Kid's Picks
The Ape Star by Frida Nilsson
Suitable for readers 8+ years
Cleaning Day at nine-year-old Jonna’s orphanage only happens for visitors. When a gorilla, called Gorilla, arrives in a beat-up old car everyone is shocked, especially Jonna who Gorilla adopts and takes home to her junkyard. Life with Gorilla is better than the orphanage, but it’s not the family she hoped for. But, when a nasty developer threatens to send Jonna back to the orphanage unless Gorilla sells up, Jonna looks set to lose the only family she’s ever had. A fun story about what makes a family.
Drew Leclair Gets a Clue by Katryn Bury
Suitable for readers 12+
When her mum runs away from home and a cyberbully starts posting embarassing photos of her classmates, twelve-year-old Drew’s amature detective skills are pulled into action. She solved a graffiti crime and found a lost rabbit, so this job is perfect. Using her keen observation skills she profiles everyone to work out who could be the cyberbully, and the results lead to some big complications. If you love a great adventure/mystery story you’ll love this book!
Flight 171 by Amy Christine Parker
Ages 12+
Horror fans will love this spooky story about a plane full of teens on a class ski trip. Devon Marsh is still getting over the death of her twin sister, so her pilot mum drags her along on a trip she doesn’t want to go on. When an evil old lady hijacks the flight the teens are left fighting for their lives, or really - who they will have to sacrifice! A page turner for readers who like it scary.
The Yark by Bertrand Santini and illustrated by Laurent Gapaillard.
8+
A cautionary tale about a monster with a ferocious appearance called a Yark who loves to eat children. However he has a delicate stomach so cannot tolerate bad children, and finds liars give him heartburn and bullies and brats damage his teeth. Sadly modern times have curbed the Yark’s diet, as practically no edible children are available for him to eat any more. Illustrated throughout with black and white drawings which so successfully complement this slightly scary but funny story.
Reactive by Helen Vivienne Fletcher
Ages 13+
This novella packs a lot of punch in such a short story! Toby is struggling at his new school. He’s the only one of the six students who can’t seem to do anything right with his developing magic powers. When he overhears the teachers talking about him and a prophecy he realises he isn’t going to get out easily, if at all. Then when the plant he creates goes wild , Toby and the other students must fight for their lives and face the prophecy face on.