Book favouritesof the Joyful Reading group

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. But Katniss has been close to death before - and survival, for her, is second nature. "The Hunger Games" is a searing novel set in a future with unsettling parallels to our present. Welcome to the deadliest reality TV show ever...

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

When seventeen-year-old Bella Swan leaves Phoenix to live with her father in Forks, Washington, she meets an exquisitely handsome boy at school for whom she feels an overwhelming attraction and who she comes to realize is not wholly human.

Everyone loves the adventures of Greg Heffley.

Excerpt from the book:“Let me get something straight: this is a JOURNAL, not a diary. This was Mom's idea, not mine. But if she thinks I'm going to write down my "feelings" in here or whatever, she's crazy. The only reason I agreed to do this at all is because I figure later on when I'm rich and famous, this book is gonna come in handy. But for now I'm stuck with a bunch of morons. Today is the first day of school, so I figured I might as well write in this book to pass the time. Just don't expect me to be all "Dear Diary" this and "Dear Diary" that.

Diary of a wimpy kid by Jeff Kinney

Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets by J K Rowling

Harry Potter is a wizard. He is in his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Little does he know that this year will be just as eventful as the last ...even getting there is an adventure in itself! The three firm friends, Harry, Ron and Hermione, are soon immersed in the daily round of Potions, Herbology, Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, and Quidditch. But then horrible and mysterious things start happening. Harry keeps hearing strange voices, sinister and dark messages appear, and then Ron's sister Ginny disappears ...

Darkness falls...Despair abounds...Evil reigns...Eragon and his dragon , Saphira, have just saved the rebel state from destruction by the mighty forces of King Galbatorix, cruel ruler of the Empire Now Eragon must travel to Ellesmera, land of the elves, for further training in magic and swordsmanship, the vital skills of the Dragon Rider. It is the journey of a lifetime, filled with awe-inspiring new places and people , each day a fresh adventure. But chaos and betrayal plague him at every turn. Eragon isn't sure whom he can trust. Meanwhile, his cousin Roran must fight a new battle back home in Carvahall - one that puts Eragon in even graver danger. Will the king's dark hand strangle all resistance? Eragon may not escape with even his life...

Eldest by Christopher Paolini

The brothers Lionheart by Astrid Lindgren

My brother, Jonathan, knew that I was going to die. 'How can things be so terrible,' I asked. 'That some people have to die, when they're not even ten years old?' 'I don't think it's that terrible,' said Jonathan. 'I think you'll have a marvellous time.'

A tender story of courage, love, and life after death.

The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien

This is the prelude to "The Lord of the Rings". Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard, Gandalf, and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep to take him on an adventure.

The fault in our stars by John GreenDespite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten. Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, "The Fault in Our Stars" is award-winning author John Green's most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love. . "A novel of life and death and the people caught in between, "The Fault in Our Stars" is John Green at his best. You laugh, you cry, and then you come back for more" (Markus Zusak, author of "The Book Thief").

Emily the Strange by Rob Reger and Jessica Gruner

Emily the Strange: 13 years old. Able to leap tall buildings, probably, if she felt like it. More likely to be napping with her four black cats; or cobbling together a particle accelerator out of lint, lentils, and safety pins; or rocking out on drums/ guitar/saxophone/zither; or painting a swirling feral sewer mural; or forcing someone to say "swirling feral sewer mural" 13 times fast . . . and pointing and laughing.

The novel is about schoolboys in Budapest at the turn of the 20th century, who defend their playground, the "grund", from the "redshirts", a team of other boys who want to occupy it. The boys regard the "grund" as their "Fatherland", constitute themselves its "National Army" and constantly use all the terminology of nationalism as common at the time in Hungary as elsewhere in Europe.The book can be seen as a biting satire of European nationalism and a premonition of the First World War which broke out a few years after its publication. The book has earned the status of the most famous Hungarian novel in the world. Ernő Nemecsek is now ranked in those schools among the eternal heroes of youth literature, such as Oliver Twist and Tom Sawyer

The Paul Street Boys by Ferenc Molnar

Stolen by Lucy Christopher

Gemma, 16, is on layover at Bangkok Airport, en route with her parents to a vacation in Vietnam. She steps away for just a second, to get a cup of coffee. Ty--rugged, tan, too old, oddly familiar--pays for Gemma's drink. And drugs it. They talk. Their hands touch. And before Gemma knows what's happening, Ty takes her. Steals her away. The unknowing object of a long obsession, Gemma has been kidnapped by her stalker and brought to the desolate Australian Outback. STOLEN is her gripping story of survival, of how she has to come to terms with her living nightmare--or die trying to fight it.

Marked – House of night by PC Cast and Kristin Cast

When sixteen-year-old Zoey Redbird gets Marked as a fledgling vampire she must join the House of Night school where she will train to become an adult vampire. That is, if she makes it through the Change. But Zoe is no ordinary fledgling. She has been chosen as special by the Goddess Nyx and discovers her amazing new power to conjure the elements: earth, air, fire, water and spirit.

When Zoey discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite group, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look within herself to embrace her destiny - with a little help from her new vampire friends.

Nick and Allie don't survive the car accident... ...but their souls don't exactly get where they're supposed to get either. Instead, they're caught halfway between life and death, in a sort of limbo known as Everlost: a shadow of the living world, filled with all the things and places that no onger exist. It's a magical, yet dangerous place where bands of lost children run wild and anyone who stands in the same place too long sinks to the center of the Earth.

When they find Mary, the self-proclaimed queen of lost kids, Nick feels like he he's found a home, but Allie isn't satisfied spending eternity between worlds. Against all warnings, Allie begins learning the "Criminal Art" of haunting, and ventures into dangerous territory, where a monster called the McGill threatens all the souls of Everlost. .

Everlost by Neal Shusterman

The little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

The Little Prince is a classic tale of equal appeal to children and adults. On one level it is the story of an airman's discovery, in the desert, of a small boy from another planet - the Little Prince of the title - and his stories of intergalactic travel, while on the other hand it is a thought-provoking allegory of the human condition. First published in 1943, the year before the author's death in action, this translation contains Saint-Exupery's delightful illustrations.

Hush, hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Nora's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, she is drawn to him against her better judgement. But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and knows more about her than her closest friends. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. For Nora is right in the middle of a centuries-old battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and sooner or later, she's going to have to pick sides...

Warrior Cats by Erin Hunter

Fire alone can save our Clan...For generations, four Clans of wild cats have shared the forest according to the laws laid down by the powerful ancestors. But the warrior code is threatened, and the Thunder Clan cats are in grave danger. The sinister Shadow Clan grows stronger every day. Noble warriors are dying -- and some deaths are more mysterious than others.In the midst of this turmoil appears an ordinary housecat named Rusty . . . Who may yet turn out to be the bravest warrior of them all.

Enemies –part one in the Blade series- by Tim Bowler

“So what am I going to tell you? Not much so don't get excited. You probably want to know my name. Well, that's a bit of a problem. I got loads. But there is one name I like. Everybody called me it in the old days. No one does now cos no one in this city knows it. And that's fine. I don't like to remember. But I do like the name. You can use it if you want. BLADE. “Narrated by Blade himself, be prepared to enter his world. It's not pretty ...it's urban, real and dangerous. As Blade's story unfolds, readers will become completely hooked by this unforgettable character.. http://www.timbowler.co.uk/enemies

Sherlock Holmes by Conan Doyle

• Doctor Watson, Mr Sherlock Holmes' - The most famous introduction in the history of crime fiction takes place in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's A Study in Scarlet, bringing together Sherlock Holmes, the master of science detection, and John H. Watson, the great detective's faithful chronicler. This novel not only establishes the magic of the Holmes myth but also provides the reader with a dramatic adventure yarn which ranges from the foggy, gas-lit streets of London to the burning plains of Utah. The Sign of the Four, the second Holmes novel, presents the detective with one of his greatest challenges. The theft of the Agna treasure in India forms a catalyst for treachery, deceit and murder.

Enter a place where gravity is turned upside down, time runs backward, and nightmares are real.The Veritas Project is their code name--but only a handful of people know teens Elijah and Elisha Springfield have been covertly commissioned by the President to investigate strange mysteries that delve into the paranormal and supernatural. Their charge is to find out not only what happened, but why--the "veritas" (Latin for truth) behind the seemingly impossible phenomena.Welcome to their nightmare case . . .He was once a normal fifteen-year-old boy. But that teen and that life have become . . . nothing. His whole mind seems to have been erased.Now he only stares into space and whispers two ominous words . . . "Nightmare Academy." And the only way to solve the case is for Elijah and Elisha to step inside his nightmare.

Nightmare academy by Frank Peretti

Middle school – the worst years of my life by James Patterson and Chris Tessetts

It's Rafe Khatchadorian's first day at Hills Village Middle School, and it's shaping up to be the worst year ever. He has enough problems at home without throwing his first year of middle school into the mix, but luckily he's got an ace plan for the best year ever--if only he can pull it off. With his best friend Leonardo the Silent awarding him points, Rafe tries to break every rule in his school's oppressive Code of Conduct. Chewing gum in class--5,000 points Running in the hallway--10,000 points Pulling the fire alarm--50,000 points But not everyone thinks Rafe's plan is a good idea, especially not the teachers, parents, and bullies who keep getting in his way. Will Rafe decide that winning is the only thing that matters? Are things about to go from magic to tragic?.

Imants Ziedonis, Latvian poet

Perhaps one of the reasons the recently departed Latvian poet Imants Ziedonis was held in such high regard is that, even though his poetry was deep and thoughtful, it was often, at the same time, accessible and understandable.In fact, Ziedonis had quite the knack for writing song lyrics – many songs featuring his words remain immensely popular. Something about his works lends itself to popular music. This has been reconfirmed many times – the most recent example being the Viegli album project, where various Latvian musicians wrote songs with the words of Ziedonis.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STxXAjhGdco

Spring

Spring this year arrived as cleanas if in its Sunday best, and we felt embarrassedthat we were still in our work clothes, our handsunwashed, with the dog in the barnyardmangy and shedding.And we didn't know whom to blame, Springor ourselves, for being out of step.

Beauty, says the old schoolteacher,should arrive unexpected,and cause a little discomfort.

http://wordswithoutborders.org/article/spring-imants-ziedonis

Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan

"Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief" is the first bestselling book in Rick Riordan's phenomenally successful Percy Jackson series

Half boy. Half God. ALL Hero. “Look, I didn't want to be a half-blood. I never asked to be the son of a Greek God. I was just a normal kid, going to school, playing basketball, skateboarding. The usual. Until I accidentally vaporized my maths teacher. Now I spend my time battling monsters and generally trying to stay alive. This is the one where Zeus, God of the Sky, thinks I've stolen his lightning bolt - and making Zeus angry is a very bad idea.”

Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" is the first of Mark Twain's novels to feature one of the best-loved characters in American fiction.From the famous episodes of the whitewashed fence and the ordeal in the cave to the trial of Injun Joe, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" is redolent of life in the Mississippi River towns. It is a humorous book about emotions and superstitions, murder and revenge, starvation and slavery.

Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James

So were you glad, deep down? Were you glad to be rid of her? Your perfect sister? Were you secretly glad when she was killed? Following a horrific tragedy that leaves her once perfect family devastated, Katherine Patterson moves to a new city, starts at a new school, and looks forward to a new life of quiet anonymity. But when Katherine meets the gregarious and beautiful Alice Parrie her resolution to live a solitary life becomes difficult. Katherine is unable to resist the flattering attention that Alice pays her and is so charmed by Alice's contagious enthusiasm that the two girls soon become firm friends. Alice's joie de vivre is transformative; it helps Katherine forget her painful past and slowly, tentatively, Katherine allows herself to start enjoying life again. But being friends with Alice is complicated - and as Katherine gets to know her better she discovers that although Alice can be charming and generous she can also be selfish and egocentric. Sometimes, even, Alice is cruel. And when Katherine starts to wonder if Alice is really the kind of person she wants as a friend, she discovers something else about Alice - she doesn't like being cast off. Shocking and utterly absorbing, Rebecca James' strong narrative will grip readers from the very first page.

I am number four by Pittacus LoreWe were nine, three are dead, I am number four. Nine teenagers and their guardians are hiding on Earth … protected by a charm that means they can only be killed in numeric order, three are already dead. John Smith is Number Four. And his mortal enemies are hunting him down. The only way to keep off radar is to keep moving, never staying in one place for long. Finally in the firing line, all he can do is adopt the guise of a student and pray his unusual gifts – his legacies – stay hidden long enough for him to settle into this new community. But others seem to sense his otherness and when small-town life sucks him into its intrigues, it's only a matter of time before his true nature is revealed. And that means there's no space for love, friendship or a future if it means protecting not only himself, but the other five …

Marley & me by John Grogan

Tells about the heart-warming tale of how a wiggly yellow fur ball of a puppy could grow into a barrelling, ninety-seven pound stramroller of a Labrador retriever who would prove that unconditional love comes in many forms. John and Jenny were just beginning their life together. They were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Along comes Marley, mischievous, hyperactive and so unruly he is expelled from obedience school. How could they possibly know that this incorrigible dog could teach them more about love for life than they could hope to teach him?

Stealing Phoenix by Joss Stirling

What do you do when your soulmate turns out to be a thief? Steal her, of course. Phoenix was raised within the Community, a gang of thieves with paranormal powers, under the control of a harsh master known as the Seer. The notion that there's a soulmate out there for every person with a paranormal gift is mere myth in Phoenix's world. That is until the Seer gives Phoenix the details of her next target, Yves Benedict. He's more than just her next victim, he is her destiny. To be together, Phoenix must break away from the Community but resistance against the Seer puts them both in mortal danger. Phoenix has never trusted anyone before, now it's time to trust Yves with her life

The water babies by Charles Kingsley

When Tom, an ill-treated little chimney-sweep, jumps into a clear, cool stream to clean himself something magical happens; he is turned into a tiny water baby by the fairies. He enters a strange, magical underwater world, and travels beyond the world's end to the other end-of-nowhere, getting into all sorts of scrapes and encountering creatures beautiful and frightening along the way. He also learns many important lessons - it is a voyage of discovery that Tom will never forget.

Dork Diaries by Rachel Renee Russell

DORK DIARIES: TALES FROM A NOT-SO-FABULOUS LIFENew school. New mean girl. New crush. New diary so I can spill about all of it…I put a lot of really personal stuff in this diary along with my sketches and doodles.But, mostly it’s about how TRAUMATIC it was transferring to my new private middle school, Westchester Country Day.And, how alot of the CCP (Cool, Cute & Popular) kids were really SNOBBY and made my life TOTALLY miserable. People like, oh, I don’t know, maybe…MACKENZIE HOLLISTER!!And, it just so happened that I got stuck with a locker right next to hers. I could NOT believe I had such CRAPPY luck. I knew right then and there it was going to be a VERY, VERY long school year !

http://www.dorkdiaries.com/my-diaries/#dd1

The miller of Angibault by George Sand

The Miller of Angibault (1845) is George Sand's `arch-socialist' novel, according to the writer herself. Rejected by its original publisher as too violent an attack on property, it actually satirizes the utopian ideals of Paris reformers who try to put their naive plans into action among the country folk of Sand's native Berry. The Miller of Angibault reflects both the ebullient political movements of its period and the despairing conviction that the Revolution of 1789 had changed nothing. This is a new translation which fully captures Sand's self-effacing humour and gentle lyricism.

1. Le Meunier d'Angibault George Sand

2. Diary of a Wimpy kid Jeff Kinney

3. Eldest Christopher Paolini

4. Stealing Phoenix Joss Stirling

5. Everlost Neal Shusterman

6. The Fault in our stars John Green

7. The Hunger games Suzanne Collins

8. Emily the Strange Rob Reger and Jessica Gruner

9. Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets JK Rowling

10. Tom Sawyer Mark Twain

11. The Hobbit JRR Tolkien

12. The Paul Street Boys Ferenc Molnar

13. Nightmare Academy Frank E Peretti

14. I am number four Pittacus Lore

15. Marley and Me Mark Grogan

16. Sherlock Holmes Conan Doyle

17. The Little Prince Antoine de Saint Exepury

18. Percy Jackson and the Olympian thieves Rick Riordan

19. Middle school, the worst years of my life James Patterson and Chris Tebbets

20. Imants Ziedonis poetry

21. Dork Diaries Rachel Renee Russell

22. Warrior Cats Erin Hunter

23. The Water Babies Charles Kingsley

24. Beautiful Malice Rebecca James

25. Hush hush, Crescendo, Silence, Finale Becca Fitzpatrick

26. The Blade series Tim Bowler

27. The Twilight series Stephenie Meyer

28. Stolen Lucy Christopher

29. The house of night series; Marked P C Cast, Kristin Case

30. Klara series Pia Hagmar

31. I miss you, I miss you Peter Pohl

32. Brother Lionheart Astrid Lindgren

Favourite books of our Joyful Reading Group The whole list of book favourites

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