Broken Soup by Jenny Valentine

Heart wrenching story of a family falling apart after the eldest son's death in an accident. But a chance meeting for Rowan sets her on an inexorable path towards discovering more than she ever imagined...

A great read, be prepared to cry!

The Roar by Emma Clayton

An interesting first novel - Sci Fi. The occupants of New London live in fear and squalor behind 'the Wall' frightened of the plague caused by animals so there are none in this dystopian world. Then a group of children are given the chance to win wonderful przes that will make their families rich by playing a very complex computer battle game. Mika, one of twins, finds some solace for the loss of his twin by playing this game - but is there something sinister behind the game or is it a means of escape...

Tightly plotted, gripping and exciting read.

The Battle for Gullywith by Susan Hill

Olly and his family move to Gullywith - a tumbledown farmhouse near a mysterious mere. There are strange stones, covered in runes, appearing to follow Olly; a bookseller who knows what Olly wants before he asks for it; and a legend about a stone king who's castle is rumoured to be drowned beneath the mere - where will this all lead?

Interesting fantasy grounded in today, slighly over written in places and will need reading stamina to complete but well worth the effort.

Artemis Fowl and the Time Paradox by Eoin Colfer

Two Artemis's, two Butlers, two Holly's, all converging on one time - to try to beat Opal before she can stop a cure for Mrs Fowl being found. Great fun - if you've liked the others you'll love the fast pace and the humour here.
http://www.artemisfowl.com/

Ways to Live Forever by Sally Nicholls

This scrapbook as from an 11 year old boy who is dying of cancer will make you laugh and cry, it will touch your heart and it will stay with you for a very long time. Read it.
http://www.waystoliveforever.co.uk/

Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray

Three friends -Kenny, Sim and Blake are about to embark on a strange, ill fated journey. They steal the urn that contains the ashes of their best friend Ross, and they set out to travel from Cleethorpes on the English east coast to the tiny hamlet of Ross in southern Scotland. After a depressing and dispriting funeral they feel that taking Ross to Ross will be a fitting memorial for a fifteen-year-old boy who changed all their lives through his friendship. Little do they realise just how much Ross can still affect life for them even though he's dead.

Keith Gray has written a different take on the usual quest novel - as they travel the boys discover much about themselves, but also more about the friend they thought they knew and loved. Their complete disbelief at the idea that Ross may have committed suicide, and their slow realisation that they may have let down their friend is realistically told. The misadventures they have are all credible, and written with a lot of black humour - a book well worth the read and will strike a chord with many teenagers.

Starcross by Philip Reeve

Follows on from Larklight - but can be read perfectly well by itself. The idea of the Victorians in space and the adventures that the family get up to are totally believable and thoroughly involving. The wicked moob try to take over the world from a resort hotel near Mars - a real space based ripping yarn, wonderfully told. Enjoy! More info here -
http://www.bloomsbury.com/childrens/microsite.asp?id=1177&section=3&mscssid=ADF9B3VP7LX08KR9BC8Q62MFB0GT09XF