Category: JUNIOR FICTION

Spring Holiday Reading 2019

August 26th, 2019
Love From Lexie
Cathy Cassidy
Ever since Lexie’s mum vanished, her world hasn’t stopped spinning. A new home, a new school – even a new family but Lexie never gives up hope that her mum will come back and writes her letters every day to tell her all about her new life.

There’s plenty to tell – the new group of misfits she calls friends, the talent for music she never knew she had and the gorgeous boy with blue eyes and secrets to hide. But her letters remain unanswered and she’s starting to feel more alone than ever.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

Things That Go bump in the Night
by Patrick Carman
Read, watch, and listen to each chilling story in 15 minutes or less!
3:15 means several things. It’s a time when things go bump in the night. A place where spooky stories find a home. A feeling . . . that chill running down your spine.

It means 10 terrifying tales that you’ll experience in 3 parts: A frightful audio introduction. Several spooky pages of text. And a creepy v.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

Sami’s Silver Lining
by Cathy Cassidy
The must-have second book in the brilliant Lost and Found series from Cathy Cassidy, bestselling author of the Chocolate Box Girls.

Forced to flee his home in Syria for safety in England, Sami attempts to begin a new life but struggles to overcome the pain of the past. Memories of the long and dangerous journey across icy waters, armed with only his dad’s old coat, a flute and the hope of a brighter future, are never far away.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

Brindabella
by Ursula Dubosarsky
From an extraordinary novelist and an award-winning illustrator comes this lyrical and unforgettable story about a boy and the untameable wildness of a hand-reared joey.

“This is a story about a boy called Pender and a kangaroo called Brindabella, about how they became friends, and all the things that happened to them because of it.”
http://www.goodreads.com.au

Miss McAllister’s Ghost
by Elizabeth Fensham
‘You can’t imagine how strange it is to realise that there is no one left living who knew you,’ said Miss McAllister. ‘It makes you wonder if you really are alive.’
‘We know you,’ I replied.

When Cassandra and her brothers climb the garden wall hoping to spot the ghost in the old hollow-eyed house, they have no idea what awaits within. At first violently, then seductively, they are drawn into a world long-lost, a world preserved by a woman whose memories have kept her trapped in time and place.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

My dog Gets a Job
by Elizabeth Fensham
From one of Australia’s most-loved and prolific authors comes a funny and endearing tale about a boy called Eric and his dog Ugly. My Dog Gets a Job picks up where the very successful My Dog Doesn’t Like Me left off. At almost ten years of age, Eric is now the responsible owner of his dog Ugly. But when Ugly is involved in a series of mishaps including the theft of a roast chook and a bedroom decorated with duck poo, it is clear Eric needs to do something to keep his dog out of trouble.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

My Dog Doesn’t Like Me
by Elizabeth Fensham
My dog doesn’t like me. It’s a fact. When I got back from running away, I explained this to my family.

Eric is very disappointed in the dog he got for his eighth birthday. He thought the dog, named Ugly (because he is just that), was going to be his ‘best friend’. But Ugly doesn’t even consider Eric his first-or second-best friend. Ugly loves Eric’s mum, grandad, dad, and his horrible sister Gretchen, even more than him.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

The Girl Who Rode the Wind
by Stacy Gregg
An epic, emotional story of two girls and their bond with beloved horses, the action sweeping between Italy during the Second World War and present day.

When Lola’s grandmother Loretta takes her to Siena, Italy, for the summer, Lola learns of her family’s history of heartbreak and adventure, stretching back to the Second World War. In 1945, Loretta’s nickname was ‘The Daredevil’ due to her fearless competing in the town’s famous Palio horse races – until war broke out and led to sadness and loss for Loretta.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

The Fire Stallion
by Stacy Gregg
An enchanting and empowering standalone story from the author of The Princess and the Foal.

Twelve-year-old Hilly has landed her dream job, riding on the set of Brunhilda, an epic film based on the fearless warrior of Icelandic legend. Norse fire ritual tells that on mid-summer’s day, animals and humans can shape-shift and one night Hilly finds herself connected to the young warrior and her fire stallion. As the two girls’ lives intertwine, Hilly soon realises that they’ll both have to risk everything for the love of their horses…
http://www.goodreads.com.au

Michael
by Phillip Gwynne

4 boys, 4 stories, 4 great Australian writers in an important new series.

Stuff happens sometimes.

Everyday stuff.

At school, at home, with sport, with mates.

For Ned it happened with a new teacher.

For Sean it happened starting at a new school.

For Michael it happened when he thought he was disappointing his parents.

For Jack it happened when a game at recess went wrong.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

The 117-Storey Treehouse
by Andy Griffiths
Andy and Terry’s treehouse now has 13 new storeys, including a tiny-horse level, a pyjama-party room, an Underpants Museum, a photo-bombing booth, a waiting room, a Door of Doom, a circus, a giant-robot-fighting arena, a traffic school, a water-ski park filled with flesh-eating piranhas and a treehouse visitor centre with a 24-hour information desk, a penguin-powered flying treehouse tour bus and a gift shop.

Well, what are you waiting for? Come on up!
www. booktopia.com.au

Daisy in the Mansion
by Michelle Hamer
It’s 1930… and Daisy has been adopted and whisked away to a beautiful mansion. She’s to be a companion to Annie, a girl with a mysterious illness. While Daisy’s new life is full of luxuries she could never have imagined, what she wants the most is the thing her new parents can’t provide: the freedom to find her real family before it’s too late…
http://www.goodreads.com.au

The Little Wave
by Pip Harry
When a Manly school sets out to bring a country class to the city for a beach visit, three very different kids find each other and themselves.

Noah is fearless in the surf. Being at the beach makes him feel free. So where does his courage go when his best mate pushes him around?
http://www.goodreads.com.au

Pie in the Sky
by Remy Lai
When eleven-year-old Jingwen moves to a new country, he feels like he’s landed on Mars. School is torture, making friends is impossible since he doesn’t speak English, and he’s often stuck looking after his (extremely irritating) little brother, Yanghao.

To distract himself from the loneliness, Jingwen daydreams about making all the cakes on the menu of Pie in the Sky, the bakery his father had planned to open before he unexpectedly passed away.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

Maxi the Lifeguard: In Deep Water
by Trent Maxwell and David Lawrence
Maxi joins Buckler Ocean Swimming Club to have a bit of fun with his mates. But then a big prize for the Junior Ocean Challenge is announced. The winner will get money for their club and a day with legendary lifeguard Mick Hawk! Maxi would do anything to win. Especially as it might help save Buckler. Will his hard work and determination pay off, or will Maxi’s arch-enemy ruin his chances?
http://www.goodreads.com.au

Black Cockatoo
by Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler
‘Black Cockatoo’ is a vignette that follows Mia, a young Aboriginal girl as she explores the fragile connections of family and culture. Mia is a 13-year-old girl from a remote community in the Kimberley. She is saddened by the loss of her brother as he distances himself from the family. She feels powerless to change the things she sees around her, until one day she rescues her totem animal, the dirran black cockatoo, and soon discovers her own inner strength. A wonderful small tale on the power of standing up for yourself, culture and ever-present family ties.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

Polly and Buster: The Search for the Silver Witch
by Sally Rippin
Is being best friends enough to save a whole town?

Polly and Buster have always believed that witches and monsters can be friends, but it seems no-one else agrees. With the witches furious and the monsters in uproar, their whole town is heading for a war … and yet no-one realises that a much greater menace lurks nearby.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

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. Maya is determined to meet one, but Cat wants nothing to do with them. As the time of year when ghosts reunite with their loved ones approaches, Cat must figure out how to put aside her fears for her sister’s sake – and her own.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

Sick Bay
by Nova Weetman
Two very different Grade 6 girls meet in their school sick bay. Meg is a loner. Grieving over the death of her father, and struggling with changes at home, she wears slippers to school and hides out in sick bay to avoid other kids.

New girl Riley, is a Type 1 diabetic and already popular. She doesn’t want to go to sick bay, but sometimes she has to if she’s having a high or a low. As Meg and Riley are forced to spend more and more time together in the cramped sick bay room, they start to uncover each other’s secrets and find the courage to be who they really are.
http://www.booktopia.com.au

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New Books @ McAuley

June 13th, 2019
Snuggle up with a good book this winter holidays.

The All New Must Have Orange 430
by Michael Speechley

Harvey owned a heap of stuff, but could always use more. The ORANGE 430 was the latest and the greatest. Harvey wasn’t sure what it did, but he had to have it!

A cheeky picture book for anyone who’s bought a thingy or whatsit . . . and doesn’t quite know why. In his debut picture book, Michael Speechley explores our obsession with stuff in a fun and edifying way.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

Brindabella
by Ursula Dubosarsky
Andrew Joyner (Illustrator )

From an extraordinary novelist and an award-winning illustrator comes this lyrical and unforgettable story about a boy and the untameable wildness of a hand-reared joey.

“This is a story about a boy called Pender and a kangaroo called Brindabella, about how they became friends, and all the things that happened to them because of it.”
http://www.goodreads.com.au

The Feather

by Margaret Wild,
Freya Blackwood (Illustrator)

This is a story about hope, kindness and redemption set in a grey dystopian world. When a great feather drifts from the leaden sky, two children recognize its extraordinariness and take it to the village for its protection. The villagers, however, want to encase it, upon which the feather loses its radiance. The children take it home and care for it through the night.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

The Ghost of Miss Annabel Spoon
by Aaron Blabey

Life is cursed for the people of the village of Twee. The ghost of Miss Annabel Spoon haunts their every waking hour and they’ve had enough! But then one day, the brave and practical young Herbert Kettle has the most extraordinary idea . . . The Ghost of Miss Annabel Spoon.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

The Girl, the Dog and the Writer in Rome
by Katrina Nannestad

He’s the world’s vaguest novelist. She’s a shy and unusual child. Together, they’re travelling the world, one book a time.’QUITE SIMPLY THE BEST SORT OF READING PLEASURE FROM THE FIRST PAGE TO THE LAST’- Raven’s Parlour Bookstore For the first ten years of Freja’s life, she and her mother Clementine have roamed the Arctic in search of zoological wonders.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

Girls for the Vote
by Linda Newbery

When thirteen-year-old Polly befriends two suffragettes in the top floor flat at 6 Chelsea Walk, she finds herself questioning the views of those around her. The Votes for Women campaign strikes a chord with Polly and she becomes determined to join the suffragettes’ protest march, even if it means clashing with her family… http://www.goodreads.com.au

The Happiness Box
by Mark Greenwood,
Andrew McLean (Illustrator)

In 1942, Sergeant “Griff” Griffin was a prisoner of war. With Christmas approaching, he decided to make a book for the children cooped up in nearby Changi Prison. The book was said to contain the secrets to happiness. But the enemy was suspicious …
http://www.goodreads.com.au

How to Build the Perfect Cubby House
by Heath McKenzie

Ollie is building THE PERFECT CUBBY HOUSE!

Everyone has some great ideas, and pretty soon, the whole family is involved!

A fun and funny story about the importance of family and togetherness and always having a plan!

http://www.goodreads.com.au

Love from Lexie
by Cathy Cassidy

Ever since Lexie’s mum vanished, her world hasn’t stopped spinning. A new home, a new school – even a new family but Lexie never gives up hope that her mum will come back and writes her letters every day to tell her all about her new life.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

Stuff Happens: Michael
by Phillip Gwynne

4 boys, 4 stories, 4 great Australian writers in an important new series.

Stuff happens sometimes.

Everyday stuff.

At school, at home, with sport, with mates.

For Ned it happened with a new teacher.

For Sean it happened starting at a new school.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

The Mother-Daughter Book Club
by Heather Vogel Frederick

The book clubis about to get
a makeover….

Even if Megan would rather be at the mall, Cassidy is late for hockey practice, Emma’s already read every book in existence, and Jess is missing her mother too much to care, the new book club is scheduled to meet every month.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

My Dead Bunny
by Sigi Cohen,
James Foley (Illustrator)

“My dead bunny’s name is Brad;
his odour is extremely bad.
He visits me when I’m in bed,
but Bradley wasn’t always dead …”
http://www.goodreads.com.au

My Dog Gets a Job
by Elizabeth Fensham

From one of Australia’s most-loved and prolific authors comes a funny and endearing tale about a boy called Eric and his dog Ugly. My Dog Gets a Job picks up where the very successful My Dog Doesn’t Like Me left off. At almost ten years of age, Eric is now the responsible owner of his dog Ugly.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

Ruby’s Wish
by Shirin Yim Bridges,
Sophie Blackall (Illustrator)

Ruby is unlike most little girls in old China. Instead of aspiring to get married, Ruby is determined to attend university when she grows up, just like the boys in her family. Based upon the inspirational story of the author’s grandmother and accompanied by richly detailed illustrations, Ruby’s Wish is an engaging portrait of a young girl who strives for more and a family who rewards her hard work and courage.

http://www.goodreads.com.au

The Singing Seal
by Merv Lamington,
Allison Langton (Illustrator)

Meet Florence, a flamboyant fur seal who lives on the steps of the Sydney Opera House. Unlike the other seals, Florence has plans. Big plans. She’s going to be a world-famous singer. But does Florence have what it takes to become a real SEALPRANO?
Based on a true story, The Singing Seal is for anyone who has ever felt small but dreamt big.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

Bad Dad
by David Walliams,
Tony Ross (Illustrations)

The new hilarious story from Number One bestselling author David Walliams, brilliantly illustrated by Tony Ross.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

Chalk Boy
by Margaret Wild,
Mandy Ord (Illustrator)

A soulful and heartwarming story about what happens when a pavement artist’s drawing comes to life.

Barnaby is a pavement artist. This morning he started drawing me. I have a head that can think, eyes that can see, ears that can hear and legs that can run. Best of all, I have a heart that can feel. Thank you, Barnaby.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

The Fire Stallion
by Stacy Gregg

An enchanting and empowering standalone story from the author of The Princess and the Foal.

Twelve-year-old Hilly has landed her dream job, riding on the set of Brunhilda, an epic film based on the fearless warrior of Icelandic legend. Norse fire ritual tells that on mid-summer’s day, animals and humans can shape-shift and one night Hilly finds herself connected to the young warrior and her fire stallion.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

The Girl, the Dog and the Writer in Provence
by Katrina Nannestad

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.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes
by Mark Pett,
Gary Rubinstein

Beatrice Bottomwell has NEVER (not once!) made a mistake…
Meet Beatrice Bottomwell: a nine-year-old girl who has never (not once!) made a mistake. She never forgets her math homework, she never wears mismatched socks, and she ALWAYS wins the yearly talent show at school. http://www.goodreads.com.au

Grandma Z
by Daniel Gray-Barnett

On an ordinary day, in an even more ordinary town, it was Albert’s birthday.

When Grandma Z roars into town on her motorcycle, Albert is swept up in a very extraordinary adventure. Life may never be the same again!

This glorious debut from Daniel Gray-Barnett is filled with wonder, imagination, and a wild, magical spirit that will thrill young and old.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

Helicopter Man
by Elizabeth Fensham

ifteen-year-old Peter Sinclair’s father is a paranoid schizophrenic, afraid of helicopters, police, and life itself. When Peter’s mother leaves home one day and doesn’t return, Pete and his father soon find themselves living hand-to-mouth, estranged from family, and teetering on the brink of homelessness.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

How to Ride a Dragon’s Storm
by Cressida Cowell

THE STORY CONTINUES in the seventh volume of Hiccup’s How to Train Your Dragon memoirs …Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III was an awesome sword-fighter, a dragon-whisperer and the greatest Viking Hero who ever lived. But it wasn’t always like that. Hiccup’s memoirs look back to when Hiccup was just an ordinary boy, and finding it very hard to be a Hero.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

Love Your Body
by Jessica Sanders
Carol Rossetti (Illustrator)

What if every young girl loved her body? Freedom is loving your body with all its “imperfections” and being the perfectly imperfect you! This book encourages young girls to admire and celebrate their bodies for all the amazing things they can do, and to help girls see that they are so much more than than their bodies. It introduces the language of self-love and self-care to help build resilience, while representing and celebrating diverse bodies, encouraging girls to appreciate their uniqueness.

http://www.goodreads.com.au

Miss McAllister’s Ghost
by Elizabeth Fensham

‘You can’t imagine how strange it is to realise that there is no one left living who knew you,’ said Miss McAllister. ‘It makes you wonder if you really are alive.’
‘We know you,’ I replied.

http://www.goodreads.com.au

My Culture and Me
By: Gregg Dreise

Feel the rhythm of the music, from your heart down to your feet.
Enjoy the movements of melodies, as clapsticks keep a strong beat.

This is my culture. This is me.

Beautifully written and illustrated, My Culture and Me is a heartfelt and stirring story of cherishing and sustaining Indigenous cultures.
http://www.booktopia.com.au

My Dog Doesn’t Like Me
by Elizabeth Fensham

My dog doesn’t like me. It’s a fact. When I got back from running away, I explained this to my family.

Eric is very disappointed in the dog he got for his eighth birthday. He thought the dog, named Ugly (because he is just that), was going to be his ‘best friend’.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

One Tree
by Christopher Cheng,
Bruce Whatley

One tall tree on the mountain once marked Grandfather’s farm. Now there is a busy city and Grandfather lives with us in our apartment. once he told stories but now he stays silent. Until one day, in the city market, I find something precious… something that brings Grandfather’s memories alive again.

http://www.goodreads.com.au

Sami’s Silver Lining
by Cathy Cassidy

The must-have second book in the brilliant Lost and Found series from Cathy Cassidy, bestselling author of the Chocolate Box Girls.

Forced to flee his home in Syria for safety in England, Sami attempts to begin a new life but struggles to overcome the pain of the past.
http://www.goodreads.com.au

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McAuley New Fiction

March 19th, 2019
Easter Holiday Reads

All the ways to be smart

by Davina Bell and Allison Colpoys

From the award-winning creators of The Underwater Fancy-dress Parade and Under the Love Umbrellacomes this joyful ode to all the unique and wonderful qualities that make children who they are.

(https://www.booktopia.com.au )

Am I There Yet?
by Mari Andrew

Am I There Yet?

by Mari Andrew

This on-point guide to growing up by Instagram sensation Mari Andrew captures the feelings and comical complexities of millennials and adulthood with essays and illustrations. In the journey toward adulthood, it is easy to find yourself treading the path of those who came before you; the path often appears straight and narrow, with a few bumps in the road and a little scenery to keep you inspired. But what if you don’t want to walk a worn path? What if you want to wander? What if there is no map to guide you through the detours life throws your way?

(https://www.booktopia.com.au )

Cicada
by Shaun Tan

Cicada

by Shaun Tan

The story of a cicada who works in an office, and all the people who don’t appreciate him. The new picture book from multi-award-winner Shaun Tan, author of The Arrival, The Lost Thing and Rules of Summer.

Cicada work in tall building.
Data entry clerk. Seventeen year.
No sick day. No mistake.
Tok Tok Tok!

Cicada works in an office, dutifully toiling day after day for unappreciative bosses and being bullied by his coworkers. But one day, cicada goes to the roof of the building, and something truly extraordinary happens …

(https://www.booktopia.com.au )

Little People, Big Dreams Anne Frank

by Isabel Sanchex Vegara and Sveta Dorosheva (Illustrator)

New in the Little People, Big Dreams series, discover the life of Anne Frank, the writer whose diary captured the hearts of the public, in this true story of her life.

Little Anne was born in Germany to a liberal Jewish family. But when the Nazis came into power she was forced to go into hiding with her family. With innovative illustrations and extra facts at the back, this empowering series celebrates the important life stories of wonderful women of the world. From designers and artists to scientists, all of them went on to achieve incredible things, yet all of them began life as a little child with a dream.

These books make the lives of these role models accessible for children, providing a powerful message to inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world!

https://www.booktopia.com.au

No Lie, I Acted Like a Beast!
by Nancy Loewen and Christian Bernardini

No Lie, I acted like a Beast!

by Nancy Loewel and Christian Bernardini (Illustrator)

Every story has two sides – even famous fairy tales! Get the real truth about “Beauty and the Beast”. Inside every beast beats the heart of an actor – or so the Beast would have you believe! This retelling of the classic story “Beauty and the Beast”, told from the Beast’s point of view, paints a picture of a kind-hearted prince who want nothing more than his turn on the stage. It is a fun read that flips what you know of the fairy tale on its ear! It is a dual purpose title: can be enjoyed purely for the story or used to explore the concept of “point of view”. It features light-hearted full-colour original art. It is appealing for both boys and girls. It can encourage discussion: whose side of the story do you believe and why?

(https://www.booktopia.com.au )

Pig the Grub
by Aaron Blabey

Pig the Grub

by Aaon Blabey

Eww! What a stinker!

Pig isn’t just the world’s greediest Pug, he’s the DIRTIEST too.

It’s high time he had a bath! But try telling Pig that . . .

Over two million Pig books are now in print around the world!

Runny Babbit A Billy Sook
by Shel Silverstein

Runny Babbit A Billy Sook

By

Shel Silverstein

Runny Babbit lent to wunch And heard the saitress way, “We have some lovely stabbit rew — Our Special for today.”

From the legendary creator of Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, Falling Up, and The Giving Tree comes an unforgettable new character in children’s literature.

Welcome to the world of Runny Babbit and his friends Toe Jurtle, Skertie Gunk, Rirty Dat, Dungry Hog, Snerry Jake, and many others who speak a topsy-turvy language all their own.

So if you say, “Let’s bead a rook That’s billy as can se,” You’re talkin’ Runny Babbit talk, Just like mim and he.

Stories for Kids who Dare to be Different
by Ban Brooks and Quinton Wintor (Illustrator)

Stories for Kids who Dare to be Different

by

Dan Brooks and Quinton Wintor (Illustrator)

Boys will be boys and girls will be girls? Not in this book.
The follow-up to Ben Brooks’s New York Times bestselling Stories for Boys Who Dare to Be Different, this book offers more extraordinary true stories of amazing people who broke the mold and changed the world for the better. The resulting message? Be yourself, and your dreams might come true.

With the help of Quinton Winter’s striking full-color illustrations, Brooks offers an accessible compilation of 76 famous and not-so-famous influencers from the past to the present day, every single one of them a rule-breaker and stereotype-smasher in his or her own way. Entries include Emma Gonzalez, Andy Warhol, Bjork, Hans Christian Andersen, Sally Ride, and so many more — heroes from all walks of life and from all over the world.

Tales from the Inner City

by Shaun Tan

A stunning companion to Tales from Outer Suburbia, this collection of illustrated short stories is sure to delight Shaun Tan fans of all ages.

A stunning companion to Tales from Outer Suburbia, this collection of illustrated short stories is sure to delight Shaun Tan fans of all ages.

Where can we live if not in each other’s shadow?

World-renowned artist Shaun Tan applies his unique imagination to a reflection on the nature of humans and animals, and our urban coexistence. From crocodile to frog, tiger to bee, this is a dark and surreal exploration of the perennial love and destruction we feel and inflict – of how animals can save us, and how our lives are forever entwined, for better or for worse.

Tales from the Inner City is a masterful work, bearing all of Shaun Tan’s trademark wit and poignancy in both its prose and exquisite illustrations.

https://www.booktopia.com.au

Vardaesia

by Lynette Noni

Embrace the wonder

“When Day and Night combine and fight against one Enemy,
then Dark and Light shall meet mid-strike and set the Captives free.”

In the wake of loss and devastation, Alex must cast aside her grief to seek aid from those who banished the Meyarins long ago. But the proud Tia Aurans care little for the woes of mortals and demand that Alex-and her friends-undergo the Gates of Testing to prove their world is worth saving.

With an ancient prophecy looming, Alex must confront the secrets of her past if she is to survive long enough to see the future. For if she returns to Medora without the Tia Aurans by her side, all hope for her world will be lost.

In this explosive conclusion to The Medoran Chronicles, the fate of Medora hangs in the balance as Alex readies herself to face Aven one final time.

“If, however, darkness wins, there is no strategy
to keep from all that will be lost, and so will always be.”

Wondersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow

by Jessica Townsend

Return to the magical world of Nevermoor! Morrigan Crow’s perilous adventures continue in the most anticipated sequel of the year, a treat for all fans of magic and Wunder.

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?

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Recommended Reads 10 – 14 Years

November 15th, 2018
The Turnkey by Allison Rushby

History and mystery wrapped in a thrilling supernatural plot, The Turnkey is perfect for kids aged 9+.
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. (goodreads.com)
Ting Ting the Ghosthunter by Gabrielle Wang
Thirteen-year-old Ting Ting has learned the ancient skills and art of ghost hunting from her adopted grandmother, Por Por, a famous ghost hunter. But Ting Ting is sick of capturing harmless ‘fat belly’ ghosts, and when a desperate plea for help comes for Por Por, Ting Ting recklessly decides to take matters into her own hands and prove that she is a true ghost hunter. (goodreads.com)
A Ghost in my Suitcase by Gabrielle Wang

The flute music stops, and my breath catches in my throat. Silence falls like a veil. Then I hear something – no, I feel it in my chest. ‘Steady yourself,’ Por Por whispers. ‘It’s here . . . ‘ (goodreads.com)

The Mulberry Tree by Allison Rushby

Do naught wrong by the mulberry tree, or she’ll take your daughters … one, two, three. Ten-year-old Immy and her family run away from their storm cloud of problems to a tiny village in Cambridgeshire, England. When they find an adorable thatched cottage to begin a perfect new life in, the only downside is the ancient, dark and fierce-looking mulberry tree in the back garden. (goodreads.com)
The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

An exceptionally moving story of triumph against all odds set during World War 2, from the acclaimed author of Jefferson’s Sons and for fans of Number the Stars. (goodreads.com)

The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Ada and her younger brother, Jamie, now have a permanent home with their loving legal guardian, Susan Smith. Although Jamie adapts more easily, Ada still struggles with the aftermath of her old life, and how to fit into her new life. (goodreads.com)

The Mapmaker Chronicles by A.L. Tait

Adventure and danger lie just off the edge of the map in this swashbuckling new trilogy!

Quinn’s older brothers may long for adventure, but he is content with a quiet life on the farm. Destiny, however, has other plans. (allisontait.com)
Frankie Fish Series: Books 1 – 4 by Peter Helliar, Lesley Vamos

Twelve-year-old Frankie Fish is a time traveler. Follow is fantastic and hilarious adventures in the first 4 books of the series. (booktopia.com.au)
The Book of Secrets (Ateban Cipher #1) by A.L. Tait

What’s the secret of the book, and why is it so valuable? These are the questions Gabe must answer when a dying man hands him a coded manuscript with one instruction: take it to Aidan. Gabe is hurled into a quest that takes him beyond his monastery home and into a world of danger, political intrigue and adventure. (goodreads.com)

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

A cursed girl escapes death and finds herself in a magical world – but is then tested beyond her wildest imagination.

Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor #2) by Jessica Townsend

Morrigan Crow may have defeated her deadly curse, passed the dangerous trials and joined the mystical Wundrous Society, but her journey into Nevermoor and all its secrets has only just begun. And she is fast learning that not all magic is used for good. (goodreads.com)
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. When tragedy strikes her family, Ava becomes even more determined to talk. (goodreads.com)

Lenny’s Book of Everything by Karen Foxlee

I knew my brother. I knew when he talked too much about Timothy his imaginary pet eagle. He was scared.
‘Whatever you do,’ I said to Davey on the walk to school, ‘Do not tell people about your eagle. Do not tell Miss Schweitzer about your eagle.’
He looked crestfallen. His shoulders slumped. He looked to make sure Timothy hadn’t fallen off. (goodreads.com)

Limelight: Slam Poetry by Solli Raphael
Limelight is a unique collection of slam poetry paired with inspirational writing techniques. With over 30 original poems in different forms, the book features the viral video sensation ‘Australian Air’, which has been viewed 3.5 million times via Facebook. Solli’s work tackles current social concerns for his generation, such as sustainability and social equality, all the while amplifying his uplifting message of hope. ( bookdepository.com)

How to Bee by Bren MacDibble

For 8-12 year olds – and all those who love middle grade fiction.
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. (goodreads.com)

The Secrets We Keep by Nova Weetman

I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a house burn, but it’s not like anything else …

Clem Timmins has lost everything – her clothes, her possessions, her house and her mum. Now living in a tiny flat with her dad, Clem has to start a new school and make new friends. On her first day, Clem tells Ellie that her mum died in a house fire and immediately regrets it when Ellie latches on and confides that her own mother is dying of cancer. (goodreads.com)

Girl in the Window by Penny Joelson

See the world from another unique perspective in the thrilling new novel from the author of I Have No Secrets (a World Book Day title for 2018).
Nothing ever happens on Kasia’s street. And Kasia would know, because her illness makes her spend days stuck at home, watching the world from her bedroom window. So when she sees what looks like a kidnapping, she’s not sure whether she can believe her own eyes . . . There was a girl in the window opposite – did she see something too? (goodreads.com)
When Friendship Followed Me Home by Paul Griffin

A boy’s chance encounter with a scruffy dog leads to an unforgettable friendship in this deeply moving story about life, loss, and the meaning of family

Ben Coffin has never felt like he fits in. A former foster kid, he keeps his head down at school to avoid bullies and spends his afternoons reading sci-fi books at the library. (goodreads.com)

Bookshop Girl by Chloe Coles

Bennett’s Bookshop has always been a haven for sixteen-year-old Paige Turner. It’s a place where she can escape from her sleepy hometown, hang out with her best friend, Holly, and also earn some money.

But, like so many bookshops, Bennett’s has become a ‘casualty of the high street’ – it’s strapped for cash and going to be torn down. Paige is determined to save it but mobilising a small town like Greysworth is no mean feat. (goodreads.com)

Girls for the Vote by Linda Newbery

When thirteen-year-old Polly befriends two suffragettes in the top floor flat at 6 Chelsea Walk, she finds herself questioning the views of those around her. The Votes for Women campaign strikes a chord with Polly and she becomes determined to join the suffragettes’ protest march, even if it means clashing with her family… (goodreads.com)

The Boy on the Wooden Box by Leon Leyson

Even in the darkest of times – especially in the darkest of times – there is room for strength and bravery. A remarkable memoir from Leon Leyson, one of the youngest children to survive the Holocaust on Oskar Schindler’s list. (goodreads.com)

Runny on Empty by S.E.Durrant

AJ’s grandfather has always been the one to keep his unusual family together, so when he dies things start to unravel at the edges. (goodreads.com)

Wakestone Hall by Judith Rossell

THE MAGICAL CONCLUSION TO STELLA’S AWARD-WINNING STORY
Stella Montgomery is in disgrace. The Aunts have sent her to Wakestone Hall, a grim boarding school where the disobedient are tamed and the willful are made meek. But when a friend disappears, Stella is determined to find her — no matter the danger … (goodreads.com)

The Girl the Dog and the Writer in Provence by Katrina Nennestad

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. (goodreads.com)

Louisiana’s Way Home by Kate DeCamillo

From two-time Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo comes a story of discovering who you are — and deciding who you want to be.

When Louisiana Elefante’s granny wakes her up in the middle of the night to tell her that the day of reckoning has arrived and they have to leave home immediately, Louisiana isn’t overly worried. After all, Granny has many middle-of-the-night ideas. (goodreads.com)

Marsh and Me by Martine Murray

There’s a hill out the back of Joey’s house. Hardly anyone goes there—it’s not a beautiful place, just a covered-over old rubbish tip. But Joey likes it up there. It’s his hill—somewhere he likes to go to wonder about life. He longs to be the best at something, to be a famous astronaut, or mountain climber, to stand out. (goodreads.com)

Lady Mary by Lucy Worsley

By turns thrilling, dramatic and touching, this is the story of Henry the Eighth and Catherine of Aragon’s divorce as you’ve never heard it before – from the eyes of their daughter, Princess Mary.

More than anything Mary just wants her family to stay together; for her mother and her father – and for her – to all be in the same place at once. (goodreads.com)

The Peacock Detectives by Carly Nugent

The last time William Shakespeare and Virginia went missing Cassie found them sitting on a coiled hose behind the fire station, and Dad called her ‘Cassie Andersen, Peacock Detective’. So this time she knows what to do—she’ll look for clues and track them down. But the clues lead her in an unexpected direction and Cassie finds herself investigating a confusing mystery about her family. (goodreads.com)

The Mapmakers’ Race by Eirlys Hunter

Four children temporarily lose their parents just as they are about to begin the race that offers their last chance of escaping poverty. Their task is to map a rail route through an uncharted wilderness.

They overcome the many obstacles posed by nature-bears, bees, bats, river crossings, cliff falls, impossible weather-but can they survive the treachery of their competitors? (goodreads.com)

Secrets of a Sun King by Emma Carroll

It’s November, 1922. In a valley in Egypt the tomb of a long dead pharaoh is about to be discovered. The world watches and waits for news with baited breath. Thirteen-year-old Lilian Kaye is eagerly following the story. One morning the news takes a sinister turn: a man- a famous Egyptologist- disappears. All that remains of him are his feet. Then Lil’s grandfather is taken suddenly ill, and when a mysterious package turns up for him from the Egyptologist, Lil starts to believe there is truth to the rumours of a pharaoh’s curse. (goodreads.com)

The Pearl of Tiger Bay by Gabrielle Wang

Suddenly, Annie felt a cold flutter touch the back of her neck. Someone was watching her, she was sure of it. She glanced up at the limestone cliff behind her. It was then she noticed a creepy old house with blank staring eyes, its outline barely visible against the thin cover of clouds. When Annie moves with her family to the seaside town of Tiger Bay, she finds a place full of secrets, mystery and a strange sadness. Most mysterious of all is Madame Olenka, who lives in the Pearl, a grand dilapidated hotel on the cliff about the township, and has not spoken to anyone in thirty years … (Penguin).
The Endsister by Penni Russon

‘I know what an endsister is,’ says Sibbi again.
We are endsisters, Else thinks, Sibbi and I.
Bookends, oldest and youngest, with the three boys sandwiched in between.

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.
The one thing they all agree on – the living and the dead – is never, ever to open the attic door… (goodreads.com)

The Girl with the Dragon Heart by Stephanie Burgis

Once upon a time, in a beautiful city famous for chocolate and protected by dragons, there was a girl so fearless that she dared to try to tell the greatest story of all: the truth.

Silke has always been good at spinning the truth and storytelling. So good that just years after arriving as a penniless orphan, she has found her way up to working for the most splendid chocolate makers in the city (oh, and becoming best friends with a dragon). Now her gift for weaving words has caught the eye of the royal family, who want to use her as a spy when the mysterious and dangerous fairy royal family announce they will visit the city. But Silke has her own dark, secret reasons for not trusting fairies… (goodreads.com)

City of Lies by Sam Hawke

I was seven years old the first time my uncle poisoned me…

Outwardly, Jovan is the lifelong friend of the Chancellor’s charming, irresponsible Heir. Quiet. Forgettable. In secret, he’s a master of poisons and chemicals, trained to protect the Chancellor’s family from treachery. When the Chancellor succumbs to an unknown poison and an army lays siege to the city, Jovan and his sister Kalina must protect the Heir and save their city-state.

But treachery lurks in every corner, and the ancient spirits of the land are rising…and angry. (goodreads.com)

Inheritance by Carole Wilkinson

Nic is left in the care of her grandfather at the remote family property that was once her mother’s childhood home; a place with thirty rooms, three dogs and no mobile reception. Left to her own devices, Nic searches for clues about her mother – who died the day Nic was born. But what Nic discovers is so much more than she could have imagined. A dark and shocking secret that haunts the land and the people who live there. (goodreads.com)

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McAuley Author Visit

September 14th, 2018
14th September, 2018

Students from Junior school were lucky enough to attend workshops with Nicholas Lochel, co author of Zakora, today in the McAuley Library.

Nicholas Lochel grew up in Brisbane, Australia, along with his two brothers and sister, Alison, with whom he is co-writing the ZARKORA series. It was the close bond he shared with his siblings that first inspired the story. He has held a wide variety of jobs over the years, including work as an actor, a bartender and a postie, but his love for stories, and the pursuit of a career as an author, has remained constant throughout. He devotes most of his time to writing, and when he is not seen with a pen and paper or a good book, he can usually be found riding his Triumph motorcycle about town or on some grand adventure.

Nicholas spoke to the girls about the Zarkora series. This series is based on the story of two brothers Neleik and Ervine Fyrelit who witness the kidnapping of their little sister, Skye. Determined to rescue her, the boys travel mysterious lands and face powerful enemies in the hope of finding their little sister.

The girls participated in a collaborative workshop where they created a plot outline for a story. He discussed how to create a world in which the characters reside in.

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McAuley Spring Holiday Reads

September 4th, 2018
The Most Marvellous Spelling Bee Mystery

by

Deborah Abela

India never wanted to enter the Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee, but with the encouragement of her town, her family and some newfound friends, she overcame her fears, made it all the way to the grand final at the Sydney Opera House and won!

Sepron vs Narga

by

Adam Blade

Fight the Beasts, Fear the Magic!

The time has come for another Battle of the Beasts!

Maximus’s evil plans to destroy the Good Beasts continues… The seas will boil when Sepron and Narga clash in combat.

Meet a new hero of Avantia. Will has been chosen by Tom to join his Knight Academy. Does he have the courage and skill to survive the Battle of the Beasts?

Ferno the Fire Dragon

by

Adam Blade

Strange things are happening in Tom’s village. First, the horses were attacked. Then, the river dried up. Now, the last of the crops has mysteriously burnt to the ground. Everyone is terrified. But Tom isn’t afraid. He’s always dreamed of a quest-a real quest!-and vows to go to the king and bring help for them all.

Sepron The Sea Serpent

by

Adam Blade

One boy’s journey to help his village becomes a quest to save the kingdom. Features a fearsome new beast in every book!
Floods. Starvation. Fear. This is what awaits the people of Avantia’s coast if Tom and Elenna cannot stop Sepron the Sea Serpent. The huge and terrifying beast lurks in eerie waters.

Yong

by

Janeen Brian

Yong doesn’t want to leave China to travel to the goldfields of Ballarat, Australia. But as the firstborn son, he has no choice. On the long and treacherous journey, Yong strives to be an honourable son, while he and his father face many hardships and dangers. But in his heart Yong knows the shameful truth – that his honour is a lie. Can a journey change lives?

The Screaming Bridge

by

J.A. Darke, Brandon Terrell

Fifty years ago, a busload of orphans careered off the side of a bridge and plunged into the wild river below. Now Emma Donovan and her friends want to investigate the abandoned orphanage and the bridge that is rumored to haunt anyone who visits. Emma swears she’s not afraid of anything. But when she visits the bridge, her fearlessness will be put to the ultimate test.”

Matty and Bill for Keeps

by

Elizabeth Fensham

Join Matty and Bill on their third and final adventure from award – winning author Elizabeth Fensham. There’s a new boy at Matty and Bill’s school – Crispin de Floriette. He’s from England and not like anyone else they’ve met before. Spoilt Isabelle soon notices Crispin and plots to make him her new friend.

Sweet Adversity

by

Sheryl Gwyther

‘ADVERSITY MCALLISTER IS THEATRICAL, KIND, SMART AS A WHIP AND OH SO BRAVE. I WANT HER TO BE MY BEST FRIEND’- Katrina Nannestad, author of Olive of Groves and The Girl, the Dog and the Writer in Rome There’s never a good time to be orphaned – or abandoned … especially when you are twelve years old, and it’s the Great Depression. In 1928, Shakespearean actors, the McAllisters, are forced to leave their daughter Adversity at the Emu Swamp Children’s Home.They fully intend to return, but things don’t go according to plan. Then, to make matters worse, Scrimshaw, a villainous theatrical agent, hears the talented Addie sing.

Leave Taking

by

Lorraine Marwood

What if you had one week left to say goodbye to everything you’d ever known?

Toby and his mum and dad are leaving their family farm after the death of Toby’s younger sister, Leah. Together, they sort through all their belongings and put things aside to sell or throw out. It’s a big task, and Toby doesn’t want to leave the only place he’s called home.

Henrietta and the Perfect Night

by

Martine Murray

Hello everybody, it’s me. Henrietta the Great Go-Getter, and I’m having a big think. Right now I’m thinking I’d like a baby sister, so I can dress her up in different sorts of hats. But Mum says we’ll have to wait and see. I’m terrible at waiting. Meanwhile, I’m an explorer of life, and that includes trees, bugs, animals and all mysteries. I’m going to school for the very first time, which means I might have to go as a spy so that I can have a secret peep inside.

Polly and Buster: The Mystery of the Magic Stones

by

Sally Rippin

What would you do if everyone thought your best friend was dangerous? Polly the witch and Buster the monster shouldn’t be friends. And they definitely shouldn’t be on the run from almost everyone in town. But when Polly is called to the Hollow Valley Mines – the forbidden, haunted mines – by her magic stones, these two best friends have a big decision to make.

Bitter Enemies

by

R.A. Spratt

Headmasters behaving badly!

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.

Never Fear

by

R.A. Spratt

Friday’s time at Highcrest is running out!

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.

The Plot Thickens

by

R.A. Spratt

Friday Barnes is being attacked on all fronts!

When Friday Barnes 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.

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Winter Holiday Reading McAuley Library

June 5th, 2018
Snuggle up with a good book these holidays, browse through the new books we have available now in the McAuley Library.

The Book Of Answers (Book 2) by A.L. Tait

An orphan in exile. A band of rebel girls. And a prince whose throne has been stolen. Come on a journey full of danger, intrigue, adventure and incredible secrets. (http://goodreads.com)

Extra Special Treats by Liz Pichon

It’s really cold outside and we’re all hoping it’s going to snow. Yeah! Derek and I could make a snow rooster and have a snowball fight (look out, Delia!). Granny Mavis has started to knit me a new winter jumper, but by the looks of things I’m not sure it’s going to fit. . . (http://goodreads.com)

Groosham Grange by Anthony Horowitz

Sent to Groosham grange by his parents, David Eliot quickly discovers that his new school is a very odd place indeed. New pupils are made to sign their names in blood; the French teacher disappears every full moon; and the assistant headmaster keeps something very chilling in his room.(http://goodreads.com)

Marsh and Me by Martine Murray

There’s a hill out the back of joey’s house. Hardly anyone goes there—it’s not a beautiful place, just a covered-over old rubbish tip. But joey likes it up there. It’s his hill—somewhere he likes to go to wonder about life. He longs to be the best at something, to be a famous astronaut, or mountain climber, to stand out. (http://goodreads.com)

Breaking News by Jaqueline 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?(http://goodreads.com)

The Diamond Horse by Stacey Gregg

Anna Orlov might be the luckiest girl in the world. She is the daughter of a Russian count and lives in a beautiful snowbound palace that is home to a menagerie of wonderful animals: tigers, wolfhounds and, of course, horses. (http://goodreads.com)

The Echidna and the Shade Tree by Pamela Lofts

This book is based on a story told by Mona green, of the Jaru people, to aboriginal children living in halls creek, western Australia. The illustrations are adapted from the children’s original paintings of the story.(http://goodreads.com)

The Grand Genius Summer of Henry Hoobler
by Lisa Shannahan

It struck Henry that perhaps he was waiting for the exact right moment to be daring and brave. The exact right moment where he felt no worry at all, not one tiny flicker. But what if that moment never came? (http://goodreads.com)

Hey Warrior by Karen Young

Kids can do amazing things with the right information. Understanding why anxiety feels the way it does and where the physical symptoms come from is a powerful step in turning anxiety around.(http://goodreads.com)

Mopoke by Philip Bunting

This is a Mopoke. Mopoke loves peace and quiet. He is about to find out that you can’t always get what your want.

Visually brilliant, and hysterically funny, Philips pictures tell a thousand words, with the support of some very sparse, but hilarious, text. This is a book destined to become a classic.(http://goodreads.com)

Room on our Rock
by Kate & Jol Temple

Two seals are perched on a rock. When others need shelter, do they share it? Room on our rock celebrates the truth that there are two sides to every story. This clever picture book has one story that can be read two different ways.(http://goodreads.com)

The Turnkey by Allison Rushby

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.(http://goodreads.com)

Turtle Trackers by Samantha Wheeler

Ten-year-old Isaac is flat out. Helping his mum run a caravan park on the Queensland coast means no time for fun. So when he finds a sea turtle nesting on the beach, he’s disappointed that he can’t volunteer as a turtle tracker to watch over her eggs and hatchlings.(http://goodreads.com)

Under the Love Umbrella by Davina Bell, Allison Colpoys

A stunning celebration of the joy and comfort that is always with us, wherever we roam in the big, wild world.
Who’s under your love umbrella?(http://goodreads.com)

The War that Saved my Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Nine-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is too humiliated by Ada’s twisted foot to let her outside. So when her little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada doesn’t waste a minute—she sneaks out to join him. (http://goodreads.com)

The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

When Ada’s clubfoot is surgically fixed at last, she knows for certain that she’s not what her mother said she was—damaged, deranged, crippled mentally as well as physically. She’s not a daughter anymore, either. What is she? (http://goodreads.com)

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New Fiction – Easter Holiday Reading 2018

March 7th, 2018
Accidental Heroes (The Rogues #1)
by Lian Tanner
In the city of Berren, strange things happen. People disappear, trees sprout overnight. But no one believes in magic. To believe in magic would be disloyal…

The Book Of Secrets (Ateban Cipher #1)
by A.L. Tait
What’s the secret of the book, and why is it so valuable? These are the questions Gabe must answer when a dying man hands him a coded manuscript with one instruction: take it to Aidan.

Caleb
by Gary Crew, Steven Woolman (Illustrator)
A gothic tale told in prose by a bookish, young university student. When he is assigned the precocious adolescent Caleb as his roommate it seems like disaster, but Caleb turns out to have amazing and gruesome talents.

Dr Boogaloo and The Girl Who Lost Her Laughter
by Lisa Nicol
Dr Boogaloo was no ordinary doctor. Not at all like the one you might visit if you had a sore tummy. No, Dr Boogaloo was a very different type of doctor. He treated folks who suffered from rather unusual complaints. And how did he treat them?

The Elephant
by Peter Carnavas
An exquisite first novel from acclaimed picture book author and illustrator Peter Carnavas about Olive, Dad and his elephant.

Olive’s father has a sadness so big that she imagines it as a large grey elephant following him around. With the help of her cheery grandfather and her best friend, Arthur, Olive sets out to chase away her father’s elephant.

The Goldfish Boy
by Lisa Thompson
Matthew Corbin suffers from severe obsessive-compulsive disorder. He hasn’t been to school in weeks. His hands are cracked and bleeding from cleaning. He refuses to leave his bedroom. To pass the time, he observes his neighbours from his bedroom window, making mundane notes about their habits as they bustle about the cul-de-sac.

Groosham Grange (Groosham Grange #1)
by Anthony Horowitz
Sent to Groosham Grange by his parents, David Eliot quickly discovers that his new school is a very odd place indeed. New pupils are made to sign their names in blood; the French teacher disappears every full moon; and the assistant headmaster keeps something very chilling in his room.

Hickory Dickory Dash
by Tony Wilson (Author), Laura Wood (Illustrator)
Before the clock strikes one, a mother mouse must search the house for her two missing sons. But she’d better watch out for the cat!

Lintang and the Pirate Queen (Lintang #1)
by Tamara Moss
Lintang dreams of escaping her island home and having adventures on the high seas. She gets her chance when she and her best friend, Bayani, face a deadly mythie and survive, attracting the attention of the infamous Captain Shafira.

The Matilda Effect
by Ellie Irving
Matilda loves science and inventing. Her heroes are Marie Curie, Leonardo DaVinci and Thomas Edison, and one day she wants to be a famous inventor herself. So when she doesn’t win the school science fair, she’s devastated – especially as the judges didn’t believe she’d come up with her entry on her own. Because she’s a girl.

Maybe (Once #6)
by Morris Gleitzman
A powerfully moving addition to Morris Gleitzman’s bestselling series about Felix and Zelda which takes place in 1945, following directly on from the story told in Soon. This intensely affecting story will move readers of all ages. It will be welcomed by the many Holocaust educators who use Once, Now, Then, After and Soon to teach upper primary and lower secondary children A powerfully moving addition to Morris Gleitzman’s bestselling series about Felix and Zelda which takes place in 1945, following directly on from the story told in Soon. This intensely affecting story will move readers of all ages.

More Than One Way to Be a Girl
by Dyan Sheldon
From the writer of Confessions of A Teenage Drama Queen and My Worst Best Friend comes this hugely entertaining teen read, all about what it really means to be a girl. ZiZi likes to think of herself as a girly girl: her wardrobe is almost exclusively pink, her daily makeup routine can take upwards of an hour and she loves a bit of a flirt.

Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables
by Tim Harris, James Hart (Illustrator)
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

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Holiday Reading December 2017

November 17th, 2017
17th November, 2017

The 91-story tree house

Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton

Join Andy and Terry in their ridiculous 91-storey treehouse! Go for a spin in the world’s most powerful whirlpool, take a ride in a submarine sandwich, get marooned on a desert island, hang out in a giant spider web, visit the fortune teller’s tent to get your fortune told by Madame Know-it-all and decide whether or not to push the mysterious big red button. Well, what are you waiting for? Come on up!

Accidental Heroes

Lian Tanner

In the city of Berren, strange things happen. People disappear, trees sprout overnight. But no one believes in magic. To believe in magic would be disloyal… The devious Lord Rump and his granddaughter, Duckling, need a disposable boy, and Pummel, a farm boy looking for work in the city, fits the bill perfectly. Duckling is happy to tangle him in her grandpa’s web, as long as Grandpa keeps his promise – that this will be his very last Scheme.

The book of secrets

A.L Tait

What’s the secret of the book, and why is it so valuable? These are the questions Gabe must answer when a dying man hands him a coded manuscript with one instruction: take it to Aidan. Gabe is hurled into a quest that takes him beyond his monastery home and into a world of danger, political intrigue and adventure. As he seeks to decipher the code and find a mystery man who may not even exist, Gabe learns that survival must be earned and that some of life’s biggest lessons are not found in books. Gabe finds himself questioning everything he knows about right and wrong and wondering if he’ll ever find a way back home. He also discovers that the biggest secret of all may be his own.

Accidental Heroes Camp Half-Blood Confidential

Rick Riordan

In response to an awful camp orientation video created by the god Apollo, Percy Jackson and other residents of Camp Half-Blood answer such questions as “What is this place?” and “Do I get to keep the T-shirt?” Newbies can check out the section on the Divine Cabins, read up on Magical Landmarks, and consult the chapter of Training Arenas. But Camp Half-Blood Confidential explores much more than just the buildings and grounds.

A fiend in need

Jamie Thomson

After acclimating to the inane customs of the blathering human fools, Dirk Lloyd has managed to make contact with his home in the Darklands. Unfortunately, his powers have betrayed him yet again. His new, and dare he say it, good friend Sooz has been transported to his Iron Tower of Despair, where she awaits what is sure to be a slow and painful end. Little does Dirk know that Sooz has formed her own alliances as the new Dark Mistress of his former kingdom.

Eternal detention

Jamie Thomson

Dirk Lloyd, the Dark Lord trapped in the body of a weedy schoolboy, returns in another darkly hilarious adventure… Brilliantly funny and subversive, this is the Funny Prize-winning Jamie Thomson at his best. Fear me, o miserable worm!

The headmaster of doom

Jamie Thomson Dirk Lloyd, the Dark Lord trapped in the boy of a weedy schoolboy, returns in a darkly hilarious adventure set in the most ghoulish school you’ll encounter this side of the Darklands …Fourth in the brilliant series that began with the Roald Dahl Funny Prize-winning DARK LORD: THE TEENAGE YEARS, also chosen as one of the Sunday Times’s 100 Modern Children Classics.

Jehan and the quest for the lost dog

Rosanne Hawke and Stewart Briony

Jehan closed his eyes to pray, then opened them again. It wasn’t a dream. The water was still there – the biggest flood he had seen in his life. For nine-year-old Jehan, life in Pakistan is just as it should be. He attends school, plays cricket with his little brother and fetches water for his family. But when the monsoon unleashes a catastrophic flood, Jehan is swept away from his village and becomes trapped in a tree.

Kensuke’s Kingdom

Michael Morpurgo

When Michael is washed up on an island in the Pacific after falling from his parent’s yacht, the Peggy Sue, he struggles to survive on his own. But he soon realises there is someone close by, someone who is watching over him and helping him to stay alive. Following a close-run battle between life and death after being stung by a poisonous jelly fish, the mysterious someone–Kensuke–allows Michael into his world and they become friends, teaching and learning from each other, until the day of separation becomes inevitable.

Kid Norma

Greg James, Chris Smith, Erica Salcedo

The first book in a laugh-out-loud funny adventure series for 8+ readers from popular radio personalities Greg James and Chris Smith. When Murph Cooper rocks up to his new school several weeks into the beginning of term, he can’t help but feel a bit out of his depth.

The land of flowers

Geronimo Stilton, Chiara Ballello, Barbara Pellizzari

Join Thea Stilton and the Thea Sisters as they travel to help a new magical land! The mice encounter fairies and other strange and fantastical creatures as they work together to solve a mystery to save the realm from peril. It’s a fabumouse adventure!

Lintang and the pirate queen

Tamara moss

Lintang dreams of escaping her island home and having adventures on the high seas. She gets her chance when she and her best friend, Bayani, face a deadly mythie and survive, attracting the attention of the infamous Captain Shafira. Lintang’s bravery earns her an invitation onto the ship of the pirate queen, who is on her way to hunt down a nest of vicious sirens.

Mr Bambucles’ remarkables

Tim Harris

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. The class in room 12B has a new teacher, and nothing is ever going to be the same . . .

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NEW FICTION McAULEY LIBRARY

August 28th, 2017
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