New reads

this August

The Selection stories: The prince & the guard by Kiera Cass

In "The Prince," Maxon reveals there was another girl in his life before America; and in "The Guard," America falls for Aspen Leger, a Six who has risen in the ranks to become a member of the royal guard.

Fake ID by Lamar Giles

"Nick" and his family are in the Witness Protection Program, due to his father's past association with a dangerous crime boss. However, they are continually forced to move and switch identities because of Nick's father's continued criminal ventures. Nick worries that another move will destroy the renewed sense of possibility that he's found through his job on the school paper, his friend Eli, and Eli's attractive sister, Reya. That's before he finds Eli's body and begins to suspect that Eli's death isn't the suicide it's made out to be. Nick's attempts to investigate lead to revelations about the town, his friends, and his family.

The voyage of the unquiet ice by Andrew McGahan

Dow Amber has set sail at last upon the battleship 'Chloe', but can an outsider and an enemy ever truly belong in the Ship Kings' world?..All too soon, Dow finds himself entangled in rebellion and treachery, and embarked upon a desperate voyage to the frozen north that will decide the future of the very empire. In the icy wastes Dow must take his fate in hand. Is he truly destined to be a mariner? Is the mysterious scapegoat girl Ignella a friend or a foe? And where will they each stand, when the long peace of the Four Isles threatens to shatter forever?

The coming of the whirlpool / Andrew McGahan

Fate, courage, doom, defiance! The first stirring adventure in a brilliant series from award-winning author Andrew McGahan.

Isla and the happily ever after by Stephanie Perkins

Isla has had a crush on classmate Josh since their freshman year at the School of America in Paris, but after a chance encounter over the summer in Manhattan they return to France for their senior year where they are forced to confront challenges every young couple in love must face.

Half of a yellow sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

In 1960s Nigeria, a country blighted by civil war, three lives intersect.Ugwu, a boy from a poor village, works as a houseboy for a university professor. Olanna, a young woman, has abandoned her life of privilege in Lagos to live with her charismatic new lover, the professor. And Richard, a shy English writer, is in thrall to Olanna's enigmatic twin sister. As the horrific Biafran War engulfs them, they are thrown together and pulled apart in ways they had never imagined.

The war of the Four Isles by Andrew McGahan

Nearly three years have passed since Dow Amber escaped the ruin of the Twelfth Kingdom. In that time war has raged all across the Four Isles, but Dow himself has been hidden away from the major battles by his Twin Islands hosts, relegated to a backwater of the war, in the company of the beguiling Cassandra. But when word reaches Dow that Ignella of the Cave has been imprisoned upon the infamous Ship Kings dungeon-isle of Banishment, he can be patient no longer. He sets forth upon an epic voyage that will take him halfway around the world -- defying storm and monster, betrayal and despair -- to the heart of the greatest battle of the Age, and to the discovery at last of his true purpose upon the high seas.

Disruption by Jessica Shirvington

What if an app could help you identify your perfect match? What if this technology controlled your life? What if it could be used against you and the ones you love? For the last nine years, Mercer Corporation's M-bands have been a required part of everyday life. An evolution of the Smartphone, these bracelets promised to make life easier. Instead, they simply control it. For the last two years, eighteen-year-old Maggie Stevens has only had one goal: to find her father and bring him home. Taken away for rehabilitation following negative readings on his M-band, her father's disappearance has shattered her family. And with no word from her father since, Maggie is determined to uncover and expose the sinister reality of the Corporation. Enter Quentin Mercer, heir to the M-Corp Empire. Quentin has become the key to Maggie's scheme to bring down M-Corp. As the pieces of her dangerous plan fall into place, Maggie realises he isn't who she thought he was. Will she hold her nerve, or will his involvement destroy everything she's fought for? In a world full of broken promises, the ones Maggie must keep could be the most heartbreaking.

Being Jack by Susanne Gervay; illustrated by Cathy Wilcox

The fourth and concluding book about Jack - an ordinary boy who does extraordinary things. Jack is in Year 6 now and still loves his photography, surfing, and crazy family. Things are going well for him, particularly at school where he isn't bullied any more. But he notices that his best friend Christopher is being taunted and is starting to miss school and hiding out and avoiding everyone. And when a football match turns ugly and Jack and Christopher witness some unfair dirty play, they know that, again, the bullying has to stop.

The fiery cross by Diana Gabaldon

THE FIFTH NOVEL IN THE BESTSELLING OUTLANDER SERIES.1771: the Colony of North Carolina stands in an uneasy balance, with the rich, colonial aristocracy on one side and the struggling pioneers of the backcountry on the other.Between them stands Jamie Fraser, a man of honour, a man of worth. Exiled from his beloved Scotland, he is at last possessed of the land he has longed for. By his side his extraordinary wife, Claire, a woman out of time and out of place, blessed with the uneasy gift of the knowledge of what is to come. In the past, that knowledge has brought both danger and deliverance to Jamie and Claire. Now it could be a flickering torch that will light their way through the perilous years ahead - or might ignite a conflagration that will leave their lives in ashes.

A breath of snow and ashes by Diana Gabaldon

Their love has survived the test of time. But can it survive fate? America, 1772. It is only a few years before the war of independence and the colony seethes with unrest. As battle lines are drawn up and loyalties tested, no one is safe in this new country. Jamie Fraser receives a message from Governor Josiah Martin. He wants Jamie's help to keep the backcountry safe for King and Crown. But Jamie knows what's to come. His wife, Claire, has travelled back from the twentieth century and she knows what will happen to those loyal to the King of England. Exile or death. Neither prospect appeals to Jamie.

Northern lights by Philip Pullman

When Lyra's friend Roger disappears, she and her daemon, Pantalaimon, determine to find him. The ensuing quest leads them to the bleak splendour of the North, where armoured bears rule the ice and witch-queens fly through the frozen skies - and where a team of scientists is conducting experiments too horrible to speak about. Lyra overcomes these strange terrors, only to find something yet more perilous waiting for her - something with consequences which may even reach beyond the Northern Lights.

American sniper: the autobiography of the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history by Chris Kyle with Jim DeFelice and Scott McEwen

Chris Kyle, a Navy SEAL, recounts his life and military experiences, discusses his record for the most career sniper kills in United States military history and the bounty placed on his head by Iraqi insurgents, provides an eye-witness account of war in Iraq, shares the strains of war on his marriage and family, and honours his fellow soldiers.

Always Jack by Susanne Gervay

Jack's life seems to get more complicated as he gets older, and this year's a doozy. His mum and sister wants to call their new house Sunflower, his friendship with Anna might be turning into something more, and his mum and her partner want to get married! But overshadowing all that, his mum finds out she's sick - and it's going to take all Jack's humour and courage to deal with it.

The subtle knife by Philip Pullman

'The Subtle Knife' is the second part of the trilogy 'His Dark Materials'. Will is 12 years old, and he's just killed a man. Now he's on his own, on the run, and determined to discover the truth about his father's disappearance.

The amber spyglass by Philip Pullman

Archive of the Magisterim : papers of Mary Malone.Summary: Lyra and Will, the ordinary children who were left in such extraordinary danger at the end of Book Two, find themselves in the final part of the story facing even greater perils. But there are old friends who come to their aid: not least Iorek Byrnison, the armoured bear, and the scientist Dr Mary Malone. There are new allies: the Gallivespians, hand-high dragonfly-riders with poison spurs, and the mulefa, strange wheeled creatures with the power to see Dust. And there are new dangers, including a journey to the worst world of all - a journey that exerts a terrible cost on both children.

Mountain wolf by Rosanne Hawke

Razaq Nadeem lives in the tribal area of Kala Dhaka, known as Black Mountain, in Pakistan. When an earthquake strikes the area, and his family is lost, Razaq is told by his dying father to flee to Rawalpindi, where his uncle Kamil lives. In the aftermath of the quake, all is chaos. Razaq attends a school set up by aid workers for the homeless, learns some English and helps with the younger boys. But danger is around every corner. Razaq is sold into slavery by a man preying on orphans in the area, and desperate to escape the virtual imprisonment of washing dishes in a teashop for no wages, he heads for the streets, only to be betrayed and returned. Razaq's unusual and exotic looks attract the attention of a customer at the teashop, with disastrous results. Sold once more, he must watch as Tahira, a girl he becomes fond of, is sold to a rich man. Razaq and Tahira meet again, but despair of their fate as they grow older. A way out is eventually offered by Majeed, a social worker, but only after a hair-raising escape.

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

A young woman from Nigeria leaves behind her home and her first love to study and to start a new life in America, only to find her dreams are not all she expected.

Demon dentist by David Walliams; illustrated by Tony Ross

Darkness had come to the town. Strange things were happening in the dead of night. Children would put a tooth under their pillow for the tooth fairy, but in the morning they would wake up to find... a dead slug; a live spider; hundreds of earwigs creeping and crawling beneath their pillow. Evil was at work. But who or what was behind it...?

Awful Auntie by David Walliams; illustrated by Tony Ross

Stella Saxby is the sole heir to Saxby Hall. But awful Aunt Alberta and her giant owl will stop at nothing to get it from her. Luckily Stella has a secret - and slightly spooky - weapon up her sleeve…

Armageddon outta here by Derek Landy

We all know that doors are for people with no imagination so smash the glass, climb through the window and enter the awesome world of Skulduggery Pleasant with this ultimate story collection. For the first time, every Skulduggery Pleasant short story - plus The End of the World, the World Book Day novelette - is collected into one magnificent volume. But that's not all...Written specially for this collection, there is an entirely new novella that will drag you into a nail-biting American horror story, Skulduggery-style, and three brand-spanking-new stories spanning the last 150 years. Join Gordon Edgley as he parties like it's 1985, watch Valkyrie Cain face a vampire in a fight to the death, and see the Dead Men as you've never seen them before. And then read the exclusive chapter from the final book...Introduced by Derek, these are the hidden stories of the skeleton who saves the world...and the girl who's destined to destroy it.

The dying of the light by Derek Landy

Valkerie. Darquesse. Stephanie. The world ain't big enough for the three of them. The end will come...The War of the Sanctuaries has been won, but it was not without its casualties. Following the loss of Valkyrie Cain, Skulduggery Pleasant must use any and all means to track down and stop Darquesse before she turns the world into a charred, lifeless cinder. And so he draws together a team of soldiers, monster hunters, killers, criminals...and Valkyrie's own murderous reflection. The war may be over, but the final battle is about to begin. And not everyone gets out of here alive.

The Serpent in the Glass by DM Andrews

On his eleventh birthday Thomas Farrell is informed that the deceased father he never knew has provided for his education at Darkledun Manor, a school for gifted children. Thomas, however, feels he's just an ordinary boy, but Darkledun Manor proves to be anything but an ordinary school... In this work of fiction the reader is transported into a world of myth as the young protagonist, Thomas Farrell, seeks to understand who his mysterious father was, and why he left him a strange glass orb containing a serpent. As the story progresses, Thomas and his friends become increasing caught up in a world they never knew existed - a world beyond the standing stones.

Gangsta granny by David Walliams illustrated by Tony

Ben is bored beyond belief after he is made to stay at his grandma's house. All she wants to do is to play Scrabble, and eat cabbage soup. But there are two things Ben doesn't know about his grandma. She was once an international jewel thief and she has been plotting to steal the crown jewels. Now she needs Ben's help.

Moving among strangers: Randolph Stow and my family by Gabrielle Carey

As her mother Joan lies dying, Gabrielle Carey writes a letter to Joan's childhood friend, the reclusive novelist Randolph Stow. This letter sets in motion a literary pilgrimage that reveals long-buried family secrets. Like her mother, Stow had grown up in Western Australia. After early literary success and a Miles Franklin Award win in 1958 for his novel To the Islands, he left for England and a life of self-imposed exile. Living most of her life on the east coast, Gabrielle was also estranged from her family's west Australian roots, but never questioned why. A devoted fan of Stow's writing, she becomes fascinated by his connection with her extended family, but before she can meet him he dies. With only a few pieces of correspondence to guide her, Gabrielle embarks on a journey from the red-dirt landscape of Western Australia to the English seaside town of Harwich in a quest to understand her family's past and Stow's place in it.

Winger by Andrew Smith

Ryan Dean West is a fourteen-year-old boy at a boarding school for rich kids. He's living in Opportunity Hall, the dorm for troublemakers, and rooming with the biggest bully on the rugby team. And he's madly in love with his best friend Annie, who thinks of him as a little boy.

With the help of his sense of humour, rugby buddies, and his penchant for doodling comics, Ryan Dean manages to survive life's complications and even find some happiness along the way. But when the unthinkable happens, he has to figure out how to hold on to what's important, even when it feels like everything has fallen apart.

Filled with hand-drawn illustrations and told in a pitch-perfect voice, this realistic depiction of a teen's experience strikes an exceptional balance of hilarious and heartbreaking.

An echo in the bone: a novel by Diana Gabaldon

Sequel to: A breath of snow and ashes.As battle-scarred Jamie Fraser and his twentieth-century time-travelling wife Claire Randall flee from North Carolina to the high seas during the American Revolution, they encounter privateers and ocean battles. Meanwhile in the relative safety of the 20th century Brianna (Claire and Jamie's daughter) and Roger MacKenzie, her husband, search for clues not only to Claire's fate - but to their own fate in the Highlands.

Textbook romance: a step-by-step guide to getting the guy by Zoe Foster; with occasionally useful comments by Hamish Blake

Wouldn't it be great if there was a textbook with clear lessons on clever dating and how to build that Perfect Relationship? One that tells it straight but lets you laugh at yourself too? One that leaves you with your dignity and your personality intact? There is!Hint: Turn this book over. See?

Zoë Foster, relationships guru, provides whip-smart step-by-step lessons in successful romancing, with male commentary from self-confessed male, Hamish Blake.

The forgotten sisters by Shannon Hale

Miri is eager to return to her beloved Mount Eskel after a year at the capital, but the king and queen ask her to first journey to a distant swamp and start her own miniature princess academy for three royal cousins, but once there she must solve a mystery before she can return home.

Goodbye stranger by Rebecca Stead

Back in grade five, Bridge, Tabitha and Emily made a pact. Never to fight, ever. Now, two years later, they're still best friends, but other things are changing. Bridge meets Sherm, and is soon excited and confused by her new, strange feelings. And when Emily starts texting pictures of herself to Patrick, Bridge and Tab find themselves complicit in a naive plan that quickly spirals out of control. And while the three friends navigate the challenges of their changing friendship, another story-of betrayal and remorse-keeps you guessing until the very end.

Icons by Margaret Stohl

When the Icons landed everything changed. The called it The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol's family dropped dead. Earth lost a war it didn't know it was fighting. Since then Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside, far away from the nearest Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can't avoid. Dol is different. She survived. Why?

Wild awake by Hillary T. Smith

The discovery of a startling family secret leads seventeen-year-old Kiri Byrd from a protected and naive life into a summer of mental illness, first love, and profound self-discovery.

Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Fifteen-year-old Ari Mendoza is an angry loner with a brother in prison, but when he meets Dante and they become friends, Ari starts to ask questions about himself, his parents, and his family that he has never asked before.

Half the world in Winter by Maggie Joel

The story begins with the dramatic crash of the 1.55pm local train from Shrewsbury to Birmingham in the early days of the North West Midlands Railway. It is Winter in 1880 and the newly extended railway line is beset with accidents, and Mr Lucas Jarmyn, one of the director's of the railway company, wants to know why as he faces inquiries and protests into the tragic deaths. But trouble is also a lot closer to home in the Jarmyn's five-storey townhouse at 19 Cadogan Mews, in a part of Bloomsbury just becoming fashionable thanks to the fortunes of Lucas's late father, Mr Samuel Jarmyn, wealthy industrialist and the founder of the company. It is December and bitterly cold in London but Lucas Jarmyn refuses to light the hearths as he struggles to come to terms with the death of his beloved young daughter, Sofia, in a terrible fire in the drawing room of their home.

The school for good and evil by Soman Chainani; illustrations by Iacopo Bruno

Every four years two children are stolen away from Gavaldon, never to return. Most children fear being taken to the School for Good and Evil. But not Sophie, she has dreamt all her life of being a princess and believes the school could be her chance. Her best friend Agatha has other ideas. When the two girls are taken, things don't quite go to Sophie's plan. Because sometimes, the princess and the witch don't look like they do in fairytales.

Springtime : a ghost story by Michelle de Krester

Picking up her pace, Frances saw a woman in the shadowy depths of the garden. She wore a wide hat and a trailing pink dress; a white hand emerged from her sleeve. There came upon Frances a sensation that sometimes overtook her when she was looking at a painting: space was foreshortened, time stilled.

As simple as snow by Gregory Galloway

Anna - who preferred to be called Anastasia - is dark, spooky and mysterious. And from the moment he met her, he was mesmerized. And so began their happy yet unlikely romance. But a week before Valentine's Day, Anna disappears, leaving behind a dress on the frozen river and a string of unanswered questions. As the narrator struggles to understand what happened, and put together the pieces of the last few months, the clues, codes, and ciphers begin to coalesce into a haunting reality that may implicate friends, relatives, and even Anna herself.

Bone Gap by Laura Ruby

Eighteen-year-old Finn, an outsider in his quiet Midwestern town, is the only witness to the abduction of town favourite Roza, but his inability to distinguish between faces makes it difficult for him to help with the investigation, and subjects him to even more ridicule and bullying.

Let's get lost by Adi Alsaid

Four teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named Leila. She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need someone the most. There's Hudson, a small-town mechanic who is willing to throw away his dreams for true love. And Bree, a runaway who seizes every Tuesday - and a few stolen goods along the way. Elliot believes in happy endings...until his own life goes off-script. And Sonia worries that when she lost her boyfriend, she also lost the ability to love. Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia find a friend in Leila. And when Leila leaves them, their lives are forever changed. But it is during Leila's own 4,268-mile journey that she discovers the most important truth - sometimes, what you need most is right where you started. And maybe the only way to find what you're looking for is to get lost along the way.

Falling into place by Amy Zhang

One cold fall day, high school junior Liz Emerson steers her car into a tree. This haunting and heartbreaking story is told by a surprising and unexpected narrator and unfolds in nonlinear flashbacks even as Liz's friends, foes, and family gather at the hospital and Liz clings to life.

Selected poems by Gwen Harwood; edited by Gregory Kratzmann

This new selection of Gwen Hardwood's work includes poems from The Present Tense, published shortly before her death in 1995, as well as poems not included in earlier editions of Selected Poems.

The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson; illustrations by Ben McSweeney

Joel is fascinated by the magical art of Rithmatics, but unfortunately only a chosen few have the necessary gift and Joel is not one of them. Undaunted, Joel persuades Professor Fitch to teach him Rithmatic theory - and soon finds that his knowledge is put to the test when someone starts murdering the top Rithmatic students at his school. But can Joel work out the identity of the killer and stop them before they realize just what a threat Joel actually is?