Jabberwocky Top Ten
November 2007: Titles suitable for Secondary School City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments Book One) Cover
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City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments Book One) Cassandra Clare Walker
Sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is an ordinary teenager, who likes hanging out in Brooklyn with her friends. But everything changes the night she witnesses a murder, committed by a group of teens armed with medieval weaponry. The murderous group are Shadowhunters, secret warriors dedicated to driving demons out of this dimension and back into their own. Drawn inexorably into a terrifying world, Clary slowly begins to learn the truth about her family - and the battle for the fate of the world. An urban fantasy peopled by werewolves and vampires. Smashed (NZ) Cover
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Smashed (NZ) Mandy Hager Random House
Toby is, in his own words, '....nothing but a cliché - the puny, nerdy Asian guy who's top at school.' But all Toby's predictable normality changes when, in a moment of recklessness, he abandons his younger sister at a party leaving her in the capable hands of his best friend. 14 year old Rita is subsequently raped and the prime suspect is Toby's mate; but Rita won't talk to the family. Harbouring intense feelings of guilt and anger Toby sets out to confront Carl and uncharacteristically gets himself totally drunk before hand. The following day Carl is found unconscious and bleeding and Toby has no recollections of the previous night's events. Could he really be guilty of such a violent act? Told with humour and compassion it is also, ultimately, a story of courage, love and redemption. DARE plan to use this novel in some of their education programmes. Tomorrow All Will Be Beautiful (NZ) Cover
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Tomorrow All Will Be Beautiful (NZ) Brigid Lowry A&U
A collection of short stories and poems about the private world of girls and women: about change, loss, survival, dreams, friendship, jealousy and tolerance; about the adult lives that teenagers fear or long for; about the teenage years that women remember with regret or relief. This honest, intimate collection will resonate with teenage girls (and their mums), and is playfully illustrated in the style of a scrapbook, with girly photos and black and white drawings. Many of the stories are taken form Brigid Lowry's own life. The Boys Who Saved The World Cover
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The Boys Who Saved The World Sam Mills Faber and Faber
Jon knows what he has to do. If he isn't strong, everyone in his school is going to die. Or so he's been told by Jeremiah, the manipulative, deluded leader of the Brotherhood of Hebetheus - a group of lonely, damaged boys who have started a new religion that makes them feel invincible. But when the boys become convinced that a classmate is involved in a plot to blow up the school, they know they must act. No one will believe them and so they lay their own plans - plans that lead to theft, kidnap, a media frenzy, and, ultimately, bloodshed. A shocking, topical and thought-provoking thriller. The Restless Dead Cover
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The Restless Dead Edited by Deborah Noyes Walker
Enter the murky world of the undead... From a beyond-the-grave stalker-girlfriend to prankster devil worshippers, a childish ghost of the future to a vampire lover with bloody ties to the past, these are the characters in these ten original stories. Includes contributions from acclaimed YA authors Holly Black, Marcus Sedgwick and Chris Wooding. Good Girls Cover
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Good Girls Laura Ruby HarperCollins Audrey is a good girl: a good student, daughter and friend. She's also the last person anyone expects to be with Luke DeSalvio, the biggest player at school. On the night she dumps him, someone takes her picture doing something good girls just don't do...The next Monday messages begin popping up on people's phones and email inboxes. Soon everyone knows, including her teachers, her mum and her dad! Now she must discover strength she never knew he had, find friends where she didn't think she would, and learn that life goes on - no matter how different it is to how you think it's going to be. Contains explicit content. A Note Of Madness Cover
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A Note Of Madness Tabitha Suzuma Definitions
Life as a student is good for Flynn. As one of the top pianists at the Royal College of Music, he has been put forward for an important concert, the opportunity of a lifetime. But beneath the surface, things are changing. On a good day, he feels full of energy and life, but on a bad day being alive is worse than being dead. Sometimes he wants to compose and practise all night, at other times he can't get out of bed. His flatmate Harry tries to understand but is increasingly confused by Flynn's erratic mood swings. His friend Jennah tries to help, but Flynn finds it difficult to be around her as he struggles to control his feelings and behaviour. With the pressure of the forthcoming concert and the growing concern of his family and friends, emotions come to a head. Sometimes things can only get worse before they get better. Finding Violet Park Cover
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Finding Violet Park Jenny Valentine HarperCollins
Sixteen-year-old Lucas Swain becomes intrigued by the urn of ashes left in a cab office. Convinced that its occupant -- Violet Park -- is communicating with him, he contrives to gain possession of the urn, little realising that his quest will take him on a voyage of self- discovery and identity, forcing him to finally confront what happened to his absent (and possibly dead) father... Winner of Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2007. Kiss Cover
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Kiss Jacqueline Wilson Doubleday
Sylvie and Carl have been inseparable best friends since they were toddlers. Together they have constructed intricate stories about Carl's imaginary world 'Glassworld'. Now they are both at different secondary schools and their friendship is beginning to change. Sylvie still has her childhood dream that one day she and Carl will be married but Carl has developed a new friend at his all-boys Grammar School and is spending more time locked in his room or with Paul – the star player of the school football team. As they negotiate their way to their fourteenth birthdays Carl and Sylvie make new friends, have their first experience of alcohol and dream of the all encompassing first kiss. A sensitive yet humorous story of friendship and emerging sexuality. Memoirs Of A Teenage Amnesiac Cover
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Memoirs Of A Teenage Amnesiac Gabrielle Zevin Bloomsbury
Following a fall down a flight of steps Naomi Porter spends more than 3 years in a coma. When she finally wakes up she has no recollection of her past life. When she returns to school she starts piecing together fragments of her life: she has a boyfriend but can't remember him, her mother and father are divorced, and she has forgotten that she is supposed to hate her mother. She also has a group of friends which simply doesn't seem that attractive any more and, despite having meticulously kept a diary, she only mentioned what she ate every day in it! But it's not all bad, because when a girl loses three and a half years she gets a chance to reinvent herself. After all, who is to say that everything has to be the same? The Children's Literature Foundation of New Zealand has announced its list of Notable New Zealand Books 2002.
Ten books in four categories have been selected, from more than 115 books published during 2001.
The list of Notable Books was established three years ago to reflect the wide-ranging achievements of New Zealand authors and illustrators. It appears each year to coincide with the New Zealand Post Children's Book Festival and Book Awards.
The only major difference (basic criteria are excellence of writing, illustration, design and production) is that the CLF Notable Books list allows for the inclusion of anthologies.
Senior Fiction (age group about 12 and over)
Jolt by Bernard Beckett (Longacre Press) Road Kill by Ken Catran (Random House) We have this as Lothian Taken At The Flood by Ken Catran (Random House) Blue Murder by Ken Catran (Lothian Books) Tiggie Tompson All At Sea by Tessa Duder (Penguin Books) The High Wind Blows by David Hill (Penguin Books) Kalik by Jack Lasenby (Longacre Press) Return To One Foot Island by Graeme Lay (Penguin Books) We have this as Puffin Owl by Joanne Orwin (Longacre Press) Peri by Penelope Todd (Longacre Press)
Junior Fiction (age group 7 to about 11)
Ambushed by Fleur Beale (Scholastic) Skull Island by G. Brassi (Scholastic) The Weather-makers by Shirley Corlett (Scholastic) The Wild Wests and the Haunted Fridge by Joy Cowley (HarperCollins) The Sleeper Wakes by David Hill (Penguin Books) Coldkeep Castle by Eiryls Hunter (Scholastic) Recycled by Sandy McKay (Longacre Press) The Riddle of the Frozen Phantom by Margaret Mahy (HarperCollins) The Great Pavlova Cover-up and other stories, edited by Jo Noble, illustrated by Jennifer Cooper (Cumulus) *NB this book is available only through Whitcoulls Knocked For Six by Alison Robertson (Scholastic)
Non-fiction (for younger or older readers) Looking for Larry by Theo Baynton (Scholastic) Which New Zealand Bird? by Andrew Crowe, illustrated by Dave Gunson (Penguin Books) The Plight of the Penguin by Lloyd Spencer Davis (Longacre Press) A Book of Pacific Lullabies, edited by Tessa Duder, illustrations by Anton Petrov (HarperCollins) Fibonacci's cows by Ray Galvin (Shortland Publications) In the Beginning by Peter Gossage (Scholastic) Land Snails by Jenny Jones (Heinemann) Another 100 New Zealand Poems for Children, edited by Rachael McAlpine, illustrated by David Elliot (Random House) I am a Spider by Simon Pollard (Reed Publishing) The Reed Maori picture dictionary by Margaret Sinclair, et al, illustrated by Dale Tutill (Reed Books)
Picture book (for younger or older readers)
Brown Bread and Honey by Pamela Allen (Penguin Books) The Terrible Q by Tanya Batt, illustrated by Trevor Pye (Scholastic) Tom Thumb by Gavin Bishop (Random House) My Brown Bear Barney at the Party by Dorothy Butler, illustrated by Elizabeth Fuller (Reed Books) Brodie by Joy Cowley, illustrated Chris Mousdale (Scholastic) Scarface Claw by Lynley Dodd (Mallinson Rendel) The Last Whale/Te tohora whakamutunga by Reneé Hapimarika van de Weert, illustrated by Anton Petrov (Reed Publishing) Desert Dessert by Perrin Hopkins, illustrated by Jenna Packer (Scholastic) Down the Dragon's Tongue by Margaret Mahy, illustrated by Patricia McCarthy (HarperCollins) Grandpa's Shorts by Joy Watson, illustrated by Wendy Hodder (Scholastic)
2002 Notable Book List is the copyright of Children's Literature Foundation of New Zealand PO Box 96-094 Balmoral, Auckland e-mail: [email protected] Jabberwocky Top Ten October 2007: Titles suitable for Years 7 and 8 Volcano Cover
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Volcano June Colbert Lothian
Sara's dad is a Meatball. He climbs inside volcanoes to take their temperatures and passes his findings on to the Coneheads. Together they make up a disaster assessment team, to make recommendations to local governments. This time, Sara and her father's team are sent to South America to check the safety of Mount Cumbal, a sleepy little extinct volcano. They are all set for the adventure of a lifetime- after all, the volcano is in no danger of erupting. But what about the murky, brown water coming out of the tap in Sara's caravan? It's not supposed to smell like sulphur..... Chicken Dance Cover
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Chicken Dance Jacques Couvillon Bloomsbury
Don Schmidt knows his name has changed from Stanley, and he believes he had a sister and she died of scarlet fever when she was fifteen, but these and other details of Don's life don't quite add up. Don's family lives on a chicken farm in Horse Island, where his mother would prefer not to be. At school Don is known as 'new kid' even though he hasn't been new for years. And when Don becomes a true connoisseur of chickens and wins the Horse Island Chicken-Judging Contest, he is an instant celebrity, setting into motion a chain of events that involves his parents, the chickens and a deep dark family mystery. A quirky, amusing and sensitive story set in the 70's when The Love Boat, The Brady Bunch and TV Dinners were popular – the latter so popular in Don's house that that was all his mother ever cooked! The Dark Ground (The Lost #1) Cover
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The Dark Ground (The Lost #1) Gillian Cross Oxford Robert wakes up, alone in the jungle, with neither food nor shelter. All he can remember is being in an aeroplane with his family. Unfamiliar creatures are roaming about - and he can't get rid of the feeling that someone, or something, is watching him. This is the story of Robert's struggle for survival - from his realization of what has happened to him and where he is, to his perilous journey homeward. An incredible adventure story full of suspense and surprise. The Devil's Breath (Danger Zone #1) Cover
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The Devil's Breath (Danger Zone #1) David Gilman Penguin
Soon after escaping an assassin that bursts from the shadows to try and kill him in the dark windswept grounds of his school in Dartmoor, Max Gordon discovers that his explorer father has also gone missing. Max is determined to find him whatever dangers may lie in his path. A secret clue, that his father has left, leads Max to the inhospitable wilderness of Namibia and the discovery of a potential massive ecological disaster masterminded by the very powerful and completely ruthless businessman, Shaka Chang. Whoever is behind Max's fathers disappearance is determined to get rid of Max too. For good. A fast paced action-adventure story. At the House of the Magician Cover
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At the House of the Magician Mary Hooper Bloomsbury
Lucy has been forced to run away from home as she fears for her safety from her drunken father. She is taken on as a maid at the house of Dr Dee, court magician, upon whom Elizabeth I relies heavily, even down to advising the date of her coronation. The household is strange and sinister, and Lucy has a nose for intrigue ...And she has more than enough to satisfy her: Lucy stumbles across a plot to assassinate the queen and has to find means to warn her... An atmospheric historical novel. Deeper than Blue Cover
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Deeper than Blue Jill Hucklesby Orchard Amy is a thirteen-year-old champion swimmer. When she and her best friend Sophie meet with an accident one day, Amy's life changes dramatically. Amy's story of how she comes to terms with Sophie's death and with the loss of her lower right leg is told with sensitivity and humour. In hospital, Amy makes friends with wheelchair-bound Harry, and begins to feel more positive. Her relationship with her parents is changing too, and the family's move from Nottingham to Brighton heralds a new start. Amy starts swimming again and triumphs in a competition -- she has come full circle. A moving story about a young girl’s triumph over severe personal anguish. Questors Cover
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Questors Joan Lennon Puffin
Meet Madlen, Bryn and Cam. A girl, a boy and one who's undecided. They're in charge of saving the world - well, three worlds actually. They're just not entirely sure how ...Luckily they've been designed as heroes by the people in charge. The only problem is, they're not ready yet. They're still kids and they have no idea what they're looking for or where they'll find it ...And as if things weren't bad enough, there's a mysterious villain hot on their trail, determined to stop them at all costs. Fearless Cover
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Fearless Tim Lott Walker
The smartly painted exterior of the City Community Faith School hides a disturbing secret. Behind its walls, one thousand girls are forced to labour in the city's laundry, separated from their families and deprived of their freedom. One of these girls is Little Fearless, a courageous spirit who never gives up hope that one day they will be rescued. Unafraid of the punishment she will face, Little Fearless escapes the institute to tell her story to the world. But why does nobody believe she's telling the truth? A thought provoking story about control and deception. The Voices of Silence Cover
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The Voices of Silence Bel Mooney Walker Before she knows it, everything in thirteen-year-old Flora Popescu's life has changed. Her parents, her best friend Alys, and the restricted life she has always known in their Bucharest tower block are distanced from her - and Daniel, the mysterious new boy at school, seems to be the cause. Flora likes him, but why can't everybody else trust him too? She thinks of her father's words: "People like us can't afford the luxury of new friends." Then, just as she is making sense of her divided loyalties, Flora discovers that only she alone can save her father's life. Set in 1989, The Voices of Silence presents a young person’s view of life in Ceausescu’s Romania. First Girl Cover
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First Girl Gloria Whelan Frances Lincoln
When another girl is born to Chu Ju's mother, it is quickly determined that the baby must be sent away. After all, the law states that a family may have only two children, and tradition dictates that every family should have a boy. To make room for one, this girl will have to go. Fourteen-year-old Chu Ju knows she cannot allow this to happen to her sister. Understanding that one girl must leave, she sets out in the middle of the night, vowing never to return. In a country where law conspires with tradition to separate a young woman from her family, this is the remarkable tale of one girl's journey to find a home of her own. Jabberwocky Top Ten September 2007: Titles suitable for Years 5 and 6 The Robe of Skulls Cover
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The Robe of Skulls Vivian French Illustrated by Ross Collins Walker
All is not well in the crumbling castle high above the mountain village of Fracture. The sorceress Lady Lamorna has her heart set on a new robe. It is a very expensive new robe. To get the cash she will stop at nothing, including kidnapping, blackmail and more than a little black magic. But she reckons without the heroic Gracie Gillypot, not to mention a gallant if rather scruffy prince, two chatty bats, the wickedest stepsister ever, a troll with a grudge - and some very Ancient crones. Jack Bolt and the Highwaymen's Hideout Cover
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Jack Bolt and the Highwaymen's Hideout Richard Hamilton Illustrated by Sam Hearn Bloomsbury
Ten-year-old Jack Bolt is staying with his granny in the village of Wittlesham. But on the night before All Hallows Eve a very surprising hand delivery slices its way (literally) through to his bedroom, via the wall ...So begins an entirely unexpected adventure for Jack Bolt as he becomes embroiled in a series of haphazard antics with a band of highwaymen on the run. But these are no ordinary highwaymen. They come from the eighteenth century! And Jack must use all his nous to keep them from the suspicious eyes of the law when they make an escape through to his twenty-first century world. The Wednesday Wizard (Denzil Adventures #1) (NZ) Cover
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The Wednesday Wizard (Denzil Adventures #1) (NZ) Sherryl Jordan Scholastic
When an old woman tells Denzil: "Beware of Rue Wednesday! Beware of the large town! And, Weasel, most of all, beware of the dragon!", Denzil is convinced the message is for his master, the great wizard Valvasor who is away in London-town, The only way Denzil can get to Valvasor in time is to use one of Valvasor's magic spells. But Denzil isn't very accomplished with magic and he finds himself transported several centuries ahead of time to the 21st Century. Fortunately he lands in the garden of the MacAllisters, but how will he convince them that he is really a medieval wizard and find a way back to his own time? First published in 1991, this is a welcome reprint of a popular New Zealand series. The Year of the Dog Cover
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The Year of the Dog Grace Lin Little, Brown
When Pacy's mother tells her that the Chinese Year of the Dog is a good year for friends, family and "finding herself", Pacy begins searching right away. As the year goes on she struggles to find her talent, deals with disappointment, makes a new best friend and discovers just why the year of the dog is a lucky one for her after all. The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips Cover
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The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips Michael Morpurgo Illustrated by Michael Foreman HarperCollins
It's 1943, and Lily Tregenze lives on a farm, in the idyllic seaside village of Slapton. Apart from her father being away, and the 'townie' evacuees at school, her life is scarcely touched by the war. Until one day, Lily and her family, along with 3000 other villagers, are told to move out of their homes - lock, stock and barrel. Soon, the whole area is out of bounds, as the Allied forces practise their landings for D-day, preparing to invade France. But Tips, Lily's adored cat, has other ideas - barbed wire and keep-out signs mean nothing to her, nor does the danger of guns and bombs. Frantic to find her, Lily makes friends with two young American soldiers, who promise to help her. But will she ever see her cat again? Lily decides to cross the wire into the danger zone to look for Tips herself! Now, many years later, as Michael is reading his Grandma Lily's diary, he learns about 'The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips' - and wonders how one adventurous cat could still affect their lives sixty years later. Kensuke's Kingdom Cover
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Kensuke's Kingdom Michael Morpurgo Illustrated by Michael Foreman Egmont
When eleven-year-old Michael's dad loses his job he decides to do something he has always wanted to do – sail a boat around the world! So the family packs their belongings and, with their pet dog, set off on an adventure of a lifetime. But, on the night before his twelfth birthday, Michael and his beloved dog fall over board, it is dark and his parents are totally unaware of the drama. Michael and Stella wash up on a small Pacific island that is seemingly uninhabited, water and food appear scarce. Fortunately, Michael is not alone. An elderly Japanese man is also on the island and the two become firm friends. Urgum the Axe Man Cover
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Urgum the Axe Man Kjartan Poskitt Illustrated by Philip Reeve Scholastic
Urgum the Axeman is the fiercest barbarian the Lost Desert has ever known. But one fateful day Urgum returns home to find that not only has his wife redecorated his cave and installed a bathroom, but she's also produced a ten-year-old daughter. And, as Urgum will find out, Little Molly is a barbarian babe with attitude... A riotously funny saga by the author of the Murderous Maths series. The Making of May Cover
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The Making of May Gwyneth Rees Macmillan
Eleven-year-old May's life changes dramatically when she leaves the city and moves to Thornton Hall, a big house in the countryside where her grown-up brother Ben has got the job of gardener - despite having been less than truthful about his qualifications! With her new friend, Alex, May discovers that life at the Hall isn't quite as simple as it seems. What lies behind the locked tower room door that housekeeper Mrs Daniels guards so closely? As May and Alex begin a journey of discovery, transforming the Hall's overgrown walled garden, Mrs Daniels starts to close in on Ben's little secret. Could May be about to lose Thornton Hall forever? Nasty Little Beasts (Grizzly Tales #1) Cover
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Nasty Little Beasts (Grizzly Tales #1) Jamie Rix Illustrated by Steven Pattison Orion
Grizzliness is out there. Every child has the makings of mischievousness, and can be lured into committing dastardly deeds. The six stories in each of the Grizzly Tales books show the rise and hard fall of vile and villainous children. In this book, unspeakable things happen to pets - but the real nasty little beasts are the children themselves, all of them get their comeuppance in the end, consigned to the Hothell Darkness .. The Little Secret Cover
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The Little Secret Kate Saunders Macmillan
Jane is the only one to befriend the strange new girl in her class. All the other children think Staffa is weird, with her paper-white skin, strange way of speaking and funny old fashioned clothes. But Jane thinks Staffa is fun, and silly and brave. The only thing Jane doesn't like about her is her mother, Lady Matilda, who dresses in huge tweed knickerbockers, drinks a vile smelling tea and seems to be sizing Jane up for something. Nonetheless, Jane agrees to go on holiday with Staffa. Travelling with them is the exquisitely painted box Lady Matilda always keeps by her side. Jane is given strict instructions never to open the box but when she wakes one night to see a strange glow coming from it, she can't resist a peek inside. What she sees changes her life for ever as she finds herself plunged into the tiny world of Eck ...a world of slug steaks, spider racing and a tyrannical Queen hell-bent on marrying Jane off to her son ...This is a vividly drawn contemporary fairy tale, full of mad invention, adventure and wonderfully colourful characters. Jabberwocky Top Ten August 2007: Titles suitable for Years 3 and 4
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Zack Proton and the Red Giant #1 Brian Anderson Illustrated by Doug Holgate Aladdin
Like any other genuine intergalactic space hero delivering sixteen million bags of first- class mail to the outer edges of the universe, Commander Zack Proton needed a potty break. But when Zack opened the wrong door and tumbled out of his ship, he found himself all alone in the inky depths of space...until he was picked up by Omega Chimp, the last chimpanzee sent into space. While searching for his lost ship, Zack and Omega square off with the evilest, nastiest, most horriblest space giant ever to walk the spaceways -- Big Large! Can Zack manage without his decoder ring and does Omega Chimp have anything useful aboard his ship besides bananas? Hester the Jester (Aussie Bites) Cover
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Hester the Jester (Aussie Bites) Margaret Clark Illustrated by Terry Denton
Hester's biggest problem is that she is a girl. Being a girl isn't a problem in itself but Hester wants to be a court jester – and in all the history of the kingdom there have only ever been male jesters. But Hester's best friend is Calvin, the current official court jester and he has taught Hester how to read and write; two skills that just might keep Calvin out of trouble and help Hester become the very first girl jester. Jumping Beany (Merryfield Hall Riding School) Cover
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Jumping Beany (Merryfield Hall Riding School) June Crebbin
It's Pony Day at Merryfield Hall Riding School and, for the first time ever, Dad has promised to come and watch Amber jump! Everything will be perfect... as long as Mum can get Amber to the stables on time for once, and rich, spiteful Donna doesn't get her own way. A great new series for young horse lovers. The mad Tadpole Adventure (NZ) Cover
Order from Jabberwocky Book Shop The mad Tadpole Adventure (NZ) Melanie Drewery Illustrated by Jenny Cooper Scholastic
Maddie loves her tadpole which she has named Isabella Princess 'Big Eyes'. As time passes Isabella sprouts legs and turns into a frog and Maddie realizes that keeping a frog is not as easy as it seems – the cat pays a lot of interest in it and it can jump out of its enclosure. Eventually she agrees with her Mum that Isabella should be returned to the wild. But can Maddie cope with losing her wonderful pet? Brilliant Billy's Big Book of Dinosaurs Cover
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Brilliant Billy's Big Book of Dinosaurs Simon Hutton Illustrated by Caroline Glicksman Andersen Press
Billy is mad about dinosaurs; he thinks and talks about them day and night. One day his teacher declares 'Billy's quite the expert on dinosaurs. I think he should be the teacher.' Billy is quite taken by the idea and sets out to teach his mum, but she is always too busy to listen so she suggests Billy write a book for her. But Billy is too busy watching cartoons on TV, going swimming or playing football to write a book; until a children's author visits his class and offers a dinosaur book as a prize for the best story. Can Billy use his fantastic knowledge of dinosaurs to write a terrific story; or will Archie; the class know-it-all beat him again? Birk the Berserker Cover
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Birk the Berserker Robin Klein Illustrated by Alison Lester Scholastic
Birk the Berserker is a hopeless Viking; he hates fighting and is even scared of the local girls. Finally his mum makes Birk go on a raid, but while the other Vikings make a mess of the village Birk falls asleep in a patch of clover and gets captured. Will Birk be able to escape the cage he is being held in before the angry villagers burn him at the stake…… or perhaps there is another way of Birk staying alive and actually being happy? Nim at Sea Cover
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Nim at Sea Wendy Orr Illustrated by Kerry Millard A&U
Nim lives on an island in the middle of the wide blue sea with her father Jack, a marine iguana called Fred, a sea lion called Selkie, and their new friend Alex Rover. Nim is as free as a bird, and she wouldn't swap places with anyone. But when Selkie the sea lion is kidnapped, Nim has to leave her island paradise, stow away on board a cruise ship, and work out how to rescue Selkie and all the captive animals in the ship's zoo. She also needs to reunite her family. Luckily she has Fred, her funny marine iguana, and two new ship-board friends, to help her. A terrific sequel to Nim’s Island, which will soon be made into a movie. The Magic Mirror Cover
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The Magic Mirror Sally Rippin Lothian
Jake thinks Mr Rush is the scariest teacher in the school. He has a loud voice and is always grumpy. One day when Mr Rush growls at Jake he bursts into tears in front of the class. When Jake gets home his little brother calls him names and Jake doesn’t like it. When he finally tells his mum what the real problem is she gives him a special ‘magic mirror’. A fun and sensitive story that deals with coping with anger; being bullied and gaining self-confidence. The Fairy’s Wings Cover
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The Fairy’s Wings Gillian Rubinstein Illustrated by Craig Smith Puffin
One day, while helping her mum in the garden, Tania finds a thistledown fairy which she makes a cubby house for using pebbles, leaves and petals. The next day she finds a pair of wings hanging on a line and bubbles at the edge of the pool she had made – could there really be fairies in the garden? Her brother Troy doesn’t believe so but Tania has obviously upset someone by taking the wings and it looks like they are trying to write messages in the grass…. Finally, with Troy’s help Tania is able to return the wings to their rightful owner. Daisy Dawson Cover
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Daisy Dawson Steve Voake Illustrated by Jessica Meserve Walker
Daisy is a daydreamer. Every day she dawdles to school talking to all the animals and other creatures she meets along the way; consequently she is often getting into trouble for being late. One day, after helping a butterfly that was stuck in a spider web she suddenly discovers she is able to understand everything that animals say! When her friend Boom, a stray dog, is caught by the pound, Daisy enlists the help of a host of animal friends to set him free.
Jabberwocky Top Ten July 2007: Titles suitable for Years 1 and 2
A New Home For A Pirate Ronda Armitage Illustrated by Holly Swain Puffin
Pirate Jed is not happy. Fed up with his life as a pirate he farewells his family and sets off to find a new home - one that stands still. Along the way he meets several animals that need assistance and then join him in the search for the perfect home. Eventually they meet a farmer who is fed up with his life and dreams of becoming a pirate. I'm Not Going Out There! Cover
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I'm Not Going Out There! Paul Bright Illustrated by Ben Cort Koala
A young boy hides under his bed whispering soft and low. There's something out there, coming his way…………a dragon, a witch or a headless ghost? No, it's something much worse than that and very, very real. His sister Kate is not at all happy about the spider that was hidden in her shoe. An imaginative and fun story told in rhyme. The Grumble Rumble Mumbler (NZ) Cover
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The Grumble Rumble Mumbler (NZ) Melanie Drewery Illustration and design by Loudmouth Productions Huia
A young girl just can't get to sleep and keeps running to her Mum to tell her about the very strange sounds she hears. Could it be a maero, a taniwha, or perhaps the family cat? Or could it be something completely different? Lift the flaps to see a variety of night-time monsters. Roger The Jolly Pirate Cover
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Roger The Jolly Pirate Brett Helquist HarperTrophy
Roger is a completely useless pirate. He enjoys singing and telling yarns and always has a smile on his face. His shipmates call him Jolly Roger but it is not meant as a compliment. When Roger's ship is attacked by the Admiral and his crew Roger is sent below ship out of the way. Surely he could do something nice to help out though? So Roger sets about to make a cake….. with an unexpected and dramatic outcome. A fun, imaginative story about how the Jolly Roger flag came to be. Totally Wonderful Miss Plumberry Cover
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Totally Wonderful Miss Plumberry Michael Rosen Illustrated by Chinlun Lee Walker
Molly is exceptionally happy about going to school; she is taking her very precious crystal to show her classmates. Initially her classmates crowd around her and are very interested, but then Russell rushes past with his water-spurting stegosaurus and Molly is left alone. Fortunately Miss Plumberry is an astute teacher and knows just the right tactics to generate interest in Molly's crystal again. Sausages Cover
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Sausages Jessica Souhami Frances Lincoln
One day a poor woodcutter comes across an elf stuck on a rose thorn. After helping the elf John is granted three wishes. John rushes home to tell his wife the exciting news and together they think carefully about what they should wish for. Inevitably a mistake is made and the three wishes are used up very quickly. The Junkyard Dragon Cover
Order from Jabberwocky Book Shop The Junkyard Dragon Beth Webb Illustrated by Russell Julian Lion
Daisy is crazy about dragons. All she wants for her birthday is a real live dragon with jaws that snap, scales that rattle, wings that beat and breathes fire. But dragons are rather hard to find and as her birthday draws closer Daisy is worried that she won't get her wish after all. But what is that noisy beast in the junkyard at the end of their street? Rosie to the Rescue (Aussie Nibbles) Cover
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Rosie to the Rescue (Aussie Nibbles) Meredith Costain Illustrated by Tina Burke Puffin
Rosie loves red - her shoes and gumboots are red, her hairclips are red and her favourite story is Little Red Riding Hood. But her most favourite thing of all is the red fire engine that lives in the shed next door. When Rosie finds an old billy cart she decides to paint it red and add a bell to make her very own fire engine. And when a fire starts in town it is Rosie who rushes to the rescue. Glog (Walker Stories) Cover
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Glog (Walker Stories) Pippa Goodhart Illustrated by Nick Maland Walker
Glog is a young cave-boy who becomes separated from his tribe when they move on to find a good place to stay during winter. Gathering all his tools and furs Glog sets out alone, eventually finding a small cave where he sets up his own camp. Three short stories about Glog, who is eventually reunited with his family. Winning the World Cup (Aussie Nibbles) Cover
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Winning the World Cup (Aussie Nibbles) David Metzenthen Illustrated by Stephen Axelsen Puffin
There's a big grassy paddock behind the house in Marco's street and all the kids gather regularly to play their own version of the soccer World Cup. Although they all now live in Australia they come from different countries originally and take great pride in representing their home country – Italy, Spain, Greece, Greece, Cambodia, Finland to name a few. Then a new boy from Kenya moves to the neighbourhood, but he is reluctant to join in the game. Henry is too sad to play because his little sister is sick in hospital. But when his sister finally comes home from hospital Henry is so ecstatic he leaps over the fence and demonstrates some amazing soccer skills. Jabberwocky Top Ten June 2007: Titles suitable for Secondary
The Transformation of Minna Hargreaves (NZ) Fleur Beale Random House
14 year old Minna's family may be dysfunctional but at least she has great friends and a gorgeous, older boyfriend. But her very normal teen world is turned upside down when her father announces that the family is going to live on a remote island in the Cook Strait as part of a reality TV show. Minna is appalled and life becomes even more strained when, shortly after arriving on the island, her mother announces she is pregnant as result of a very brief affair. Her older dope-smoking brother has also managed to bring his habit with him, something her parents have been blind to up until now. With everything turning completely sour - including their food supplies in the malfunctioning freezer, it is up to Minna to hold it all together and do the majority of the filming for the TV company. A sensitive and humorous read. Unheard Voices Cover
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Unheard Voices Collected by Malorie Blackman Corgi
Published to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the Slave Trade Act, this collection of stories, poems and first hand recollections of slavery is both fascinating and absorbing. Contributors include Gary Paulsen, Benjamin Zephaniah, John Agard and Malorie Blackman. Salt (NZ) Cover
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Salt (NZ) Maurice Gee Puffin
In a dangerous world, Deep Salt strikes terror into the heart of everyone. Hari lives in Blood Burrow, deep in the ruined city of Belong, where he survives by courage and savagery. He is scarred from fighting, he is dangerous and cruel, but he has a secret gift: he can speak with animals. When his father, Tarl, is taken as a slave and sent to the mine known as Deep Salt, from where no worker ever returns, Hari vows to save him. Pearl is from the ruling families, known as Company, which has conquered and enslaved Hari's people. Her destiny involves marriage that will unite her family with that of the powerful and ambitious Ottmar. But Pearl has learned forbidden things from Tealeaf, her maid, and will never submit to a subordinate life. A long journey through the badlands towards Deep Salt finds Pearl and Hari united for a common cause. It soon becomes clear that the survival of their people depends entirely upon the success of Pearl and Hari's mission. A riveting, thought-provoking read - Maurice Gee at his best. Mixing It Cover
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Mixing It Rosemary Hayes Frances Lincoln
Fatimah is a devout Muslim. Steve is a regular guy who has never given much thought to faith. Fatimah and Steve happen to be walking in the same street when a terrorist bomb explodes. Steve is badly injured and when the emergency services arrive, Fatimah is cradling his head in her lap, talking to him, willing him to stay alive. But, the Press is there, too, and next day, their picture appears in every newspaper. 'Romeo and Juliet', scream the headlines, 'Love across the divide.' Then, the threats and anonymous phone calls start. Can the two young people rise above the hatred and learn to understand one another? But, while Steve and Fatimah are trying to break down barriers, the terrorists have another target in mind... Red Tears Cover
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Red Tears Joanna Kenrick Faber and Faber
Emily Bowyer is a normal, confident teenager - lots of friends, loving family and a good student. But beneath the surface she has a wretched secret. Because, for Emily, life isn't as much fun as it would appear. Her friends are going off her and her parents only seem to care about her troubled brother. Plus, she's expected to complete hours of homework, to excel in her exams, to be the perfect student. Tension, pressure, anxiety, anger and self-hatred. Where does it go when no one will listen? Emily has found a way to let it all out, a way to cope when life is overwhelming. But it is private. No one must ever find out. "Red Tears" is a shocking, extremely well-researched novel about a girl who self- harms. It offers a bold and candid look at a phenomenon that afflicts thousands teenagers worldwide. Losing It (NZ) Cover
Order from Jabberwocky Book Shop Losing It (NZ) Sandy McKay Longacre
"I'll go bonkers in here, Issy. It's like prison except at least in prison you have some freedoms." Fifteen-year-old Johanna Morrison is in hospital, writing letters to her best friend, Issy. As part of her therapy Jo is not allowed to leave her room, use the phone, have visitors or even wash her hair. Not unless she agrees to eat. But Jo doesn't want to eat because to her that would mean giving in and losing what little control she has over her life. Jo suffers from anorexia and her condition has reached crisis point. For now, contact with Issy is the only thing keeping her sane. "You are not losing it, Jo. You are going to be fine." Jo's letters and diary give us a wry and insightful look at a teenage girl in desperate trouble. Her friend Issy, on the other hand, writes cheerfully of family dramas and hassles at school: a life that Jo has left behind ... at least for now. Sandy McKay's first young adult novel provides a sensitive insight into the world of a troubled teen. Teeth Marks Cover
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Teeth Marks Rose Moxkam A&U
When Nick heads west with his best mate Robbie, he expects to make some money and have some fun. He doesn't expect to fall for Jude or her rockabilly songs; he doesn't expect her to bite so hard; and he certainly doesn't expect to have his secret desires exposed by the strange people in the orthopedics ward. With electrifying precision, Rose Moxham captures the spirit of a boy on the brink of manhood, trying to determine who he is going to be and what life has to offer him. Hideout (NZ) Cover
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Hideout (NZ) Lorraine Orman Longacre
Although fifteen-year-old Roz is not part of the in-crowd she does have at least one good friend and mostly enjoys her life. But when she discovers the truth about the father she has never known and realises that her Mum's new boyfriend has been behaving inappropriately towards her 9-year-old half-sister, Roz takes matters into her own hands. For almost 2 weeks the girls take refuge in a friend's bach at Pukerua Bay overlooking Kapiti Island. Here Roz makes friends with a young man who is managing the local second-hand bookshop and the reclusive Don Nepia who lives at the other end of the bay. When Dawn's health takes a turn for the worse Roz realises that she can no longer cope on her own and must call on Don for assistance. A well-paced novel about a teen struggling with family relationships and identity. Angel Blood Cover
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Angel Blood John Singleton Puffin
The nurses call this place the Bin. We have to get out. We have to run away before they hurt us for good. But there's no escaping Dr Dearly and his brutality - is there? Four extraordinary children face a terrifying ordeal. Their only hope is local hard-case Nail - but has he got what it takes to save them? Astonishing, intense and inspirational, Angel Blood is a confronting read about disabled children in a residential facility where the residing Doctor is far from ethical. Star Dancer Cover
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Star Dancer Beth Webb Macmillan
When fifteen-year old Tegen is declared the Star Dancer - the one who will save her people from a terrible evil - she is stunned. Tegen has nothing in common with the mystical druids whose rituals protect her village. She's just a normal girl, not a hero. Then Tegen learns to work real magic with an enchanted silk shawl, and has no choice but to accept her destiny. But there are those who are hell bent on destroying her before she can fulfill the prophecy - and defeat the enemy that threatens her world ... Jabberwocky Top Ten May 2007: Titles suitable for Years 7 and 8 Nathan Fox: Dangerous Times Cover
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Nathan Fox: Dangerous Times L. Brittney Macmillan
Nathan Fox is a talented young thespian and friend of Will Shakespeare. Recruited by the Spymaster General and trained at a School of Defence in the arts that will keep him alive. His first mission takes him to Venice where he encounters General Othello and is witness to his love for Desdemona. But will Nathan survive to tell his friend Will about his adventures? This terrific new series is a wonderful mix of history and drama. Night of the Fifth Moon Cover
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Night of the Fifth Moon Anna Ciddor A&U
In the time of the druidsbr Deep in the forest Six seek the powerbr But only one can be chosen
Ket is desperate to learn the druid's secrets - to predict the future from the stars, to understand the raven's cry, to speak words of power that can halt a battle. But 5 other fosterlings are competing against him, and at each new moon one of them must be sent away. Friendships are strained to breaking point as they all strive to impress the druid. By the night of the fifth moon only one will remain. An atmospheric novel set in pagan Ireland. Iqbal Cover
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Iqbal Francesco D'Adamo Aladdin When Iqbal is sold into slavery at a carpet factory, his arrival changes everything for the other overworked and abused children there. It is Iqbal who explains to them that despite their master's promises, he plans on keeping them as his slaves indefinitely. But it is also Iqbal who inspires the other children to look to a future free from toil….. and is brave enough to show them how to get there. This fictionalized account of the real Iqbal Masih is told through the voice of a young Pakistani girl whose life is changed by Iqbal's courage. Diego, Run! Cover
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Diego, Run! Deborah Ellis A&U
For twelve-year-old Diego, home is a prison in Cochabamba, Bolivia. His parents are locked up, but he is free to come and go: to school, to the market to sell his mother's hand-knitted goods, and to work as a 'taxi', running errands for the prisoners. But when his little sister runs away and his mother receives a heavy fine, Diego has to make big money, fast. His friend Mando has a plan... Lured by the promise of riches; Diego and Mando are soon deep in the jungle and far from home. Forced to manufacture cocaine in terrible conditions, Diego must risk everything if he wants to see his family again. Escaping into the Night Cover
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Escaping into the Night D. Dina Friedman Simon and Schuster
When the Polish ghetto where she lives is evacuated, thirteen-year-old Halina narrowly escapes, but her mother is not as lucky. Along with her friend Batya, Halina makes her way to a secret encampment in the woods where Jews survive by living underground. As the group struggle for food, handle infighting, and attempt to protect themselves from the advancing Germans, Halina must face the reality of life without her mother. Based on historical events, this novel sheds light on a little-known aspect of the Holocaust. The Black Book of Secrets Cover
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The Black Book of Secrets F.E. Higgins Macmillan Ludlow Fitch is desperate to escape his drunken parents and hitches a ride on the back of a carriage not caring about his destination. He finds himself in the remote village of Pagus Parvus that is controlled by the rich and bullying Jeremiah Ratchet. Unsure of where to go Ludlow meets up with the mysterious Joe Zabbidou who arrives in the village at the same time. Joe sets up a Pawnbroker shop in the only vacant building not owned by Ratchet. But Joe doesn't deal in objects - he deals in secrets and Ludlow becomes his very able scribe. One by one all the villagers visit Zabbidou on the stroke of midnight, unburdening themselves of their dark secrets and gradually Jeremiah Ratchet's hold of the village lessens. A compelling read. Eglantine (Allie's Ghost Hunters #1) Cover
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Eglantine (Allie's Ghost Hunters #1) Catherine Jinks A&U
Allie's family moves into a house built in 1886 because her Mum 'liked the vibes'. But those vibes turned scary when ghostly writing started appearing on the walls of Bethan's room. No matter what they do they can't get rid of the writing - even the variety of paranormal investigators they call are stumped. Could it be that it is connected to the old copy of Tennyson's Idylls of the King they found under the stairs that belonged to Eglantine Harris who died in 1907 at the age of seventeen? Weedflower Cover
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Weedflower Cynthia Kadohata Simon and Schuster
Raised on a flower farm in California, twelve-year-old Sumiko is used to being the only Japanese girl in her class. Even when the other kids tease her, she always has her flowers and family to go home to. That all changes when Pearl Harbour is bombed by the Japanese. Other Americans start to suspect that all Japanese people are spies for the emperor, even if, like Sumiko, they were born in the United States. As suspicions grow, Sumiko and her family find themselves being shipped to an internment camp on an Indian reservation. Skulduggery Pleasant Cover
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Skulduggery Pleasant Derek Landy HarperCollins Stephanie always had a terrific relationship with her Uncle, a writer of adult horror fiction. But after his death Stephanie inherits his estate and discovers that there was much more to her Uncle than she realised. For a start there is his good friend, Skulduggery Pleasant - a detective and living skeleton! Plunged into a world of vampires and Hollow Men she becomes aware that her uncle's work wasn't really fiction after all, but drawn from his real life experiences. Stephanie works closely with the wise-cracking detective to find the missing Sceptre and keep it from the hands of the evil, power hungry Serpine and his followers. A fast-moving, spooky detective story with dry humour. Blue Jasmine Cover
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Blue Jasmine Kashmira Sheth Hyperion
When twelve-year-old Seema Trivedi learns that she and her family must move from their small village in India to Iowa City, USA, she realises she will say good-bye to the only home she's ever known. India is home to the purple-jeweled mango trees and sweet- smelling jasmine, to the monsoon rains and the bustling market. Most important, it is home to her beloved family of aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins . . . all of whom she'll have to leave behind. Yet the adventure of moving to America unfolds before her like the bloom of a new flower. A world of new experiences and challenges lies in wait. In time, will she begin to plant roots in the foreign soil that feels so strange? Jabberwocky Top Ten April 2007: Titles suitable for Years 5 and 6 Danny Allen was here Cover
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Danny Allen was here Phil Cummings Pan Macmillan
Danny, his older brother Sam and their younger sister Vicki live on a farm in the tiny town of Mundowie. There's always heaps to do - surfing the sand dunes near the haunted houses; swinging across the creek on a rope; building tree houses in the backyard; and trying to kick a football over the roof of the Mundowie Institute Hall. Life is certainly a lot of fun and the kids get up to all sorts of mischief while their parents are busy on the farm. But after an exceptionally dry spell it looks like the family will have to face the prospect of leaving the farm and moving to the city. Runcible Jones: The Gate to Nowhere Cover
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Runcible Jones: The Gate to Nowhere Ian Irvine Puffin
When he was seven years old, Runcible's parents got divorced. At the age of 10 his beloved father, Ansie, was killed in a mysterious fire. On the day after his eleventh birthday his scientist mother, Millie was jailed for at least 8 years for being in possession of a banned book of magic written by his father. Now, almost 12, Runcie is fostered with the rather odd Nightingales and attends Grindgrim Recalcitrants Academy. Convinced there is a mystery surrounding his father's death Runcie is determined to find out the truth, he just wishes he hadn't promised his mother he wouldn't have anything to do with magic. But when he and fellow school-mate Mariam are in danger from the school thugs, the promise to his mum is forgotten. Muttering a spell he has recently heard, not knowing if it will work or not, he and Mariam are transported to the fantastical world of Iltior, and so beginning and adventure that will change the world's destiny forever. The Case of the Missing Cats (The Dragon Detective Agency #1) Cover
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The Case of the Missing Cats (The Dragon Detective Agency #1) Gareth Jones Bloomsbury
Dirk Dilly is a London based detective with a difference - he is a 'four-metre-long, red- backed, green-bellied, urban-based Mountain Dragon'. His normal line of business is trailing cheating husbands, locating runaway teens and photographing people who are playing hooky from work, certainly NOT looking for an eleven-year-old girl's missing cat! But for some reason Dilly decides to take the case and it turns out to be not quite as simple as he thought. Mountain's of Fire (The Dragon Charmers #1) (NZ) Cover
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Mountain's of Fire (The Dragon Charmers #1) (NZ) Linda McNabb HarperCollins
Thirteen-year-old Logan is an apprentice to the aging wizard, Zared. His best friend, Alyxa, is a talented dragon charmer who is able to sooth and command dragons with her singing. But not all dragons are tame, and when the feral Reds kidnap Erik, the crown prince of Shanoria, Zaed and Alyxa embark on a dangerous adventure to locate Silverhorn, the legendry white dragon. Fairy Four-Eyes (Aussie Bites) Cover
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Fairy Four-Eyes (Aussie Bites) Penny Matthews Illustrated by Emma Quay Puffin
Lucy loves ballet and shows considerable talent; in fact she is the best dancer in her class. Her biggest wish is to become a professional ballerina and play roles like the Sugar Plum Fairy. But suddenly she feels like her life has become a nightmare - she learns she has to wear glasses ALL THE TIME, and an obnoxious boy from New Zealand joins their class and he is better at dancing than her. This is an accessible story for less confident readers. Faster Than Lightning (The Clued-Up Six #1) Cover
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Faster Than Lightning (The Clued-Up Six #1) Michael Panckridge and Pam Harvey Angus&Robertson
Twelve-year-old Angus lives and breathes horses, frequently helping his horse trainer father at the racecourse before school. Following a scary incident at the track one morning, and then noticing a horse that appears to be the exact replica of a dead horse, Angus knows that something is not right. With the help of his friends, Angus discovers suspicious goings on at the local stud farm - are they involved with a special breeding programme, or is it something more sinister? An exciting new adventure-mystery series. Catlecliff and the Fossil Princess (NZ) Cover
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Catlecliff and the Fossil Princess (NZ) Elizabeth Pulford Walker Books
After the death of his new step-dad's grandmother, Jamie has to accompany his parents on what was to be their honeymoon and finds himself cleaning out many rooms and packing lots of boxes. Castlecliff is an old house perched high on a cliff which holds its own mystery surrounding the drowning of Grancliff's twin brother when they were children. While staying at Castlecliff Jamie befriends Lani who helps him with his swimming training. But when she doesn't turn up for several days Jamie gets a bit annoyed, only to find that Lani has been in hospital having radiation treatment for lymphoma, a type of cancer that she is unlikely to survive from. This is a gentle story about family, friendships and coping with loss. I Am a Tree Cover
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I Am a Tree Kaye Umansky A & C Black
In his final year at primary school Tim is horrified when he isn't given the lead role in the school play; after all he is the acknowledged best actor the school has! But his teacher, Mrs Axworthy, is determined to give other students a chance - but giving Tim the role of a talking tree is the pits, especially as all his lines are in rhyming couplets. Could this mean the end to Tim's acting career? The Undys: Let the Games Begin Cover
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The Undys: Let the Games Begin Michael Wagner Illustrated by Gus Gordon Puffin
Josh and his Dad live on their own; they love each other's company and have an enormous amount of fun together. Unfortunately they aren't too good when it comes to shopping, cooking and keeping the house tidy - a fact that Aunty Faber is frequently pointing out. But it doesn't seem that there is any chance of breaking these two out of their bad habits - or is there? A very funny father-son story. The Great Chocolate Cake Bake-Off (NZ) Cover
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The Great Chocolate Cake Bake-Off (NZ) Philippa Werry Scholastic
Nicholas' Mum isn't around anymore so it's just him, his little brother Zac and their rather preoccupied artist father at home. Consequently Nicholas has become the chief cook, not that he is successful at it most of the time. Then, quite by chance, Nicholas discovers that he likes baking cakes and is rather good at it - even his Dad and neighbour Ruby say so. But could it be possible that he is good enough to take part, and win, 'The Great Chocolate Cake Bake-Off', especially as the constantly successful Oliver Billington will be entering also.
Jabberwocky Top Ten March 2007: Titles suitable for Years 3 and 4
Juan Bobo Goes to Work Retold by Marisa Montes Illustrated by Joe Cepeda HarperTrophy
Juan Bobo (Simple John) is a silly peasant boy who lives in the highlands of Peurto Rico. When his mother sends him off to find work Juan Bobo manages to confuse instructions given to him and despite receiving payment for the jobs he attempts to do well he always returns home empty handed. However his silly ways have a positive side to them when he makes the sick daughter of a wealthy man laugh at his antics. The Great Dragon Rescue Cover
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The Great Dragon Rescue M.P. Robertson Frances Lincoln George is bored. Pretending to fight off imaginary enemies while gathering eggs, he starts to think dragonish thoughts. All of a sudden he feels the chicken coop shudder and his dragon appears and George knows another adventure is about to begin. George and his dragon must beat a witch in a flying race so that George can rescue an imprisoned baby dragon. This is the third story about George and his dragon. Freckle Juice Cover
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Freckle Juice Judy Blume Macmillan
Andrew wants freckles. He wants to be like Nicky Lane who has millions of them. If he had freckles like Nicky, then his mother would never notice when his neck was dirty. He wouldn't have to wash and he'd never be late for school. So when Andrew hears about the secret recipe for Freckle Juice, he's determined to try it. First published in 1990 this is a wonderfully humorous story. Poor Fish! (Aussie Nibbles) Cover
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Poor Fish! (Aussie Nibbles) Jane Godwin Illustrated by David Mackintosh Puffin
Eight year old Patrick's family has a large fish pond in their garden which his 2 year old brother just loves. But one morning while feeding the fish Patrick notices that one of the fish looks dead. In a hurry to get to their football game they don't have time to bury the fish. When they get home Patrick can't understand why Brendan keeps saying ‘Fishy swim wee wees'. As it turns out their Dad had tried to flush the fish down the toilet but it wasn't dead after all! Jessie and Mr Smith (Aussie Bites) Cover
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Jessie and Mr Smith (Aussie Bites) Jane Godwin Illustrated by Ann James Puffin
Two weeks before she is about to move house Jessica finds a tortoise in her backyard. She has never had a pet before and would love to keep it, but there is a name and part of a phone number printed on the tortoise's shell. Jessica does everything she can to locate the owner but after a week without success she lets Mr Smith go in the local creek. Soon afterwards a little girl calls to say the tortoise is hers. Although they try to locate the tortoise again they are unsuccessful – but Jessica thinks the creek will be a much nicer place for Mr Smith to live anyway. Sleepover Sleuths (Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew #1) Cover
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Sleepover Sleuths (Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew #1) Carolyn Keene Illustrated by Macky Pamintuan Aladdin
Eight year old Nancy and her two best friends have been invited to Deirdre's sleepover party. The party has a ‘City Girls' doll theme and all the guests are bringing their dolls with them. But when Deirdre's Doll, Hollywood Heather, goes missing the party looks like it will be ruined. Fortunately Nancy, George and Bess are great at finding clues and solving mysteries. Digory the Dragon Slayer Cover
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Digory the Dragon Slayer Angela McAllister Illustrated by Ian Beck Bloomsbury
Digory lives in the time of knights and dragons. But he is an unusual boy who prefers to spend his time alone in the forest, sometimes building dams and tree houses and sometimes playing his father's old lute and making up songs. One day, after making a stick bridge across a stream, Digory finds a large, sharp tooth which he just knows is a dragon's tooth. He tucks it into his hat and heads home. By the time he gets back to his village word about the dragon's tooth has spread and Digory finds himself the centre of attention as everyone believes he has slayed a fearsome dragon. Oliver Moon and the Potion Commotion Cover
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Oliver Moon and the Potion Commotion Sue Mongredien Illustrated by Jan McCafferty Usborne
Oliver Moon is one of the most promising young wizards at Magic School; unfortunately for him his parents are absolutely awful at being a witch and wizard and have started to behave like ordinary people – driving a car instead of riding a broomstick and cooking in a microwave instead of the cauldron. Oliver finds his parents embarrassing to say the least! And when Oliver is nominated for Young Wizard of the Year he is most concerned to learn that the judges will be visiting his family to make sure he comes from a good wizarding family. Not only does he have to work on his own wizarding skills, he has to sort out his family too! Whatnot Takes Charge (Red Bananas) Cover
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Whatnot Takes Charge (Red Bananas) Linda Newbery Illustrated by Georgie Ripper Egmont
Tim's dog, Whatnot, comes from a long line of highly achieving dogs but it seems the only thing Whatnot is good at is being disobedient. Despite this Tim is determined to train Whatnot and enter him in the Obedience and Agility Competition at the school fete. But when Whatnot becomes frightened by the starter pistol for the fancy dress race he causes mayhem and will certainly be in a whole lot of trouble…or will he? Helpful Helen the Robot (Red Bananas) Cover
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Helpful Helen the Robot (Red Bananas) Bob Wilson Egmont
When Tom and his parents move into a new house Tom is excited about finally having a backyard to play in. But the house has been empty for a long time and the yard is full of junk, it will take ages to clear it all up! But then Tom meets Professor Plum next door and learns that his robot, Helen, is very good at doing jobs. There's just one thing – you have to speak slowly and very clearly or Helen can get confused and then anything could happen! Jabberwocky Top Ten February 2007: Titles suitable for Years 1 and 2
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Itiiti's Gift (NZ) Melanie Drewery Illustrated by Fifi Colston Reed
Itiiti is a young girl from a big jumbly family. She feels that everyone is else is good at something but she isn't.
Her Mum reassures her that she will know her gift when she finds it. Through the course of the story Itiiti tries running with her brother, swimming with her sister, fishing with her Dad, tree climbing with her cousin and flax weaving with her Nanny each time feeling sad at not being able to achieve. In the evening when Mum brings out the guitar Itiiti shies away from trying to play the instrument and sits alone on the front porch. But music is in her blood and soon Itiiti is singing beautifully without effort. Cold Paws, Warm Heart Cover
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Cold Paws, Warm Heart Madeleine Floyd Walker
Cold Paws is a large polar bear who is always cold and lonely. One day Hannah hears some beautiful music from across the ice and decides to cross the ice and follow it. There she finds Cold Paws playing a flute. Noticing he is cold and miserable Hannah gives him her red scarf. As the days pass Hannah and Cold Paws become firm friends and the polar bear no longer feels cold on the inside. Caruso's Song to the Moon Cover
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Caruso's Song to the Moon Adele Jaunn Lothian
Caruso is a very musical cat who decides he will sing a song to the moon. But Caruso's song is not to everyone's liking and he has to dodge buckets of icy cold water, flying newspapers and mad dogs. Determined to finish his song the following evening Caruso heads to the high roof of the Flinders' family house. Very soon his wailing awakens everyone, and just in the nick of time too as the house is on fire. Consequently Caruso is applauded and fussed over, but not for his musical talents as he wished. Eight Cover
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Eight Lyn Lee Illustrated by Kim Gamble Scholastic
Timmy and Eight have been best friends forever. Eight goes everywhere with Timmy and he can't sleep at night without him. But after a family picnic by the river Timmy accidentally leaves Eight behind. Timmy's parents both reassure him that Eight is brave and will be quite alright until the following day. But when they don't find him the following day Timmy's Dad suggests that Eight is probably having his own adventures sailing down the river.
As time passes Timmy still misses Eight and often imagines the adventures he might be having. Some time later, on a return trip to the river, Timmy finds Eight amongst the roots of a mangrove. Needless to say Timmy is thrilled, but by now has outgrown the need to have Eight in bed with him. One Witch Cover
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One Witch Laura Leuck Illustrated by S. D. Schindler Bloomsbury
One witch, on a hill, had an empty pot to fill so she visits all her creepy, ghoulish friends, including vampires, werewolves, bats and owls, and each group provides her with something for her to put in her pot. When she returns she sends out invitations to all her friends and sets about making her disgusting brew.
A creepy but fun story that counts from 1 to 10 and back again. The Knight Who Took All Day Cover
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The Knight Who Took All Day James Mayhew Chicken House A knight who thinks he is brave, fearless and handsome longs to show off his talents, especially to the golden-haired princess. The knight believes he will win her attention if he can just fight a dragon, but dragons haven't been seen in a hundred years. But one day a fire-breathing dragon arrives and threatens the kingdom, but the Knight is so busy trying to make himself look splendid for the job that by the time is ready the Princess has tamed the dragon and she eventually marries the knight's squire. Mr Crookodile (Blue Bananas) Cover
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Mr Crookodile (Blue Bananas) John Bush Illustrated by Korky Paul Egmont
Mrs Crocodile is fed up of working hard and living in their dank, dark, smelly hole in the riverbank and she is also very fed up with her husband's lazy ways. She wants a better life for her family so she issues Mr Crocodile an ultimatum - either he goes out and gets a job or she will get a job and he can stay home and do the housework!
After thinking of a variety of jobs that may make him rich Mr Crocodile decides that robbing the bank may be answer.
A fun story with a twist in the end that will surely delight independent readers. Hieronymus Betts and his Unusual Pets Cover
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Hieronymus Betts and his Unusual Pets M. P. Robertson Frances Lincoln
Hieronymus Betts has some very weird pets indeed - Slurp the Slugopotamus, Cuddles the Porcupython and Stinker the Bog Hog to name just a few. But Hieronymus knows of something slimier, smellier and greedier than any of his pets: his little brother!
Wonderful play with words will no doubt encourage young readers to invent their own unusual pets. Lovely, Lovely Pirate Gold (Zigzag) Cover
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Lovely, Lovely Pirate Gold (Zigzag) Scoular Anderson Evans When a pirate captain discovers a treasure map while hunting through his chest of clothes all his crew eagerly set off in search of treasure. But after digging for hours all they find is an old boot. Will the cabin boy be able to help?
With 1-2 sentences per page this is an ideal story for those just beginning their journey to independent reading. Hocus Pocus Hound (I Am Reading) Cover
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Hocus Pocus Hound (I Am Reading) Samantha Hay Illustrated by Nathan Reed Kingfisher
Marvo the Magician is a somewhat grumpy employer. Doris is possibly the world's worst assistant. So when Marvo has had enough of Doris' errors he shouts at her and says that the first person he sees will be his new assistant. However there are no people in the alley behind the theatre, just a mangy dog scavenging in the rubbish bins. Marvo decides the dog will be his new assistant and Doris will be their dogsbody. The dog proves incredibly talented and Hocus Pocus Hound helps draw in large audiences and plenty of money for Marvo - and he doesn't have to pay the dog at all. Hocus Pocus Hound is soon able to do all Marvo's tricks and one night makes Marvo disappear - but instead of bringing him back the dog goes to sleep on stage and it is up to the recently fired Doris to save the day. Jabberwocky Top Ten August 2006: Titles suitable for Secondary School
Paralysed Sherry Ashworth Simon and Schuster
Simon is six months short of his seventeenth birthday; he has a wonderful girlfriend and is a promising rugby player. The day before he is due to play a crucial county match, that will be watched by national selectors, Simon and another boy collide in mid air, leaving him paralysed.
Told from three perspectives this is a moving story about how tragic accident changes lives and relationships. Genesis (NZ) Cover
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Genesis (NZ) Bernard Beckett Longacre Press
Anaxaminder is a young Academy candidate undergoing a grueling five-hour long examination, her topic of expertise: The Life and Times of Adam Forde, 2058-2077.
Through her answers to the examiners we learn that New Zealand was renamed 'The Republic' in 2052 and has separated itself from a plague-ridden globe. All approaching boats, exploratory air craft or refugees are shot on sight. When Adam Forde insisted on his right to independent thought and action The Republic was put at grave risk and Adam was imprisoned, becoming the participant in a programming experiment with a new brand of Artificial Intelligence.
A powerful sci-fi novel that will raise debate about ethics and what separates humans from the worlds of animals and machines. Monkey Taming Cover
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Monkey Taming Judith Fathallah Definitions
Jessica was thirteen when she met the Monkey. The Monkey lived inside her: a driving, fiery voice telling her that thinness was the only way to be safe, to be acceptable and, above all, to escape the looming threat of approaching adulthood.
Inspired by the teenage author's own experiences, this is an illuminating story about the realities of anorexia, an adolescent psychiatric unit and the final stark choice - either tame the monkey or die. Spiked! Cover
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Spiked! Sandra Glover Andersen Press
Sixteen year old Debra Cardew is a top achiever, her life is in control, but an innocent celebration party with her friends becomes a nightmare.
Unbeknown to Debra she is being watched by a young man with a grudge, waiting for the opportunity to spike her drink.
Believing her to be drunk her friend leaves Debra briefly in the toilet, only to return to find Debra missing. The Lab Cover
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The Lab Jack Heath Pan Macmillan
16 year old Agent Six of Hearts is the strongest, most invincible agent in the Deck, a team of special agents fighting to uphold values in a city dominated by the company ChaoSonic.
But Six has a deadly secret. He is the product of an illegal genetic experiment by the Lab - a ruthless division of ChaoSonic.
When the Deck begins investigating the Lab, Six is caught between his two worlds, trying to keep his origins hidden from those around him. Ultimately, however, Six sides with decency and ethics.
A fast-paced, futuristic thriller. Shooting the Moon (NZ) Cover
Order from Jabberwocky Book Shop Shooting the Moon (NZ) V.M. Jones HarperCollins
This sequel to Juggling with Mandarins continues Pip's story as he battles to gain the acceptance and respect of his sport-mad, domineering father. Now 14, he has gained significant success with his climbing and has been selected for the National Team, heading for Scotland, finally his Dad seems to be proud of him.
But a shadow looms over Pip's life as he realises that his older brother Nick is using marijuana and is becoming less involved with school and sport. Senior Secondary Kidulthood Cover
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Kidulthood Noel Clarke Bloomsbury
Katie is fifteen and mercilessly bullied at school. When it all becomes too much she decides to take her life, leaving a note.
The rest of her year are given the day off school to 'mourn' - this is the story of what some of them do on that day as they all get ready for a big party, one which will have a shocking outcome.
A powerful, hard-hitting explicit novel of violence based on the controversial 2006 movie - contains drug use, extreme violence and sex scenes. Looking for Alaska Cover
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Looking for Alaska John Green HarperCollins
Miles Hunter is approaching 17 - he is smart, friendless, has a passion for biographies and can quote the last words of hundreds of famous people. Now he has decided to go in search of the 'Great Perhaps' and enrolls at his father's old boarding school, Culver Creek Preparatory. Here he makes friends with an eclectic group of students, including Alaska Young - a clever, funny, sexy and self-destructive young woman. A truly stunning debut novel, Looking for Alaska is a no-holds-barred insight into the lives of a group of intelligent, somewhat reckless teens. It is a passionate, intensely moving and shocking read. Alice and Luigi Cover
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Alice and Luigi Graeme Lay David Ling
In 1878 Luigi Galoni flees his Italian hometown of Pesaro, crossing the world for a new life in New Zealand, following his friend Leopoldo who had made the journey several years earlier. But life in New Zealand is incredibly harsh; Liugi and Leopoldo are unable to break in constantly wet land of the Haast region, and following his friend's death Luigi heads first to Wesport before finally settling with other Italians in the sea side community of Makara.
Loosely based on Graeme Lay's own family history, this adult novel is a wonderfully evocative story of a man determined to succeed in his new country and the life he builds with a young woman sixteen years his junior. The Full Spectrum Cover
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The Full Spectrum David Levithan & Billy Merrell (editors) Knopf
Subtitled a new generation of writing about gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning and other identities, 'Full Spectrum' is an important collection of short stories from 40 queer youth living in America. Their stories are open and honest, sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking. With luck they will promote understanding and acceptance. Jabberwocky Top Ten March 2006: Titles suitable for Secondary School
Deep Fried (NZ) Bernard Beckett & Clair Knighton Longacre Press
Pete is an articulate, foul-mouthed teen in Year 13. A borderline genius who has achieved little during his school life except push the boundaries, he is now consumed by the feeling of 'Pissed Off'. 'Pissed Off' manifests itself while Pete is standing in line at the local franchise of the multi-national hamburger chain and his actions spark a raft of consequences - his school loses a major sponsorship deal, an unknown person named 'Rob' creates a website dedicated to 'Pissed off' and Pete becomes the target of the multi- national corporation who see him as a dangerous 'loose cannon'.
A fast-paced contemporary 'thriller' which will no doubt appeal to senior students. The Boy in Striped Pyjamas Cover
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The Boy in Striped Pyjamas John Boyne David Fickling Books
Bruno is the nine year old son of a Nazi Commander in charge of a P.o.W camp. Unbeknown to his family Bruno befriends a boy who lives on the other side of the fence, one of the many people who wear 'striped pyjamas'.
This is a book that is very difficult to describe, it is a holocaust story with a difference and its ending will challenge and shock its readers.
IT IS NOT A BOOK FOR YOUNG READERS. Like Wallpaper (NZ) Cover
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Like Wallpaper (NZ) Edited by Barbara Else Random House
These 20 stories ambush the emotions in many ways as the teenage characters navigate social and family relationships, romance, sexuality and death with intensity, subtlety and humour. Contributors include well known authors Jane Westaway, David Hill and Fleur Beale as well as newcomers such as Samantha Stanley and Natasha Lewis - the winner of the Katherine Mansfield Young Writer's Award in 2004.
A must have collection for all Secondary School libraries and English departments. You Cover
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You Sandra Glover Corgi
18 year old Josie is trying to make a new life for herself, she has gained GCSEs and A levels and is in her first year at College. But she still struggles to cope with what Alex did 7 years ago. With newspaper headlines screaming about the early release of young offenders Josie struggles to hold everything together. Alex continues to haunt her on a daily basis and the need to self-mutilate is difficult to avoid.
A moving, hard-hitting story of justice, rehabilitation, compassion and hope. With lots of love from Georgia (NZ) Cover
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With lots of love from Georgia (NZ) Brigid Lowry Allen & Unwin
Georgia is a reasonably typical 15 year old with concerns about her appearance, friendships and family. She is also desperate to get to the Natural Affinity concert in May, but how to get the $500 she needs for airfares, concert ticket and accommodation?
A refreshing, funny story about an articulate young woman who loves art and writing lists. Kaitangata Twitch (NZ) Cover
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Kaitangata Twitch (NZ) Margaret Mahy Allen & Unwin
Meredith has always been a dreamer and seems to have grown out of sleep-walking. But now her dreams are becoming stronger and more frequent, and again she sleep walks. She also hears a voice that no-one else seems able to hear - the voice of Kaitangata, the small island in the bay that has been quiet for 50 years. Now the island is under threat from an unscrupulous developer and it seems that the island is trying to warn Meredith of possible dangers.
A powerful, spiritual novel about family and the environment. Face It (NZ) Cover
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Face It (NZ) Denis Martin Puffin
Friends Greg, Libby and Lawrence are staying on a remote Marlborough Sounds' Island for the September school holidays. Not long after their parents return to the mainland 4 wetsuit clad adults arrive in an inflatable, seemingly having engine problems. Greg takes an instant dislike to the men and becomes more than a little concerned when he notices guns on the floor of their craft. When another vessel arrives and the boys witness a shooting on board they rush to find Libby and call for help. But it appears someone has already cut their phone line…..
An exciting, fast paced read from a new New Zealand author. The whisper Cover
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The whisper Bali Rai Corgi
Whatever you know, whatever you see, you keep your mouth shut - it's the first rule of the ghetto. But now the rule's been broken.
Someone's been grassing up the dealers and the whisper on the street says it's Nanny and the Crew.
A tough, uncompromising novel set on the tough city streets inhabited by drug dealers, gangs and murderers. Stand alone sequel to The Crew. Small Steps Cover
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Small Steps Louis Sachar Bloomsbury 3 years after spending time at Camp Green Lake Juvenile Correctional Facility seventeen year old Armpit is making good - working part-time for a landscaping company and studying at summer school. In three months he has managed to save nearly $1000, life is definitely improving.
But then X-Ray turns up with a hair brained scheme to make them lots of money quickly - scalping tickets for a forthcoming concert. As soon as he has agreed to be part of X- Ray's plan Armpit is certain it will only bring him bad luck.
A welcome companion novel to Louis Sachar's best-selling novel, Holes. The Unknown Zone (NZ) Cover
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The Unknown Zone (NZ) Phil Smith Random House
1965, Coromandel Peninsula. Fed up of being taunted and humiliated by his cousin, uncle and aunt; 15 year old Hemi takes off into the bush and climbs a massive square kauri. In the crown of the tree he discovers the skeleton of one of his ancestors and several precious items, including a key on a chain. Hemi makes a vow to return one day and retrieve the taonga, but first he must get back to the ground and make a new life for himself, away from his bullying relatives. Over a period of years Hemi becomes successful in the timber milling industry, working his way through the ranks from humble tea boy to operations manager and helicopter pilot.
Early 1808, West Coast of the South Island. Rupert Revington and fellow crew from an Australian sealer are captured by marauding Ngai Tahu. In a desperate bid for survival Rupert joins with another Maori tribe, journeying to the eastern Coromandel, where he becomes a respected leader.
The two stories entwine as Hemi becomes more involved in the expanding pine and timber industries and seeks to solve the mysteries surrounding the ownership of his ancestral land.
An impressive debut novel.