Haunted Heart

Haunted Heart by Tania Donald

What I Did For Love!

Eloise was a simple village girl whose life was consumed by her rose garden, her dear friends Georgiana and Miriam, and the possibility Mr Jones, a very amiable man whom she could grow to care for over the years they might spend together as man and wife. Although this was the future she could expect, somehow Eloise couldn't help wanting more, more then her little village, more then an agreeable marriage. What she dreamt of was a deep romance, but the price for such love does not come cheap.

With the newly arrived Mr White comes new possibilities for Eloise. With his alluring presence in her life, Eloise is awakening to a passionate love filled with the joy of possibilities and the pain of neglect. However if Eloise is to survive this new love and her lovers demands she is going to have to survive a transformation that will lead her through dark and beguiling ways. But even if she survives this transformation she may still yet fall pray to a darker end.

Haunted Heart tells the tale of love, passion, danger and a life lived through any means with only one goal; survival. As one young girl crosses the threshold into womanhood, she steps between the boundaries of her moralistic society and into a world of dark seduction, a world that brings life with death, a world of loneliness and of great love. In this mixture of a Jane Austen character let loose in the world of Dracula, what follows is a provocative tale of romance, where in the end one woman will sacrifice all for her love.

Tania Donald @ Penguin

On sale: 27 June 2010
Price (AU): $29.95
ISBN: 9781921518706
Recommended age: 18+
In a word: Hearts
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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The Kingdom of the Lost #1

THE KINGDOM OF THE LOST:

The Red Wind by Isobelle Carmody

Go West!

Bily and Zluty live a quiet and happy life of routine, they spend the warmer months foraging, collecting and growing, baking, making and bartering all that they will need to sustain them for the cold winter months. While Bily, white furred and timid, completed the important tasks about their cottage, Zluty, yellow furred and adventurous, would setoff on long treks to gather what suppliers they need from the surrounding lands.

When one morning these two brothers woke to discover a redness in the sky nether could say for sure what that redness was. Weather a cloud, a mist or something else the only thing Bily and Zluty knew for curtain was that they had never seen it before and what ever it was it did belong. However with no answers Bily and Zluty did the only thing they could, they ignored the redness and went about with their tasks. However the red wind would not be ignored.

The Red Wind is a sweet and tender story of brotherly love, duty, kindness and courage. In the face of danger, destruction and the threat of death these two brothers demonstrate just how important all life is, whether that of a small bee or a large monster. Bily and Zluty are able to show how helping others in need is important, and that change no matter how scary or devastating is not the end of the world but can be the beginning of a new adventure.

Isobelle Carmody Webpage

Isobelle Carmody @ Penguin

On sale: 28 June 2010
Price (AU): $19.95
ISBN: 9780670074037
Recommended age: 8+
In a word: Brothers
Re-read it: possibly
Recommend: yes
Star rating: three out of five
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Thirteen Reasons Why

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

There Is Always A Silver Lining!

When Clay returned home from school one afternoon to discover a shoebox sized package at his door, the last thing he expected was to spend the night amongst past memories with the words of a dead girl echoing through his head. No, the last thing expected was for that voice to blame him for her death. In the space of one night he will discover his part in the death of a girl he barely knew.

It seems to Hannah that ever since she moved to town things had only gone from bad to worse. It all began with the rumours that started not long after her arrival by someone she had thought she could trust. Then the list was released, an attempt at revenge but not at her, however its affect was no less hurtful. When things never got any better, when there was no relief from the darkness closing in around her, Hannah made a choice. But there were thirteen reasons, thirteen people, who played a part in that choice.

Thirteen Reasons Why is a dark and desperate tale of bullying that leads to depression and tragedy. Suicide is an important issue and one that should be discussed, but that doesn't make it any less painful to read, to experience the blame and grief within these pages. It is a powerful story that left me feeling as dejected, angry and somewhat confused as the characters within.

Jay Asher Webpage

Jay Asher @ Penguin

On sale: 16 September 2009
Price (AU): $17.95
ISBN: 9780141328294
Recommended age: 12+
In a word: Suicide
Re-read it: no
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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Pocket Money Puffins: Vamoose!

POCKET MONEY PUFFINS:
Vamoose! by Meg Rosoff

Imagine That, A Baby Moose!

Apparently its not that uncommon to have a baby moose, it's rare, but not uncommon. When at seventeen Jess has to break the news to her mother that she is pregnant, she never thought that she would have to explain to her mother that her baby was not like other human babies, but a baby moose. An unwed teenage mother could have worse problems couldn't she?

Vamoose is a quirky little light-hearted story that manages to impress the pressures and difficulties of being a mother, especially when that mother is still only really a child herself and when that mother has a baby that is not altogether what was expected. But when life throws us something crazy, it just may be the best thing that ever happened to us; then again it just may be something crazy. The perfect bit size read for those on the go.

Meg Rosoff Webpage

Meg Rosoff @ Penguin

On sale: 01 June 2010
Price (AU): $7.95
ISBN: 9780141329147
Recommended age: 12+
In a word: Moose
Re-read it: possibly
Recommend: probably
Star rating: three out of five
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Pocket Money Puffins: Infinity

POCKET MONEY PUFFINS:
Infinity by Sarah Dessen

All Things Are Connected!

Its not her boyfriend Anthony that has her feeling pressured, although he is doing his best to be persuasive where there relationship is concerned, but the round about that has her feeling anxious. Maybe its something she has picked up from her mother, a feeling of fear ingrained in her from the incident at the roundabout that left her mother determined to never enter it again, or is it her own sense of guilt for not supporting her mother by also boycotting the circular death trap?

Infinity is a short story about growing up, learning about life and making the choices that are right for you. Everyone comes to their own decisions in their own time and rushing into things can sometimes only makes things worse. Issues of family and relationships are explored in this mini but meaningful little story.

Sarah Dessen Webpage

Sarah Dessen @ Penguin

On sale: 07 June 2010
Price (AU): $7.95
ISBN: 9780141330778
Recommended age: 12+
In a word: Infinity
Re-read it: possibly
Recommend: probably
Star rating: three out of five
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Beautiful Monster

beautiful monster by Kate McCaffrey

I Have To Be My Best, I Have To Be The Best!

There was a time when all Tess had to worry about was homework and her annoying little brother. But now with her brother gone Tess worries about everything and homework is just one more thing that causes her anxiety; slowly it feels like everything is slipping out of control.

After her brother Tess's life becomes dark, her home silent and happiness something that no longer exists within her family. Her parents are having trouble dealing with the aftermath of the incident, her mother especially is not coping falling into a great depression and Tess is left to try and deal through things on her own. At least she would be alone if it wasn't for Ned.

Ned is the one person Tess can trust, the one person she can talk to and the only one who understands her. Tess knows that Ned loves her and anything he may say is for her best, he wants her to be the best. If she can just control her study, control her eating, then maybe she will become smart enough and thin enough to be good enough to be loved.

beautiful monster is a compelling story with a lead character you really feel for. This is story about a devastating and traumatic event that cripples a family and leaves one girl forever changed. A sensitive and insightful look at how one girl deals with a number of difficult issues namely grief, depression, and eating disorders. Some events not only change your life but leave you forever changed.

Everyone deals with tragedy in their own ways but no one should have to deal alone.

Kate McCaffrey Webpage

Kate McCaffrey @ Penguin

On sale: 27 April 2010
Price (AU): $19.95
ISBN: 9781921361982
Recommended age: 14+
In a word: Tragedy
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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Impossible

Impossible by Nancy Werlin

'Was True Love When You Wanted To Slap Someone And Kiss Him Madly At The Very Same Time?'

Lucy Scarborough had always known her mother was crazy. Literally, she was insane. More accurately she was a homeless crazy bag lady as far as Lucy could see. But that was only on the occasions Lucy would see her, but where she went to when she disappeared no one knew.

When she was seven Lucy made a discovery, one that would change her life. But being seven and as yet unable to read fluently this discovery was put aside and all but forgotten but for a spell created and made on a childish whim. A spell that may just one day save her life.

When she was seventeen Lucy learned the truth, well the truth as her mother believed it to be. But would believing her mother really be the key to her salvation, or was it yet more ranting from a mind lost to insanity and would listening to it only lead to insanity for Lucy herself?

More importantly would Lucy, being only seventeen with her only experience with a boy being a horrible and traumatic one, be able recognise true love when she saw it? Especially if true love was her only saving grace from a ancient curse that had already taken all her family before her.

Taken from the balled 'Scarborough Fair', Impossible is more then just a tuneful song, it is a story of magic, heartbreak and love. But Impossible is only one way to describe the puzzling tasks Lucy must undertake to break an ancient curse that has plagued her family for generations. This is an emotional story with true love at its heart.

Nancy Werlin Webpage

Nancy Werlin @ Penguin

The Scarborough Girls Family Tree

On sale: 1 March 2010
Price (AU): $16.95
ISBN: 9780141330303
Recommended age: 12+
In a word: True Love
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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FLOWER FAIRIES: Sparkle Like A Flower Fairy

FLOWER FAIRIES:

Sparkle Like A Flower Fairy 
by Cicely Mary Barker

Sparkle For Yourself!

Fairies are known for their sparkle, but have you ever wondered what it is that makes them sparkle? Fairies sparkle with magic, fairies sparkle with love and fairies sparkle with kindness, but most of all fairies sparkle with happiness.

Being a fairy is about completing your chores and doing what needs to be done, only then can you claim your reward and your crown. Helping others in need is very important to fairies, and friendships are often cemented with bracelets.

Forgiveness is a very important lesson fairies learn, and often you can make others smile with a necklace made of flowers. A little magic is often present in all friendships, in the songs sung and the wands waved.

Parties are often planned to celebrate friends, and when you can love and laugh and believe in fairies you may just discover your own pair of wings, and sparkle like a Flower Fairy.

I love fairies, and in this beautiful book you will discover just why it is a Flower Fairy sparkles, and how to sparkle yourself. Cicely Mary Barker's stunning Flower Fairies guide you through a book full of lessons, discovering hidden treasures to take out and keep. An enchanting book for any fairy fan, and pages of fun for those wishing to be a fairy.

 

Cicely Mary Barker - Flower Fairies

 

On sale: 28 September 2009
Price (AU): $29.95
ISBN: 9780723264194
Recommended age: 6+
In a word: Fairies
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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Butterfly

Butterfly by Sonya Hartnett

Its Not Easy Finding Your Wings!

Plum is a fruit sitting unripened on the vine, she is round and awkward and unattractive. Aria is a song, beautiful and stylish, with the potential for fame and stardom. But Ariella Coyle is a butterfly.

Plum has always felt out of place, her family is not like other families, her house is not like other houses, and she is not like other girls. Plum is at that age where change is everywhere, she is growing up, no longer a child but still is treated like one. Nothing is under her control, her friends, her family, her body. It's not easy turning fourteen.

Plum has trouble fitting in, she is unsure of herself and her place in the world, in other words she is a teenager. Plum, however, has a secret weapon; hidden deep under her bed Plum has stored her most sacred possessions that are able to give her strength and courage. There is also the 'sister' she never had, a secret friend just over the fence.

But what is left for Plum when her world comes crashing down, and her secret possessions under the bed are no longer there for her, her secret friend a friend no more?

Butterfly is the story of growing up and learning that life is messy. Life is change. There are traumas and teasing and lies, but there is also understanding and selfless acts of love. This is a charming story of family, friends and life, which speaks to everyone who is about to turn fourteen, or anyone who has ever been fourteen. A greatly enjoyable book that has something for everyone.

 

Sonya Hartnett Webpage

Sonya Hartnett @ Penguin

 

On sale: 28 September 2009
Price (AU): $24.95
ISBN: 9780143203056
Recommended age: 12+
In a word: Life
Re-read it: possibly
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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