Obernewtyn - Isobelle Carmody

Recommended for ages 10-adult.

Very few avid readers have not heard of Isobelle Carmody and her Obernewtyn series. I only recently got around to reading the first book, Obernewtyn, and immediately wondered what on earth I had been waiting for. Carmody is known for being a skillful storyteller who asks punchy questions about humanity and the nature of good and evil, but Obernewtyn is so much more than that.

Set in a fantastical post-apocalyptic world, the story follows the early life of Elspeth - a girl with mysterious powers and a very good reason to hide them. The world in which she lives is governed by the cruelty and false religion of the Council who seek to find and destroy everyone who threatens to oppose their rule. As the narrative unfolds, we join Elspeth's quest to understand her growing abilities and the threat they pose to her life.

Full of suspense, this book will lead you from clue to clue as you discover Elspeth is facing a MUCH bigger problem than her own survival. As she finally learns, some things are worth more than one person's life...

PS. Check out the comprehensive fan site at http://www.obernewtyn.net/e107/news.php for the latest news on Carmody and the series.

Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh

Recommended for 15-18 year olds.

Brideshead Revisited is one of those delightul books which create an intoxicating picture of a certain time and place - in this case England in the 1920's. The narrator, a Mr Charles Ryder, gets swept up in the aristocratic Marchmain family while at university. Brideshead Revisited is the tale of his ongoing relationships with that family over the next 15 or so years.

Although it takes a a little while to fall into the rhythm of the story, once you have become accustomed to its slower, more reflective pace this book will not let you far out of its reach. Wonderfully descriptive, it evokes the mood of a time long ago.

A delight to read from start to finish, this book is most suitable for 15-18 year olds because younger readers simply won't appreciate its period charm. Also because some of the events and relationship melodrama are best suited to an older audience.

The Wizard of Earthsea - Ursula le Guin

Recommended for ages 10-adult.

The Wizard of Earthsea is one of those remarkable fantasy novels which make you suspend all disbelief and take you on a journey of epic proportions. The Wizard of Earthsea is the first in a series of books which explore the growth, development and adventures of an unlikely wizard called Ged.

Engaging and quick to read, the novel is a classic example of the power of fantasy literature to make you believe in the unbelievable.

Although it was first published in 1964, The Wizard of Earthsea is fast becoming part of the classic young adult canon (read: list of great books). Readers of any age who enjoy fantasy literature will be satisfied with this book.

PS: Once you've read the book, check out le Guin's amazing website at http://www.ursulakleguin.com/

Tamar - Mal Peets

Recommended for 15-18 year olds.

Tamar is an engaging story of love and war, of tragedy and betrayal and of understanding who you are. The plot draws loosely on the Nazi occupation of Holland during World War Two, presenting a flashback story of two British secret agents who are parachuted into the country in the dead of night to become involved with local resistance groups. Spliced with this tale is the story of one of their granddaughters attempting to discover the real identity of her family and herself.

I don't want to give too much of the plot away, because part of the power of this novel is in the way Peets twists, ties and then unravels the plot to reveal a deliciously unexpected ending.

Flashing between the 1940's and 1995, Peets establishes a believeable love story amidst the danger and suspense of the war. The narrative moves quickly, providing more and more clues for the reader to piece together. This is one book you will find hard to put down, because the more you read the bigger the picture seems, so the more you have to read to understand it all. It is a masterful puzzle which will leave you reeling at the end.

The foreign names of some of the characters may take you a while to get accustomed to, and the suspense in some parts may prove too much for the faint of heart, but for those who enjoy fiction with a real historical feel, you can't go past this one.

Recommended for 15-18 year olds because of the war content and relationship dramas.