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

90 packets of instant noodles / Deb Fitzpatrick

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You can get really tired of instant noodles. So Joel discovers, a short time into his 90 day home detention - in his case home is an isolated hut in the Australian bush, no electricity, no running water. That means no cell phone, no music, a real punishment. Joel's life has gone (slightly) off the rails and he needs to get sorted.

This book is a great read; - it is a story about taking responsibility for what you've done and (eventually) learning from your mistakes.

Who would enjoy this? It is mostly a book for guys, but for girls it is an interesting look at the workings of a teenage boy's brain.

Reviewed by Hamish

A long walk to water / Linda Sue Park

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After an attack on his village by soldiers, Salva spends the next seven years living in refugee camps in Ethiopia, walking to Kenya and, amazingly, ending up in New York. This is the story of his search for his family that takes him many thousands of kilometres around the world, and then his return to Sudan to help his people. This book is based on a true story which is mindboggling when you look at a map of Africa and realise how far it is from Sudan to Kenya.

Who would enjoy this? An inspiring story, simply told, fast and easy to read. Any reader would enjoy this story.

Reviewed by James