Scholastic

Another thrilling installment of the Joshua files, and they just get better and better.

Josh is growing up mentally and physically with all attendant problems, and has taken up Capoeira, a form of martial arts, with his friend Tyler. It's been some time since his last encounter with the people and politics of Ek Naab, but all that is set to change, and it's time for more high flying adventure.

It's been many years since I've read any teenage romance books. I can't really remember what they were about but assume they were in a similar vane to Rachael Wing's Star Crossed.

This is her first book and is about a girl who ends up playing Juliet in the school play opposite a Romeo both she and her family dislike. The obvious happens and they both fall in love. This is probably exactly the kind of book that pre-teen/early teenage girls would love.

Rachael Wing's second book, Love Struck, was much easier to read than her first. Her writing had definitely improved and the story felt a bit more believable (apart from the final pages, where she ends up on stage with her favourite band and her best friend/the guy she was meant to be with all along!). But that's me being cynical, young teenage girls will love the final outcome.

This book would appeal to girls who are interested in boys and bands. Not a bad story, especially when you consider the writer is only a teenager herself.

This is brilliant ! James Bond for boys !

Fast, thrilling action adventure with all one could want - ancient ruins, advanced technology, plenty of plot twist and turns and an exotic location. But this is not a light, frothy story, there is death, betrayal and fear all portrayed with sensitivity.

The 13 year old hero is intelligent and brave, and the notion of detailing his feelings via a blog works really well. In fact the whole format should appeal to the modern teenager.

The next in the Joshua Files, following Invisible City, and just as good.

Josh returns to Mexico, and the mysteries continue to unfold. He may have worked out how his father died, but there is much more to learn and endure.

The story goes up a notch, but I don't want to spoil it by telling you too much !

M G Harris has a sure touch, combining the adventure with good, believable characters and an easy style which gallops along. I just had to read it in a day, sneaking chapters in here and there, to find out what happens.

Reading The Puzzle Ring by Kate Forsyth is like meeting up with an old friend and carrying on from where you left off the last time you met.

This is a brilliant story set in Scotland with history and magic melded together in such a way as to keep you gripped the whole way through the book.

There are many twists, turns and time frames to keep any reader very happy and it goes without saying that I loved the book which gave me a very satisfying read.

I very much look forward to her next one.

Fever Crumb the prequel to the Mortal Engines Quartet is quite simple - brilliant. It has references to all things 20th Century that are very funny and at times quite thought provoking - can you imagine the Barbican as an old castle fort with catepillar tracks deep in the earth, or the Hari Potters or even a tram stop called St Kylie! There are many places, people, objects and films that you will recognise that makes is so much fun to read, but also makes it very difficult to put down.

This is a wonderful book told in words and pictures but not just any sort of pictures - these are fine charcoal drawings done by Brian Selznick himself plus several photos from a 1923 George Miele film that push forward the story at a very rapid rate of knots - but do take a breath and look at the fine detail in the pictures and  how well they show what is going on.

The Planet in Trouble is part of the series in the books under the banner of Horrible Geography Handbooks.

The back Cover says it all - What can YOU do to save YOUR planet? and then it asks the following three questions.

1.  Get on the trail of your Carbon Footprint?

2.  Try some rubbish ways to watch your waste?

3.  Run a car on Chocolate or dead flies?

With these perilous planet facts, earth saving tips and eco friendly ideas for going green will it help you to do all you can to save our world?

Main characters Henry, Lewis and Jack play a game called Tauronia which is supposed to be a secret, and thought up by the their Aunt Thea.  But they play it anyway in the playground without others really knowing what they are up to!!

But a goody two shoes comes to their school in the guise of Dahlia and wants them to stop playing nasty games - she moves in next door to aunt Thea and discovers what the game is really about.  She manages to infiltrate their game  and chaos ensues.