AustLit

'On a three-quarter moon, a bell tolls, marking the minutes to midnight, and a rotted timber backbone slowly rises from a watery grave".

This is the story of the ship Fortuyn in the year 1724 which vanished after leaving the Cape of Good Hope, bound for Batavia. She was laden with gold ingots and bullion.

'Fortuyn's Ghost imagines that fateful voyage to its likely end on Western Australia's treacherous Ship Wreck Coast, a place well known for nautical hauntings.' (Publication summary)

'A clash with the school bully, an accident on a lonely road, drug smugglers, a mysterious ship, the loss of a friend and the arrival of a dog and a stranger-this year, there's more to Willo's life than school, fishing and cricket!' (Publication summary)

'Josh is unhappy. His mother and sister are on the other side of Australia. He's stuck with a new stepmother who wants to feed him rabbit food, and a stepsister who spends half her life in the bathroom. His dad has no time for him any more, and always seems to side with Lisa and Courtney. Tip, his new red kelpie pup, has a death sentence hanging over her head. If Josh can't train her to be a good sheepdog, she'll be shot. Little do they know that both of them will have to face even greater dangers which will test their loyalty and love to the utmost. Author Jenny Shepherd has seen many good dogs like Tip discarded because their owners failed to train them properly. In Saving Tippy, Jenny shows how a dog should be trained-with love and patience.' (Publication summary)

'This is the story of Darcy, a twelve-year-old Kimberley boy who likes nothing more than his family, his friends and the Fitzroy Crossing Rodeo. Darcy loves the life of the old stockmen and with his best friend, Jim Bulla, they do the circuit. When Jim suddenly dies Darcy's life changes forever. Yet, a surprising gift can lead to many things, and for Darcy this means pursuing his dreams.' (Publication summary)

'It is springtime, Wirrin's favorite time of the year. He will go hunting with his father, collect ochre with his grandfather, dig wild sweet potato with his mother and gather wattle seeds for the best damper with his grandmother. Best of all, people are coming from far and wide for the big corroboree and Wirrin will see all his cousins and dance until only Yoowintj, the barn owl, is still awake. Corroboree is the story of Angus Wallam, Aboriginal Elder, as he tells Suzanne Kelly of his childhood memories.'  (Publication summary)

'Shah is the story of a love affair between a young teenage girl and a beautiful but emotionally damaged horse.' (Publication summary)

'Angus is lonely until he meets Kes Grimshaw, a boy who becomes his best friend. But a clash with the loutish Charlie leads to a dramatic and fatal climax. Explores the themes of love, loss, loyalty and evil. Ages 13+.' (Publication summary)

'Luke remembers the first time he saw Digger. The big bay gelding had raced Luke's bike along the fence line, galloping up the paddock like his tail was on fire. Before long, encouraged by his new friend Penny, Luke swaps bike-riding for horse-riding lessons. Cliff, who has owned Digger since he was a foal, offers to let Luke keep him at home, but Luke's dad is against it. When Digger unexpectedly goes missing, Cliff, Luke and friend Gino hit the road to rescue him in a journey that will take all their courage and perseverance. This book is the gripping sequel to Stafford's Chiko books.' (Publication summary)

'Set in the 1940s in Western Australia, 11-year-old Angus McCrea has to grapple with the death of his father, relocation from Fremantle to a small country town, and a new step -family. The loyalty and bravery of his new pup Bodger is crucial to his survival.' (Publication summary)

'Penny Yarrick and her pony, Chiko, face challenges that will change them forever - bushfire, the biggest cross-country event on the pony club calendar, boys and a final heart-breaking challenge. However, Penny is growing up and will soon outgrow Chiko, but she is determined to keep him forever.' (Publication summary)