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The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman
First published in 1985, a decade before The Golden Compass ever saw the light of day, Philip Pullman’s mystery series featuring 16 year old Sally Lockhart provides a glimpse at a sort of proto-Lyra Belacqua.
The Time Paradox: Artemis Fowl Book 6 by Eoin Colfer
A short time after returning from Limbo, saving an entire fairy species and finding the world has moved on by three years, 14-year-old Artemis -- who should be closer to 18 by now -- has another crisis to deal with.
Word of Honour by Michael Pryor
Rejoice! Aubrey Fitzwilliam, that Miles Vorkosigan of alternative universe Edwardian England, is back for yet another deliciously entertaining outing, along with his friends George and Caroline.
Sovay by Celia Rees
Sovay is set in 18th century England and Revolutionary France. The story is seen through the eyes of a young woman. It appears to be inspired by a traditional ballad which was about a girl who dressed as a man and held up a coach to test her sweetheart.
Henry V by William Shakespeare
It may well be an idea whose time has come. Not simply a graphic novel based on William Shakespeare’s classic work, but the graphic novel, done up three ways.
Araminta Spookie #5: Ghostsitters by Angie Sag
The fifth in a popular children’s series about Araminta Spookie, who lives in a mansion with her Uncle Drac, her Aunt Tabby, Brenda and Barry Wizzard and their daughter Wanda, as well as three ghosts: Sir Horace, his page Edmund and their dog Fang.
Naomi and Ely’s No-Kiss List by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Beautiful Naomi can have almost any boy she wants and has had boyfriends (Bruce 1 and 2). The trouble is, the only boy she wants is Ely, the one she can’t have.
The OK Team 2: Better Than OK
In The OK Team, we met Hazy Retina, a boy who discovered that his tendency to fall apart -- literally! -- when he panicked or was embarrassed made him a member of the super-hero community.
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Teen, Inc. by Stefan Petrucha
If Teen, Inc. isn’t turned into a movie, I’ll be very surprised. It reads like a number of films I have seen over the years, though it doesn’t end like them.
Shadows in the Twilight by Henning Mankell
However, many who are new to his work don’t know that, in his own country, Mankell is also esteemed as a teller of children’s tales.
Untamed by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
With Stephanie Meyer’s supernaturally driven series continuing to dominate the teen bestseller charts, it’s unsurprising to find leagues of similarly constructed books nipping at the well-conceived heels of Meyer’s success.
The Girl in the Castle Inside the Museum
Here is an original fairy tale that feels like a dream -- haunting, beautiful, and completely unforgettable.
The (Not Quite) Perfect Boyfriend by Lili Wilkinson
The (Not Quite) Perfect Boyfriend is the latest in Allen and Unwin’s Girlfriend Fiction series. Yes, it’s a teen romance and yes, it sticks to the formula, but there’s more to it and this one is very funny.
The Dragon in the Sock Drawer by Kate Klimo
The Dragon in the Sock Drawer is the whole package: smart, sometimes wise, thoughtful and funny. Klimo’s debut effort has the feel of an instant classic.
Grk and the Hot Dog Trail by Joshua Doder
If you’re in a position to read books for children and you’ve not yet come across Doder’s Grk books, wait for it because they’re coming fast.
The Dangerous Alphabet by Neil Gaiman
If you think this is an actual alphabet book, even a quirky one, think again. It does use the letters of the alphabet, but only as an excuse for the 13 rhyming couplets that form a story.
The Equen Queen by Alyssa Brugman
With The Equen Queen, the second in the Quentaris spinoff series, Alyssa Brugman, best known for mainstream teen fiction, enters the children’s fantasy genre.
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