Holiday Reading 2006

Fiction for older readers

Abbott, Tony Firegirl: A middle school boy’s life is changed when Jessica, a girl disfigured by burns, starts attending his Catholic school while receiving treatment at a local hospital.
Anderson M. T. The clue of the Linoleum Lederhosen: Katie, Lily, and Jasper attach their flying Gyroscopic Sky Suite to the Moose Tongue Lodge and Resort, where they mingle with other child heroes found in books, and where they become embroiled in a mystery involving lederhosen-clothed quintuplets and a screaming ventriloquist.
Cheng, Andrea Shanghai messenger: A free-verse novel about eleven-year-old Xiao Mei’s visit with her extended family in China, where the Chinese-American girl finds many differences but also the similarities that bind a family together.
Colfer, Eoin Artemis Fowl and the lost colony: A demon has discovered the secrets of the fairy world, and if humans get hold of this information, the fairies are in big trouble.
Crossley-Holland, Kevin Gatty’s tale: In the year 1203, nine pilgrims set out on a pilgrimage. The journey - on foot, on horseback and by sea - is fraught with danger. Not all of them will come safely home. Among them is Gatty, whose whole life has been spent working in the fields. A medieval adventure story linked to Crossley-Holland’s Arthur trilogy.
Cushman, Karen The loud silence of Francine Green: Thirteen-year-old Francine becomes best friends with a girl who questions authority and is frequently punished.
Divakaruni, Chitra Banerjee The mirror of fire and dreaming: Anand continues his studies to become a full-fledged member of The Brotherhood of the Conch. Sequel to The conch bearer.
Dunmore, Helen The tide knot: Sapphire, Conor and their mum have moved away from the cottage by the cove, away from the memories of their father who disappeared two years ago. Sequel to Ingo.
DuPrau, Jeanne The prophet of Yonwood: While visiting the small town of Yonwood, Nickie makes some decisions about how to identify both good and evil when she witnesses the townspeople’s reactions to the apocalyptic visions of one of their neighbours. The third book of Ember.
Glatshyeyn, Yankev Emil and Karl: In Vienna two nine-year-old boys are classmates and best friends when events of the Nazi occupation draw them even closer together as they fight to survive and escape together.
Gleitzman, Morris Doubting Thomas: Thomas has an embarrassing secret. Is it a rare and special gift or the worst thing that could happen to a boy? A story about best friends, surprising adventures and itchy nipples.
Haddix, Margaret Peterson Among the free: When thirteen-year-old Luke Garner unwittingly sets off a rebellion which sweeps the country and ousts the Population Police from power, he quickly realizes that the new regime is corrupt and he may hold the only key to true freedom. The final volume in the Shadow Children series.
Hobbs, Will Crossing the wire: Fifteen-year-old Victor Flores journeys north in a desperate attempt to cross the Arizona border and find work in the United States to support his family in central Mexico.
Jones, Diana Wynne Pinhoe egg: Two powerful young enchanters, Cat, the future Chrestomanci, and Marianne, who is being trained to be Gammer of the Pinhoes, work together as friends to try to end an illegal witches' war and, in the process, right some old wrongs.
Kemp, Gene Nothing scares me: Petra has a sixth sense, she can predict events that haven't happened yet. It’s a talent that she’s grown to hate. People think she’s weird and she knows that if she wants her classmates to like her she will have to keep her gift a secret.
Kuijer, Guus The book of everything: Nine-year-old Thomas receives encouragement from many sources, including candid talks with Jesus, to help him tolerate the strict family life dictated by his deeply-religious father.
Lisle, Janet Taylor Black duck: Ruben Hart tells the story of how, in 1929 Newport, Rhode Island, his family and his best friend’s family were caught up in the violent competition among groups trying to control the local rum-smuggling trade.
Lin, Grace The year of the dog: Frustrated at her seeming lack of talent for anything, a young Taiwanese American girl sets out to apply the lessons of the Chinese Year of the Dog, those of making best friends and finding oneself.
Lowry, Lois Gossamer: While learning to bestow dreams, a young dream giver tries to save an eight-year-old boy from the effects of both his abusive past and the nightmares inflicted on him by the frightening Sinisteeds.
McCaughrean, Geraldine Peter Pan in scarlet: The "first-ever authorized sequel to J.M. Barrie’s masterpiece, Peter Pan." Published with the support of Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London.
McKay, Hilary Caddy ever after: The four eccentric Casson siblings each contribute written accounts of the events that lead to Caddy’s wedding day.
Mark, Jan Voyager: Having risked everything to escape her oppressive life on High Island, Demetria hopes she is finally free. As she learns about the political situation, about those who go 'missing' and those forced into exile, she begins to understand that there are more important things to fight for than her own freedom. Sequel to Riding Tycho.
Matthews, L. S. A dog for life : the story of an unforgettable journey: "My brother Tom was ill. So ill, they couldn't even say if he was going to get better. But for me and Tom, the worst thing of all was that they wanted to take our dog away."
Morpurgo, Michael Alone on a wide wide sea: When orphaned Arthur Hobhouse is shipped to Australia after WWII, he loses his sister, his country and everything he knows. The coming years test him to his limits, as he endures mistreatment, neglect and forced labour in the Australian outback. But, Arthur is saved, again and again, by his love of the sea.
Paterson, Katherine Bread and roses, too: Jake and Rosa form an unlikely friendship as they try to survive and understand the 1912 Bread and Roses strike of mill workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts.
Paver, Michelle Soul eater: Torak has survived the summer and his adventure in the Seal Islands. He and Wolf are together again. But their reunion is all too short-lived. As mid winter approaches Torak learns the worst from the White Fox clan: Wolf has been snatched. Book three in Chronicles of ancient darkness.
Peck, Robert Newton Here lies the Librarian: Parentless Peewee, 14, and Jake, the big brother she idolizes, live in rural Indiana in 1914. They run a small garage, but face nasty sabotaging from the rival Kirbys.
Pratchett, Terry Wintersmith : a story of Discworld: When witch-in-training Tiffany Aching accidentally interrupts the Dance of the Seasons and awakens the interest of the elemental Spirit of Winter, she requires the help of the six-inch-high, sword-wielding, sheep-stealing Wee Free Men to put the seasons right.
Roberts, Willo Davis The one left behind: Mandy’s life changes forever when her ten-year-old twin sister eats a hamburger tainted with E coli and dies.
Reeve, Philip Larklight: Arthur and his irritating sister Myrtle live with their father in the huge and rambling house, Larklight, travelling through space on a remote orbit far beyond the moon.
Said, S F The outlaw Varjak Paw: Having saved the city cats, Varjak Paw finds himself the elected and popular leader of a gang supporting freedom and kindness for all. But will pressure take its toll on this brave yet naive cat?
Shipton, Paul The pig who saved the world: Gryllus, the talking pig is back. The Cosmos is in grave danger once again, and a mysterious prophecy seems to suggest that Gryllus might be the pig to sort things out. Sequel to The pig scrolls
Snicket, Lemony The end: Lost at sea, the Baudelaire orphans, along with the evil Count Olaf, wash up on the shore of an island populated by an oddly placid group of inhabitants, and they try to decide whether or not they are truly safe. The final instalment in the Series of unfortunate events.
Snow, Alan Here be monsters!: An adventure involving magic, trolls, and other creatures. Arthur has fallen foul of the appalling Snatcher and is trapped alone in the town, with no way home. Meanwhile Snatcher and his men are working tirelessly in secret on a fiendish and dastardly plan to take over Ratbridge, and the world. Volume one of Ratbridge chronicles.
Vejjajiva, Jane The happiness of Kati: Set in Thailand this is the story of a 9-year-old girl whose mother is suffering from an incurable illness.
Wild Margaret Woolvs in the sitee: In a strange and sinister world, Ben is in hiding from the 'woolvs'. His only ally, Missus Radinski, doesn't believe the woolvs exist - until it is too late. Alone, Ben must go out into the streets and confront his fears.
Wilson, Jacqueline Starring Tracy Beaker: Tracy Beaker is desperate for a role of Ebeneezer Scrooge in her school play. And she wants to know if her film-star mum will make it back from Hollywood in time to watch her in her starring role.
Winterson, Jeanette Tanglewreck: Eleven-year-old Silver sets out to find the Timekeeper, a clock that controls time, and to protect it from falling into the hands of two people who want to use the device for their own nefarious ends.