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Volcano
by June ColbertSara is fifteen and secretly in love with Kel Pearson. Her dad is a Meatball. Kel’s dad is a Meatball too. ‘Meatballs’ like to jump into earthquakes and climb inside volcanoes to take their temperatures. When they clamber out, shoes burning and hair smoking, they pass their findings on to Coneheads. ‘Coneheads’ analyse data and make recommendations to local governments. Together they make up an ‘AusDAR’ team – Disaster Assessment and Relief (Australian Division) – experts in Disaster Casualty Minimisation. They’ve just been asked to go to the exotic Andes to gauge the safety of the new gas and oil pipeline being dug through the base of a sleepy little extinct volcano called Mt Cumbal. They are all set for the adventure of a lifetime – after all, the volcano is in no danger of erupting. But what about that murky, brown water coming out of the tap in Sara’s caravan? It’s not supposed to smell like sulphur … June Colbert, bestselling author of THE KING OF LARGE and THE LAST BOY, masterfully weaves together teenage themes of identity, pride, secret ‘crushes’ and the sense of belonging in her well-researched, detailed and fast-paced novel VOLCANO.
Other People's County
by Lee FoxFifteen-year-old Lola lives in a quiet, rural town with her mother, her over-achieving older brother, Daniel, and her annoying but lovable younger brother, Toby. When Lola’s mother receives an offer of a few months’ work as a store manager on a remote Aboriginal community, the family – except for Daniel who stays home to finish exams – fly to Wandana with a sense of anticipation and adventure. But Wandana is no holiday resort. In the red dust and blazing heat of central Australia, Lola and her family are confronted with enormous social and cultural differences, as well as a dark form of racism they have never encountered before. Misunderstanding and violence threaten to end their adventure soon after it begun. Yet from somewhere in this harsh place, hands reach out to the newcomers. Can Lola and her family grasp those hands across the cultural divide? Lee Fox’s realistic writing and portrayal of an indigenous community will leave readers engrossed in this heart-warming story.
The King of Large (Takeaways Ser.)
by June ColbertTHE KING OF LARGE is the personal diary of Robbie, an overweight kid. Robbie's problems with his weight become critical when his health deteriorates to the point where he has blackouts and is excluded from the school soccer team. Soccer is the only sport he enjoys and, with his self-esteem steadily diminishing and the ongoing bullying and name calling from his classmates increasing, Robbie is at an all-time low. On top of all of this, Robbie is experiencing troubles with his younger brother and his best friend is having family problems. June Colbert explores a number of issues that affect a person's health and well-being in this sensitive and very funny story. We share his thoughts and feelings as well as the family support networks that help him begin to deal with his problems.
Tennis Star
by Raewyn CaisleyTENNIS STAR is the story of twelve-year-old Nathan Taylor, who everybody says looks like his hero Richard Krafter. After unexpected success at the District Final, Nathan begins to take himself a little too seriously. On and off court, Nathan’s attention-seeking and aggressiveness begins to alienate his friends and disappoint his family. Soon he must decide what the most important things are about tennis, and life – playing to succeed at any price, or playing for the love of the game and the friendship it fosters …From Raewyn Caisley, the acclaimed and established author of TOP MARKS, IN UNION, HOT SHOT, QUEEN’S CUBBY, FREE STYLE and GREAT LEAD, comes another book in the popular Junior Sports Series.
Speedy
by Colin ThieleA heartwarming adventure from Australia’s master storyteller.Speedy is the fastest, cleverest dolphin ever to swim the waters around Kangaroo Island. To ten-year-old Mike and his fisherman father Ben, he is also a very special friend, always there to meet their boat and lead her home into the harbour. Speedy soon becomes a tourist attraction in their small fishing town. But not everyone loves him as much as Ben and his friend Sally, and one day they realise that the friendly dolphin is in deadly danger.
Sky Legs
by Irini SavvidesEleni moves to a village in the clouds, where the blue mountains and the sky seem to stretch forever but, surprisingly, people's minds don't. She's been hoping that she can make a new start and leave behind the sense of loss and the low self-esteem that she has been struggling with for most of her life. But this is the kind of place where she'll never fit in. And Eleni is definitely different!So when she and her friends come up against small-mindedness, they find a way to fight it and to change attitudes - beginning with their own. Eleni draws unexpected strength from her mother's determination to live triumphantly and realises that even in her bleakest moments, her life has been transformed by various kinds of magic and more than once has been touched by angels.
Surfing Goliath (Sports Fiction Ser.)
by Michael HydeSeal and his mates live in the remote coastal town of Brown’s Beach. Seal lives for the thrill of body boarding. Seal’s mate Angelo lives for fishing, especially the danger of shark fishing. Every three years a mysterious, almost secret event happens. Giant 12-foot waves start crashing onto the rocks and a 12-foot Bronze Whaler shark begins patrolling the surf. Both are referred to as ‘Goliath’ by the locals. Are the two connected in some strange way? Will Seal attempt the ride of his life? Will Angelo battle the monster?SURFING GOLIATH is captivating story about the sea and all its wild mystery by acclaimed children’s book author Michael Hyde.
More Precious Than Gold
by Val JonesThe Robertson family has lived on their New South Wales sheep and cattle property, Brindabella, for five generations. However, their continued ownership of the farm is under threat. An adjoining property has been sold and the new owners are unfriendly to say the least. Then things start to go very wrong on Brindabella. Stock begins to die and there seems to be no reasonable explanation. Facing bankruptcy and the loss of Brindabella, Ben's father commences an opal-mining venture in Coober Pedy in South Australia's remote outback. But even here mysterious mishaps plague the smooth operation of what began as a successful opal mine. In this well-rounded, gripping story of rural crisis, Val Jones writes how lives are threatened and 'accidents' occur, which make life in Coober Pedy very dangerous. Suddenly opal mining isn’t as straightforward as it seems …
Danny's Egg
by Colin ThieleWhen Danny finds an emu egg in the bush outside town and is determined to hatch it, his problems begin. It seems that Hacker, the school bully, has other ideas, and when he releases a hungry goanna and steals the egg at the school pet show, Danny has to move fast!COLIN THIELE, AC, was one of Australia’s most distinguished and popular writers for children. Colin's books have won numerous Australian and international awards and have been made into many classic films, TV series, plays and picture books. His bestsellers include the multi-award-winning STORM BOY and BLUE FIN.
Storm-Cat: A first-time feelings picture book
by Magenta FoxWe can't choose our weather, but we can choose what we make of it.Arwel is having a fine day. Yes, his sister has gone off to school for the first time, leaving him alone, and yes, there's a cloud above his head. But he is fine, really he is...But the cloud grows, looms, gets in his way - until Arwel has to admit: there's a Storm-Cat outside and it's waiting for him!But after a spectacular storm comes the comforting calm in this special picture-book debut from the illustrator of Zadie Smith and Nick Laird's Weirdo.
Jolly Foul Play: A Murder Most Unladylike Mystery (A Murder Most Unladylike Mystery #4)
by Robin StevensJoin Daisy and Hazel on their fourth murder mystery! 'Ripping good fun' The Times'Thrilling' Guardian-----As they return to Deepdean for a new school term, Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are faced with some big changes. For one, there's a new Head Girl, Elizabeth Hurst, and a team of Prefects- and these bullying Big Girls are certainly not good eggs. Then, after the fireworks display on Bonfire Night, Elizabeth is found - murdered.Many girls at Deepdean had reason to hate Elizabeth, but who might have committed such foul play? Could the murder be linked to the secrets and scandals, scribbled on scraps of paper, that are suddenly appearing around the school? And with their own friendship falling to pieces, how will Daisy and Hazel solve this mystery?'Top class' Financial Times'A delight' Daily Mail
Top Marks For Murder: A Murder Most Unladylike Mystery (A Murder Most Unladylike Mystery #8)
by Robin StevensThe brilliant new mystery from the bestselling, award-winning author of Murder Most Unladylike.Daisy and Hazel are finally back at Deepdean, and the school is preparing for a most exciting event: the fiftieth Anniversary.Plans for a weekend of celebrations are in full swing. But all is not well, for in the detectives' long absence, Deepdean has changed. Daisy has lost her crown to a fascinating new girl - and many of the Detective Society's old allies are now their sworn enemies.Then the girls witness a shocking incident in the woods close by - a crime that they're sure is linked to the Anniversary. As parents descend upon Deepdean, decades-old grudges, rivalries and secrets begin to surface, and soon Deepdean's future is at stake.Can the girls solve the case - and save their home?
Everyone Needs a Hero
by Linda LawrenceThe book 'Everyone Needs a Hero' comprises six adventure stories for children. Each story has different characters and a new hero emerges in each one. But the heroes are all brave, resourceful and clever animals. In the first story, we meet Maisie and her friend TimTom and their adventures take them to the National Gallery in London to rescue the head curator who has been kidnapped to force him to steal a painting. Other adventures arise on the way, but the two cats show resourcefulness and bravery on every turn of the page. In the second story, we are introduced to Rosy the Duck who lives a sad life, bullied by other ducks on the lake who make her life a misery. Read how one day Rosy helps a fellow creature and that good turn leads to a complete change in her life. Story three tells us about two green parakeets who take on some vicious thieves and save the life of a policeman, but at no small cost to themselves. Moving on to story four, we meet Reg the tortoise and Pickles the guinea pig. Reg is a bit arrogant and cares for no one but himself and his main thoughts are centred around his next meal, until one day he is dragged into an adventure by Pickles to try and save their family's house from being burgled. In story five, we meet Charlie of no fixed address. He has a solitary life until one day, he rescues some kittens who had been left to die in a bin. In this story, Charlie has to rescue the kittens yet again before his own life changes completely. The last story takes us to a farm to meet twins Peter and Paul Pig and their little brother Frank. They live a wonderful life on the farm until one day, they realise they were about to go to market, so they plan their escape with near disastrous consequences. The stories are packed full of delightful animal adventures with our heroes demonstrating some vital life values such as friendship, teamwork, ingenuity, resourcefulness, bravery and love. The book has 30 delightful colour illustrations to enhance the reader's experience.
Luna the Loom Band Fairy: Special (Rainbow Magic #1)
by Daisy MeadowsGet ready for an exciting fairy adventure with the no. 1 bestselling series for girls aged 5 and up. Luna the Loom Band Fairy makes sure everyone has lots of fun creating fabulous loom band arts and crafts. But when naughty Jack Frost steals her magical sparkling golden loom, all the creations start to go wrong! Can Rachel and Kirsty get it back and help save the day for loom band fans everywhere?'These stories are magic; they turn children into readers!' ReadingZone.comIf you like Rainbow Magic, check out Daisy Meadows' other series: Magic Animal Friends and Unicorn Magic!
The Lost Sunlion (The Last Firefox #3)
by Lee NewberyThe third magical adventure in the Last Firefox series.When out-of-control weather brings danger to his home town, Charlie Challinor suspects that more than climate change might be to blame. Heading back to Fargone with Cadno the firefox, Lippy and Roo, Charlie discovers the magical realm is also in dire peril.The sinister giant Gawr has stolen the Cariad, the Heart of Fargone, mixing up the world's magic and plunging the land into chaos. With the Cariad's ancient guardian, the sunlion Llew, missing in action, only Charlie and his friends can save the day - but at what cost . . . ?
The Dog and the Sailor
by Pete Jordi WoodFrom talented debut picture-book maker Pete Jordi Wood, this is a forgotten fairytale filled with magic and adventure. With stunning illustrations that evoke Mary Blair and classic Disney, this is the perfect gift for children of four and above - or for any fairytale fan.As one of very few examples of a fairytale that celebrates LGBTQ+ romance the book is an important example of representation, celebrating lives that are too often excluded from mainstream storytelling. The story is being developed into a film.
Hilo: Waking the Monsters (Hilo #4)
by Judd WinickALERT! ALERT! ALERT!Mega Robot Monsters are suddenly waking up all over and they're TOO BIG and TOO STRONG for Hilo to fight on his own!Luckily, he doesn't have to! He has GINA and some brand new SUPER POWERS on his side! Being heroes can be super fun-but it can also be SUPER dangerous! The closer Hilo and Gina get to saving their world from the monsters, the closer Hilo gets to the dark secret of his past...
Sparkle and Splodge: A positive picture book about celebrating differences and learning from others (Crash Bang Wallop #3)
by Neil ClarkSparkle and Splodge are opposites. Sparkle likes everything neat! Splodge loves mess!But when Splodge's crayons are lost, can Sparkle face their worries and help Splodge to find the missing crayons?This positive picture book celebrates the importance of creative fun, making mistakes, and learning from others.
Menace: Sam Silverthorne Book 2 (Sam Silverthorne Trilogy #2)
by Gary CrewIn the second volume of the Sam Silverthorne series, Sam sets sail to China in search of a rare carnivorous butterfly. Before it is released in England and kills again he must track down the enraged Chinese Prince Chi Lin and stop him breeding more of the monstrous creatures. However, Sam discovers the British Empire can cause just as much devastation as the evil prince.
Song of the Dolphin Boy
by Elizabeth LairdFinn has always been different, and in the tiny fishing village of Stromhead he sticks out like a sore thumb. Always told to keep away from the water, he's felt that something was missing until one day he dives in and finds that, swimming with the dolphins, he feels completely at home. But his new friends are in danger of being injured by the rubbish that floats out into the water - and now a supermarket is going to release thousands of balloons that could drift out to sea and cause even more damage. Desperate to help the dolphins, Finn goes to the Lighthouse Crew, a group of kids who have always left Finn out. Will they be able to set aside their differences to save the dolphins? And what will Finn discover about his past along the way?A moving adventure about the impact of plastic pollution on our seas, and the campaigning power of friendship from the award-winning Elizabeth Laird, illustrated by Peter Bailey.'Song of the Dolphin Boy is such a beautiful, important, heartfelt book. I loved every page' Lauren St John'A lively and inspiring tale of village life and the dangers to wildlife of releasing balloons' The Sunday Times
A House Without Walls
by Elizabeth LairdA House Without Walls is a powerful story of family, hope and redemption amidst the refugee crisis in Syria from the award-winning Elizabeth Laird, illustrated by Lucy Eldridge.Thirteen-year-old Safiya and her family have been driven out of Syria by civil war. Safiya knows how lucky she is – lucky not to be living in a refugee camp, lucky to be alive. But it's hard to feel grateful when she's forced to look after her father and brother rather than go back to school, and now that she's lost her home, she's lonelier than ever. As they struggle to rebuild their lives, Safiya realizes that her family has always been incomplete and with her own future in the balance, it's time to uncover the secrets that war has kept buried.
Welcome to Nowhere
by Elizabeth LairdWelcome to Nowhere is a powerful and beautifully written story about the life of one family caught up in civil war by the award-winning author Elizabeth Laird, shortlisted for the Scottish Teen Book Award and winner of the UKLA Book Award.Twelve-year-old Omar and his brothers and sisters were born and raised in the beautiful and bustling city of Bosra, Syria. Omar doesn't care about politics - all he wants is to grow up to become a successful businessman who will take the world by storm. But when his clever older brother, Musa, gets mixed up with some young political activists, everything changes . . . Before long, bombs are falling, people are dying, and Omar and his family have no choice but to flee their home with only what they can carry. Yet no matter how far they run, the shadow of war follows them - until they have no other choice than to attempt the dangerous journey to escape their homeland altogether. But where do you go when you can't go home?'[Sings] with truth' - The Times'A muscular, moving, thought-provoking book' - Guardian'Humane and empathetic . . . an effective call to action' - The Sunday Times'Powerful, heart-breaking and compelling' - Scotsman
The Fastest Boy in the World
by Elizabeth LairdEleven-year-old Solomon loves to run! The great athletes of the Ethiopian national team are his heroes and he dreams that one day he will be a gold-medal-winning athlete like them, in spite of his ragged shorts and bare feet.When his grandfather announces that he's going to take Solomon to Addis Ababa, Solomon cannot believe his ears. A trip to the capital? It's unfathomable. Solomon's joy is increased when he realizes that the Ethiopian running team will be doing a victory parade through the city that day. Maybe he'll get a glimpse of Haile Gebrselassie or Derartu Tulu?!But Solomon's grandfather has other plans. As Solomon follows him through the big, overwhelming streets, he learns something he cannot believe. The strict old man is a war hero who once risked his life to save a friend and has been in hiding ever since. When grandfather collapses, Solomon knows that getting help from his village is up to him. It's a twenty-mile run from the city to home, and grandfather's life hangs in the balance. Can the small bare-footed runner with the big heart do it?Shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal, The Fastest Boy in the World by Elizabeth Laird is the inspiring story of a small Ethiopian runner with a very big heart.
Mog and the Baby
by null Judith KerrShare in fifty years of a really remarkable cat… Mog is everyone’s favourite family cat! Join her in this warm-hearted and funny escapade about Mog’s first meeting with a baby… as read by Tacy Kneale, and as a full-colour ebook! Celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Mog the Forgetful Cat with special anniversary editions of her much-loved adventures. From the creator of The Tiger Who Came to Tea and Mog the Forgetful Cat comes a delightful family adventure about a really remarkable cat! Read by Tacy Kneale and as a full-colour ebook. Mog's peaceful day is shattered when a baby comes to visit. All Mog wants to do and sleep and play but there is no chance of that now… "Mog loves babies," says Mrs Thomas but suddenly Mog isn't quite so sure! Mog the Forgetful Cat was first published fifty years ago, and Mog has been delighting children all over the world with her adventures ever since. These books are the perfect gifts for boys, girls and families everywhere!