Cirrus@Austlit

'James Larwood’s life is perfect – until a single mistake sees him lose everything. When James is released from prison, he is penniless and potentially homeless. Enter James’ tradie brother, Larry, who employs him as a cleaner and starts a factory Book Club to try and get his brother back on his feet. James expects to be lumped with a bunch of uneducated bogans and westies, but comes to realise that this group of misfits are some of the warmest, funniest and most intelligent humans he has ever met.

'Can James claw back the life he once had? The Bogan Book Club – You won’t know whether to laugh or cry, so you’ll probably do both!'  (Publication summary)

'A collection of hilarious, nonsensical, witty and mischievous subjects - the best (and worst) advice for growing up.

'There is one sure-fire method to avoid being eaten by sharks. Don’t go in the ocean.

'How can you avoid being eaten by sharks? What does it mean to ‘skateboard’ someone? Is there a chance you could be abducted by aliens? Are there zombies hiding under your brother’s bed?

'In this hilarious guide, John Larkin relates his tried and tested advice for navigating the mysteries of life, with a sprinkling of some the facts and history he’s discovered along the way. Accompanied by entertaining comic-style illustrations from Chrissie Krebs, this is an education not to be missed!' (Publication summary)

'Brittany and Co. are horse crazy, but when their headmistress, Ms Tralala, bans their actual horses from their extracurricular school horse club, they decide instead to compete in The First Inaugural International Hobby Horse Championships in Paris (TFIIHHCiP). To raise money for their trip they attempt to sell radioactive chocolate crackles outside the village bookshop! With the help of Ms Tralala, who insists on joining them on their adventure, Brittany and Co. take on Paris in a way that Paris has never been taken on before. Will it matter that they haven't done a scrap of practice for their big competition? Be warned. This book will make you laugh until you puke.' (Publication summary)

'Three 12-year-old boys and the world’s sassiest teenage girl join forces to defeat the zombie hordes before the world is plunged into a new Dark Age.

'The quartet’s weapons of choice? A light-sabre that doesn’t have any batteries, a sack of doorknobs, and a non-existent Pegasus.

'What could possibly go wrong?'

Source : publisher's blurb

'Declan seems to have it all: a family that loves him, friends he's known for years, a beautiful girlfriend he would go to the ends of the earth for.

'But there's something in Declan's past that just won't go away, that pokes and scratches at his thoughts when he's at his most vulnerable. Declan feels as if nothing will take away that pain that he has buried deep inside for so long. So he makes the only decision he thinks he has left: the decision to end it all.

'Or does he? As the train approaches and Declan teeters at the edge of the platform, two versions of his life are revealed. In one, Declan watches as his body is destroyed and the lives of those who loved him unravel. In the other, Declan pauses before he jumps. And this makes all the difference.' (Publication summary)

'Ninja training continues for Jake, Ben, Pongo and Veejay, under the masterful eye of Sensei Lee...when he's not too busy eating ice-cream and watching beach volleyball on TV. But will the Nerdy Ninjas be prepared for battle when a blood-curdling scream rings out from the forest' (Publication summary)

'Jake, Ben, Pongo, and Veejay might seem like your averagenerds... Jake loves rocket science, Ben plays the trumpet, Veejay sings opera, and Pongo bounces around on a pogo stick. But when the local bully declares them too nerdy to pick on, they decide to take action! They're about to become ninjas!' (Publication summary)

'The shadow girl never imagined she'd live on the streets. After her parents disappear, life with her aunt and uncle takes a sinister turn. Terrified that the authorities will believe her uncle over her, she flees.

'She tricks her way into a new school and pretends to have a loving family. No one knows she sleeps in rail yards, sand dunes and abandoned houses. At school she meets the author she will call on years later. Together they piece together the story of how she survived, who helped her, and the friend she wishes she could have saved.' (From the publisher's website.)

'Rebecca Yallop loved horses. She loved everything about them until she became one!

'A hilarious story about big sisters from one of Australia s funniest writers and best-loved illustrators.' (Publication summary)