The second instalment of a thrilling new young adult fantasy series by Australian author Garth Nix, The Sinister Booksellers of Bath continues the story of The Left-handed Booksellers of London. Set in an alternate 1980s London, a few months after the events of the first book, become reintroduced to the wonderfully strange extended family of …
Year 8
A Forgery of Roses
A Forgery of Roses by Jessica S. Olson is an extremely captivating, standalone young adult, light magic, mystery. Stalking Jack the Ripper meets The Picture of Dorian Gray, as main character Myra’s unique ability in painting provokes unwanted interest in her magical talent. Many surprising twists and turns that invite the reader to continue into …
An Ember in the Ashes
The novel begins with a country/territory suffering because they’ve been invaded and enslaved. Laia is living in poverty with her brother and grandparents, surviving by selling jam and healing people. When tragedy strikes, Laia jumps at the opportunity to try and save them, even if it means putting her life on the line. We also …
What anout Thao?
I really enjoyed What about Thao? partly because it’s a very Australian theme. It’s about the daily life of a city boy moving to the country and trying to fit in. He likes being the odd boy out, but then another boy comes, and he has to deal with no longer being in the spotlight. …
Against All Odds
Did you know that a whole soccer team was trapped in a cave with the water coming in, and there was a race against time to rescue them? It’s not a story, it happened in real life! Against All Odds was really exciting because there was a lot of tension. It was nerve wracking that …
The Jammer
This novel is about a girl named Fred and her journey after her mother dies. She faces many struggles but somehow finds her way. The friendship of Fred and Sammy is really refreshing. Roller derby is a major theme of this novel and if you like derby, I recommend this book. What I really like …
Game of Strength and Storm
If victory is the only option, what lengths need to be taken to achieve it? ‘Game of Strength and Storm’ by Rachel Menard is considered a gender bent reimagining of the labours of Hercules with a fierce rivalry and race driving the action in this world inspired by Greek mythology. With clever and innovative magic …
The Counselors
When you are surrounded by people you’ve known for the best parts of your life, deciding if one of them might be a killer isn’t an easy task. Jessica Goodman’s ‘The Counselors’ is an engaging summer camp mystery, delving into contrasting worlds that are meant to be kept apart. When worlds collide hidden aspects of …
A Walk in the Dark
A Walk in the Dark is by far one of the most interesting books I have ever read. It is an action-packed adventure mixed with curiosity and suspense. I read chapter after chapter – each one ending in a way that enticed me to keep reading! Not only is this full of action and adventure, …
Daughter of the Deep
In Rick Riordan’s novel, ‘Daughter of the Deep’, we are taken into the life of Ana Dakkar, a first-year student at Harding-Pencroft Academy, a school for marine biology students. Riordan immerses us in her life and the trauma she is dealing with after the loss of her parents. The reader can watch Ana grow up …