We hope that you enjoy these book recommendations provided by the librarians from our Augustine Resource Centre. This reading guide is packed full of great reads for to keep you reading all summer long.
Happy reading!
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As we approach the end of another school year, our students are excitedly counting down the days to the summer holiday break. This period away from the structured routine of school not only offers needed relaxation but also presents a wonderful opportunity to cultivate a habit that can transform their lives: reading.
Recent studies continue to underscore that even just 20 minutes of reading each day can spark significant growth in academic proficiency and improve our mental health. Through reading, our boys enhance their vocabulary, sharpen their critical thinking skills, and build strong comprehension abilities and these are the very elements that pave the way for future success. Engaging with texts helps to prepare them for the challenges they will face in high school and beyond, making reading an essential skill for life.
Books are gateways to new perspectives, offering our students the chance to explore varied narratives that foster empathy and emotional intelligence. Engaging with different characters and their journeys enhances the ability to understand and relate to others, essential qualities in today’s interconnected world. Each story offers the chance to walk in someone else's shoes, which helps develop a sense of compassion and understanding that is paramount for healthy relationships and societal engagement.
An incredible benefit of reading is its profound impact on our mental health and wellbeing. It can serve as a powerful escape, helping to alleviate anxiety and providing a sense of calm in our busy lives. Immersing yourself in a compelling story can not only boost focus but also enhance imaginative thinking - these are key components of creativity and problem-solving! The act of quiet reading can encourage mindfulness, allowing students to break away from the daily stresses of life and find peace and joy in a well-crafted narrative.
And let us not forget the value of non-fiction! Inspiring biographies and motivational writings from successful figures—be they athletes, entrepreneurs, or thought leaders—offer equally enriching experiences. The act of reading, regardless of genre, is what truly counts, and it importantly supports the development of critical thinking skills and personal insight.
The journey of becoming a reader is unique for each individual and is not all about a formative experience that happens in childhood; it can occur at any stage of life. Some of our boys may currently think of themselves as 'non-readers', but it is important to remember that this identity is not yet fully formed and can evolve. It is never too late to embrace the role of a reader! Encouraging them to explore a range of genres and subjects can ignite an interest that they may not have recognized in themselves before. The transformation often begins when they allow themselves to read for pleasure rather than obligation. By cultivating a mindset that welcomes exploration and curiosity, we enable them to rewrite their narrative as passionate and engaged readers. See my recent article here for Books & Publishing on book slumps and reader identity.
To assist our students in exploring the world of literature this summer, the ARC has curated a list of recommended summer reads tailored to various interests and age groups. We invite you to dive into these selections and discover, alongside your sons, the enriching worlds they can uncover through books. We’ve also included recommendations for parents and staff, fostering a community of readers that extends beyond the classroom.
Whilst I have provided links to our online platform via Wheelers of eBooks and Audiobooks, I do so with a word of caution. Accessibility and portability of online books is a valid argument, but hard copy text will bring the greatest reading benefits.
We look forward to celebrating the growth and joy our young readers will experience during their summer reading adventures. Please encourage them, and even join them, modeling just 20 minutes a day with a fantastic book, nurturing their curiosity and imagination in the process.
Wishing you all a safe and joyful summer,
Mrs. Mace
Head of Library Services
Earlier this year the ARC ran a gamified literacy initiative – encouraging the boys to react to a physical and online crime scene which spanned many weeks. This initiative has been accepted for publication in Connections magazine – see link HERE.
Years 5 & 6 Fiction
The Wrong Shoes - Tom Percival
Will has the wrong shoes – he's always known it but doesn't know how to change it. Navigating the difficulties of home and school when you feel you stick out is tough, but finding confidence with the help and empathy of friends can be all you need to see the way.
Escape from Cuttlefish Cove - Rachel Jackson
In this book YOU are the main character, and YOU decide what happens next in the story. If you aren’t careful, you could find your story ending at the point of a pirate’s cutlass or walking the plank over shark infested waters! In fact, there are sixty -four different ways your story could end …
Stitch Paperback - Pádraig Kenny
Stitch is not a monster – he’s a creation. He and his friend Henry Oaf were brought to life by the genius Professor Hardacre, and have spent all their days in a castle deep in the woods, far from humankind. But when the Professor dies and his pompous nephew comes to take over the laboratory, they soon find out that his sights are set not on scientific discovery, but personal glory. And Henry is his next experiment.
Landovel - Emily Rodda
Once you enter Landovel, you won't want to leave. So let Emily Rodda, bestselling author of Deltora Quest, take you on the whole thrilling adventure. In an unprecedented publishing event, Landovel's three parts are available together - and only together - in one unique, irresistible package, ready for you to binge from start to finish. Landovel is the ultimate fantasy quest, and the perfect way to ignite young readers' passion by giving them a solid series to embark upon...
The Vanished Kingdom The War of the Maps - Jonathan Auxier
The War of the Maps is a breathtaking fantasy in the vein of His Dark Materials and The Last Battle that dares to give new answers to age -old questions —inviting readers of all ages to sail beyond the edges of the map into a world of magic, myth, and boundless adventure
The Last Bear Hannah Gold
There are no polar bears left on Bear Island. At least, that’s what April’s father tells her when his scientific research takes them to this remote Arctic outpost for six months. But one endless summer night, April meets one. He is starving, lonely and a long way from home. Determined to save him, April begins the most important journey of her life .
Leon Levels Up Paul Coccia
Twelve -year -old Leon loves video games. When he plays he feels confident and amazing for just a little while. The rest of the time he feels like a loser. So Leon is shocked when Nico the coolest kid ever and the son of a video -game developer invites him over to test out the newest game at his dad's high -tech lab.
Years 5 & 6 eBooks & Audiobooks
Redwall - Brian Jacques
This enthralling tale is jampacked with the things we long for in a great adventure: danger, laughter, hairbreadth escapes, tragedy, mystery, a touch of wonder, a truly despicable villain, and a hero we can take to heart. That hero is Matthias, a young mouse who must rise above his fears and failures to save his friends at Redwall Abbey.
(eBook access here)
Help Around the House - Morris Gleitzman
Ludo helps other people. It's how he was brought up. When Dad is elected to Federal Parliament, Ludo grabs the chance to make Australia an even better place. But he soon discovers it's not the homeless of the national capital who most need his help - it's the rich and powerful. Exploring important themes including homelessness, bullying, freedom of speech, and family, Help Around the House will inspire young readers to ask important questions about the world around them.
(eBook access here)
Uncle Xbox - Jared Thomas
Dusty spends a lot of time playing games online, and usually with his stepdad, Marcus. One Saturday morning, Marcus loads his things into his car and leaves, taking his Xbox with him. Dusty is determined to buy an Xbox of his own and tries odd jobs that don’t quite work out. That is until cool Uncle Rick turns up. Uncle Rick introduces Dusty to surfing and teaches him about his culture and connection to Country. Dusty swiftly discovers that there is more to life than gaming.
(Audiobook access here)
Skandar and the Unicorn Thief - A. F. Steadman
Thirteen-year-old Skandar Smith has only ever wanted to be a unicorn rider. To be one of the lucky few selected to hatch a unicorn. To bond with it for life; to train together and race for glory; to be a hero. But just as Skandar’s dream is about to come true, things start to take a more dangerous turn than he could ever have imagined. A dark and twisted enemy has stolen the Island’s most powerful unicorn – and as the threat grows ever closer, Skandar discovers a secret that could blow apart his world.
(eBook access here)
Chasing a Rugby Dream James Hook
Jimmy Joseph loves rugby. All he dreams about is one day playing for his country in a World Cup, or winning a Test series for the Lions with a last-minute drop-goal. But when he kicks an up-andunder in the schoolyard and accidentally hits his new teacher, Mr Kane, on the head, he makes a powerful enemy. Jimmy and his best friends – Kitty, Manu and Matt – try to prove their worth on the rugby field, but to no avail. Mr Kane has it in for them – and life is already hard enough as they struggle to deal with the antics of team captain Mike Green, well known as the school bully.
(eBook access here)
1914 - Sophie Masson
Set in 1914, follows two brothers, Louis (16) and Thomas (19), living in Vienna during the assassination of the heir to the Austrian throne. Both boys are intelligent and ambitious writers, positioned to help readers understand the outbreak of World War I amidst contemporary events. The story captures the first year of the war, highlighting Germany's unexpected early successes, the entrenchment of both sides, and the brothers' diverging paths—Louis as a reporter and Thomas as a soldier.
(eBook access here)
Years 7 & 8 Fiction
Heroes of Time Legends Murdoch’s Choice - Wayne D. Kramer
Zale "the Gale" Murdoch, one of the greatest seafaring merchants in the kingdom of Tuscawny, is at the top of his game. No one has reached the guild's grandmaster status in generations, and he's but one job away, with his biggest rival right on his heels. When a mysterious stranger approaches him with information that will seemingly ensure his success, Zale is tempted. The mission: to retrieve the Grimstone, a mythical artifact obscured by the shadows of history and religious folklore...an object of immeasurable value...if it's real.
Dark Tide - Sean Rodman
Kai is angry when he’s forced to join his new stepfather, Rick, on a research trip to Blind Bay. On a floating lab in the middle of nowhere. Rick, a marine biologist, is using sound waves to explore deep underwater caves. But they discover that the sound pulses have awakened something. Something that is now hunting them —an ancient predator from the depths of the caves.
Dropped - Alice Kuipers
Dex is one of six contestants on Dropped an internet reality show. He and the other contenders have to spend five days on a deserted island and the person who gains the most likes and followers will be the winner. The prize is a ton of money and status as an influencer. When Dex keeps placing behind Amina he realizes he has to be more daring to get the engagements he needs. But how extreme will he need to be and is it worth it to win?
Flight Plan - Eric Walters
Thirteen -year -old Jamie's plane is just taking off when something goes terribly wrong. After a bumpy landing Jamie realizes it's not just his flight. All the other planes have been grounded too. And every car on the road has stopped in its tracks. Technology has shut down and no one knows why. Soon it becomes clear that this disaster is anything but local and people begin to panic. Jamie must make the long perilous journey home.. .not knowing what lies ahead.
My Brother Finch - Kate Gordon
Finch and Wren were as close as a brother and sister can be. When he vanished, at only nine years old, her world cracked in two. Finch was never found. Three years on, Finch is still with her, whispering in her ear, guiding her through life. As Wren begins high school and forms a new, bewildering friendship with a mysterious girl called Freddie. When another girl goes missing Wren feels compelled to search for her. To her surprise, Freddie does, too. The two of them try and piece together who Johanna is and why she ran away. Or did she run away? And was it all tied together with what happened to Finch?
Long Way Down - Jason Reynolds
After Will's brother is shot in a gang crime, he knows the next steps. Don't cry. Don't snitch. Get revenge. So he gets in the lift with Shawn's gun, determined to follow The Rules. Only when the lift door opens, Buck walks in, Will's friend who died years ago. And Dani, who was shot years before that. As more people from his past arrive, Will has to ask himself if he really knows what he's doing.
Years 7 & 8 eBooks & Audiobooks
Two Wolves - Tristan Bancks
One afternoon, police officers show up at Ben Silver’s front door. Minutes after they leave, his parents arrive home. Ben and his little sister Olive are bundled into the car and told they’re going on a holiday. But are they? It doesn’t take long for Ben to realise that his parents are in trouble. Ben’s always dreamt of becoming a detective – his dad even calls him ‘Cop’. Now Ben gathers evidence and tries to uncover what his parents have done. The problem is, if he figures it out, what does he do?
(eBook access here)
My Brothers War - David Hill
It's New Zealand, 1914, and the biggest war the world has known has just broken out in Europe. William eagerly enlists for the army but his younger brother, Edmund, is a conscientious objector and refuses to fight. While William trains to be a soldier, Edmund is arrested. Both brothers will end up on the bloody battlefields of France, but their journeys there are very different.
(Audiobook access here)
Pennies for Hitler Jackie French
It's 1939, and for Georg, son of an English academic living in Germany, life is full of cream cakes and loving parents. It is also a time when his teacher measures the pupils' heads to see which of them have the most 'Aryan'- shaped heads. But when a university graduation ceremony turns into a pro -Nazi demonstration, Georg is smuggled out of Germany to war - torn London and then across enemy seas to Australia where he must forget his past and who he is in order to survive.
(Audiobook access here)
Paladero The Riders of Thunder Realm - Steven Lochran
Welcome to Thunder Realm, where cowboy -knights known as paladeros herd dinosaurs during peacetime and take up arms during war. Joss, a young orphan, has always wanted to be a paladero – but first he must prove himself by going on The Way, a treacherous journey through the kingdom to retrieve a rare Questing Egg.
(Audiobook access here)
Pony - R. J. Palacio
When Silas Bird wakes in the dead of night, he watches powerlessly as three strangers take his father away. Silas is left shaken, scared and alone, except for the presence of his companion, Mittenwool… who happens to be a ghost. But then a mysterious pony shows up at his door, and Silas knows what he has to do. So begins a perilous journey to find his father - a journey that will connect him with his past .
(eBook access here)
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
It's an ordinary Thursday lunchtime for Arthur Dent until his house gets demolished. The Earth follows shortly afterwards to make way for a new hyperspace bypass and his best friend has just announced that he's an alien. At this moment, they're hurtling through space with nothing but their towels and an innocuous -looking book inscribed with the big, friendly words: DON'T PANIC.
(Audiobook access here)
Years 9 & 10 Fiction
One By One They Disappear - Mike Lucas
The fog is coming. And when it does, everything disappears. One girl. Two identities. Three friends. One disappears. One forgets. One remembers. There is truth in every tale. A frighteningly creepy supernatural YA thriller that chills to the bone with imagined and real horrors.
Under the Surface - Diana Urban
An epic survival -thriller about four teens who get lost in the Paris catacombs for days.
Grief in the Fourth Dimension - Jennifer Yu
In life, high school classmates Caroline Davison and Kenny Zhou existed in separate universes —Caroline in one of softball practices and family dinners; Kenny in one of NASA photo books and late -night shifts at his parents’ Chinese restaurant. But after their deaths, they find themselves thrown together as roommates in a mysterious white room — one that seems to exist outside of time and space, shows them their loved ones’ lives on a large hi -def TV, and grants their wishes with a sardonic sense of humor.
One House Left - Vincent Ralph
R.L. Stine meets Urban Legend in the next twisty horror novel by New York Times bestselling author Vincent Ralph. Sixteen -year -old Nate Campbell grew up in the shadow of Murder Road – a street cursed by the vengeful spirit of the Hiding Boy. Every few years, for nearly six decades, a different house on that street has been the scene of a tragedy. Nate and his family move to a new town as they try to outrun the curse once and for all.
A Second Chance on Earth - Juan Vidal
Have you ever encountered a book that KO’d you, Iron Mike Tyson style? For sixteen -year -old poet and b -baller Marcos Cadena, that book is the beat -up copy of One Hundred Years of Solitude he finds among his late father’s possessions after Papi is killed in an accident. When Marcos travels to his parents’ childhood home of Cartagena, Colombia to spread Papi’s ashes, he brings his father’s book with him, convinced that Gabriel García Márquez’s masterpiece holds the key to understanding Papi’s life and accepting his death.
The Kill Factor - Ben Oliver
In a world where social media is everything and followers equal money, Emerson is facing a prison sentence. Then, she’s offered a way out —a brand new gameshow for young felons that combines social media and reality TV. The first prize? Freedom —and a comfortable life for Emerson’s little brother. But if she loses? Incarceration for life. The games kick off on a remote island with the prison at its heart. Little do the viewers or contestants know the prison is empty —and the truth about why is even more brutal than the games themselves.
Years 9 & 10 eBooks & Audiobooks
Slam Your Poetry - Miles Merrill and Narcisa Nozica
No props. No music. No costumes. Just you, your words and a mic-you've got two minutes to make the crowd scream your name. Miles Merrill, spoken word artist and founder of Australian Poetry Slam, and award-winning teacher Narcisa Nozica will take you from novice to spoken word superstar in no time. song of their lives?
(eBook access here)
Shoe Dog - Phil Knight
In 1962, fresh out of business school, Phil Knight borrowed $50 from his father and created a company with a simple mission: import high-quality, low-cost athletic shoes from Japan. Selling the shoes from the boot of his Plymouth, Knight grossed $8000 in his first year. Today, Nike's annual sales top $30 billion. But Knight, the man behind the swoosh, has always remained a mystery. Now, for the first time, he tells his story. Candid, humble, wry and gutsy, he begins with his crossroads moment when at 24 he decided to start his own business and change the history of Nike.
(ebook access here)
Five Survive - Holly Jackson
Eighteen year old Red and her friends are on a road trip in an RV, heading to the beach for Spring Break. It’s a long drive but spirits are high. Until the RV breaks down in the middle of nowhere. And as the wheels are shot out, one by one, the friends realise that this is no accident. There’s a sniper out there. He’s watching them and he knows exactly who they are. One of the group has a secret that the sniper is willing to kill for. As a game of cat-and-mouse plays out, the group desperately tries to get help.
(eBook access here)
The Butterfly Assassin - Finn Longman
Trained and traumatised by a secret assassin programme for minors, Isabel Ryans wants nothing more than to be a normal civilian. After running away from home, she has a new name, a new life and a new friend, Emma, and for the first time, things are looking up. But old habits die hard, and it’s not long until she blows her cover, drawing the attention of the guilds – the two rival organisations who control the city of Espera. An unaffiliated killer like Isabel is either a potential asset . . . or a threat to be eliminated. Will the blood on her hands cost her everything?
(Audiobook access here)
The Island - C. L. Taylor
It was supposed to be the perfect holiday: a week-long trip for six teenage friends on a remote tropical island. But when their guide dies of a stroke leaving them stranded, the trip of a lifetime turns into a nightmare. Because someone on the island knows each of the group’s worst fears. And one by one, they’re becoming a reality. Seven days in paradise. A deadly secret. Who will make it off the island alive?
(eBook access here)
If You Tell Anyone, You’re Next - Jack Heath
Joe Gale's best friend, Jayden Jones, goes missing and everyone thinks he ran away. Zoe knows he's still alive and searches for him, leading her to a secret group chat called The 17. The 17 is used by anonymous teens to blackmail others by forcing them to complete illegal, dangerous, and sometimes deadly challenges. Zoe must discover the truth about what happened to Jayden and what The 17 is before she becomes their next target.
(Audiobook access here)
Years 11 & 12 Fiction and True Stories
Sunderworld Vol. 1 The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry
Seventeen -year -old Leopold Berry is seeing weird things around Los Angeles. A man who pops a tooth into a parking meter. A glowing trapdoor in a parking lot. A halfmechanical raccoon with its tail on fire that just won’t leave him alone. Every hallucinatory moment seems plucked from a cheesy 1990s fantasy TV show called Max's Adventures in Sunderworld —and that’s because they are not a good sign. In the blurry weeks after his mother’s death, a young Leopold discovered VHS tapes of its one and only season in a box headed for the trash —and soon became obsessed.
Merlins Tour of the Universe - Neil deGrasse Tyson
A delightful journey through the cosmos, as Merlin responds to popular questions asked by adults and children alike. Merlin, a timeless visitor from Planet Omniscia in the Andromeda Galaxy, has observed first-hand many of the major scientific events of Earth's history. Merlin's friends include the most important scientific figures and explorers of all time - da Vinci, Magellan, Newton, Einstein and Hubble.
Einstein in Time and Space - Samuel Graydon
The Nobel Prize -winning physicist who discovered relativity, black holes and E = mc2, Einstein was also a high -school failure with an FBI file 1,400 pages long. From his lost daughter to escaping the Nazis, from dining with Charlie Chaplin to refusing the Presidency of Israel, Einstein in Time and Space tells 99 unexpected stories of the man who redefined how we view our universe and our place within it.
The Ledge - Christian White
When human remains are discovered in the forests of regional Victoria, the police are baffled, the locals are shocked, and one group of old friends starts to panic. Their long -held secret is about to be uncovered. It all began in 1999 when sixteen -year -old Aaron ran away from home, dragging his friends into an unforeseeable chain of events that no one escaped from unscathed. In The Ledge, past and present run breathlessly, tensely parallel, leading to a cliff-hanger nobody will see coming.
A Periodic Tale - Karl Kruszelnicki
Karl's story teaches us that you don't have to know all the answers, as long as you ask the right questions. He has wandered down more than a dozen career paths, from being a TV weatherman (really) to a professional four -wheel drive tester in the outback (really) to being a roadie for Bo Diddley (really). All of these seemingly random experiences have helped create the Karl we know today. In this long -awaited memoir, you will learn that it's okay to not take a linear path through life, and that by following our curiosities and our passions, we can bend the universe to our liking.
The Girl Who Touched the Stars - Bonnie Hancock
254 days, 12,700 kilometres, sea sickness, sharks, crocodiles and ocean. Bonnie Hancock broke numerous records on her fastest ever circumnavigation by paddle around Australia but that wasn't the achievement she is most proud of. Testing the limits of her mental and physical toughness, she learned what it means to overcome adversity and how important teamwork and perspective truly are. What looks distressing from the rocky shore or storm -tossed waves can be inspiring when you look to the heavens.
Years 11 & 12 eBooks & Audiobooks
The Everest Files - Matt Dickinson
A thrilling journey to the dark side of Everest. In the deepest Himalaya a story is spreading like wildfire. The story of an Everest expedition unlike any other. An expedition that ended in lies, betrayal, mysterious disappearances … and death. At the heart of it all - rumours of dark forces at play. This is the mystery that eighteen-year-old Ryan Hart sets out to solve.
(eBook access here)
Before I Go To Sleep - S. J. Watson
Chilling, exquisitely crafted and compulsively readable, S. J. Watson's debut novel Before I Go to Sleep is a psychological thriller of the highest order. It asks primary questions. Are there things best not remembered? Who are we if we do not know our own history? How do we love without memory?
(eBook access here)
The Memory Police - Yoko Ogawa
To the people on the island, a disappeared thing no longer has any meaning. It can be burned in the garden, thrown in the river or handed over to the Memory Police. Soon enough, the island forgets it ever existed. When a young novelist discovers that her editor is in danger of being taken away by the Memory Police, she desperately wants to save him. For some reason, he doesn't forget.
(eBook access here)
Orphan X - Gregg Hurwitz
Evan Smoak was an orphan raised in a secret government programme. When he lost faith in it, he got out and now uses his training to help the desperate and deserving who've nowhere left to run - if you can find him. But no one can escape their past forever. Someone is on Evan's trail. Someone with the same skills and training. And who knows the weaknesses of the boy who became Orphan X.
(eBook access here)
My Everest Story - Mark Pfetzer & Jack Galvin
May 10, 1996. Sixteen-year-old Mark Pfetzer huddles in his tent at 26,000 feet, waiting for his turn to attempt Everest's summit. As a fierce storm descends on the camp, a frightening realisation dawns on Mark and his colleagues- many of the climbers who summitted that afternoon have not yet returned. By morning, the storm has claimed eight lives - and Mark's longdreamed-of summit day has become one of the bleakest days in mountaineering history.
(Audiobook access here)
The Extinction Trials S.M. Wilson
Betrayal. Sacrifice. Survival. Welcome to The Extinction Trials. After surviving on Piloria once, Storm and Lincoln are the obvious candidates to return to the dinosaur continent to test the new virus that should clear the way for human settlement. But they have their own priorities - finding a cure for the plague that's sweeping Earthasia, and keeping themselves alive.
(eBook access here)
Parents & Staff Fiction
The Life Impossible - Matt Haig
When retired math teacher Grace Winters is left a run - down house on a Mediterranean island by a long -lost friend, curiosity gets the better of her. She arrives in Ibiza with a one -way ticket, no guidebook and no plan. Among the rugged hills and golden beaches of the island, Grace searches for answers about her friend’s life, and how it ended. What she uncovers is stranger than she could have dreamed. But to dive into this impossible truth,
Wifedom - Anna Funder
A breathtakingly intimate view of one of the most important literary marriages of the twentieth century, Wifedom speaks to our present moment as much as it illuminates the past. Genre -bending and utterly original, it is an ode to the unsung work of women everywhere
Dirrayawadha - Anita Heiss
Miinaa was a young girl when the white ghosts first arrived, raising a piece of red and white cloth, renaming her homeland ‘Bathurst’. Displaced from her home, Miinaa misses her miyagan. Her brother, Windradyne, is a Wiradyuri leader, and visits when he can, bringing news of unrest across their ngurambang.
The Knowledge Gene - Lynne Kelly
Drawing on a major discovery with tremendous implications, an Australian researcher uncovers the source of human creativity and learning in the functioning of a supergene she calls the knowledge gene. This is the extraordinary story of a gene that makes us uniquely human. Dr Lynne Kelly recounts how a widespread congenital disorder was the critical clue she and her collaborators needed to identify this gene as the supergene that has long eluded researchers into human cognition.
By Any Other Name Jodi Picoult
Bestselling author Jodi Picoult brings to life the woman many believe was the real playwright behind the work of William Shakespeare alongside a contemporary story of a New York author suffering the same fate of being silenced.
We Solve Murders - Richard Osman
Steve Wheeler is enjoying retired life. He does the odd bit of investigation work, but he prefers his familiar habits and routines. His days of adventure are over: adrenaline is daughter -in -law Amy’s business now. Then a dead body, a bag of money, and a killer with their sights on Amy have her sending an SOS to the only person she trusts. A breakneck race around the world begins, but can Amy and Steve stay one step ahead of a lethal enemy?
Here One Moment - Liane Moriarty
A brilliantly constructed story that looks at free will and destiny, grief and love, and the endless struggle to maintain certainty and control in an uncertain world. Liane Moriarty is a modern -day Jane Austen who humorously skewers social mores while spinning a web of mystery and asking profound, universal questions
Parents & Staff eBooks & Audiobooks
The Year of the Locust - Terry Hayes
If, like Kane, you're a Denied Access Area spy for the CIA, then boundaries have no meaning. Your function is to go in, do whatever is required, and get out again - by whatever means necessary. You know when to run, when to hide - and when to shoot. But some places don't play by the rules. Some places are too dangerous, even for a man of Kane's experience.
(Audiobook access here)
The Yield - Tara June Winch
August Gondiwindi has been living on the other side of the world for ten years when she learns of her grandfather's death. She returns home for his burial, wracked with grief and burdened with all she tried to leave behind. Her homecoming is bittersweet as she confronts the love of her kin and news that Prosperous is to be repossessed by a mining company
(Audiobook access here)
Klara and the Sun - Kazuo Ishiguro
From her place in the store, Klara, an Artificial Friend with outstanding observational qualities, watches carefully the behaviour of those who come in to browse, and of those who pass in the street outside. She remains hopeful a customer will soon choose her, but Klara is warned not to invest too much in the promises of humans.
(eBook access here)
Thinking, Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahneman
Why is there more chance we'll believe something if it's in a bold type face? Why are judges more likely to deny parole before lunch? Why do we assume a good-looking person will be more competent? The answer lies in the two ways we make choices- fast, intuitive thinking, and slow, rational thinking. This book reveals how our minds are tripped up by error and prejudice and gives you practical techniques for slower, smarter thinking,
(eBook access here)
Midnight in Chernobyl - Adam Higginbotham
Drawing on hundreds of hours of interviews conducted over the course of more than ten years, as well as letters, unpublished memoirs, and documents from recently declassified archives, this book makes for a masterful non-fiction thriller. Chernobyl is lodged in the collective nightmares of the world: shorthand for the spectral horrors of radiation poisoning, for a dangerous technology slipping its leash, for ecological fragility, and for what can happen when a dishonest and careless state endangers not only its own citizens, but all of humanity.
(eBook access here)
The Postcard - Anne Berest
January 2003. Together with the usual holiday cards, an anonymous postcard is delivered to the Berest family home. On the front, a photo of the Opéra Garnier in Paris. On the back, the names of Anne Berest's maternal great-grandparents, Ephraïm and Emma, and their children, Noémie and Jacques—all killed at Auschwitz. Fifteen years after the postcard is delivered, Anne, the heroine of this novel, is moved to discover who sent it and why
Top Tips to Foster a Reading Culture at Home
- Create a Reading Space – a comfy, quiet area with good lighting and seating. Minimise any distractions – place the phone out of the room :) Led by Example – sit with your children or teens and read as well. Let them see that you value the act of reading itself.
- Set a Reading Routine – establish a daily reading habit, start with 5 minutes if necessary and extend by a minute or two every few days until you reach the magical 20-minute mark!
- Encourage free choice – this is critical! Let them read (almost) anything they wish to. Ownership over their own reading habits is so important to forming a strong reader identity.
- Discuss what they are reading – let them tell you about the books, the story arc, the characters. Or have them unpack a great non-fiction read in detail and see their retention of what they have read!
- Celebrate every reading milestone – whether it is a completed book, a chapter or a page! Acknowledge their patience and achievement, particularly if reading has not been a strong habit up until now.
