Cirrus@Austlit

'Lou De Loco writes to the producers of the "Normal Australian Family" show, nominating his family to appear as the most normal family in Australia, if not the entire Southern Hemisphere. Little does Lou know that writing that letter would launch his family into the most important mystery adventure of their lives. Boofy has been kidnapped, and now it's up to the De Loco family to save him . . .' (Publication summary)

'Ash Keeley is not happy. Three weeks on holiday on an island with a writer doesn't sound very exciting - even if Aunt Kat is known as the Queen of Horror.

'But it may not be as dull as he thinks. Even before he sets foot on the island, he learns that the police are interested in his strange aunt. Then he arrives to find the house deserted - and a grisly discovery waiting for him.

'Will Ash stay to discover why people call his aunt Crazy Kat?' (Publication summary)

'What would you do if you found a magic wishing crystal in a bubblegum machine? Ten-year-old Penny knows exactly what to do!

'She wishes an iceskating rink into her bedroom, turns prim Miss Doom into a breakdancer, and transforms her eight-year-old brother Steven into an Olympic-hope swimmer. And that's just for starters!

'A kid could have a great time with a wishing crystal. If only the crystal didn't keep getting it wrong . . .' (Publication summary)

'Clancy is frightened. Weird things are happening in the strange old house on windswept Gull Island. Footsteps, bumps in the night, a man who vanishes into thin air - what can it all mean? Does it have anything to do with the Mogombo Mask, hidden away in a secret room?

Clancy and Nick and their friends Hung and Jemma are determined to find out - even it if means a midnight visit to the island's haunted cemetery.' (Publication summary)

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'There are no dead bodies in this story. Listen, we're kids, murders don't come our way all that often. This is about a missing violin. Okay, not so exciting, but take it from me, it's a pretty good whodunit just the same.

'Angelo Martinelli, also known as The Angel, is on the job. He must find the famous Emma Tan's violin before it's too late. There's a lot at stake . . .' (Publication summary)

'The neighbouring cats are disappearing and not coming back. Twelve-year-old Ben reckons there is evil at work, but no one - not the police or his parents - will believe him.

'Ben loves a mystery and sets out to solve it with his new friends Troy and Mei Mei.

'Who would want so many cats? Where would they go? And just what is Troy's cranky old neighbour cooking in his garden shed?' (Publication summary)

'Jade Gambino is a spoilt brat who really enjoys bugging the Briscoe kids. They'd like her to disappear, and to their amazement that's exactly what happens. The local police sergeant enlists the aid of the three budding detectives to track down the kidnapper. Can they find Jade? If they do, will she be alive? Who is the stranger on the beach? And what is Jade's grand-mother's secret?

''The Case of the Kidnapped Brat' will keep you guessing to the very last page.' (Publication summary)

'Emma is fed up. Her parents have made her move with them to the city and now they're so busy renovating the house that their main communication is through notes stuck on the fridge door. No wonder the school counsellor says she has anti-social tendencies.

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As if that isn't enough, now there's a weirdo hanging around saying he's a megahero. What's the good of that? Can a megahero help Emma make new friends or stop the horrible Jacqueline-Suzanne from picking on her?' (Publication summary)

'Angelo Martinelli - also known as The Angel - doesn't believe in the supernatural, but strange things are happening in the house on Galgon Street. Mirrors are smashed, mysterious messages appear on the walls, and the furniture is thrown about.

'There is no sign of a break-in and the only clue is a strange smell. Time to bring in the CASE Breaker gang and Guthrie, the dog with the amazing powers.' (Publication summary)

'Some weird things are happening in Plainwood. First it was ghosts in the cemetery and strange noises in the night. Now there has been a big robbery that no one can explain. Can the Kelly Kids get to the bottom of whatever is going on?

'Meet Ned, Tim and Skeet and their friend Kelly Taylor. They have a knack for solving mysteries and mysteries have a way of finding them.' (Publication summary)

'Strange things have been happening at Joe and Harry's new home, Rosemary Cottage. Things disappearing, strangers arriving in the night and the police asking a lot of questions. Joe is sure that it all has something to do with Sam, the mysterious girl who lives at nearby Pitcaithly Farm.

'Could it all be just some joke she is playing, or is it something much more dangerous? Somehow Joe thinks that he is going to find out - whether he wants to or not . . .' (Publication summary)

'Gino and Grace Tassone are mystified by strange events following the presumed death of rock star Johnny Savage.' (Publication summary)

'Becky is really fed up. Her sister is a bully, her friends won't speak to her and she is hopeless at maths. Grandad is her only friend.

'When Becky finds out there's a witch living at number 23 she decides to ask for a spell to help her out. Getting the ingredients is difficult, but the results are spectacular!' (Publication summary)

'Little does anyone suspect that the local neighbourhood watch meeting will bring out a short-sighted neighbourhood witch!

'Elizabeth and James soon discover that being looked after by a trainee witch can be a lot of fun. Not only do they get to travel through time; they also manage to catch a gang of local burglars.' (Publication summary)

'When Codey's dad starts having problems with his computer colours, Codey decides to help. Unfortunately for him, the input of colours on the screen has a rather bizarre effect on the world around him. Cody and his dog, Buckets, find themselves in some very sticky situations, but are they meant to be there?' (Publication summary)