AustLit

Matt saves a young galah and his growing attachment to the bird leads him to a greater concern - saving the huge gum trees on the recreation ground on which the birds perch. (Source: Trove)

When Hector Castillo is bullied by two neighbouring Russian boys, his father Juan insists on taking swift revenge. Juan's temper and his deeply felt prejudice against 'the comunistas' soon lead to a full-scale family feud.

Hector wants no part of this feud, and secretly does everything he can to make peace between the two families. But Hector must also make peace with his father...

This is a powerful, uplifting story about one boy's fight against prejudice, and one man's fight against his own past. (Publisher's blurb)

'The arrival of baby Carl marks a turning point in the lives of the Mariners. Loved and wanted though he is, Carl casts a shadow over the household, and his adolescent brother becomes increasingly resentful and bewildered.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Catherine Jinks spins a colorful tale loaded with action, down-and-dirty details of medieval life, and a healthy helping of sarcasm sure to appeal to teen readers - especially boys.
'Down on his luck and kicked in the pants one too many times, sixteen-year-old Pagan Kidrouk arrives on the doorstep of the Templar Knights in medieval Jerusalem, looking for work as a squire. He's expecting only some protection from the seedier aspects of life on the street and a few square meals. Instead, Pagan finds himself hard at work for Lord Roland de Bram - an exciting life of polishing Lord Roland's armor, laundering his garments, and even training to fight by his side.
'But as the Infidel Saladin leads his army to Jerusalem, it becomes more and more difficult for Pagan and Lord Roland to discern what action to take or whom to trust. Neither Saladin's army nor the Christian Crusaders offer easy answers. Is a bloody battle for control of the Holy City inevitable?' (Publication summary)

'When 15-year-old Kate discovers that her friend Martin has vanished into the nightmare Otherworld, she knows that only she can save him - but the Otherworld does not release its victims so easily.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'The arrival of baby Carl marks a turning point in the lives of the Mariners. Loved and wanted though he is, Carl casts a shadow over the household, and his adolescent brother becomes increasingly resentful and bewildered.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Two teenagers, unlike and inseparable–is it homosexuality? Fifteen-year-old Justin Vincent, cynosure and snob, leads the opposition at a posh Sydney school to that "bloody little ethnic tyke," new classmate Rudi Mayer. But "Cool Rudi"–a self-willed loner since his Austrian musician father's death–intrigues Justin by going his own imperturbable way; and with a little help from Brahms' "St. Antony Chorale," the two become bosom friends. The turnabout scene is a little sticky, and the mutual devotion of the two boys thereafter is even more so. Consequently, much as one admires Rudi and likes Justin for appreciating him, the pivotal episode–in which the relationship between the boys, back in Austria on a class trip, suddenly totters on the nature of Rudi's intentions (proclaiming his love, he asks Justin to stay in Austria with him)–has an offputting sentimental ring. Of course Rudi didn't mean what Justin momentarily suspects and another boy, overhearing their conversations assumes; and the book goes down, finally, on the sweetness and bitterness of their innocent love lost.'

Source:

Kirkus Review (https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/eleanor-spence/a-candle-for-saint-antony/). (Sighted: 29/5/2014)

'When the Connells move into the run down old mining town of Hollybush Flat, they make a few friends but most of the town is unfriendly towards them because they are Irish, Catholic and poor, and their father is suspiciously absent.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Across nearly two thousand miles of flat, sandy desert country runs a railway line, linking east and west Australia. Scattered along it are small groups of houses. Here the fettlers live, isolated from towns and other people, maintaining the line in the blazing heat.

At night, out of the blackness the min-min appears, an elusive and mystic light dancing on the horizon, beckoning and retreating. Aborigines tell of the wonder and excitement this small swaying light arouses. To Sylvie, a young girl living with her family at the siding, the gleam in the dark is symbolic of her life and future.

Her brother Reg, a "young rough", is frightened to stay at the siding after some of the mischief he causes. So he and Sylvie set off across the endless desert, carrying insufficient water and some bread and jam, walking under the scorching sun, in dust and wind, and facing icy nights.'

Source: 1966 publisher's blurb.

'A Jocelyn Osgood and Cairo Jim adventure

'While on a stopover in the mysterious African country of Zarundi, Jocelyn Osgood - that well-known Valkyrian Airways Flight Attendant and "good friend" of Cairo Jim - becomes unwittingly embroiled in the theft of a priceless royal tiara. She and her companions find themselves thrown into a world of subtle chaos which carries them across an intriguing and colourful landscape as they try desperately to locate the stolen regalia and two renegade Tropical Xylophonists . . .'(Publication summary)

'Tessa is a first-generation Greek teenager growing up in Sydney. Her migrant parents are as strict as their parents before them, but this is 1970s Australia and it is hard for a young girl to be left out of all the social contacts of her peers and conform to a rigidly sexist code of behaviour. University brings relative freedom, but when Tessa falls in love with her English professor and rebels against an arranged marriage, the going gets tough.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Lily is a young schoolgirl from the country. When she leaves school she bravely faces all the choices and challenges which all young people confront today.' (Publication summary)

'Looking through her antique mirror, 13-year-old Jo discovers that she can see into Louisa's world, a world many years before her time. To her surprise, Jo discovers that it is also possible for her and Louisa to step through the mirror into one another's time.

'At first, the mirror is a source of wonder and delight, but the two girls quickly discover that they must alter the past so they can avoid a catastrophe in the present.

'While they struggle through the layers of space and time, Jo discovers Nicholas - a boy whose identity is a mystery - living in Louisa's time. Captivated by each other, Jo and Nicholas work together to save their friends and to find a way of spanning time so they can remain together. (Publication summary)