The originals / Cat Patrick

If a picture is worth a thousand words then the cover of this book says it all - three images of the same girl. However 'she' turns  out to be Ella, Betsey and Lizzie who are ... clones.To keep themselves safe from the authorities who have declared clone research illegal, they each get a third of the day outside the home as 'Elizabeth'. They have the system down pat, that is, until the possibility of having a boyfriend changes everything that they take for granted.
The original idea behind this book gets you thinking about needing to know who you are and who you want to become. Ella, Betsey and Lizzie may look the same but they hold fast to their different outlooks on life and their hopes for the future.

Who would enjoy this? If you enjoy thought-provoking stories, you'll want to add 'The Originals' to your book pile.

Reviewed by Amy

Princess academy / Shannon Hale

Things have always been the same on Mount Eskel and look as if they will never change. Miri is not allowed to work in the quarry and feels left out and longing for more. Then she gets her chance: their village has been selected to provide the prince with his new bride, but first all the village girls must go to school to learn how to read and write, to behave as they would need to in court, and how to talk to people 'properly'. Miri loves the chance to learn more, but in the end, will she want to leave the village forever? This book is quite old - written in 2005 - but I only just discovered it, and am so glad that I did!

Who would enjoy this? Anyone who loves a great story, absorbing and well-told with believable characters should enjoy this excellent book.

Reviewed by Amy

The interrogation of Ashala Wolf / Ambelin Kwaymullina

When Ashala Ambrose turns her back on the city and the Accords, she takes the name Ashala Wolf. Not only has her name changed but her life is now centred on Firstwood and her strong affinity with the trees. When  illegal runaways join her, Ashala becomes the leader of the Tribe, but  their future is uncertain when Ashala is captured and then interrogated by the Chief Administrator.
This book grabs your attention with its familiar themes of a post-apocalyptic story. It also features some interesting ideas about a futuristic Dreamtime that reflect the author's Aboriginal heritage.

Who would enjoy this? If you like your post-apocalyptic stories with a dash of fantasy and romance, then this is the book for you.

Reviewed by Charlotte

Reboot / Amy Tintera

Fast forward to when most of the population has been wiped out by a virus, an unusual virus that causes some people who die to 'reboot'. That is, come back to life with enhanced physical capabilities. This is the story of Wren and Callum and what happens when instead of conforming to the instant obedience expected of reboot soldiers for the Republic of Texas, they rebel.
Yes, this is another post-apocalyptic story complete with variations on the zombie/vampire theme. However, it is action-packed with great characters, and you want to find out what happens to them.

Who would enjoy this? If you like engrossing stories that you can't put down then you'll want to read 'Reboot' and discover Wren and Callum's fate.

Reviewed by Charlotte

White crane / Sandy Fussell

Niya is training to be a samurai in the Cockroach Ryu. All the members of the group have a disability of some kind - Niya has only one leg, Mikko has only one arm, Taji is blind, and so on. They have an amazing teacher, and he trains them hard as they prepare for the annual samurai competition. They know it is impossible to win, but if they can just get the better of the awful Dragon Ryu in some events they will be happy. I enjoyed this book because it gave me some understanding of what it is like to be different, and what makes people whole in the first place. I recommend it highly.

Who would enjoy this? This book is easy to read, but makes you think about things you might not have thought about before - does that sound like you?

Reviewed by Jason

When our Jack went to war / Sandy McKay

This is a powerful story, but it is easy and quick to read. Tom's brother Jack goes off to fight in World War 1, and most of the book consists of the letters the two brothers write to each other. There is a huge contrast between life in the trenches and life at home in New Zealand, and the full horror of what it was like to fight comes through really clearly. It is shocking, and very sad and it made me think about how stupid war is, and wonder what makes the people in charge think that they have the right to send other people to almost certain death.

Who would enjoy this? If you want to find out about the effects of war both at home and in the thick of the battle zone, this is an excellent book to read.

Reviewed by James

The last elephant / Justin D'Ath

Colt and his mother, a vet, go to a circus where there are live animal acts. Set in the future, this is a very rare event, because almost all animals have been killed by the rat virus that has swept over the earth. Then the worst happens - the last living elephant in the world comes down with the disease and she is about to shot in an effort to contain a further outbreak. Colt, a new friend, Birdy, his mother and the circus owner all play a part in saving Lucy, the last elephant. This is a quick and easy read, but worthwhile as it makes you think about what things would be like with practically no animals at all in the world.

Who would enjoy this? Anyone who wants a quick and interesting read, about animals.

Reviewed by Amy

Ketchup clouds / Annabel Pitcher

Zoe begins writing to a prisoner on Death Row in America, to confess that she too has killed someone, the only difference between them being that she has got away with it. As time races towards the date of Mr Harris's execution, she writes regularly, telling him of the terrible mess she got herself into by falling in like with one brother and in deep love with another. This is a family drama as well, and you get to know and admire most of the characters in the book as you read. I really liked this one, and just kept reading and reading, as I wanted to find out what had happened and whether Zoe really was a murderer.

Who would enjoy this? If you like a love story with a difference, with a mystery thrown in, this one should work for you.

Review by Amy

Acid / Emma Pass

Jenna Strange has the misfortune to be stuck in a prison in the UK, one hundred years from now in a country at the mercy of its police force, ACID (Agency for Crime Investigation and Defence). But Jenna has friends she has never met and her life is about to take an unexpected turn. That is, if ACID can be outsmarted.

Even though this book is set in the future it is a familiar enough setting that the exciting plot gets your attention rather than having to make sense of an alien world. Jenna is a feisty and likeable character who never gives up. That includes her connection with Max Fisher even if there's a good chance he will have nothing more to do with her when he finds out who she really is.

Who would enjoy this? A dystopian world, a fast and exciting plot and a budding romance. Who wouldn't enjoy this?

Reviewed by Charlotte

Freia Lockhart's summer of awful / Aimee Said

Freia is all set for a summer of bliss with her boyfriend, Dan, and her special girl friends. But then her mother gets cancer, her boyfriend leaves town to stay with his mother, her dreadful grandmother comes to stay, and she messes things up so badly with her girl friends that none of them are talking to her. Not what she imagined! But there's a bit of hope on the horizon, and that's what keeps you reading. A really good book about a character you can believe in.

Who would enjoy this? If you like books about ordinary people who manage to overcome difficulties in their lives, this one is for you.

Reviewed by Katya

Robopocalypse / Daniel H. Wilson

It's not until anything with a computer chip in it suddenly turns on its owner that the world realises how dependent on technology we've become. Life as we know it, especially in the cities, is over and now everything becomes a matter a survival.
This is an action-packed, sobering story about technology going mad, taking over the world and intent on getting rid of every single person. It's war, and it's a fight to the death. This thought-provoking thriller will have you anxiously wondering whether this could really happen.

Who would enjoy this? If you enjoy thought-provoking stories conveniently packaged in a thriller covering, then this is the book for you.

Reviewed by Hamish 

The Paladin Prophecy / Mark Frost

Will West used to be an average boy, living a life with wonderful parents, but moving round so much that he didn't have the chance to make any friends. Then he sat a test and passed so brilliantly that he was selected to go to the most amazing boarding school I've ever heard of. But before he got there, his mother gets kidnapped, his world falls completely apart and his father can't get to him. So begins this incredibly fast-paced and exciting book, the first of a series. Just give me the second one to read - I can hardly wait, it's such a great start. Get it, and read it - don't wait!

Who would enjoy this? Anyone who likes fast-paced action and great characters, or in fact just likes reading. This is my standout read so far this year.

Reviewed by James