Canine chaos comes to Seaview House! Several dogs are staying at the inn with their owners and there's even going to be a wedding with dog ring bearers! Natalia is eager to help out because she loves dogs and wants to earn a little extra spending money. She volunteers to watch and walk all the guests' dogs-and volunteers Zoe and Emma to help her. But Zoe and Emma have their own commitments and Natalia is quickly overwhelmed. When one of the dogs involved in the wedding goes missing, Natalia is in Big Trouble. Can she find the runaway dog and save the guests' big day?

The ragtag Odds crew's useless gifts have gotten out of control. Farshad's thumbs are so strong that just trying to send a text will break his phone, and Cookie can now send mental directions instead of just listening in on them with her telepathy. To make matters worse, a bunch of their less-than-gifted classmates have become town celebrities thanks to their suspiciously good exam results. But Jay and Nick realize that all these whiz kids have parents who work for Auxano, so they race off to find out what's really going on. Fans won't want to miss the conclusion to the adventures of this motley group of heroes and their patchwork powers!

Each of us has a “silent thunder” – a quiet desire that rumbles from deep-down. For eleven-year-old Summer and her older brother Rosco, their secret dreams seem far out of reach. Both are slaves on a Virginia plantation in the year 1862. More than anything, Summer wants to learn to read and write. Rosco is eager to join the Union Army so that he can fight for the cause that would allow all people to be free. Told in alternating voices, this is a work of historical fiction by bestselling and award-winning author Andrea Davis Pinkney.

Following her father's murder, Princess Irewen Donríel is betrayed and left for dead in the forests of Mistwood. Rescued by the elf prince, Laegon Elendell, Irewen awakes an exile with no home, no country, and no people. But as the horrific memories of murder and betrayal return, she realizes the nightmare is only beginning. The world of Vaelinel is failing—its fate bound to her in ways no one fully understands. A mysterious elven prophecy may provide her with some answers, but continuously hunted and fighting for her life, Irewen quickly learns that unearthing the truth will be more difficult than she ever imagined. Can she accept Laegon's love and the friendship of the Wood Elves, or will she stand alone against the terrifying evil now threatening to destroy the entire world?

Tales from the Haunted Mansion, Volume III: Grim Grinning Ghosts As told by mansion librarian Amicus Arcane The eerie Amicus Arcane has returned from beyond the grave to share more spooky stories from inside the Haunted Mansion. What frightening fictions does this once-living librarian hold in store? And will you, foolish reader, be brave enough to listen to them all without going mad...or dying from fright? Join Phineas, Ezra, and Gus—otherwise known as the Hitchhiking Ghosts—as they venture into Amicus Arcane's lonesome library for more terrifying Tales from the Haunted Mansion!

Brimming with dragons, goblins, and logic puzzles, this middle-grade fantasy adventure is perfect for readers who enjoyed The Princess Bride or Rump.THE BOY is a nameless slave on a mission to uncover his true destiny. THE GOBLIN holds all the answers, but he's too tricky to be trusted. PLAIN ALICE is a bookish peasant girl carried off by a confused dragon. And PRINCESS ALICE is the lucky girl who wasn't kidnapped.All four are tangled up in a sinister plot to take over the kingdom, and together they must face kind monsters, a cruel magician, and dozens of deathly boring palace bureaucrats. They're a ragtag bunch, but with strength, courage, and plenty of deductive reasoning, they just might outwit the villains and crack the goblin's puzzle.

The year is 1891 and London is at war. High up on the rooftops lives a ragtag band of orphans and spies – the Watchers – protectors of the city. But below the cobbled streets lurks the Legion, a ruthless gang of cut-throats and thieves, plotting to unleash the darkest forces of Hell. When a mysterious coin falls into his hands, cocky street urchin, Ben Kingdom, is flung into the midst of this ancient battle. The fate of the world rests with Ben, but which side will he choose? An army of angels...or the Claws of Evil?

The third book in The Battles of Ben Kingdom trilogy. Victorian London is ruled by fear. The bloodthirsty Legion have captured the Queen and walled off the city, ushering in a reign of terror. Only Ben Kingdom and his motley band of rebels can stop them, but in the darkest pit of hell, evil creatures are stirring, ready to be called forth..."An ambitious and far-sighted series, ideal for both boys and girls." - The Lancashire Evening Post

The year is 1892 and London is in the grip of evil. A demonic terror grips the streets, wreaking chaos as it helps the Legion, a vicious underground gang, to raise Hell on earth. Only the Watchers, a secret society of urchins and warriors, can stop them. An ancient prophecy claims one boy, Ben Kingdom, has the power to end this war. But Ben has a secret so deadly it could destroy everything the Watchers have worked for. Can he find the courage to fulfill his destiny... or will the city fall at The Feast of Ravens?

"Amira, look at me," Muma insists.She collects both my hands in hers."The Janjaweed attack without warning.If ever they come— run."Finally, Amira is twelve. Old enough to wear a toob, old enough for new responsibilities. And maybe old enough to go to school in Nyala— Amira's one true dream.But life in her peaceful Sudanese village is shattered when the Janjaweed arrive. The terrifying attackers ravage the town and unleash unspeakable horrors. After she loses nearly everything, Amira needs to dig deep within herself to find the strength to make the long journey— on foot— to safety at a refugee camp. Her days are tough at the camp, until the gift of a simple red pencil opens her mind— and all kinds of possibilities.New York Times bestselling and Coretta Scott King Award-winning author Andrea Davis Pinkney's powerful verse and...

You tend to remember the day your parents disappear. It's one of those things that sticks in your mind. Another of those things is the incredible discovery that behind your dad's office door lies an intergalactic portal . . .When both of these things happen to William Seward and his brother Daniel they're left with two questions. What are they going to do now? And where are their parents?Warm, funny, accessible fiction, perfect for boys and girls aged 9 to 12.

From the renowned author/illustrator of the Popularity Papers series, Amy Ignatow, comes the first installment in a new series about a diverse crew of middle school kids who develop very limited superhero powers after a strange accident and manage to become unlikely friends on the adventure of a lifetime.When a sweet nerd, an artsy cartoonist, a social outcast, and the most popular girl in school are involved in a mysterious bus accident, this seemingly random group of kids starts to notice some very strange abilities they did not have before. Artsy Martina can change her eye color. Nerdy Nick can teleport . . . four inches to the left. Outcast Farshad develops super strength, but only in his thumbs. And Cookie, the It Girl of school's most popular clique, has suddenly developed the ability to read minds . . . when those minds are thinking about directions. They are oddly mighty—especially together.This group—who would never hang out under normal...

In the dark and winding streets of Edinburgh, a burglar is on the prowl. But this is no ordinary thief. Three thousand years old and risen from the grave, this rampaging robber is a rotting Egyptian mummy – and he wants rubies and revenge! There's only one crime-fighting force who can deal with a menace like this: Billy Flint & Charley Steel aka S.C.R.E.A.M. – top-secret investigators of Supernatural Crimes, Rescues, Emergencies And Mysteries.

Nicholas Frith has always considered himself to be about as lucky as the average boy. But while on holiday with his mum, Nicholas accidentally disturbs an ancient tomb and everything changes.Nicholas falls under an ancient curse and suddenly misfortune, calamity and disaster follow him everywhere! The curse can't touch Nicholas himself, but bad things happen to everyone else around him. Forced to move from school to school, Nicholas loses hope of ever lifting the curse or ever finding someone who will risk being his friend. But one day he meets Fiona - the one person who is prepared to take that risk. Through Fiona's friendship, Nicholas learns to believe in himself and break the curse at last, changing his luck for ever.

'Anything you want to know, you hold the stone, ask me, and I will give you the answer'. Douglas is not the sort of boy to panic when something out of the ordinary happens. But when he meets a native of the planet Vangar whose arm has dropped off and needs his help, and who is being hunted by the Guardians of the Federation, well, even Douglas finds things a bit of a strain...

A powerful ring. A dangerous web. When Maria inherits a strange, spider-shaped ring from her grandmother, she doesn't realize she's also inheriting a strange power—the power to control spiders and have them do whatever she wants. This is a pretty cool thing when it comes to fetching objects from another room...or if Maria wants to use the spiders to get back at some mean kids in her class. But the power comes with a price. Maria has attracted the attention of the Black Widow—who is trying to collect all the spider magic for herself. The Black Widow is not going to let anything stand in her way—especially not Maria. The story of the ring is being woven like a web—and Maria is going to have to do everything she can to not get trapped within it.

Gabby has never been so busy! In this third novel featuring American Girl's 2017 Girl of the Year, Gabby is already juggling homework, school leadership activities, dance classes, and rehearsals for a spoken word competition when she's offered an exciting dance opportunity. It's too good to pass up, but soon, Gabby finds there aren't enough hours in the day to do it all, let alone be a good friend to her BFF, Teagen. And she can't help but notice that more and more, she wishes she were working on her poetry instead of doing pliés and grand jetés. Gabby's changed a lot this past year. By the time the competition rolls around, she begins to wonder—have her dreams changed, too?

Winner of the 2005 The Australian/Vogel Literary Award, this is a pitch perfect, intriguing, artful novel about exile and apathy, attraction and isolation.'Tuvalu ... Everyone has a place like that. A dream land or life they're working towards, however vaguely. ... Some people probably have more than one Tuvalu in a life. It changes as they grow. Or maybe they get to the first one and find it's nothing like they imagined and need a new one. You must have had at least one?''No.'A love story of sorts, Tuvalu tells the story of Noah Tuttle, who is glumly and aimlessly living a half kind of life in a cheap rundown hostel in the seamier margins of Tokyo, a place overrun with feral cats and cockroaches. He teaches mediocre English to disinterested students, sleeps with his girlfriend, Tilly, when she's around, drinks beer when he can afford it, and generally avoids other people and their expectations. Nothing much happens to him - until, that is, he...

To Whom It May Concern: Please, we need help! The day twelve-year-old Clara finds a desperate note in a purse in Bellman's department store, she is still reeling from the death of her adopted sister, Lola. By that day, thirteen-year-old Yuming has lost hope that the note she stashed in the purse will ever be found. She may be stuck sewing in the pale pink factory outside of Beijing forever. Clara grows more and more convinced that she was meant to find Yuming's note. Lola would have wanted her to do something about it. But how can Clara talk her parents, who are also in mourning, into going on a trip to China? Finally the time comes when Yuming weighs the options, measures the risk, and attempts a daring escape. The lives of two girls—one American, and one Chinese—intersect like two soaring kites in this story about loss, hope, and recovery.

Kay and her little sister, Eloise, never imagined that their standard icy Christmas Eve in Cambridge would be the start of a twelve-night odyssey . . .Kay's father is working late - as usual. Fed up, her mother bundles her daughters into the car and drives to her husband's Cambridge college to collect him herself. But when they arrive, the staff claim that nobody by his name has ever worked there . . .Kay is puzzled by her mother's reaction - silent tears, not anger and confusion. And what is even more puzzling is the card on her pillow when they return home:Will O. de Wisp, Gent. F.H.S.P. and Phillip R. T. Gibbet, Gent. F.H.S.P. K.Bith. REMOVALS. That night, Kay is woken by voices at her window: the voices of Will and Phillip, the Removers. But they are not human. And Kay shouldn't be able to see them. Except she can . . .

Zoe knows best! But can she convince Emma — and the rest of the school? When Zoe and Emma start giving out advice on a school-wide TV show, the response is more than Zoe ever expected. Kids Zoe's never even talked to before seek her out for help with their problems. Zoe's riding high on her success . . . until her classmates start actually following her advice! Soon there's a romance on the rocks, and Zoe's sister Natalia has stopped talking to her BFF Caitlin. Zoe thought she had all the answers — why is everything going so wrong?

The bittersweet story of a girl and a boy, and a secret that was too real to hide. From the bestselling author of The Whole Business with Kiffo and the Pitbull.The boy sat in the branches of the fifth tree on the left, his scuffed boots dangling. Leah turned her eyes up. His face was heavily freckled, his eyes large, brown and almond-shaped. His hair stuck out at wild angles. 'Hello,' she said.Sixteen-year-old Carly is interviewing Leah Cartwright for her local history project. But Leah resists, determined instead to tell her own story: that of a lonely child on an isolated farm, a girl whose only escape is into the world of books. And when Adam appears in the orchard Leah discovers a friend. A secret friend.Leah draws Carly in with the magic of story - to her present, her past, her secrets, and her unique friendship with Adam.Being Here is a beautifully told story about a girl whose rich imagination rescues her from a grim reality, and an...

A trio of smart and stylish mermaids are about to make a splash in this hilarious start to a new middle-grade series that's The Little Mermaid meets My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish.Mermaids Beattie, Mimi, and Zelda's summer on land with temporary legs is going swimmingly-until they receive a strange message ordering them to return home at once. The beloved queen of the Hidden Lagoon has been fishnapped, and some seriously bad mermaids have taken over instead! Now, the girls are the only ones who can stop them.If they're going to save the day, they'll need a clam car, some piranha-print nail polish, and possibly a talking seahorse named Steve. Can they do it?Filled with magical mysteries, fabulous shell fashions, and three fin-tastic protagonists to root for, Bad Mermaids Make Waves is a hysterical new middle-grade adventure that will have readers begging for the sea-quel.

Mermaids Beattie, Mimi and Zelda, along with Steve the talking seahorse, are trapped aboard the spooky ship the Merry Mary, heading for the legendary (and super-stylish) Crocodile Kingdom. On land, Paris Silkensocks, ice-cream seller and GADGET QUEEN, has uncovered a plot to destroy the mermaid world.Can Paris find the mermaids in time? Can Beattie avert a Crocodile Kingdom crabtastrophe? Can seahorses get seasick? All this and more will be revealed!Featuring magical mysteries, fabulous fashion and a snappier than average transport system, the second Bad Mermaids adventure brings a whole new twist to the underwater world of mermaids. If you enjoyed Witch Wars, The Little Mermaid or Mabel Jones, you'll love this!

Mermaids Beattie, Mimi and Zelda, along with Steve the talking seahorse, are trapped aboard the spooky ship the Merry Mary, heading for the legendary (and super-stylish) Crocodile Kingdom. On land, Paris Silkensocks, ice-cream seller and GADGET QUEEN, has uncovered a plot to destroy the mermaid world.Can Paris find the mermaids in time? Can Beattie avert a Crocodile Kingdom crabtastrophe? Can seahorses get seasick? All this and more will be revealed!Featuring magical mysteries, fabulous fashion and a snappier than average transport system, the second Bad Mermaids adventure brings a whole new twist to the underwater world of mermaids. If you enjoyed Witch Wars, The Little Mermaid or Mabel Jones, you'll love this!

Here's a book that will get the whole family laughing. When a large family of ferrets and their precocious baby take a chaotic trip to the supermarket, mom can't keep track of the groceries, the shopping cart . . . or even the kids! Baby Edwin tries to help, but everyone thinks he's just babbling. Little do they know that he really has all the answers.Full of fun-to-say nonsense words this is a perfect storytime book and a great read-aloud. April Stevens, author of Waking Up Wendell, is accompanied by Ezra Jack Keats Award winner Sophie Blackall for a match-up that is sure to delight.From the Hardcover edition.

When Sandro Zapote finds out his little sister needs heart surgery, he is determined to help his parents raise the money they'll need to help her get better. Sandro's dad is in the states illegally and must work two jobs to support the family. For one, he picks up roadkill for the department of streets and sanitation and gets paid by the carcass. For the other, he collects scrap metal to recycle for cash. Sandro helps his dad with some of the scrap metal heavy lifting, and one headboard, a weight bench, some gutters, and a few car parts later, Sandro has a brilliant idea: can collecting. Save the environment. Save his family. Maybe even save some spending money for the fabulous, fast new bike he's been coveting.Well-meaning and with funny inner monologue, Sandro is the kind of person you can't help but cheer for. He's a boy who loves drawing, soccer, and his little sister. And whether he's fishing a fuzzy, dust-coated turtle out from under his sister's bed or organizing a...

Samkad lives in a tribe deep in the Philippine jungle at the end of the nineteenth century, and has never encountered anyone from outside his own tribe before. He's about to become a man, and while he's desperate to grow up, he's worried that this will take him away from his best friend, Little Luki. However, Samkad's world is about to change utterly. A strange man with white skin arrives in his village, and Samkad discovers the brother he never knew he had. A brother who tells him of people called 'Americans'. Americans who are bringing war, and burning, to Samuel's home.

The summer of 1898 is filled with and downs for 11-year-old Moses. He's growing apart from his best friend, his superstitious Boo-Nanny butts heads constantly with his pragmatic, educated father, and his mother is reeling from the discovery of a family secret. Yet there are good times, too. He's teaching his grandmother how to read. For the first time she's sharing stories about her life as a slave. And his father and his friends are finally getting the respect and positions of power they've earned in the Wilmington, North Carolina, community. But not everyone is happy with the political changes at play and some will do anything, including a violent plot against the government, to maintain the status quo.One generation away from slavery, a thriving African American community--enfranchised and emancipated--suddenly and violently loses its freedom in turn of the century North Carolina when a group of local politicians stages the only successful coup d'etat in US...

To find freedom, you must leave behind everything you've ever known.It is 1825. You and Ma have survived on the streets of London ever since the soldiers took Da away and you fled Ireland. Now, with Ma gone too, you find yourself facing life-and-death choices at every turn.Can you carry a secret treasure across the ocean and finally be reunited with Da? You'll be asked to betray your friends, survive storms at sea and attacks by bushrangers, and trust thieves.At every turn, the choice is yours. How far will you go for freedom?

In Camelot, King Arthur's dog encounters a world of danger and magic...Follow Cavall as he embarks on a quest that will put the unbreakable bond between a dog and his person to the ultimate test. When Cavall and his older brother, Glessic, leave the comfort of their simple barn to join the lavish court of Camelot, Cavall wants nothing more than to prove he's a good dog to the great knights and dogs of the castle—especially to King Arthur.But Gless says only the best dogs are worthy of greatness, and Cavall has never been as strong, brave, or fast as his brother. Meanwhile, malevolent forces lurk in Camelot, and Cavall must figure out how to protect his person. To make matters worse, Arthur's mysterious nightmares are threatening to shake his grip on reality and undermine his authority as king.To fight back against the dangers of the dream world, Cavall will need help from some loyal hounds and the enchanting, sometimes...

A free trip to the Northern Territory! Sounds good, thinks Marcus ('Mucus' to his sister Rose). But when his best friend Dylan joins the family holiday, mayhem is not far away. Fast-paced comedy-adventure from award-winning author Barry Jonsberg.Blacky the farting dog has a mission that Marcus and Dylan can't refuse. Trouble is, this mission involves a monstrous saltwater crocodile who would much rather chomp on a human for dinner than have a civilised conversation.Of course, there's also the small matter of a giant big-game hunter on a collision course with our heroes. And will Marcus be any match for his mean older sister Rose and her light-sabre-wielding best friend Cy Ob Han?Blacky the master of disguise is back, full of attitude and smelly as ever.

A third wacky adventure with Blacky the farting dog. Blacky's sending Marcus and Dylan to the Tasmanian wilderness on a mission. But between giant bully boys, unintelligible Scottish camp instructors and the need for thermal underwear - will they find the last remaining Tasmanian tiger?Blacky's back, smellier than ever. And he's got a new mission for Marcus and Dylan: track down the very last Tassie tiger and save it from extinction. Simple, really.But throw in some bumbling thylacine hunters, a bully out to get you, a hairy Scotsman on your trail, and anything can - and will - happen. Especially as time is running out.You can read more Blacky adventures in The Dog that Dumped on My Doona and A Croc Called Capone.

From the author of The Whole Business with Kiffo and the Pitbull and It's not all about YOU, Calma comes an intense, confronting, unforgettable novel to challenge our assumptions about bullying, coping strategies and mental health.We stared at each other, the fat boy and the boy with ice for eyes. And I waited.'So what have you got to say for yourself, fat boy?'Michael Terny is the fat boy. He's at his seventh school in four years and he knows that even if he keeps his head down, he can't change the script. He will be ridiculed and laughed at and pushed around.But Michael has a powerful secret that allows him to escape to a safe place, and everything changes when he makes a new friend. Now he can make plans to exact his revenge. But will revenge have a price?

Holly Holley is so average it hurts ... until her cousin Cassie comes to stay, and Demi Larson takes her under her wing and makes life a whole lot more interesting.'My name is Holly Holley and I have given up routines.' Holly hates her name, her looks and her life. She isn't in with the right crowd and she has little hope of dating the gorgeous Raph McDonald. With Cassie staying, she has to move out of her bedroom into the tiny, smelly spare room, and she feels her life couldn't be more unfair. So when Demi, the coolest girl in school, invites Holly on a make-over shopping spree, she jumps at the chance. Even Cass can see that Holly is stretching her wings. But will she fly or fall? Before long Holly learns that appearances can be deceptive and friendship can blossom in unexpected places ... 'I LOVED it. And the humour was great!! Go Holly Holley!!' Alex 16

Game theory has brought me to this point and I must follow where it leads. Even though this is not a game.Jamie is a sixteen-year-old maths whiz. Summerlee, his older sister, is in the grip of a wild phase. Tensions at home run high.When Summerlee wins a 7.5-million-dollar lottery, she cuts all ties with her family. But money can cause trouble - big trouble. And when Jamie's younger sister Phoebe is kidnapped for a ransom, the family faces a crisis almost too painful to bear.Jamie thinks he can use game theory - the strategy of predicting an opponent's actions - to get Phoebe back. But can he outfox the kidnapper? Or is he putting his own and his sister's life at risk?A brilliant, page-turning novel from a superb storyteller.

Much anticipated sequel to hilarious yet poignant popular debut novel The Whole Business with Kiffo and the Pitbull by Barry Jonsberg - a fresh, funny and engaging new voice in young adult books. Laugh-out-loud humour with a strong beating heart and a sting in the tail.;;Calma Harrison is in love. Not just with herself, but also with the handsome checkout guy at Crazi-Cheep. But when Calma gets a job at Crazi-Cheep, her cynical approach to customer service makes headlines.And then there's the small matter of the rest of her life, which is fast falling apart: her absent father turns up unexpectedly and wants to talk'; her mother, The Fridge, is keeping secrets; and her new best friend, Vanessa, is hiding something horrible.Fearing the worst for her family and friends, Calma knows the only sure way to shape events is direct, personal intervention...It's not all about YOU, Calma! is a bold and witty novel about friendship, loyalty and acting on impulse.Praise...

Candice Phee wants to bring light and laughter to those around her, and somehow she succeeds despite the bizarre mix-ups and the confusion she effortlessly creates. An uplifting comedy-drama from award-winning author, Barry Jonsberg.This isn't just about me. It's also about the other people in my life - my mother, my father, my dead sister Sky, my penpal Denille, Rich Uncle Brian, Earth-Pig Fish and Douglas Benson From Another Dimension. These are people [with the exception of Earth-Pig Fish, who is a fish] who have shaped me, made me what I am. I cannot recount my life without recounting elements of theirs. This is a big task, but I am confident I am up to it.Introducing Candice Phee: twelve years old, hilariously honest and a little ... odd. But she has a big heart, the very best of intentions and an unwavering determination to ensure everyone is happy. So she sets about trying to 'fix' all the problems of all the people [and pets] in her life.Laugh-out-loud...

Pandora Jones wakes in a changed world at The School - a sanctuary for survivors of a plague pandemic. Haunted by terrible dreams, surrounded by traumatic events, Pandora must trust her instincts if she is to stay safe. And her instincts suggest that The School is hiding secrets. The first book in a brilliant YA series by a multi-award-winning author.

What's an eleven-year-old boy to do when an ugly dog called Blacky appears on his bed and tells him he has been given the mission to rescue God? This is a 'fast and funny book' from CBCA-shortlisted author Barry Jonsberg. When Marcus is woken by a dog doing a poo on his bed, he is understandably upset. And Blacky (the dog) has other surprises in store. Soon Marcus and his disruptive friend Dylan are on a mission to rescue God - a sick pygmy bearded dragon - from the local pet shop. But time is running out...And then there is Rose who thrives on terrorising her little brother. She is the sister from hell, but revenge will be sweet. Or so Marcus thinks.'Funny, entertaining and meaningful. I would highly recommend it.' Cam, 12

Perfect for fans of Jennifer L. Holm's The Fourteenth Goldfish and Holly Goldberg Sloan's Counting by 7s, this heartfelt, deeply moving middle-grade debut features an offbeat girl who learns that she can remain true to herself while also letting others in.Eleven-year-old Frances is an observer of both nature and people, just like her idol, the anthropologist Margaret Mead. She spends most of her time up on the rocks behind her house in her "rock world," as Alvin, her kindhearted and well-read school bus driver, calls it. It's the one place where Frances can truly be herself, and where she doesn't have to think about her older sister, Christinia, who is growing up and changing in ways that Frances can't understand. But when the unimaginable happens, Frances slowly discovers that perhaps the world outside her rugged, hidden paradise isn't so bad after all, and that maybe—just maybe—she can find connection and camaraderie with the people who...

Andi is short. And she has lots of wishes. She wishes she could play on the school basketball team, she wishes for her own bedroom, but most of all she wishes that her long-lost half-brother, Bernardo, could come and live in London where he belongs.Then Andi's biggest wish comes true and she's minutes away from becoming someone's little sister. As she waits anxiously for Bernardo to arrive from the Philippines, she hopes he'll turn out to be tall and just as crazy as she is about basketball. When he finally arrives, he's tall all right. Eight feet tall, in fact--plagued by condition called Gigantism and troubled by secrets that he believes led to his phenomenal growth.In a novel packed with quirkiness and humor, Gourlay explores a touching sibling relationship and the clash of two very different cultures.From the Hardcover edition.

Poison Apple Books: Thrilling. Bone-chilling. These books have bite!Marisol and her mom move from the city to rural Montana for a few months, and stay with family friends and their twin children, Jack and Hailey. Marisol loves looking at the stars so far away from city lights, but she feels creeped out by the woods right by their house. She's even more scared when her new friend Lily warns her about the wolves there — wolves that are most dangerous around the full moon. When she notices Hailey disappear several times late at night, Marisol starts to wonder...could she be friends with a werewolf?

Part quirky journal, part detective fiction, this wild and witty novel is a laugh-out-loud comedy about two unlikely friends who are drawn into a dramatic series of events through their mutual mistrust of their new English teacher.I don't know you at all. I wouldn't recognise you from a hole in the ground. If I was telling this story to some friends, then they would already know Kiffo and they would know me and they would know the school and everything. I'd just be able to get straight into what happened when a new English teacher, the Pitbull, slobbered and snarled her way into our class. But you don't know anything.No offence.An inspiring debut novel: simultaneously funny and wise. A +'Tony Wilson, Triple R Breakfasters