Series: Extreme Adventures (Jnr Fic)

AUTHOR: Justin D'Aith ((NZ/Aust)
PUBLISHED: ~2005
SERIES: Extreme Adventures
FIRST BOOK: Shark Bait

REVIEW: Each short novel (~130pgs) revolves around one major obstacle/mission, with several smaller obstacles impeding success.
The main character, Sam Fox, faces various difficulties (fighting animals, a runaway hot air balloon, struggling to save his life, or the lives of his younger brothers, etc) which he must overcome.

AGES: 7-10
GENRE: Adventure
RATING: 4 - 4 1/2 stars

Series: Book of Ember (Fic)

AUTHOR: Jeanne DuPrau (USA)
PUBLISHED: 2003+
SERIES: Book of Ember
BOOKS: The City of Ember, The People of Sparks, The Prophet of Yonwood, The Diamond of Darkhold,

PLOT (The City of Ember):
The city lies in a world of darkness, lit only by lightbulbs powered by the generator and the river running underneath it. When two 12-year-olds graduate into Ember's workforce, their combined curiosity and conviction that all is not right in Ember lead them on a journey to discover the truth about Ember's existence.

REVIEW: Gripping in parts, the ending leaves you curious (although not jumping-out-of-your-chair,  sprinting-to-the-library eager) to read the sequel.  The book has a movie tie-in.

AGE: 10-15
GENRE: Fanatsy
RATING: 4 1/2 stars

Series: The Magician's House (Fic)

AUTHOR: William Corlett (UK)
PUBLISHED: 1990
SERIES: The Magician's House
FIRST BOOK: The Steps Up the Chimney

PLOT:
Three children go to their uncle's house where they discover a magician at the top of stairs inside a chimney. He recruits them to fight against his evil apprentice.

REVIEW:
Similar to, but not as good as the Narnia series. The first book is reminiscent of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
Deals with "magic" bordering on wizardry, with spiritual possession of animals (not something I'd promote lightly), good vs evil, etc.

AGES: 9-11
GENRE: Fantasy
RATING: 3 1/2 stars

Then (YA Fic)

AUTHOR: Morris Gleitzman (Aust) PUBLISHED: 2008

PLOT: Two children run away from a Nazi train bound for a concentration camp. They befriend a farmer woman who tries to protect them. The story is confrontational, and gives perspectives from many people: Nazi soldiers, those who are sympathetic to Jews (including some soldiers), etc.

Similar to The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.

AGES: 10+
GENRE: Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction
RATING: 4 1/2 - 5 stars

Series: Monster Blood Tattoo (YA Fic)

AUTHOR: D.M. Cornish (Aust) PUBLISHED: 2008+
PAGES: ~600 pgs. SERIES: Monster Blood Tattoo
BOOKS: Foundling, Lamplighter, Factotum

PLOT (Lamplighter):
A young boy becomes an apprentice lamplighter: people charged with lighting the lamps lining the roads in order to keep people safe, and deter the monsters who live in the area. One night he witnesses a carriage attacked, and he forges an unsteady friendship with one of the occupants.

REIVEW:
The language is archaic and new vocabulary is added. Different names are given to known objects, tasks, etc, making it a difficult read, even for those who love to do so. Overall, the story drags. It is a very long book (599 pgs, not including appendices), and a tedious read.

Links to a website.

The Ranger's Apprentice is FAR better.

AGES: 11+
GENRE: Fantasy
RATING: 3 stars. It holds little appeal overall, but some may thoroughly enjoy it.

Series: Vampire Academy (YA Fic)

AUTHOR: Richelle Mead (USA) PUBLISHED: ~2008
SERIES: Vampire Academy
FIRST BOOK: Vampire Academy

PLOT:
The story is told through the eyes of Rose: a Dhampir - half vamipre, half human; guardians charged with protecting vampires. The first three books are set in high school, where the Dhampirs learn the art of guardianship and the vampires learn... school things. Other characters include Lissa, Rose's vampire best friend who brings her back from the dead, and Dimitri, another Dhampir, Rose's trainer, and the object of her love.

REVIEW:
With some twists on vampire lore, it's enjoyable if you can get past the "tortured teenager" threads (which, of course, will hook the target reader - the tortured teenage girl).

AGE: 13+. Some sex in the third book.
GENRE: Fantasy, Adventure
RATING: 4 1/2 stars

Series: The Adventures of Captain Underpants (Jnr Fic)

AUTHOR: Dav Pilkey (Aust) PUBLISHED: 1997+

PLOT: Two fourth-grade boys hypnotise their principal and get him to believe that he is the hero of their own made-up comic book.

AGES: 7-8
GENRE: Humor, mild Adventure
RATING: 4 stars.

Series: Anthony Horowitz Horror (Fic)

AUTHOR: Anthony Horowitz (Aust) PUBLISHED: ~2000 SERIES: Anthony Horowitz Horror, by Orchard Books

PLOT: ("Scared"):
Contains three short stories. 1) Scared: Nature gets its revenge on an insolent teen boy. 2) A Career in Computer Games: A boy who does nothing but play computer games becomes trapped in one. 3) Howard's End: When Howard has a fatal accident, he thinks he's tricked his way into heaven. But has he?

Interestingly, all characters are rude, disrespectful, insolent, delinquent - perhaps some good moral lessons ;)

REVEW: They are similar to The Midnight Library series in that each book contains a few short stories.

AGES: Suggested for 11+ because of the horror themes.
GENRE: Horror, Thriller.
RATING: 5 stars.

Much Ado About Nothing (retold)

AUTHOR: retold by Andrew Matthews (UK/Aust) PUBLISHED: 2006
PAGES/ILL: ~ 55 pages, large font with sporadic pictures. SERIES: A Shakespeare Story by Orchard Classics

PLOT: Hero and Claudio are in love and plan to marry. At the same time, they plot to have Hero's friend Beatrice and Claudio's friend, Benedick, fall in love with each other.

REVIEW: A lovely introduction to Shakespeare; easy to understand, but keeping to the original in an engaging way.

AGES: 6+
GENRE: Humor, Historical, Classic.
RATING: 5 stars

The Graveyard Book (Fic)

AUTHOR: Neil Gaiman (UK)
PUBLISHED: 2008

PLOT: As his family are being murdered, a toddler wanders into a graveyard. Pursued by the murderer, the ghosts of the graveyard are charged with his safekeeping, and there he is raised.
As he grows, he learns about the other ghosts in the graveyard, the dangers in and out of the graveyard, ghouls, witches, himself, and his would-be murderer.

REVIEW: A wonderfully-written story that can make you laugh and cry.  It has horror themes, and might be genuinely scary for some children, but these parts are quickly resolved, and any conflict always ends on a high note.

This would be an ideal read-aloud for 7th or 8th grade.

AGES: 11+ (I'd hesitate before recommending this to under 11s or 12s - it really depends on the child's maturity and what they have previously read. This book is perfect for high school reluctant readers, with enough appeal to engage adults).
GENRE: Horror
RATING: 6 stars!!