Life on the Refrigerator Door

Alice Kuipers     (school price $22.46)

This is an intimate portrait of the relationship between a hard-working mother and her teenage daughter beautifully told through notes left on their kitchen fridge. Stunningly sad but ultimately uplifting, it is about being a "good mother" or a "good daughter", and is a reminder of how much can be said in so few words, if only we made the time to say them.

Suitable for all secondary levels.

Girl Missing

Sophie McKenzie     (school price $15.26)

In this novel the female protagonist is 14, the adopted elder child of loving parents. Her younger brother Rory is the miracle test tube baby but Lauren is acutely aware that a lot of unpleasant things grow in test tubes! The story begins with Lauren struggling to write an expose of self, the kind of homework teachers dispense at the beginning of the school year. As Lauren struggles to get anything down she confronts her mother who is taken aback by her request and offers little. Lauren then searches the internet for information about adoption. Her search query leads her to information about missing children and suddenly she is confronted with a reality very different to the one she’s always believed. Is she the missing child of an American family, abducted at the age of three? Thus is a suspenseful, fast paced tense mystery with light touches added through Lauren’s great wit and the romantic element introduced with her friend Jam. The voice is thoroughly believable and characters have strong degree of authenticity.

For readers in secondary schools

Finding Violet Park

Jenny Valentine     (school price $15.29)

16–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, identity and lead him to unravel the mysteries surrounding his absent–possibly–dead father.

Fearless

Tim Lott     (school price $15.26)

In this first novel, Tim Lott presents his readers with a chilling but frighteningly plausible view of the future. The City Community Faith School appears ordinary enough but it hides a secret. One thousand girls living within have been stripped of their identity, removed from their families and forced to work in the coity’s laundries. One of their number refuses to be cowed. The aptly named Fearless escapes and tells the outside world what is happening within the four walls of her prison….but will she be believed. A thrilling read for secondary readers from a new voice in YA fiction.

Zenith

Julie Bertagna     (school price $15.26)

The second of a trilogy Zenith is also a novel which will prompt much discussion and comparison with current events. Sequel to Exodus it continues the story of sixteen year old Mara and her ship of refugees who are fleeing the devastation of global warming and the rising sea levels which have caused their country to disappear beneath the waves. They are heading to Greenland, hoping for sanctuary somewhere in the melted ice mountains.

There are three interwoven stories in this book. That of Mara and her band of refugees from their Scottish island home, Fox left behind and battling the cruel forces at work in the new world and Tuck, a gypsea pirate-boy whose life is inadvertently threatened by the fleeing refugees. All three are determined to make a new beginning in a harsh world. Great storytelling, incredible characters and a very topical plot.

For readers in secondary schools.

The London Eye Mystery

Siobhan Dowd     (school price $29.66)

Dowd’s first novel was a favourite of 2007. 'A Swift Pure Cry' was longlisted and subsequently shortlisted for last year’s Carnegie Medal. It was the heart wrenching story of fifteen year old Shell endeavouring to keep her family together after her mother’s death. This, Dowd’s second novel has been likened by some to 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime' because the narrator, Ted has Aspergers and is fond of Sherlock Holmes. Dowd was writing this book when Mark Haddon’s was published. Set in Manchester and London this novel is very different to the first but equally compelling. It is for a younger audience than her first is both humorous and very moving. Ted and Kat watch their cousin Salim enter one of the pods on the London eye and watch as his pod makes the half hour journey. When the ride finishes however, Salim has disappeared. The police are baffled and it’s left to weather obsessed Ted and Kat to solve the mystery. Story grips from the opening pages. Tragically this very talented writer died in August last year. Her two final books will be published later this year.

Upper primary, lower secondary readers

Ruby Red

Linzi Glass     (school price $26.96)

Linzi Glass is a South African writer and this is her second book. Her knowledge of that country and the issues which have shaped it bring a real authenticity to this story set in 1970s Johannesburg. Ruby Winter is the daughter of a lawyer whose liberal views lead him to represent black South Africans accused under Apartheid law. Her mother is similarly liberal minded. Their house is open to black guests who because of the law must remain secret. Because of the danger inherent in her parents’ beliefs and actions Ruby must present a false view to the world. When she falls in love with a young Afrikaans boy whose father is part of a racist group, Ruby’s situation becomes even more precarious. Set against the backdrop of the Soweto riots and the repression of the apartheid regime this is also a beautifully written coming of age story in which teenage concerns of friendship, first love and acceptance are never overwhelmed by the more powerful overtones of the political situation in which the story’s set. For readers in secondary schools

Verdigris Deep

Frances Hardinge     (school price $22.46)

Three children, Ryan Josh and Chelle need their bus fare home. Josh, the most enterprising encourages them to steal coins from a wishing well and so their adventures begin. Their act brings forth the Well Witch who gives each child a special power connected to their character. The three must fulfill the wishes they have stolen in order to regain normality. As their lives descend to ever increasing levels of horror their situation divides friendships and eventually puts lives at risk.

The plot is exhilarating and exciting, the characters are well defined and wholly realised and the backdrop is realistic and rich. Best of all is the descriptive prose, metaphors and images that leap off the page.

Upper primary, lower secondary readers

Ottoline and the Yellow Cat

Chris Riddell     (school price $22.46)

A number of young girls who are tiring of fairy stories have discovered Chris Riddell's Ottoline and the Yellow Cat.

Ottoline is a clever only child who lives high above the city in apartment 243. Her companion is Mr Munroe who is small and hairy and comes from a bog in Norway. These two friends like nothing more than solving tricky problems and working out clever plans. When a series of daring pet burglaries occur, Ottoline and Mr Munroe put their minds to the task of discovering the offenders. Illustrations are a treat with the inclusion of a series of postcards a surprise at the end of the story. The sequel Ottoline Goes to School will be published in early April

Apache

Tanya Layman     (school price $15.26)

The time late 19th century.

The place Mexican border.

The character Sikie a Black Mountain Apache.

The precipitating event: witnessing the brutal murder of her brother. Sikie is determined to become an Apache warrior to avenge her brother’s death.

This powerful story, a fictionalised narrative is so strong that it reads in parts as truth. Time, place and problems are vividly realised. The plight of the Native American is tragic and yet there are passages of great beauty. The way of life of the Apache is brought vividly to life. This book provides great scope for discussion of the treatment of first nations’ people.

For readers in secondary schools

That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown

Cressida Cowell     (school price $14.39)

Emily Brown s rabbit is NOT for sale. Not even to Her Most Royal Highness Queen Gloriana the Third. Not even for ALL the toys Emily Brown could ever desire. But when Queen Gloriana steals her rabbit, Emily Brown has had enough! She sets out to get him back and to show that Queen how to have her very own toy to love.

A fantastic story about sentimental love, with engaging characters to charm all. Also recommended is Emily Brown and the Thing.

For readers in the Early Years

Penguin

Polly Dunbar     (school price $14.36)

When Ben rips the paper off his present, inside he finds Penguin. Ben can't wait to play with Penguin but soon discovers that Penguin isn't the active or talkative creature he expected him to be. Ben thinks he's being ignored. Ben gets angry. What will it take to make Ben's penguin speak? When Penguin finally does, it's the best thing that it could ever say and Ben learns that sometimes friendship isn't always as you expect it to be.

Wonderfully illustrated book about friendship and expectation.

For readers in the Early Years

Lost Happy Endings

Carol Duffy     (school price $23.36)

If it were not for Jub, there would be no happy endings, none at all. But one night, on her way to make sure that every story told in the world ends well, she is caught by a truly wicked witch who steals all the happy endings. Can Jub save the world from the sadness and darkness that ensues, and ensure sweet dreams everywhere? Language is rich, illustrations are inspiring.

For middle primary readers