Matsuri Akino
Welcome to Chinatown - a place where anything can happen. If you buy a pet from Count D's you'd better follow the rules in the contract - or beware - Count D's will take no responsibility for the consequences.
Translated into English and printed in traditional manga style.
Recommended for ages 14+
Reviewed by Annie
Tom Becker
Strange things are happening to Jonathan and he has to face the unknown danger alone. His father is in a Hospital for the mentally disturbed. When Jonathan visits him, his father in a brief moment of coherency, is able to tell him to cross over to the Darkside to find the man who will protect him. Jonathon is not the only boy who is being pursued. Ricky who was on a class trip is kidnapped and awakes to find himself imprisoned in a cage and overhears that he is to the star entertainment with another boy, fighting a pack of starved jackals for the Beastilia Exotica.
Recommended for ages 10+
Reviewed by Annette
Glass houses (The Morganville vampires; book 1)
Rachel Caine
Claire has just started college – in Morganville, because it’s close to home, and her parents don’t want her too far away as she’s only 16. But Morganville isn’t what she expected – Monica, leading popular girl, hates her and makes her life unbearable. And… well, there’s more going on after dark than Claire ever imagined.
Escaping from Monica and her crew Claire ends up at the Glass house and her new roomies – Eve, Michael and Shane – tell her how life is in Morganville. Life – and death.
Recommended for ages 14+
Reviewed by Annie
Kate Cann
For Amber her whole life has been about what Poppy needs – what Poppy wants. Leaving home she tries to start a new life without her mother, without the shadow of Poppy. It seems to work, but then Poppy comes to the house and seems to stir up something in the house – something that has already had Amber on the edge. What is in the house that has made Poppy more intense, more dangerous?
A gripping novel packed with suspense, mystery, and danger.
Recommended for ages 15+
Reviewed by Erika
Ken Catran
 Brad Foster is looking forward to three whole months without his parents around – but maybe it would have been better if they were still around. Strange things are happening in the town, and he soon finds himself having weird dreams and facing strange creatures. Do you believe in god and the devil? Brad never did, not really, and that may be the biggest mistake of all.
A twisted tale full of danger and mystery – from a New Zealand author.
Recommended for ages 14+
Reviewed by Erika
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Stephen Cole
Tom Anderson is your normal, average teenager - forced to go on a family vacation. Wandering off seemed like a good idea at the time, but then he finds himself in a strange house in the woods and he is not the same boy who entered the woods. Tom is now a wereling - a werewolf that has an unusual balance between the wolf and the boy inside. And now Tom is on the run from those who want him dead and those who want to use him for their own gain.
Recommended for ages 14+
Reviewed by Erika
Gary Crew
This is an horror book with 13 stories. The stories explore the dark forces of nature and the human psyche.
With things like a hypnotist experiments with a dying man. A earthquake throws up something extraordinary form the oceans' depths and my favourite, a corpse comes knocking at the door...
Annaliesa, 13
Anthony Eaton
Saria has grown up in the Darklands, a desolate and desperate place where no children have been born for years. Now she must face the secrets of her past, and her future, as she is led towards the place that she was born. But Saria is in danger, not just from the other people of Darklands, but also from the mysterious Nightpeople who appear to treat the Darklands as a toy box where they can do what they want. Look for the sequels.
Recommended for ages 14+
Reviewed by Erika
Nick Gifford
At Matt's grandmother's funeral Matt becomes aware of his family's history. Little does he realise how deeply he'll be drawn into this - and how he'll have to battle members of his own family to survive, and save the world.
Recommended for ages 12+
Reviewed by Annie
John Gordon
Bill's fascinated by Charlotte - infatuated. He's so busy proving himself he even risks being confronted by the ghost of Ragged Randal. Events conspire to throw Bill and Charlotte together - and for them to try and quiet the ghost.
Recommended for ages 14+
Reviewed by Annie
 The book has lots of mysterious horror of the supernatural in it. Each story is great, some of them include, a serial killer who continues after death, a house with a horrible secret and so much more!
Annaliesa, 13
Ann Halam
Finally Diesel and her parents have their dream - a house and a garden of their own. But the Knight boys next door could make it a nightmare. Well, they do, but not in the way anyone would have thought.
Recommended for ages 12+
Reviewed by Annie
Adapted and illustrated by Gareth Hinds
Written, probably, around 700AD this is a graphic novel retelling of this ancient tale. A tale of bravery and horror as Beowulf and his men visit King Hrothgar’s hall to free it from the attacks of the monster Grendel.
There are lots of modern retellings of this story available if you want to find out more, including a
children’s version retold by Michael Morpurgo.
Recommended for ages 13+
Reviewed by Annie
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Robert Hood
Nathan can't remember who he is or figure out where he is, but he does know one thing for sure - he's not normal. Bright light makes him fade like a ghost, and he has to wear sunglasses even at night. The worst part is that something dark and dangerous is stalking Nathan, something that can twist and travel through the shadows - something that can kill his friends and kidnap his parents. Can Nathan find a way to battle the shadows?
Recommended for ages 13+
Reviewed by Erika
Alan Horsfield
Eddie wasn't expecting to find a job when he took a break from Uni on a tropical island. Wolfe Island is the home of an experiment on rats that showed unusual intelligence on the island where they had been exposed to nuclear tests many years before. Rex King is studying them and trying to find ways to make them smarter - and he may have succeeded beyond his dreams. As the emails from King become darker and more confused Eddie begins to suspect that something is going on and that the experiment is spiralling out of control.
Recommended for ages 12+
Reviewed by Erika
Hellhole (Sorcerers of the Nightwing/Ravenscliff; book 1)
Geoffrey Huntington
Did you ever imagine there were monsters under your bed? Or in your wardrobe? But they weren't real, right? For Devon, they were. His closet was a hellhole - literally an exit from the demon world into ours. So, Devon's always known he was different, special. Now he's 14 he's about to finally learn why.
Recommended for ages 13+
Reviewed by Annie
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Stephen King
It's about a girl, Carrie White who comes from a single-parent family with the power of telekinesis. Unfortunately, she is treated as a freaky geek at school and was forced to release her powers that in turn destroyed the whole town.
Best character: Carrie
Linda, 14
Steven King
This is a great thriller about an acclaimed author who has a car accident and is rescued by a fan of his. This fan, Annie, is crazy. She has been murdering people, from babies to adults, for YEARS. When the author wakes up after his accident, Annie looks after him, giving him powerful painkillers and feeding him. The author had recently finished off his famous quartet, killing off the main, and his least liked character, Misery. When Annie finds out that the author has killed Misery, she forces him to write another novel, bringing Misery back to life. Annie is a rather scary character, as she has a violent temper and she is definitely mad.
Best character: Annie
Rosie, 16
Stephen King
The ancient and terrifying legend of vampires comes true for the inhabitants of the small New England town of Jerusalem's Lot, as a plague of nightstalking beings descends upon them.
Recommended for ages 16+
Reviewed by Erika
Catherine Macphail
Fay’s life is beginning to get very strange. She has the feeling that someone is watching her, following her, keeping track of her every move. That creepy sensation increases when people start commenting on things that she has done or said – things that she knows she didn’t say or do. To make matters worse, no one believes what is happening – the kids at school think that she is crazy, and the teachers make her nuts. But what if Fay is right, what if something is following her and knows her every move.
A short, intense novel that will get under your skin.
Recommended for ages 12+
Reviewed by Erika
Andrew Matthews
Quaid's totally unlucky in love. Just when he thinks he's found the perfect girl - Alika - it all turns terribly weird. Alika's a moonchild - a werewolf. And Quaid's a target.
Recommended for ages 14+
Reviewed by Annie
Phyllis Reyolds Naylor
A young orphan girl travels to live with her uncle and cousin, her only living relatives. But she is feeling guilty - contrary to her uncle's wishes - she has packed away something green. How was she to know that that little picture frame would bring the ghost of Jade Green dramatically back into the house?
Recommended for ages 14+
Reviewed by Annie
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Meg Cabot, Kim Harrison, Michele Jaffe, Stephenie Meyer, Lauren Myracle
The Prom (or School Ball) – months of anticipation and planning – hoping for the perfect night. For these five teen girls the prom does not go according to plan.
- Mary has to live up to her heritage as a vampire slayer’s daughter when her best friend is enthralled.
- Frankie’s dream date comes through – but is it worth it?
- Learning she’s a mercy date, Madison ditches the prom with a sexy stranger – but he’s not what he appears.
- Miranda’s also keeping secrets – this time she’s hoping she can save Sibby, who also has secrets.
- The new girl, Sheba, is intent on making the prom all she wants – but she hadn’t counted on Gabe.
Recommended for ages 14+
Reviewed by Annie
Celia Rees
Lewis James is everything he doesn’t want to be – he’s overweight, unpopular, and faces torment from the kids at school. When he catches a glimpse of the future through Viktor Ladslow, it seems as though he is doomed to be the same miserable failure throughout his entire life. But that fate changes under Vicktor's guidance, and Lewis finds himself changing – but there is a secret that Vicktor is keeping from him – a secret that is as deadly as it is dark. Lewis is in danger – if only he knew it.
Recommended for ages 14+
Reviewed by Erika
Celia Rees
Welcome to a town of secrets and history. A town where children have vanished for generations - and it can't all be the work of an unknown serial killer. Newcomer Fraser gets drawn in to the mystery - one which threatens his own life.
Recommended for ages 13+
Reviewed by Annie
London (Vampire plagues; book 1)
Sebastian Rook
Jack is a street kid when he finds Ben leaving the weird ship that has just docked in London. Jack is drawn into Ben's horror. An ancient Mayan god has escaped his imprisonment and come to London - to create a new vampire empire.
Recommended for 12+
Reviewed by Annie
Ellen Schreiber
Raven has always been the odd one out in her town – she dresses in black, is really pale, and plans to be a vampire when she grows up. Most of the kids leave her alone, but the town bully Trevor spends his days tormenting her. Everything changes when the abandoned mansion is suddenly filled with a strange family, that everyone in town says are vampires. Could Raven’s dream finally come true – is she about to meet a real vampire?
Recommended for ages 14+
Reviewed by Erika
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Darren Shan
Darren Shan is a half-vampire who doesn't want to drink human blood. His master Mr Crepsley forces him to drink because without it, he will die. As Darren gets weaker and starts to lose his eyesight and other senses, he drinks from a dying friend of his, Sam.
Best character: Mr Crepsley
Jendi, 12
Neal Shusterman
Parker is fascinated by his new neighbour Tara. But fascination begins to turn to horror when he realises what is going on. But he doesn’t stop it – just lets it go – getting deeper and deeper involved in Tara’s plots.
Recommended for ages 12+
Reviewed by Annie
Judith St George
Alex is looking forward to getting away from his parents for a couple of months, and being the caretaker at Red Roof Farm is a perfect chance. His only company will be Bruce, who is older, and the local residents. But things are weird from the start, and Alex soon finds himself on edge as weird events unfold at the creepy farm. A twisted thriller to keep you guessing from beginning to end.
Recommended for ages 14+
Reviewed by Erika
R.L. Stine
Destiny and Livvy have spent the summer at Camp Blue Moon and they loved it – but while they were there they came across a vampire who had plans for the twins. Now back in the small town of Dark Springs both girls have discovered a hunger that can only be satisfied by blood – and the hunger is getting harder to ignore. The people of Dark Springs are starting to suspect that something is wrong, and there are rumours of a virus, and vampire hunters. Can Destiny and Livvy saves themselves from becoming vampires?
Recommended for ages 14 +
Reviewed by Erika
Scott Westerfeld
Cal has been infected with a parasite – lucky for him he’s only a carrier, and not fully affected. Those that are – including his exes are parasite positives, peeps for short, otherwise known as vampires. Now he’s working for the Night Watch tracking down peeps.
Recommended for ages 14+
Reviewed by Annie
Chris Wooding
Davey’s sort of living on the streets – and on his wits. When he and Benjy tag the Abbey Cross the Catchman haunts Davey. There have been murders in the area – is the Catchman responsible?
Recommended for ages 13+
Reviewed by Annie
Paul Zindel
Jake has flown down to the Amazon to be with his father's scientific expedition studying bats. Two of the expedition's workers have vanished - feared dead, but no one knows how. Until Jake finds their mutilated bodies - and their killer - a giant bat. And now the bat is found, it wants its existence kept secret, even if that means killing the entire expedition.
Recommended for ages 12+
Reviewed by Annie
Paul Zindel 
They're coming... they want revenge ... they want BLOOD! The rats at the local dump have been poisoned by methane gas - and they want revenge. Taught by a pet rat they are smart, cunning, and lethal. And now, they're migrating to New York City.
Recommended for ages 14+
Reviewed by Annie
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