Elliot Allagash / Simon Rich

I don't know what to think about this one! Could a character like Elliot really control people the way he seems to be able to? Scarily, the author makes us believe that if you have enough money you can manipulate things to get whatever you want, no matter how unlikely or bizarre. And look out if you don't fit into Elliot's plans for you. He is a most unusual and not particularly pleasant character, but strangely fascinating. Worth the read, definitely.

Who would enjoy this? If you're interested in what makes people tick, normal and not so normal, then you should really enjoy this book.

Reviewed by Hamish

You against me / Jenny Downham

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What is worse? Watching your sister suffer after she's assaulted or having a brother who is 'supposedly' responsible for hurting a girl? It's definitely a lose-lose situation. This story handles the two scenarios so realistically you feel like you are suffering along with Mikey and Ellie (but not enough to stop reading the book!). Great characters, terrific story but not a book you'd choose when you want to blob out, it's more the nail-chewing variety.

Who would enjoy this book? Anyone who is prepared to read about life-changing, nitty-gritty situations, that is, 'real life'. It's worth the read.

Reviewed by Amy.

The secret history / Donna Tartt

When a group of college students meet together in Virginia, they have fun, drink, enjoy life to the fullest. But life isn't what they imagined it might be and a flurry of secrets - deadly secrets - shatter the facade of their carefree world.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  There is mystery, intrigue, thrill, suspense, and psychological depth. The author has created an insightful (yet thrilling) novel filled with tension and wonder. I enjoyed the first person narration from the main character who managed to make you feel one with his mind, travelling along with him on his adventures and thoughts. 'The Secret History" is one of the best books I have read. I highly recommend it.

Who would enjoy this?  People who enjoy thrillers.

Reviewed by Calista

Memoirs of a geisha / Arthur Golden

It is always insightful to catch a glimpse into another culture. In "Memoirs of a Geisha", the reader is swept into the life of Sayuri, a semi-renowned geisha who recounts her tragic story from a bleak childhood into becoming a geisha. I found the story very satisfying, employing convincing ideas about the Japanese culture as well as the lives led by geishas. The transition of stages in Sayuri's life was executed flawlessly and peppered with colourful depictions of life within those transitions. Recommended for NCEA Level 2 Wide Reading.

Who would enjoy this?  Ages 16+

Reviewed by Calista.

Hunger / Jackie Morse Kessler

Read this one - it's great! It has got to be the most original book I have ever read about anorexia, and I highly recommend it, even if you don't think you could possibly be interested in yet another book about this endlessly-discussed topic. It starts with Death arriving to proclaim Lisa as Famine, one of the four riders of the apocalypse. It's hard to know where reality stops and fantasy begins, but by the end Lisa (and the reader) has a much better idea of what hunger actually is and how valuable life is when it might be snatched from you at any point. Don't miss it.

Who would enjoy this?  Most people would find this absolutely worthwhile because it is a really good, and quite fast read, as well as being soberingly thought-provoking.

Reviewed by Amy.

Just Jack / Adele Broadbent

Can you imagine leaving school and home at 14, and supporting yourself from then on? That's what it was like in New Zealand in the 1930s. I really liked this story about a boy who wanted to be a jockey, but had to find out what very hard work is first. The book is partly set in Napier, and near the end the 1931 earthquake strikes. It was interesting to discover just how well I could relate to the experience, and how good a job I thought the author did, writing about how it was. This made the book that bit better than it might otherwise have been.

Who would enjoy this?  If you like reading about real life people in situations you can imagine yourself in, then this is for you.

Reviewed by Hamish

Triple ripple / Brigid Lowry

This one's good fun! The title says it all: the book's written with three different voices - the writer, the reader and the story itself. The story is a fairystory but a pretty good one. I really enjoyed it when the author decided she didn't like the way the story was going, so wrote an alternative version, but still leaving the original there. I found myself getting engrossed in all three storylines, and was happy with 2 out of 3 of the endings.

Who would enjoy this?  Anyone who likes fantasy with an unusual slant. I reckon it would be useful if you've ever considered writing a book yourself.

Reviewed by Amy

Life of Pi / Yann Martel

Life of Pi paints a vivid story of a young Indian boy, lost at sea on a life raft, constantly at danger with a Siberian tiger.
The book is written in diary form, with an exact number of 100 chapters. The best thing about the book is the feeling of empathy. You can almost hear Pi telling you about his adventures, describing his surroundings with great detail.
I strongly recommend this book. It won the Man Booker award, and tells a compelling story about survival. We see human nature laid bare, naked from fear, desperation, and the need to live. Life of Pi will leave you with satisfying questions.

Who would enjoy this book? Ages 15+.

Reviewed by Calista.

For one more day / Mitch Albom

For one more day is a very enchanting, emotional story about bonds between families, but most importantly, a mother's love. A man who has virtually ruined his life tries to commit suicide , to no avail, but sees his ghost mother in the process. For one day, while he is unconscious, he spends time with his late mother and discovers secrets within his own family. This book is sensational and will move your heart with the pages!

Who would enjoy this book? Recommended for ages 14+.

Reviewed by Fran.

Spud / John van der Ruit

Join John 'Spud' Milton as he goes through his first year at a prestigious boarding school in South Africa. This book is extremely funny and chronicles the story of Spud and the rest of his dormitory, or 'The Crazy Eight' as they prefer to be known.While the jokes in this book are not exactly subtle, and definitely not nice, the sensitivity with which issues are treated is skilfully done. This book has become South Africa's highest selling novel, with a movie adaptation to be hitting the screens in November 2010. An enjoyable read for all teenage boys.

Who would enjoy this book? Boys in particular, but girls can enjoy it if they can put up with immature phallic humour.

Reviewed by Liam.

Makers / Cory Doctorow

Imagine a world where anything could be printed out...where dreams could become reality at the click of a mouse...and where the blurb of books actually made sense. Fortunately, this book has the 2, but not the third. Makers is written in a similar vein to his previous book, in which a particular aspect of 'geekdom' becomes a staple of modern life. In Little brother, it was game piracy, and in Makers, it is the DIY electronics industry. I had high expectations for this book, and for the first part, I was not disappointed. For the second part, however, my hopes came crashing down. The plot loses a sense of purpose, and tries to make this a warning story about the dangers of hyper-consumerism, but by then, the book has already lost its spark. Read it, but don't be too hopeful.

Who would enjoy this? Readers of Cory Doctorow's other books, like Little brother and For the win.

Reviewed by Liam.

The Eyre affair / Jasper Fforde

The Eyre affair is the first in a series of quirky and weird novels, where dodos are currently kept as pets, there is a company called the Toast Marketing Board, and the main character is called Thursday Next. While this book is very funny, it is helpful to have read many of the classics, as there are many in-jokes about them. I would recommend this to anybody who likes challenging themselves with something new.

Who would enjoy this? Anybody who enjoyed The Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy by Douglas Adams.

Reviewed by Liam.

Pawn of prophecy / David Eddings

Pawn of Prophecy is the first in the highly successful series The Belgariad. It tells the story of a young farm boy named Garion, who gets caught up in an adventure with his mysterious Aunt and Grandfather in their search for the thief of the orb of Aldur. While it does take a while to get going, the fact that it had been in print for 30 years and is still having new editions printed shows that it is worth the wait.

Who would enjoy this? Anyone who likes classic fantasy.

Reviewed by Liam.

Ex libris: confessions of a common reader / Anne Fadiman

If you are a person who enjoys books and cannot live without them, you may like to read about someone like yourself. Anne Fadiman and her family are all accomplished readers and writers who keep a library of their own and are likely to recall and talk about every book they have read (which isn't "just a few"). This quality, intelligent, witty and remarkably thin book will capture you from the first sentence to the very last. In every chapter, she reveals a snippet of her life in such a style you will not be able to help yourself from laughing with delight!

Who would enjoy this? Ages 15+ who LOVE books!

Reviewed by Fran

Jerk / Jonathon Friesen

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This book was a great read as it challenges the reader to see things and life in a different perspective. Sam Carrier suffers from Tourettes Syndrome, a condition that causes his body to be in near constant movement with verbal outbursts and tics and twitches. This novel follows his journey through understanding his condition, finding the truth about his father who died when he was an infant, combating the cruel world as a teenager and growing up.
Jonathan Friesen also suffers from Tourettes and has written this novel with great insight as to how it is being a teenager with this syndrome. Life is hard enough as a teenager, let alone with Tourettes.
(A Level 1 wide reading novel)

Who would enjoy this? People who like real-life novels and who enjoy reading other perspectives on life and the hardships that others face

Reviewed by Lisa

Night train to Rigel / Timothy Zahn

Many people have heard of the Orient Express, the famous setting of Agatha Christie's Murder on The Orient Express. Now, imagine this set in space. Simple as that. Or not. I first heard of Timothy Zahn through his Star Wars novels, and when I read them, I was surprised at the depth and complexity of these seemingly simplistic stories. With this novel, he does not disappoint.  I found myself perplexed by the increasing number of twists and turns that this story takes, but I was still enthralled with the equally perplexing way in which he untangles the plot, and makes what was obscure blindingly obvious.

Who would enjoy this? Anybody who likes a good mystery and/or engaging sci-fi

Reviewed by Liam

Six impossible things / Fiona Wood

Buff up, get the girl, don't be a loser, beat the school bully, all these things are staples of seemingly all teenage romantic comedy novels, good and bad. Six Impossible Things, however, manages to rise above the majority of bland and featureless books and has created a character whose sarcasm and ironic style will appeal to everyone, boys and girls alike. The situations the author places the characters in are recognisable to all teenagers, no matter how outlandish and cliched they might be. Anybody who picks up this book will thoroughly enjoy themselves.

Who would enjoy this? Anybody who enjoyed the writing style of 'The Gospel according to Larry', but anybody who likes romantic comedies.

Reviewed by Liam

Delirium / Lauren Oliver

Amor deliria nervosa, a grim diagnosis with frightening symptoms. We know it as "being in love", a serious disease which, hopefully, we will all catch sometime. This is a story that helps get it all in perspective. Sure, you can have the cure and get rid of the hassle of having "feelings" but...and this is what Lena discovers. Is it a life worth living, and will you resist when the men in white coats appear? You need to read this book NOW so you'll be ready when they do come to take you away.

This book will appeal more to girls, but anyone who is interested in a thought-provoking story about freedom and choice, should pick it up.

Reviewed by Amy

Edge of nowhere / John E. Smelcer

This is a survival story based on true events. It's not as good as the Hatchet books but I still really enjoyed it. It's set in Alaska, in summer, and that 's just as well since a boy and his dog have to survive for 4 months by themselves. Main problem for me? They only get to eat raw food all that time because they can't make fire. But if you have an iPod that doesn't work, couldn't you use that? See what you think.

Who would enjoy this? If you liked the Hatchet books by Gary Paulsen, you should like this one too.  

Reviewed by Hamish

Captain Corelli's mandolin / Louis de Bernieres

A beautiful, unexpected story set in the lush landscape of Greece during the  Italian occupation of World War II. The story completely captured the horror of war and the beauty of a true love that can exist and illuminate even the most  terrible of conditions.  I applaud de Bernieres for his stunning portrayal of such a romance and such a time. At the end of the story, you will find yourself asking  just how to define the "past" and "present". Who would enjoy this?   Both male and female, ages 16+ Reviewed by Calista

Accomplice / Eireann Corrigan

This was a frustrating book! I wanted to stop reading it but I couldn't. It kept grabbing me back until I'd read the whole thing. It was so different: what would you do if your best friend disappeared, presumed abducted? How would you feel? And what if you had helped plan the abduction...?

Who would enjoy this?
Anyone who wants a read that makes you think about why we do the things we do and how it affects others.