Mole hunt / Paul Collins

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Maximus Black is a double agent. While he is still only a cadet for the Intergalactic spy agency RIM, he has ambitions for much greater things. But Anneke Longshadow knows too much. And so the battle begins... This novel is an unashamed callback to an earlier era of Science Fiction, where gadgets and technologies existed without proper grounding in true 'science'. While this makes the book confusing at first, it more than makes up for it by the gripping conflict between the rival spies, with twists and turns at every point. This is a book which sole purpose is to entertain, and is all the better for it.

Who would enjoy this? Anyone who enjoys overblown, intelligent spy novels.

Reviewed by Liam

Department 19 / Will Hill

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Jamie Carpenter is an ordinary teenager. Well, that's what he thought, until his mother is kidnapped by vampires, intent on raising the long dead and destroyed Dracula. Together with a clich?d bunch of support characters, Jamie must discover his family's heritage of slaying vampires...This book is very standard, with no particularly surprising or overly original ideas. However, the writing is solid and funny, with understandable characters. Plus, it is good to see a reasonable interpretation of the original vampire stories, rather than the commercial, sparkly ones of the mediocre teen romances in book stores these days. All in all, an enjoyable book, if simple.

Who would enjoy this? Any person who enjoys old fashioned, mindless violence. Plus, you know, vampires.

Reviewed by Liam

Dirt bomb / Fleur Beale

Jake is not keen to get a boring job to get money when he has a friend who will pay for what he wants. But then things change, and if he wants to be in on what should be the best summer fun ever, fixing up a car and then driving it round a paddock, he will have to get a job of some kind to pay his share of the costs. It was interesting to see how things changed during the holidays, and I was keen to read right to the end. I really liked this book. It is easy to read and fast-moving and I can relate to the characters, especially Jake.

Who would enjoy this? If you like cars, or wonder about what life will be like out of school then you should like this book.

Reviewed by James

Sun and moon, ice and snow / Jessica Day George

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One of the best fairytale re-tellings I have ever read. The Icelandic legend is well-known: a girl is taken by an Isbjorn (ice bear) to live in an ice castle for one year. In this re-telling, the author has given the girl a background, a personality and a voice. The mystery of the ice castle leaves you curious for answers and the writing style creates a lovely feeling of "modern fairytale".

Who would enjoy this? Fairytale lovers.

Reviewed by Calista

Wither / Lauren DeStefano

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Talk about a mixed up world! In this horrible future all women die at age 20, and all men die at 25. Only a few much older adults survive from before the mutation. Many people live dreadful lives in their desperate efforts to survive in a hostile environment. In this situation, Rhine is kidnapped and becomes one of three wives for the son of a seemingly evil rich man who is seeking a cure for this affliction. Despite living in luxury, Rhine wants her freedom and the chance to give her love where she wants. This book was absorbing and intriguing and I recommend it highly.

Who would enjoy this? Anyone who likes to see love triumph over evil.

Reviewed by Amy

Shade's children / Garth Nix

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Garth Nix comes up with really original ideas. This book is like that - set in the future, adults all disappeared, with children over 14 being taken so their brains can be used to power constructed creatures. These creatures are used by highly intelligent human-looking aliens as pieces in battle games they play amongst each other. I liked the way the characters worked together, making sacrifices as they gradually became aware of what was happening in their midst, and hoping to make a distinctive change in their very messed up world. This book reinforces the fact that Garth Nix is one of my favourite authors.

Who would enjoy this? If you like to think about different ways the world could go, and whether it is possible for humanity to triumph against all odds, then this book should suit you.

Reviewed by James

Deadline / Chris Crutcher

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What would you do if you only had one year to live? That is exactly the question posed to Ben when he is diagnosed. In the face of one of life's toughest questions, he decides to live and make his last year count. This book makes you laugh and cry and wonder about what you could do to make your life worthwhile.

Who would enjoy this? Anyone.

Reviewed by Calista

The ransom of Mercy Carter / Caroline B. Cooney

It is the 28th of February 1704 and Mercy Carter lives in a sleepy town called Deerfield, in Massachusetts. On a icy cold nght, her home is forcefully invaded by a group of Indians, and many are brutally murdered including some of her family. She and hundreds of other settlers are forced to march the 300 miles north to an Indian village in Canada. Her hope is that the English government will send a ransom for her and the other villagers. As time passes and no ransom arrives, Mercy Carter begins to realise that the Indians are not as savage as she first thought. She finds herself wondering: if ransom comes, will she take it?

Who would enjoy this? Boys and girls alike who enjoy a bit of everything: sorrow, adventure, friendship and mystery.

Reviewed by Sophie

Catching fire / Suzanne Collins

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After winning the 74th Hunger Games, an annual reality TV show where contestants of Panem are forced to kill each other for survival, Katniss Everdeen returns to District 12 to her family. She learns that the Capitol, government of Panem, is angry at her actions in the Games which started rebellious talk in the country, and are threatening to kill her family and close friends. Then Katniss is dragged into the 75th Hunger Games to fight for her survival, only this time, the contestants are all past victors. Will she make it out alive? Read to find out the surprising twist at the end.

An amazing sequel to "The Hunger Games". The book is easy to understand, and the plot is interesting and unique. It's a breathtaking series and you definitely don't want to miss out!

Who would enjoy this? Anyone who has read the first book will want to find out what happens in this book.

Reviewed by Chi-Yen

Stay with me / Paul Griffin

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An amazing love story about a boy and a girl - but there's a twist. The boy has been damaged by life and can be very violent. The girl has been damaged too and wants to get away and make something of her life. They fall in love. And then the worst happens and the boy ends up in jail. Through all of this, dogs play an important part in the story - being made whole through helping them and being helped in turn. Read this one: it's just so good! You end up feeling hopeful at the end, even though things still look bleak in some ways.

Who would enjoy this? Anyone who likes their love stories to be a bit edgy and thought-provoking.

Reviewed by Amy