A dream of lights / Kerry Drewery

Yoora, a young girl from North Korea, has dreams of lights of foreign cities while she manages to survive in a rural northern village. Everything is all right until she falls in love with someone who is far removed from her social class. This book shows how the human spirit never wants to really die if it has a glimmer of hope and especially when it's supported by unconditional love. This is an extraordinary book with deep messages. I picked up this book and couldn't stop reading. I enjoyed it very much.

Who would enjoy this? People interested in survival stories, or Asian culture and people's lives in North Korea.

Reviewed by Angela 

Blood oath / Chris Priestley

Raven lived in a small village in England at the time of the Romans. He was present when his village was attacked and his father was beheaded, leaving him and his mother alone. To survive, they went to the nearby Roman fort, where his mother wove cloth and he helped out in a tavern. And then his mother was killed and the only way he could survive was by joining the Roman army. In a battle against barbarians Raven finally avenged his father's death. I enjoyed this book. It was a quick and interesting read and I liked learning about life in those times - pretty brutal and hard, but with some good people here and there.

Who would enjoy this? I think you would enjoy this book if you like reading about fighting, and other times.

Reviewed by Jason

XVI / Julia Karr

Nina's life is normal. She goes to school and hangs out with her best friend Sandy. She plays with her little sister Dee when she gets home. But Nina is fifteen. And like all girls she'll receive a Governing Council-ordered tattoo on her 16th birthday. XVI. Those three letters will be branded on her wrist, announcing to all the world that she is ready for sex. Nina has a stunning strength that comes out in unexpected ways, making her both likeable and respectable. She challenges the ways of her world, disapproves of the sex-teen mindset, and is determined to make her own way. This book encourages girls to become more thoughtful and independent. I found this book amazing - both its cover and its content.

Who would enjoy this? Girls who like a good story and who want to become more independent.

Reviewed by Angela  

Butter / Erin Lange

Butter is fat, very, very fat. He has to have a special desk and chair at school to support his weight, and a special bench in the cafeteria. His one talent is playing the saxophone. Other than that, he eats, and eats, and eats. One day he gets so sick of his life that he starts a blog, vowing to eat himself to death on New Year's Eve. And then his life changes. People notice him for something other than his size, and he discovers friendship and fun and wonders if maybe there's something more for him than death. This was a great book. I really liked Butter as a character even though I thought he did some really stupid things. It certainly got me thinking about how being different can make life very difficult. I recommend this very highly.

Who would enjoy this? If you like putting yourself in someone else's shoes, and seeing what life can be like for others, you'll like this book.

Reviewed by Charlotte

War horse / Michael Morpurgo

The book is narrated by the horse, Joey during WWII. He told of his experience on the farm with Albert who raised him before the war and about the friendship he makes during the hard times fighting in France. He saw some awful things in France, a fair amount of death and hurt, but what shines through this book is love. He had people who cared for him and he developed lovely friendships with many people in the book. This is an outstanding book - it has everything you would want: love, friendship, adventure and a gripping story! I enjoyed it from beginning to the end.

Who would enjoy this? People who like to read about horses, World War II, and friendship between animals and humans.

Reviewed by Angela 

Eve & Adam / Michael Grant & Katherine Applegate

"I want you, Evening, to design the perfect boy." After a car crash, Eve was sent to her mother's research facility to recover. Just when Eve thinks she will die - not from her injuries, but from boredom - her mother gives her a special project: Create the perfect boy. She was creating Adam. Then Eve met Solo, the hot lab assistant, and together they uncovered her mother's dark secret. Eve & Adam is definitely an extraordinary sci-fi book with an original premise and beautiful characterization. Interesting, edgy and fast paced, I completely devoured this novel in one sitting.

Who would enjoy this? Fans of sci-fi, dark secrets and romance.

Reviewed by Angela 

The dogs of winter / Bobbie Pyron

Mishka is 5 years old when he is abandoned on the streets of Russia and left to fend for himself. Life is agonisingly hard, demanding and terrifying, until he meets up with and is adopted by a pack of homeless dogs. Together they help each other, learning to understand one another and protect each other from the many dangers which surround them. Based on truth, this book gives you a very readable insight into the horrors of what happened after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. It is very scary to think that something so awful happened such a short time ago.

Who would enjoy this? This book is an amazing insight into the horrors of what it is like when children are abandoned to fend for themselves. If that appeals, then read it. It's excellent.

Reviewed by Charlotte

Dead Romantic / CJ Skuse

Camille meets Zoe in the middle of the night in a graveyard, when she finds her scraping away at a grave. Is she burying someone or digging them up? So begins this rather weird story, which nevertheless is believable in its weirdness. Zoe is brilliant, and is trying to carry on her dead father's work, which was to bring dead people and animals back to life. Really, this book is mostly about relationships and finding out where you belong in life, in a rather strange setting. It's worth reading, and it's got a cool cover!

Who would enjoy this? If you've ever read and enjoyed a zombie or Frankenstein book, you'll probably like this one; and if you like books about relationships this one should work for you.

Reviewed by Amy

Stagefright / Carole WIlkinson

Velvet is forced to leave her old school because her father lost his job and they have to drastically downsize. Her new school is a nightmare. Everyone, including the principal, is sports-mad, apart from the small group of rejects who have to take 'cultural studies' since they are useless at sports. Then the principal orders them to put on a play, by Shakespeare! What could have been a nightmare becomes a funny, entertaining and almost believable story which I really enjoyed. There's music, fighting, wild students, even love, so this book has it all. Read it!

Who would enjoy this? Anyone who likes a good and humorous story which moves quickly, and lets you get to know the characters well.

Reviewed by Katya

Revolution 19 / Gregg Rosenblum

After years of people using robots to fight their wars for them, the robots rebel and overthrow the people, convinced that they can make a better society where everyone can live in peace and safety. Nick, Kevin and Cass belong to a rebel group, living free in the woods. When the robots discover their outpost, their parents are taken and the three decide to go into great danger in the city to see if they can rescue them. This story moved fast and was very exciting - scarily it seemed absolutely reasonable the robots could take over the world and impose their 're-education' onto all humans. I recommend this book highly.

Who would enjoy this? Anyone who likes a bit of sci-fi with their dystopia will enjoy this book.

Reviewed by Charlotte

A tale of two cities / Charles Dickens

"It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known." This quote is from Sydney Carton in the last chapter of the book. In the beginning he is an alcoholic and cynic, but he ultimately becomes a selfless hero. From this you can see that Carton has great hopes for France's tomorrow. The book is about the survival of the Manette family during the French revolution. It has everything: dark deeds, revolution, madness, love, thwarted love, forgiveness, revenge, and a stunning act of self-sacrifice. It let me learn history in a different way. It's one of my favourite Dickens' novel.

Who would enjoy this? Fans of classics and historical novels.

Reviewed by Angela 

Clash / Colin Mulhern

Kyle was quite a normal boy, with a Mum he loved and friends he cared about. Alex seemed anything but normal - he was wild, a crazy, life-threateningly dangerous fighter, who everyone steered clear of. This book is written by both boys, and you get to know, and like, both of them. Most people have had things happen in their lives, but some have harder things than others. This book was a bit of a wake-up call for me as I thought about what was most important in my life, and I recommend it as a fast-paced, tension-filled read.

Who would enjoy this? Most people should enjoy this as it moves so fast and makes you think about whether life is fair or not.

Reviewed by Hamish

The Pacific / Hugh Ambrose

From Solomon Islands to Iwo Jima, The Pacific tells the real life story of five heroes from the U.S. Marines during WWII. Each of the men had a different role, served in different parts of the war and had his own responsibilities but they also had a similarity - they fought hard and never had a second thought about surrender. Their story is heart-warming and has a strong appeal to the audience. I personally was really attracted to the story and enjoyed it very much.

Who would enjoy this? World War II fans.

Reviewed by Angela 

Speechless / Hannah Harrington

Chelsea messed up big time, by opening her mouth one time too many. Her thoughtless words meant that someone was beaten up, nearly to death, and her life was changed forever. Her former friends abandoned her, and started a hate campaign against her. Because she'd done so much damage just by talking, she took a vow never to talk again for the foreseeable future. In the silence of her head and in the changed circumstances of her life, Chelsea found herself. I loved this book. I didn't always like Chelsea, but I loved her honesty in accepting the consequences of her heedless actions.

Who would enjoy this? This is an excellent read for anyone who likes to explore how you find out who you are, and what really matters in life.

Reviewed by Amy

Itch / Simon Mayo

Itch (strange name!) is a boy with a weird hobby - he collects the elements on the periodic table! But despite that, or even because of it, this book is great. In a fast-moving adventure that involves explosions, the loss of his eyebrows, and being beaten up by a mad teacher, Itch has to work out what to do when he ends up with very highly radioactive rocks in his possession. Science will never be the same again!

Who would enjoy this? If you like fast-paced, exciting stories that teach you something on the side, you'll like this book.

Reviewed by Jason

Former Burnside student Eleanor Catton wins Man Booker Prize 2013

New Zealand author Eleanor Catton, ex Burnside High School Student has become the youngest person ever to win literature's most sought-after prize.

Eleanor was this morning named winner of the 2013 Man Booker Prize for her novel The Luminaries.

Eleanor took to the stage at London's Guildhall and was presented with the award by Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall.

At 832 pages The Luminaries was the longest novel to win the prize. She won for her second novel, 19th century West Coast gold rush murder story The Luminaries.

Among those offering congratulations were Prime Minister John Key.

Read the fuller story about it here on the New Zealand Herald website.

Twilight / Stephenie Meyer

Would you like to read a vampire love story? Well, I think "Twilight" is what you are looking for. When Isabella Swan moved to Forks and encountered Edward Cullen, her world had a massive change. Edward is not just some random handsome guy but a 100 year-old vampire! "Twilight" is the story of Edward and Bella's romance.  Forget any vampire romance you have read before, Twilight is so unique it is almost like it's in its own genre.  The book is marketed at Young Adult readers but it has the ability to cross age barriers and will satisfy both teenagers and adults alike. It's worth reading.

Who would enjoy this? People who enjoy reading vampire love stories.

Reviewed by Angela 

Band of brothers / Stephen E. Ambrose

Easy Company, 506th Airborne Division, U.S. Army, was one of the best rifle companies in the U.S. army. From Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest, they fought hard against hunger, freezing weather and heavy casualties. Ambrose writes directly; his language isn't too flowery, which is appropriate, considering the horror of war. This book is a collection of the autobiographical stories of officers and soldiers from Easy company.  I really enjoyed reading it."From this day to the end of the world...We in it shall be remembered... We band of brothers."-William Shakespeare. Let us remember those who fought hard for the world's peace.

Who would enjoy this? People like to read about the history of WWII.

Reviewed by Angela 

Hush hush / Becca Fitzpatrick

When the dark, mysterious Patch came into Nora's life, bad feelings and things kept happening to her. She couldn't resist his easy smile and eyes that seemed to see inside her. She ignored her better judgement and became more and more involved with Patch. When the book reached its peak, there were lots of unexpected events and eventually a happy ending. Hush, Hush is a 2009 New York Times Bestselling young adult fantasy novel. The book is fast paced and once I started, I couldn't stop turning the pages.

Who would enjoy this? Anyone who likes to read about angels and supernatural powers.

Reviewed by Angela