David Belbin
Todd and Lucy hooked up after he broke up with Kate, and she broke up with Ben. Things are going great until Lucy is in an accident and ends up in a coma. At first it is easy for Todd to stay faithful to Lucy as she lies in her coma – but then he meets Jade.
A fast read that will keep you guessing what will happen.
Recommended for ages 12+
Reviewed by Erika
David Belbin
This book is about Cassie's holiday on a Greek island with her mother, father and brother. Except there are three girls who really freak Cassie out, and remind her of the harpies, that are a local legend. But then one of them starts going out with her brother...and he is never seen again.
Best character: Cassie
Kate, 13
Paula Boock
 This is a short book written by a New Zealand author about a young girl (Mel) who runs away from home in order to sort out her problems. She goes on a journey of self-discovery and realises that things are a lot complicated than she thinks. It starts off with a visit from the Minister of Education (MoE) to her school. Mel is very rude to the MoE and this results in a fight with her best friend, Wai, and Mel's probable expulsion from school. Mel runs away because she is scared of what has happened between her and Wai.
Best character: Bob (Mel's Dad)
Rosie, 16
Kate Cann
Lily is either never seen by her schoolmates – or teased. Escaping from her tormentors – and needing time alone – she goes into Wakeless Woods. There she starts training crows – and uses them in her quest to be seen – and liked – for her new self.
Recommended for ages 10+
Reviewed by Annie
Gennifer Choldenko
It's 1935 and Moose's dad has got a job at Alcatraz so his sister, Natalie, has a chance to get into a special school in San Francisco. The warden's daughter Piper keeps coming up with plans to earn money - and get close to Al Capone, the island's most infamous prisoner.
Recommended for ages 12+
Reviewed by Annie
The Kin series 
Peter Dickinson
Two hundred thousand years ago people who were our ancestors walked this earth. These are stories of what might have been.
Their stories are told in four books:
Recommended for ages 10+
Reviewed by Jim, aged 15
Helen Frost
Two sisters, Jeannie and Sarah, are separated in 1850s Scotland. Before they are, they braid their hair together, cut the braid – and take half each. Sarah decides to stay with their grandmother – and Jeannie leaves for Canada with their parents and siblings.
The book’s structure mirrors the braiding of the hair with the sisters’ stories told in interweaving narrative verse.
Recommended for ages 12+
Reviewed by Annie
A fun little read - perfect for dipping into.
Recommended for ages 12+
Reviewed by Annie
Simon Harrison
Simple, practical steps you can take to be less of a target while out-and-about. Please note: advice in this book should not replace actual lessons. Check out the yellow pages for self-defence classes in your area.
Recommended for ages 14+
Reviewed by Annie
Steve Kluger
Joey needs a hero and he picks Charlie – the new and much-praised baseball player for the New York Giants. Joey wants more than just an autograph – he’s a kid who needs a father figure. It’s the 1940s and war is on the horizon for America. The growing conflict forms the backdrop to the growing relationship between Joey and Charlie. It’s a reasonably quick read – as it’s pretty much all told through letters.
Recommended for ages 14+
Reviewed by Annie
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Gordon Korman
This book is very interesting as it is about a real life situation, I also found it interesting because I like adventure, adventures etc. In this book the main character Chris wins a trip to the top of the world (Mt Everest). He goes to the boot camp to see if he's in for the team. They trained in a gym for at least three hours a day. Will he make the cut?... read it to find out!
Andrew, 13
Karen Levine
This is a true story - the story of Hana, a young Jewish girl; and Fumiko Ishioka, who was determined to find out Hana's story.
This is an unbelievable story of love, coincidences, and connections across time and cultures.
For more information, visit the CBC radio site, listen to the original radio programme (using Real Player), and see more photos. Or visit Hana's suitcase - a site put together by the Brady family.
Recommended for ages 10+
Reviewed by Annie
Edited by Tony Bradman
12 authors look at relationships between boys and their fathers. What happens when your superhero Dad becomes normal, just like any other person? Every wanted your dad to be a bit more out there – Mart’s dad is a punk, and sometimes Mart just wants him to be more normal.
Steve discovers that death can’t keep a father from protecting his boy.
Recommended for ages 12+
Reviewed by Annie
Edited by Bel Mooney
14 authors write about the mother-daughter bond in many forms.
Recommended for ages 12+
Reviewed by Annie
Edited by Barbara Else
20 stories featuring New Zealand teens – from mates behaving badly, to watching your mother die, to imagining meeting your father years in the future.
Recommended for ages 12+
Reviewed by Annie
Anne McCaffrey
For their 16th birthday Tirza and Tracell expect special presents. Tirza's present, her crystal, has been put aside since her birth. But all Tracell wants is a special horse. How can that happen when all the best horses are involved in the long-running war?
Recommended for 12+
Reviewed by Annie
Anne McCaffrey
When Prince Jamas' regent, Mangan, died no one noticed how special his cat - Niffy - was. Jamas, however, isn't slow to learn how helpful she is in affairs of state - and the heart.
Recommended for 12+
Reviewed by Annie
Geraldine McCaughrean
Cyrano is in love with his beautiful cousin Roxane – but she loves Christian – and the Comte de Guiche loves Roxane, too. De Guiche, however, has the power to sent Cyrano and Christian to battle – ready to clear the field for himself. But Cyrano loves Roxane so much he arranges Roxane’s marriage to Christian.
Recommended for ages 12+
Reviewed by Annie
Dave Marinaccio
The answer to (almost) every question can be found in Star Trek.
- Each person or species, no matter how alien, has the right to live their lives as they wish
- Everyone has a role in life. Do your own job and the ship will function more smoothly
- If you can keep your head in a crisis you've got a fighting chance
- The unknown is not to be feared. It is to be examined, understood and accepted
And last, but not least:
- Never, ever, ever wear a red shirt - not under any circumstances. Don't do it.
Recommended for ages 14+
Reviewed by Annie
Jonathan Meres
Martin’s always wondered about his dad – who he is, what he’s like. His chance to find out comes unexpectedly after he makes a right idiot of himself on live national TV. Could his dad really be 80s pop star Rick Donovan?
Recommended for ages 12+
Reviewed by Annie
Walter Dean Myers
Damien’s working to get out of Harlem. Junice is struggling to find a life.
In short free verse, this is their story.
Recommended for ages 13+
Reviewed by Annie
Gary Paulsen
Welcome to the weird and twisted world of Gary's childhood - and the weird and twisted things his friends did to keep themselves amused. The weirdest thing is - it's all true. Warning: don't read when you're supposed to be quiet.
Recommended for ages 10+
Reviewed by Annie
38 stories and poems by 28 teen writers - from love to terrorism - it's all here.
Recommended for ages 10+
Reviewed by Annie
Joann Sfar & Emmanuel Guibert
Lillian’s father is a professor of egyptology and his latest acquisition is the mummy of Imhotep IV. While her father is away for the day, Lillian takes Imhotep out and about in Victorian England. There they get into trouble, including fatal poisonings, and run into Imhotep’s father, the mummy Imhotep III.
Will love conquer all in this quirky graphic novel?
Recommended for ages 13+
Reviewed by Annie
Jillian Sullivan
Shreve is concerned when an elderly friend she's visiting through school appears intimidated by a middle-aged man. Steven claims to be her son, but has never been mentioned by Zelda. Shreve starts to hear a voice in her head and gets to meet Melissa, the ghost of Zelda's daughter. She is also trying to deal with her father's new girlfriend and that her mother is no longer living with them.
As Shreve follows her promise to Melissa to help Zelda, her friendships become shaky, Steve threatens her, and she gets steadily into deeper hot water. Can she continue to follow her instincts and stand out from the crowd?
This is an easy to read book with conflicts around friendship and fitting in, or sticking up for what you believe is right.
Recommended for ages 12+
Reviewed by Jenny, Parnell Library
Jacqueline Woodson
Lonnie's a foster boy - and he tells his story in poetry, mostly free verse. It's moving and wonderful.
Recommended for ages 12+
Reviewed by Annie
Gene Luen Yang; colour by Lark Pien
The stories of three characters - the Monkey King, Jin Wang and Danny – weave together in this tale of finding yourself and trying to fit in to the majority culture – particularly when the culture doesn’t want you to.
Recommended for ages 14+
Reviewed by Annie
Laurence Yep
A heart wrenching story of two young sisters caught in the bombing of Hiroshima, Japan. Sachi and her sister Riko are going about a normal day. Riko is helping the war effort and Sachi is at school when disaster strikes in the form of an American bomber.
Historical and moving, a box of tissues may be needed!
Best character: Sachi
Laurel, 15
Keith and Kent Zimmerman
Can people live for days, buried alive? Could three prisoners survive their make-shift raft escape from Alcatraz? How many ping-pong balls does it take to refloat a boat? How long does it take to find a needle in a haystack?
These, and more, urban myths are explored in this book, taken from the TV series, Mythbusters.
Recommended for ages 12+
Reviewed by Annie
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No one noticed the cat 
