAROL BY CHARLES DICKENS Adapted and created by shake & stir theatre co Following its sell-out world premiere in December 2018, shake & stir’s award-winning production of Charles Dickens’ classic tale of compassion and forgiveness returns this Christmas, and is set to become an annual tradition cherished by families for years to come. It’s Christmas Eve and Ebenezer Scrooge is spending his night like every other – hunched over his coals, counting his fortune and cursing the happiness of others – until a few unexpected visitors come knocking on his door… Starring acclaimed Brisbane actor Eugene Gilfedder as Scrooge, and featuring live music, yule-tide carolling, innovative video design, lavish costumes and, of course, snow, A Christmas Carol is a large-scale, visual feast to set your spirits soaring! 29 Nov to 15 Dec 2019
Have you heard about the Summer Slide? Unfortunately, I am
not talking about a slide at a theme park, but the very real decline in reading
ability and other academic skills that can occur over the school holidays.
Numerous studies show that students who don’t read during the summer holidays actually slip in reading ability by the time the new school year rolls around. So, what can we do to avoid this common problem? Research suggests that students who read 7 books over 7 weeks can make a significant impact on their reading and academic skills.
Here are some tips to
help prevent the Summer Slide:
Take our reading list to the library and borrow some of the recommended texts
Get them interested in reading – try a new magazine
Make time for reading – 20 minutes a day
Ensure the reading material is not beyond your child’s ability – appeal to your child’s interest and age
Create a cosy reading nook – get comfy and curl up on the couch
Look for a variety of reading material: consider a new genre like graphic novels
Let humour work its magic: check out David Walliams
Listen to audiobooks – great a long car ride
Attend local book events – check your local book stores.
Students are encouraged to borrow from the school libraries
with all due dates extended till school, returns in 2020.
The library continues its normal hours till Friday 29th November (7:30 am to 5:00 pm).
White Bird By Nova Weetman A Wonder story.
Meg uses Sick Bay to hide from other kids. She’s struggling with changes at home, wears slippers to school and buries her head in books.
More than anything Devi Sharma wants to win the upcoming BollyOz competition for her mum. Then shell be on her way to becoming Bollywood’s first ever Australian half-Indian, sort of Kiwi, quarter Scottish, Vaisnavi vegan superstar! Then Devi starts AFL lessons at school and she’s surprised to find she has talent…and a feeling she hasn’t had in a long time.
Raymie Clarke has come to realize that everything, absolutely everything, depends on her. And she has a plan. If Raymie can win the Little Miss Central Florida Tire competition, then her father, who left town two days ago with a dental hygienist, will see Raymie’s picture in the paper and (maybe) come home.
The Baby-Sitters Club #1 (Kristy’s Great Idea) by Ann M. Martin
The hit series returns to charm and inspire another generation of baby-sitters!
When Kristy Thomas has the great idea to form a baby-sitters club–a chance to earn money and spend time with her friends, all while doing something they each love to do–she has no idea how much the club will change everything. Goodreads. (2019). Boy-Crazy Stacey . Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18889388-kristy-s-great-idea
Sisters (Smile #2) by Raina Telgemeier Three weeks. Two sisters. One car. A True Story
Raina wakes up one night with a terrible upset stomach. Her mom has one, too, so it’s probably just a bug. Raina eventually returns to school, where she’s dealing with the usual highs and lows: friends, not-friends, and classmates who think the school year is just one long gross-out session. Goodreads. (2019). Boy-Crazy Stacey . Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42190572-guts?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=5evrPK8FkQ&rank=1
In R. J. Palacio’s collection of stories Auggie & Me, which expands on characters in Wonder, readers were introduced to Julian’s grandmother, Grandmère. This is Grandmère’s story as a young Jewish girl hidden away by a family in Nazi-occupied France during World War II told in graphic novel form. Goodreads. (2019). White Bird. Retrieved fromhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42898923-white-bird?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=5GUm7CaDmX&rank=1
Murder Most Unladylike By Robin Stevens
1934. When Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong set up a secret detective agency at Deepdean School for Girls, they struggle to find a truly exciting mystery to investigate. (Unless you count the case of Lavinia’s missing tie. Which they don’t.)
Peony lives with her sister and grandfather on a fruit farm outside the city. In a world where real bees are extinct, the quickest, bravest kids climb the fruit trees and pollinate the flowers by hand.
History and mystery wrapped in a thrilling supernatural plot.
Flossie Birdwhistle is the Turnkey at London’s Highgate Cemetery. As Turnkey, Flossie must ensure all the souls in the cemetery stay at rest. This is a difficult job at the best of times for a twelve-year-old ghost, but it is World War II and each night enemy bombers hammer London.
Sima and her family are pressed to the rough, cold ground among fifty others. They lie next to the tall fence designed to keep them in. The wires are cut one by one.
The Baby-Sitters Club #7 (Boy-Crazy Stacey) by Gale Galligan and Anne M Martin
Stacey and Mary Anne are baby-sitting for the Pike family for two weeks at the New Jersey shore. Things are great in Sea City: There’s a gorgeous house right on the beach, a boardwalk, plenty of sun and sand… and the cutest boy Stacey has ever seen! Goodreads. (2019). Boy-Crazy Stacey . Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43319659-boy-crazy-stacey
The Baby-Sitters Club #2 (Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls by Ann M. Martin
The hit series returns to charm and inspire another generation of baby-sitters!
Kristy, Claudia, Mary Anne, and Stacey try to be prepared for anything when they baby-sit. So when they hear about the Phantom Caller, a jewel thief who’s been breaking into nearby homes, they come up with a plan to keep their kids safe. Goodreads. (2019). Boy-Crazy Stacey . Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18889398-claudia-and-the-phantom-phone-calls
Smile (Smile #1) by Raina Telgemeier Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth, and what follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached. And on top of all that, there’s still more to deal with: a major earthquake, boy confusion, and friends who turn out to be not so friendly. Goodreads. (2019). Boy-Crazy Stacey . Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6393631-smile?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=aoOgRcHtST&rank=1
ADDITIONAL McAULEY LIBRARY SUMMER READING RECOMMENDATIONS by Melanie Robinson
As happy as here by Jane Godwin
White Bird by RJ Palacio
Sick Bay by Nova Weetman
‘Murder most unladylike’ series by Robin Stevens
Nice girls don’t play footy by Kathy Helidoniotis
How to bee by Bren MacDibble
‘The keys to the kingdom’ series by Garth Nix
Starfell: Willow Moss and the Lost Day by Dominique Valente
The Little Wave by Pip Harry
The Girl the dog and the writer in Lucerne by Katrina Nannestad
The Turnkey by Allison Rushby
Detention by Tristan Bancks
Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome
Drama by Raina Telgemeier
Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier
Sisters by Raina Telgemeier
Smile by Raina Telgemeier
Guts by Raina Telgemeier
You must be Layla by Yassmin Abdel-Magied
Vincent and the grandest hotel on earth by Lisa Nicol
Scoop Mclaren: Detective Editor by Helen Castles
The war that saved my life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
The war I finally won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Pie in the sky by Remy Lai
Awful auntie by David Walliams
Dancing the Charleston by Jacqueline
Wilson My life and other weaponised muffins by Tristan Bancks
Word Hunters by Nick Earles
Super Series The 117-story treehouse by Andy Griffiths
The Premier’s Reading Challenge is an annual statewide initiative for Queensland state and non-state schools and home-educated students from Prep to Year 9, as well as children (aged up to five years) enrolled in an early childhood centre.
The Premier’s Reading Challenge aims to improve literacy and encourage children to read for pleasure and learning.
The challenge is not a competition but a way to encourage students to develop a love of reading for life. The children and students are given an opportunity to develop their appreciation of the English language, and additional languages, and are encouraged to explore and enjoy a wide range of literary texts.
Children and
students who complete the challenge have their efforts recognised through the
receipt of a Certificate of Achievement signed by the Premier of Queensland.
Early childhood centres will also receive a centre-wide certificate of
recognition for their involvement.
Schools, early childhood centres and parents of individual readers are encouraged to recognise reading achievements by holding classroom, school or home ceremonies to present certificates during the Premier’s Reading Challenge Celebration weeks in November.
Congratulations to all our readers who received their certificates last week in the McAuley Library awards presentation. Mrs Robinson and Miss Van der List were kind enough to supply homemade cupcakes for the special occasion.
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