Bluefish - Pat Schmatz

This was recommended to me by our wonderful new librarian, Wendy Wright. So thanks to her I think we'll be ordering a class set of this, probably for Yr 10 or Yr 11 classes.

Travis has been raised by his grandfather in small town, rural America. Financial difficulties force Travis and his grandad to move into town and closer to the school Travis hates so much. At school nothing seems to make sense to Travis, learning just doesn't 'fit'. However meeting Mr McQueen and teaming up with new friends,Velveeta and Randy, opens up a new world for him.

While being incredibly well crafted in terms of it's language and structure, it is also very realistic in terms of the a teenage boy struggling to overcome a serious learning issue while trying to hide the truth about it.

The dead I know - Scot Gardner

Aaron is 17, lives in a caravan park with his 'Mam' who is deteriorating with Alzheimers, and sleep walks. An interesting young man!

When he is offered a part time job in a funeral parlour, life becomes even more interesting! He learns to 'dress' bodies, drive a hearse, be a pall bearer and even a 'collector' of the dead.

But Aaron's troubled dreams lead him into serious trouble. What is the meaning behind the violent visions that he has? Will he discover the truth ? And can he keep 'Mam' safe?

A very interesting read - for more senior readers.

Trash - Andy Mulligan

Raphael , Gardo and Rat live in a community of rubbish dump dwellers. They and their families survive by sifting through the rubbish that others dispose of without a thought. They carry on in the hope that they will some day find something that will change their lives. And one day they do.

A great story of social justice and hope set in a community that seems devoid of hope. Engaging characters and multiple narrative viewpoints help to develop a plot that reveals itself slowly.

The social, political and historical events that underpin the story may be 'fictional' but they will sound very familiar to many of us. Junior readers will not need prior background knowledge to enjoy the adventures of the trio of characters.