Blackman, Malorie

CheckmateDoubleday, 2005 • 0385607733

32

Boyne, John

The Boy in theStriped PyjamasDavid Fickling, 2006 • 038560940X

When Bruno’s family moveto Auschwitz, he has toleave all his friends

behind in Berlin, but makes friendswith a boy on “the other side ofthe fence”. When his friend’sfather goes missing, Bruno sneaksunder the fence to help look forhim ...

The third in the “Noughts andCrosses” trilogy. Because ofSephy’s reluctance to get

close to her daughter, Callie Roseis more susceptible to her uncle’slies and joins the Liberation Militia.To what lengths will Sephy,Jasmine and Meggie go to saveCallie Rose from the fate thatbefell her father?

Brooks, Kevin

The Road of theDeadChicken House, 2006 • 1904442757

Ahaunting, tense dramawith two teenage brotherssetting out from their half-

gypsy home on an East Londonbreakers’ yard to discover thecold truth behind the rape andmurder of their sister in ruralDevon. Gritty and often violentthis is a suspenseful andcompelling novel with a rivetingcast of characters.

Brooks, Kevin

Johnny Delgado:Private DetectiveBarrington Stoke, 2006 • 1842993577

Johnny lives on theseventeenth floor and wantsto be a private eye. Two

gorgeous girls set him on courseto clash with the toughest gangmember on the block. Add knivesand drugs to the plot and you’vegot one hair-raising adventure.

Abdel-Fattah, Randa

Does My HeadLook Big in This?Scholastic, 2006 • 0439950589

Amal is sixteen withobsessions about boys,chocolate and Cosmo

magazine. She’s also a Muslim,struggling to honour the Islamicfaith in a society that doesn’tunderstand it. The story of herdecision to “shawl up” and itsattendant anxieties (like howmuch eyeliner to wear) is funny,surprising and touching.

Augarde, Steve

CelandineDavid Fickling, 2005 • 0385605625

Amyriad of tribes of littlepeople – the Various -inhabit the Wild Woods.

Just before the outbreak of WorldWar I, Celandine is sent off toboarding school, but she has asecret. She is in contact with thelittle people and makes her homewith them in the woods when lifeat school and home become toodifficult to bear.

Banerjee, Anjali

Maya RunningPenguin, 2005 • 0143334921

Born in India and raised inCanada, Maya feels neitherIndian enough for Indians,

nor Canadian enough forCanadians. She longs to fit in,and she yearns for Jamie, thelocal bad boy with the JohnTravolta strut. When Maya’sbeautiful cousin Pinky arrives fromIndia and steals Jamie’s heart,Maya pleads with Ganesh toremove all obstacles to her

dreams, a wish that backfires in hilarious and painful ways.

Cassidy, Anne

The Story of MyLifeScholastic, 2006 • 0439954746

Asimple, chance meetingone day sets in train eventsthat are to change 17-

year-old Kenny’s life completelyand could destroy him. By theend of the evening, Kenny willhave made a life-or-deathdecision, and there’s no way hecan avoid it.

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Fine, Anne

The Road of BonesDoubleday, 2006 • 0385610637

Achilling, brutal andthought-provoking dramaset in Russia sometime after

the fall of the Czars, amidst apopulation struggling to survive,and in the grip of total fear andterror as ‘The Glorious Revolution’takes hold.

DiCamillo, Kate

The MiraculousJourney ofEdward TulaneCandlewick Press, 2006 • 0763625892

Edward Tulane is a proudchina rabbit. One day hegets separated from his

owner and over the forthcomingyears ends up with a variety ofowners, many of whom hedespairs of. His journeys take him

to the bottom of sea, living with a young boy and his dyingsister and being dumped on a refuse tip. A very touchingtale and descriptively brilliant.

Gaiman, Neil

MirrormaskBloomsbury, 2005 • 0747581118

“This is my story about whathappened to me lastyear when Mum got ill

and Dad and I had to go andstay at Aunt Nan’s and I had myweird dream…”

Glass, Linzi Alex

The Year theGypsies CamePuffin, 2006 • 0141382783

Acompelling and lyricallywritten story set in 1960sapartheid South Africa.

When a vagabond Australianfamily, living in a camper van,come to stay with adisintegrating white family, twoclose sisters, Emily and Sarah soonfind their lives are changedforever.

Gleitzman, Morris

OncePenguin, 2005 • 014132063X

Felix’s Jewish parents leavehim in an orphanage beforebeing wrenched away by

the Nazis, but he soon runs off tofind them. En route he meets agirl named Zelda, and uses storiesto explain away the horrific thingsthey witness. Before long, Zeldaand Felix find themselves caughtin the crowd of Jews beingherded by Nazis with guns towardthe ghetto. Touching, funny andfull of moving contradictions.

Cottrell Boyce, Frank

FramedMacmillan, 2005 • 1405048581

Dylan and his family have ahard life running thegarage in a small Welsh

town at the foot of themountains. So when Dylandiscovers that priceless works ofart from the National Galleryhave been stashed in the oldmines in the mountains for safety,he sees an opportunity to solve allthe family’s problems at once.Very funny story by the author ofMillions.

Dunmore, Helen

IngoCollins, 2005 • 0007204876

Sapphire’s and Conor’s idyllicchildhood is shattered whentheir father mysteriously

disappears at sea. Sapphire isconvinced that her father is stillalive. A merman, Faro, introducesher to Ingo, an underwater worldshe could only have dreamedexisted. Ingo blood runs deepthrough her veins and it is notlong before the call of that otherworld becomes too strong to

resist. A magical haunting adventure.

Ellis, Deborah

Looking for XOxford UP, 2006 • 0192754173

Eleven-year-old Khyber liveswith her mother and herautistic twin brothers in a

poor Toronto neighbourhood, butlife gets even tougher when shelearns her brothers are to be putin a care home. An enjoyableand well-told story, dotted with arich assortment of eccentriccharacters.

76

Hiaasen, Carl

FlushDoubleday, 2005 • 0385609531

Eleven-year-old Noah, and hislittle sister, Abbey, aredetermined to get proof of

deliberate ocean pollution neartheir home in the Florida Keys. Azany, action-packed story withplenty of humour, and a largecast of colourful, odd-ballcharacters.

Guene, Faiza

Just LikeTomorrowNelson, 2006 • 1862301581

Apoignant story about 15-year-old Doria, streetwise,funny and clever, and her

various North African friends andacquaintances, trying tosucceed in life against all theodds on the grim Paradise Estatein the Paris suburbs.

Hinton, S. E.

Hawkes HarborTor Books, 2005 • 0330437607

Nothing in the colourful anddangerous life of youngJamie Sommers and his

adventures sailing the sevenseas, prepares him for the horrorhe discovers in the littlecommunity of Hawkes Harbor onthe Delaware coast. A dark andintense vampire story.

Hollyer, Belinda

The Truth AboutJosie GreenOrchard, 2005 • 1843628856

Aschool project gives Josiean excuse to research herincreasingly problematic

family’s background - withsurprising results. Well written withneat twists of plot and featuringsibling rivalry within a supportivebut slightly unconventionalfamily.

Goobie, Beth

The LotteryFaber & Faber, 2005 • 0571228631

Saskatoon Collegiate issecretly controlled by theShadow Council, a group of

perverse students who annuallyconduct a lottery to find a victimon whom to carry out their cruelpranks. 15-year-old Sally Hansonis this year’s ‘lottery winner’, butshe is also struggling with her ownpersonal and family problems. Adark and powerful psychologicalthriller.

Grant, Neil

Indo DreamingAllen & Unwin, 2005 • 1741141796

When a friend whom hebelieved to be deadstarts sending him

postcards from Indonesia, 19-year-old Goog, sets out on ajourney to discover the truth. Hemeets Niagara, an Americanwho is on a quest of his own.Often tense, it is on one level ahigh-spirited travelogue andsurfing story, but underlain with

the darker themes of the seamier sides of life and civil war inIndonesia.

Green, John

Looking forAlaskaHarperCollins, 2006 • 0007209258

When 15-year-old Miles‘Pudge’ Halter arrives atboarding school in

Alabama, he is catapulted intoan exciting new world of a small,closely-knit group of friends,including the clever, funny andsexy Alaska Young. But tragedystrikes and Miles is forced toconfront the reality and meaning

of friendship, life, death, grief and healing. A stunning andpowerful debut novel.

Horowitz, Anthony

Raven’s GateWalker, 2006 • 1844286193

Raised in foster care, Matt issent to Yorkshire on arehabilitation programme,

only to find himself in the midst ofsinister goings-on. Eight guard-ians protect the world from theevil ones but devil worshipperswant to let them back in. Matthas recently realised he has somestrange powers but can he learnto use them in time? The first inthe thrlling supernatural “Powerof Five” series – now continued in Evil Star.

98

Jones, Diana Wynne

Conrad’s FateHarperCollins, 2006 • 0007190875

Conrad’s uncle tells himthat his constant bad luckis due to something he has

done (or not done) in a previouslife, and that he must finish thetask he was set in his previous lifeby the Lords of Karma. So Conradmust go to Stallery Mansions, themysterious palace high above hishome town of Stallchester, wherehe meets Christopher, who seemsto be on a mission of his own.

Jennings, Paul

How HedleyHopkins Did A Dare ...Puffin, 2005 • 0141320435

When Hedley accepts adare (retrieving a skullfrom a graveyard) to

gain acceptance from the coolkids at school, it leads to a seriesof humorous events,confrontations and deliberationson growing up and what it is tobe a teenager.

Johnson, Pete

The Ex-filesPuffin, 2006 • 01413319836

How do you cope when yourboyfriend goes off with yourbest friend, or the girl you

thought was the one dumps youby email? Join the Ex-Files society,and let them help you. Motto:There’s no-one you can’t getover. An affectionate and funnylook at the ups and downs ofteenage life.

Keaney, Brian

Jacob’s LadderOrchard, 2005 • 1843627213

Jacob wakes to find himself ina very strange world calledLocus. All memory of his

previous life has gone - family,home, school, friends - and he iswith hundreds of other boysforced to live in huge featurelesscamp picking stones each day ina greyed-out life. Told there is noescape, will he accept his fate orface unknowable dangers in theworld beyond?

Korman, Gordon

Hollywood HustleScholastic, 2005 • 0439959969

Afast and funny rollercoasterof a story, with 18-year-oldVince Luca trying to break

away from the operations of hisMob family in New York by goingaway to college in southernCalifornia, only to find himselfquickly embroiled in a toxic mix ofscams, stolen goods, politics andkidnapping as the Mob followshim west.

Levithan, David

Boy Meets BoyHarperCollins, 2006 • 0007191391

Arefreshing romance set in aworld where sexualpreference isn’t an issue.

Paul, a high-school student, fallsin love with Noah, the new boy intown, and the story follows theirdeveloping relationship. Othercharacters include InfiniteDarlene, the drag-queenquarterback!

Jarman, Julia

Peace WeaversScholastic, 2006 • 0439977711

Hilde hates living on the USAir Force base with herfather whilst her mother

travels to Iraq to protest againstthe war. Beneath the base liesMaetilde, a 6th century “peaceweaver” who was pushed into apolitical marriage. When Hildetakes a gold brooch from hergrave, she begins to unravel apowerful story of peace, freedomand the price of war.

Johnson, Pete

The Hero GamePuffin, 2005 • 0141318171

As Charlie learns about hisgrandfather’s exploits as afighter pilot, he stumbles

upon a photograph of him as aBlackshirt, his face “contortedwith rage”, arm raised giving theNazi salute. From here on, theteenager tries to comprehendwhat exactly his grandfather did,and how he could have done it -pursuing the point with an almostharmful obsession.

1110

Morgan, Nicola

The PassionflowerMassacreHodder, 2005 • 0340877340

Matilda, who longs forfreedom, escapes fromher parents and a painful

childhood in Scotland, to work ona fruit farm in Devon. She findsfreedom, but also much more.Gradually she gets drawntowards the ‘Beautiful People’, areligious cult living in the greathouse above the farm, but willshe discover their shocking plan before it is too late?Suspenseful and entrancing.

Mills, Sam

A Nicer Way to DieFaber & Faber, 2006 • 0571230792

On a school trip in France,16-year-old James and hisstep-brother, Henry

escape a coach crash in whichthe rest of their class are involved.However, the terror for James isonly just beginning as he istrapped in a deserted Frenchmansion with the step-brotherwho has always hated andbullied him, and who haspromised one day to kill him.

Muchamore, Robert

Divine MadnessHodder, 2006 • 0340894342

CHERUB is a secretorganisation whoseagents are 10-17 year-old

orphans. CHERUB’s one bigadvantage: even experiencedcriminals never suspect childrenof spying. When CHERUBuncovers a link between eco-terrorists and a wealthy religiouscult it sends special agent JamesAdams to Australia on aninfiltration mission in this punchy,fast-paced, action adventure. Other CHERUB books includeClass A, Maximum Security and The Killing.

Newland, Courttia

The Dying WishAbacus, 2006 • 0349119635

Amysteriously secretivecompany renting spacenext to Ervine’s private

investigation business disappearswithout trace. The police arrive,investigating allegations oforganized group homicides andErvine and Carmen are drawninto a mystery so deep neitherbelieves that they can find outthe truth behind that office doorwithout risking their very lives …

MacPhail, Catherine

Roxy’s BabyBloomsbury, 2005 • 0747570426

A14-year-old girl in Glasgowis pregnant and decides torun away to a London

clinic. Instead she is found by aseemingly helpful couple whohelp her come to terms with herpregnancy and promise to takecare of her. But things are not asthey seem and they do not haveher or her baby’s best interests atheart at all.

Marks, Graham

TokyoBloomsbury, 2006 • 074758172X

Astunning and atmosphericthriller, which follows 18-year-old Adam to Tokyo to

try to find his older sister Charlie,who has been reported asmissing and kidnapped there ona backpacking trip. Alone in astrange city, can Adam possiblyfind any trace of his sister as hegets drawn deeper and deeperinto the seedy backstreets and

low life of this breathless neon city?

Michael, Livi

The WhisperingRoadPenguin, 2005 • 0141317035

Joe and Annie, escaping theworkhouse, are taken in by atravelling circus where Annie,

who is psychic, becomes a starattraction. But Joe is restless andtakes off again, this timebecoming involved in thestruggles of a radical newspaperpublisher for a free and cheappress. An exciting story that

skilfully weaves in the history of the newly industrialisedlabouring class fighting for a free press through theManchester Guardian. An excellent read.

Paolini, Christopher

EldestDoubleday, 2005 • 0385607903

Second in the “Inheritance”series, King Galbatorix is stillthe Empire’s cruel ruler and

Eragon and his dragon, Saphira,must make the journey toEllesmera, land of the elves, forfurther training in magic andswordsmanship. But chaos andbetrayal plague him at everyturn, and nothing is what it seems.Meanwhile, his cousin Roran mustfight another battle – one that might put Eragon in evengraver danger.

13

Shan, Darren

Lord LossCollins, 2005 • 0007193203

This is the first book of the “TheDemonata” series. GrubbsGrady’s family are

slaughtered by the evil demonLord Loss. Grubbs escapes, butno-one believes his wild story andhe is left languishing in the asylumuntil a visit from his Uncle Dervishsets him on a long and scary roadto the truth. This is an excellentnovel, fast-paced and bloody,horrific and fantastic, frighteningand exciting.

12

Paver, Michelle

Spirit WalkerOrion, 2006 • 1842551132

Torak is the only one who canfind a cure for the horriblesickness afflicting the Raven

tribe and the only one who cantalk to wolves, but his journeymust be undertaken alone nowthat Wolf has left him. Exciting,mysterious, it is full of surprisingtwists and laughable moments. Asuperb sequel to Wolf Brother.

Perkins, Mitali

Monsoon SummerSimon & Schuster, 2006 • 1416900950

Acompelling story offriendship and first love setamongst the rich culture of

India. Teenager Jazz is working atan orphanage which had beenher mother’s home before beingadopted into a new life in the US.Although bitter anduncomfortable at first she isdrawn into a new life.

Rai, Bali

The Last TabooCorgi, 2006 • 0552553018

Simran fancies Tyrone, Tyronefancies Simran – what couldbe better, but it’s the last

taboo for an Asian girl to go outwith a black boy and to saySimran’s family disapprove is toput it mildly…

Sachar, Louis

Small StepsBloomsbury, 2006 • 0747580308

Holes characters Armpit andX-Ray have left CampGreen Lake Detention

Centre and Armpit is taking smallsteps to turn his life around. He isworking for a landscapegardener because he is good atdigging holes. He is going toschool and enjoying his firstproper romance, but is he goingto be able to stay out of troublewhen there is so much buildingup against him?

Singer, Nicky

The Innocent’sStoryOxford UP, 2005 • 0192754491

Cassina is blown-up by abomb – but she doesn’tdie. Cassina survives as a

‘para-spirit’ that can live in theheads of people, knowing theirthoughts but powerless tochange them. She is strangelydrawn into the mind of the manwho murdered her – but can shedo anything about what he isabout to do next?

Singleton, Sarah

CenturySimon & Schuster, 2005 • 1416901353

The perpetual winter thatshrouds Mercy and Charity’shouse, Century, begins to

fade when Mercy finds asnowdrop on her pillow onemorning. A chance meeting withClaudius sets Mercy questioningher family history and she needsto piece together the truth inorder for her world to begin tomove on. A lyrical story withmagic, mystery and romance.

Skelton, Matthew

Endymion SpringPuffin, 2006 • 0141382392

Endymion Spring finds a book– or does it find him? It ismade of dragon skin and

contains all the knowledge of theworld, but can only be read byan innocent child. Evil people areafter the book and Endymionrealises it is up to him to protect it.

1514

Whyman, Matt

The WildHodder 2005 • 0340884533

Agripping and poignantstory of Alexi, who leaveshis bleak and

environmentally ravaged littletown next to the old Aral Sea inKazakhstan, desperate to findtreatment for his seriously ill littlebrother Misha in a cold andhostile Moscow.

Wong, Joyce Lee

Seeing EmilyAmulet, 2005 • 0810957574

When 16-year-old Chinese-American Emily Wu,living in Virginia, returns

home to her roots in Taiwan for aholiday, she starts to discoverherself and to blend herAmerican life with her familytraditions in this touching andlyrical 'coming of age' story,related in free verse.

Woodson, Jacqueline

HushPenguin, 2006 • 0142500496

Toswiah's life changes foreverwhen her father, an African-American policeman, testifies

against two white officers whokilled a black teenager and theyhave to flee their comfortableDenver home for a witnessprotection programme. All familymembers have to deal with thepainful consequences of Dad'sact of courage, and Toswiah,now Evie, has to draw on herreserves of strength to keep herself and her family fromdisintegrating.

Wynne-Jones, Tim

The SurvivalGameUsborne, 2006 • 0746068417

When 14-year-old Burl runsaway from his abusivefather and a dismal

home life, he makes friends withGow, a reclusive musician, in hiscabin retreat in North-westOntario. When Gow diessuddenly, Burl has to make someimportant decisions as he tries tohang on to a part of his new life inthis dramatic and riveting novel.

Staples, Suzanne Fisher

Under thePersimmon TreeWalker, 2006 • 0744555973

Apowerful, heart-rendingstory of suffering, loss, terrorand drama, set in strife-

torn Afghanistan in the monthsfollowing 11 September, 2001. Itcentres upon two fearful womenwhose lives converge, and whogive each other hope and thestrength to face the uncertainfuture.

Thompson, Craig

BlanketsTop Shelf, 2005 • 1891830430

Follow this autobiographicaccount of religiousupbringing, personal

discovery and artistic expression– a daringly honest explorationwith some beautiful and somestunning artwork. Intense andmoving characters grow up insome pretty lost places in thisgraphic novel. Both hilarious andhorrifying (see also GoodbyeChunky Rice).

Turnbull, Ann

Forged in the FireWalker, 2006 • 1844289354

Asequel to No Shame, NoFear, it is now 1666 andSusanna decides to follow

Will to London from Shropshirewhen she does not hear from him- but can they survive thetraumas waiting for them there?

Waite, Judy

The Next BigThingOxford UP, 2005 • 0192753932

Discovered singing in a carpark, Elliot is propelled tostardom and the top of

the charts in a short few months.But his childhood dreams slowlyturn to nightmares as his entire lifeis controlled for him. When Elliottries to break out of his new life, itis more than his dreams that areshattered.