Cirrus@Austlit

'A powerful and moving story about one boy caught up in the Japanese earthquake and tsunami of 2011.

'When the tsunami strikes the Japanese seaside town of Omori-wan, the effects are utterly devastating. Three years later, much of what happened on that day is still a mystery. As Hotaka sets about convincing local performers to appear at the town's upcoming Memorial Concert, he finds himself increasingly haunted by memories of best friend, Takeshi, who perished without trace in the tsunami. Then his friend Sakura becomes involved in an anti-seawall movement, and all too quickly the protest gets serious. As the town and its people struggle to rebuild their lives, can Hotaka piece together what happened that day - and let go of the past? ' (Publication summary)

'The ancient civilisations of Mesopotamia, located in what is now Iraq, Syria and Kuwait, produced one of the world's great heroic sagas, the Epic of Gilgamesh.

'In this exciting, lively retelling, popular author John Heffernan brings two stories from the Epic to engaging life for young readers, while new illustrator Kate Durack's striking illustrations, inspired by Ancient Mesopotamian art, superbly illuminate the mythical world of the heroic brothers.' (Publication summary)

'The explosion jolts him awake. He sits up, gasping for air, heart thumping.

'Was the blast real? Perhaps it had only happened in his head, a bad dream. Demons of the dark, his father had called them. 'Push them away. They'll only poison your thoughts. Seek the light and they can't hurt you.'

'Naveed is sick of war - of the foreign powers and the Taliban, the warlords and the drug barons that together have torn Afghanistan apart. He's had to grow up quickly to take care of his widowed mother and little sister, making what little money he can doing odd jobs and selling at the markets. When he adopts Nasera, a street dog with extraordinary abilities, he has a chance to help rebuild his country. But will a new friend's betrayal crush his dreams of peace forever?

'From the winter of war comes the spring of hope.' (Publication summary)

'How do we find happiness? And once we find it, how do we hold on to it?

'“This book tells the story of an island on which a hard-working tribe lives. They rarely smiled, and never laughed, and although there was much beauty on the island, no one noticed. No one, that is, except a little blind boy.”

'“The blind boy brings happiness to the people of the island. He shows them how to laugh. But that’s not enough for them. They want to capture this happiness and keep it forever.”

'“If only they knew.”'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

There's smoke over the hills, but nobody in Edenville seems too concerned, even though it's fire season and the bush is tinder-dry. Luke has made friends in this town, his mum has found a job she likes, and it's starting to look as if they'll stay for a while. But Luke knows that good things don't last, and everything he has come to rely on is threatened by a much bigger event, one that could destroy everyone and everything. (Source: Google Books)

Stinky is a little dog who makes big smells.

'What happens when the most unpopular boy in class discovers a mouse with a big brain and an attitude to match?

'Eric is about to find out.

'When Einstein escapes from the mad scientist Dr von Burpinburger, he is rescued from a pet shop by Eric - a boy with absent parents, few friends, and a lousy record at school. Thanks to telepathic prompting from Einstein, Eric suddenly begins to dazzle - winning academic and popularity contests at school.

'But the evil Dr von Burpinburger is on his trail. He wants his star mouse back! And Einstein is starting to get just a little out of control...'  (Publication summary)

'He had to run. To escape the voices. They weren't there yet, but they were coming. He could feel them. If he ran hard and fast enough he might be able to escape them a little longer. If he pushed himself until his thighs ached and his heart pounded, they might fall back and leave him to the peace and quiet of the hill...

'Marty's a boy who is troubled by shadows. They won't leave him alone. He needs to find out what they are. It might be something to do with his mother, or something that happened a long time ago. For a while his friend Nariah makes the shadows go away, but not for long. Something is wrong, and it looks like nothing is going to stop those memories coming back.  (Publication summary)

'On a beautiful island lives a tribe of people who don’t smile or laugh much. Only a small blind urchin notices the wonderful things on the seashore. He tries to share them with the tribe, but they don’t notice. One day a sea creature comes to the shore. Together, the boy and the sea creature play in the water. The people of the tribe warn the boy that it is a monster, but they change their minds when they hear him laughing. They join in. However, afraid that the sea creature will leave and they will lose the happiness they have found, the tribe capture it and put it in a small pool. The sea creature soon begins to fade and die. The boy rescues it and the people of the tribe are left behind, wondering if they will ever be happy again.' (Publication summary)

'Can one boy change the course of Quentaran history?

Torrad, a young peasant, has uncovered an evil plot unfolding in Quentaris. Help comes from many quarters: a young contessa, a crippled town crier, a wolf-hound, the roach people, and Torrad's own hidden talents…' (Publication summary)

'"Right from the start, Elvis refused to be ignored. He pushed his way into our lives and made himself part of our family. Sometimes I think he was even more important that the rest of us." When a foal becomes part of Matt's family, the trouble really begins. This is a tale of one boy's determination, a family's struggle to stay together, and a foal that touches their lives.' (Publication summary)

Rick is coming to visit again. But will he recognise the farm? Will he have as much fun as last time? Same friend. Same farm. Totally different landscape. (Source: Back cover)