This story by Rosie Thomas is a blend of romance, suspense and action. It begins with a young woman called Alice Peel, who breaks up with her boyfriend when she realises that he has been cheating on her.

Wanting her to move on with her life as quickly as possible, Alice’s scientist mother arranges for her to replace her on a field trip to Antarctica. While she is there, the already-pregnant Alice gets homesick and wants to go home, but she stays on as she had already promised her mother she will do so. Things get better when she finds herself warming up to the cold continent, as well as (one of her) fellow team members.

As she falls in love with the beauty of Antarctica and its amazing sunrise, she also falls for a young man named James Rooker. Having to face life’s struggles and hardships together, the both of them gradually grow closer to each other. Their existence within the magical aura of Antarctica soon helps the couple to get over their troubled pasts and start living for the future.

Eventually, Alice’s secret is revealed when she goes into labour, and a series of life-threatening events follow. The trip to Antarctica is certainly proving to be a life-changing one for the duo.

I think this novel is extremely touching and heartbreaking; and it has unimaginable twists and turns which climax towards the end. While the gallant and valiant James demonstrates the inspiration and power of chasing one’s dreams, the wilful Alice encourages all of us to persevere through the hardships and trials of life.

Like me, you’d surely feel inspired to follow your aspirations and heart after reading this book. So what are you waiting for? Suss out this page-turner now!

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This Dean Koontz book is about Ethan Truman, a bodyguard who has to protect his employer from death threats.

Upon receiving six black boxes containing puzzles signifying death (one of these contains just an apple and doll’s eye), Ethan is prompted into launching an investigation. While doing so, he becomes a guardian angel to those around him; at the same time, he is also being manipulated to turn against others.

It turns out that the murderer is an eccentric man who is constantly dressed in yellow and hates the world. A turn of events reveals that he is actually after the lonely and innocent son of Ethan’s employer…

The author’s descriptions of the murderer’s meticulous, foolproof plans are so chillingly frightening and hair-raising that you’ll surely find this book an entertaining read. Pick up this offering and lap up all its thrills and twists today!

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This book by Betty Ren Wright is about a ten-year-old boy called Chad Weldon.

Chad lives with his father and an aunt. One day, his aunt leaves them both to go off for a vacation. As Chad’s father is always busy at work and could not stay at home to look after him, he hangs out with his bossy friend, Jeannie Nichols.

When Jeannie invites him to visit her eccentric aunt, he soon finds out he’s in for more than a vacation! Her aunt happens to run a boarding house that’s filled with odd characters; and as soon as Chad and Jeannie arrive, bizarre things begin to happen: Chad's toothbrush moves around his room on its own, a frightening mummy appears every now and then, a panther leaps out of his closet…

Things start to get complicated in this strange environment when Chad and Jeannie try to solve the case of a missing diamond bracelet and land themselves in serious trouble! If you want to know how their vacation ends, suss out this book soon.

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If you have a taste for grim fairy tales, you'll have no qualms reading this grown-up's tale in kid's clothing.

Illustrated by French artiste Cyril Pedrosa, who has worked as an animator on Disney's darker masterpieces like The Hunchback of Norte Dame (1996), this graphic novel uncovers stuff that lies beyond the tip of the iceberg. The result is a devastatingly lovely book: It opens with an idyllic, pastoral scene and proceeds with thrilling fantasy sequences and swashbuckling adventures on the high seas, before ending on a Zen-like note.

This story opens with farmer Louis and his wife Lise living peacefully in a vale with their cheerful son, Joachim. But when three shadows appear on the brow of a nearby hill, and threatens to claim their child’s life, Louis has to embark on a dangerous journey to try to cheat fate.

At times, a touch of xenophobia creeps into the narrative, with Louis being “undone” by certain dark figures (who appear to be culture outsiders in a fair-skinned society). Pedrosa uses monochromatic panels to bring out shades of grey in people’s motives and their dealings with each other, and makes sure that nothing is ever merely black and white.

Pedrosa begins by presenting the absurdities and hopelessness the parents face, and continues his narrative in a delightfully fluid, well-paced and lively style. This is a comforting and powerful book that attempts to blend storytelling with deeper philosophical messages pertaining to love, grief and resurrection. Miss it at your own risk!

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Let me make this clear for you: This Trudi Canavan trilogy series may be pure fiction, but unlike others of its kind, it doesn’t focus much on romance (which I don't fancy!). In fact, it's all about magic, foes and other exciting stuff.

The Magician Guild: This first book reveals that each year, the streets of Imardin are purged of the poor and homeless by an all-powerful Magicians' Guild. Local youth gangs stage protests without much effect; however, one year, a particular teenager manages to injure one of the magicians.

That teenager turns out to be a talented and magically-gifted girl whom the guild is bent on capturing and killing, so that she can’t wreck havoc and cause further damage. But just when she almost gets caught, she makes a deal with her abductors (who control the underground city) to conceal her whereabouts while she helps them in return…

The Novie: This second book focuses on the girl’s life in the guild, after she has struck a pact with her captors….

The High Lord: This final instalment draws attention to the magicians, who find themselves in very big trouble after a series of fracas.

Now, I’m not disclosing much here as I feel you should relish the excitement that unfolds yourself. The plots are so engaging that I always wish I were one of the characters. Miss all these three great stories at your own peril!

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This book by Philana Marie Boles is about three funky twelve-year-olds:

The "good" girl: Cassidy has allowed her parents, strong-willed cousin-cum-best friend Rikki and cruel classmates push her around long enough. She has thus decided that she will become more independent before school starts.

The "bad" girl: Rikki is also seeking independence – she wants to detach herself from the reins of her preacher father and perfect older sister.

The "new" girl: Golden is the new lass in town who’s got all the freedom she wants. But what she really needs is a parent who would actually listen to her! Luckily for her, she manages to find some new friends to help her deal with her problems.

These three girls are experiencing the same thing – their lives are changing fast. And if they are going to make it to seventh grade, they know they have to summon (or subdue, whichever way you look at it) the inner divas in them. Sometimes, it seems that having a little less attitude would earn them a tad more self-respect…

As the story develops, we see how the trio handle their diva inner selves as they go through their chaos-filled teenage years.

The author depicts values relating to loyalty, family and friendship in a spirited way and with much aplomb, and this book makes a quirky and fun read for any girl (or boy, for that matter!).

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The setting for this story by Gene Stratton Porter is a swamp in Indiana, USA.

Elnora Comstock is a girl who lives there. The teenager finds herself having to overcome enormous odds when she loses her father at the tender age of three. Devastated by his death, her mother soon turns bitter and cold, and begins to ignore her.

Although Elnora aspires to attaining a higher education, her mother remains indifferent and unconcerned about her needs. Instead of encouraging or helping her daughter, she makes her work in the fields all day long. Elnora even has to resort to collecting specimens of insects at the swamp in order to pay for her books. But later on, her life begins to change when she falls in love with a city boy, who shares the same interests as her...

This novel is not only about romance though. A large part of it actually consists of stunning descriptions of Mother Earth, which will draw our attention to the importance of appreciating nature and the adverse effects caused by environmental damages.

Read this paperback to find out if Elnora and her beau can beat the odds to stay together. While you're at it, don't forget to soak up all the enchanting imagery encapsulated in this book too!

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This story by Jeffrey Archer begins with the births of William Kane and Abel Rosnovski on the same day in 1906. It goes on to depict the duo’s totally contrasting lives, right until their deaths.

The former is born to a wealthy and well-known Boston family, and leads a comfortable life as a successful banker, while the latter is born into poverty in Poland, to an unwed mother who dies shortly after childbirth.

The gifted Abel experiences various hardships in World War 1 and witnesses the deaths of his relatives during his growing years in Poland. He eventually flees to America to find work, and that is when the lives of the two protagonists begin to intersect. There’s an unspoken rivalry between the two that will grow and haunt them for the rest of their living years. This is evidently so in one incident when Abel approaches Kane for a desperately needed loan to save a floundering hotel chain.

One of the things that attract me most to this novel is the idea of following the lives of two characters from vastly different backgrounds. Archer maintains a nice balance in alternating between Kane’s and Abel’s stories, and stays consistent in describing their characters. Things get more exciting as their hate for each other grows day by day, and they try to destroy each other.

If you like stories that are full of saga, or rags-to-riches immigrant stories with plenty of intrigue and tension, then this page-turner with its excellent twist at the end will tick your boxes.

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This riveting novel by Jodi Picoult, a New York Times bestselling author, revolves around two families who have been living as neighbours for 18 years and share everything in wealth and woe. Even their respective children, Emily and Christopher, find their relationship blossoming from that of close childhood friends to something more serious as they grow into adults.

So when Emily dies from a gunshot wound one day, and it was later found that the bullet belongs to Christopher, both families are left in a state of shock. No one believes Christopher when he tries to explain that both of them had actually made a suicide pact, and the bullet was meant for himself but he passed out without knowing what happened. Christopher is then put under scrutiny and charged with a motive to kill.

Two schools of thought linger: is it a case in which the couple’s lives are so entwined that when one of them gets into trouble, the other inevitably feels the pain as well; or is it one borne of a conspiracy? Could it be that the young man, on the cusp of going to college that year and not wanting to be tied down by a childhood sweetheart, turns into the scheming mastermind behind this tragedy?

The author paints an indelible portrait of family anguish, and the myriad emotional struggles of both protagonists. The various meandering subplots and a suspenseful courtroom drama towards the end of the story will keep you clutching the edges of your seat.

Suss out this gem of a book for yourself to see how the story ends!

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In this book by Jonathan Safran Foer, a young boy finds a key that’s left behind by his father, who died during the September 11 attack in New York, USA.

With curiosity getting the better of him, he embarks on a seemingly impossible mission – to try to find the matching lock (out of 162 million other New Yorker locks, no less!).

In his quest, he moves from house to house, and unintentionally enters the tangled lives of friends, relatives and complete strangers. But instead of offending them, he charms these people with his vibrant and inquisitive personality.

Besides having to cope with the demise of his father, and struggle with the feelings of insecurity and neglect when a new man comes into his mother’s life, the lad also directs his energy towards unravelling a huge family secret that threatens to detach him from his deceased father...

With his incredibly imaginative mind and exceptional writing ability, the author presents a story that’s engaging, tragic and intensely moving, all at once. Miss this great read at your own peril!

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This book by Meg Cabot is about a female mediator named Susannah Simon who can see spirits, and whose mission in life is to help them “get through” to their afterlives.

One day, she meets Jesse de Silva, a ghost who has problems accessing his afterlife. After a series of interactions with Jesse, Susannah finds herself falling in love with him.

Paul, another character in the story and who’s also a mediator, is in love with Susannah. So when he learns about the situation, he plans to get rid of Jesse.

His plot is to go back to the past and prevent Jesse from dying, so that Susannah does not get to meet him – ever.

But in a twist of events, Susannah follows Paul in his quest. And although they manage to save Jesse’s life, Susannah ends up in a life-threatening situation…

How will the story end? Read this book to find out!

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Have you ever done something that you would regret for the rest of your life? If you have, then this story by Dandi Daley Mackall might strike a chord with you.

This moving and captivating story begins with protagonist Kyra sitting on a bench outside a courtroom, as she awaits her turn to testify in a case concerning the death of her twin brother Sammy.

The plot continues with a flashback of past events that happened before Sammy’s death. We soon learn that Kyra and her best friends led an interesting school life, and she was influenced into taking drugs, particularly one called Zanaxs. This is actually a type of pill which her mother takes for stress relief. Kyra keeps her drug-taking habit a secret from her family members by removing the label from the pill bottle and hiding it in her bag…

The climax of the story is when Kyra’s parents eventually find out about the “truth”. I shall not divulge the ending, but give you this hint instead – Sammy’s death could be related to Kyra’s drug addiction problem.

Curious to know more? Then read this book today!

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When Dale Gardner was born, his mother Nuala (who’s also the author of this book), sensed something was amiss, for his head looked anything but normal. It was flattened at the back and remarkably elongated.

Still, as a baby, Dale was easygoing, unproblematic and astonishingly easy to care for. However, as time passes, Nuala begins to see him change into an extremely withdrawn and introverted child who throws horrifying tantrums that leave her physically and emotionally hurt.

Suspecting that autism is the problem behind his unusual behaviour, she does some research on the ailment and realises that her son’s symptoms are eerily similar to those indicated in her findings. Desperate for help, she meets up with professionals to confirm her suspicions. But instead of diagnosing Dale’s illness, they come up with other reasons for his behaviour, thereby enraging Nuala further and causing her to become even more perplexed.

Depressed, but not willing to allow autism bring her precious son and family down, Nuala searches for other solutions. She finally achieves a breakthrough when she chances upon Henry, an empathic golden retriever puppy.

Amazingly, Henry is able to penetrate Dale’s autistic world, and provide the boy with much comfort while gently and patiently guiding him through his childhood. Dale finally matures into someone capable of emoting and managing his feelings; this is evident in how he copes with Henry’s death, and sorrowfully but gracefully accepts it.

This soulful story will surely touch your heart. Go ahead and indulge in Nuala’s endearing accounts of the beautiful connection between the boy and his dog, her discovery of a miracle in Henry, Dale’s subsequent coming-of-age developments and more.

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This book by Neil Gaiman spins a tale about Fat Charlie Nancy, an ordinary guy whose father is a Spider God (but Charlie has no knowledge of this). After his dad’s demise, Charlie’s life turns upside-down when Spider, his long-lost brother, appears out of nowhere. Charlie’s brother, who has supernatural abilities and looks exactly like him, “takes over” his flat, fiancée and his whole life. What’s worse is Spider seems to outdo him in most things, and accomplishes them with much more flair too!

So, in a bid to get rid of Spider, Charlie decides to enlist the help of his former neighbours – four old women who practise voodoo crafts...

The author is an expert at depicting the themes of sibling rivalry and revenge within a paranormal setting where myths and realities converge. The story is written in a simple and uncomplicated first-person narrative account, and its unconventional plot, underlining family and relationship problems, are interspersed with bouts of dry wit and humour.

I must say Gaiman is a writer with rare insights and endless imagination, and he manages to be funny and dark at the same time. His vivid story-telling skills bring his readers into the midst of all the action, and successfully evoke their sympathies toward Fat Charlie’s predicament. Readers will soon find themselves rooting for the protagonist while he takes them along on his road to triumph.

All in all, this is a superb book that will appeal not only to fans of sci-fi or supernatural stories, but to readers of other genres as well.

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This Terry Pratchett book is about how a man who attempts to build the most accurate and precise clock that will run completely in sync with the “tick of the universe”.

His quest yields a disastrous outcome: time itself gets “shattered”, and it is left to the heroes of the story to piece it back together. At the same time, immaterial beings called “Auditors” take the opportunity to exploit the period when time was “broken” by wreaking havoc and trying their hands (in vain) at being human.

The characters in this book, who each plays an important role, make the plot interesting. There's Jeremy, the master clockmaker who aspires to build the glass clock after he was made an offer he couldn’t resist. There’s also Sweeper, Lu-Tze and his apprentice Lobsang Ludd – the Monks of History who try to stop the special clock from operating…

What appeals to me is the novel, unpredictable and entertaining idea behind the story. While the author manages to showcase each character's personalities with great clarity, his subtle and clever use of humour also brings life into an otherwise dull book and enhances my enjoyment of this book.

For example, you’ll be amused and surprised when you discover a local milkman actually turning out to be the Fifth Horseman of Apocalypse, and the quirky problems the Abbot of the Monks of History has to face due to his newly-reincarnated body (especially during those times when he finds himself speaking in “baby talk”!).

This offering will definitely impress fantasy and sci-fi lovers, anyone who likes a long, good read, as  well as those who hold a penchant for written humour.

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This book by E L Konigsburg spins a tale about protagonists Elizabeth and Jennifer.

The two girls meet each other on the day of their school's Halloween parade. Jennifer's bizarre behaviour captures Elizabeth's attention: instead of wearing a mask like everyone else, Jennifer simply puts a paper bag over her head. And strangely enough, though the bag has no viewing holes to allow her to see where she is going, she doesn't trip or fall out of step! 

Her wackiness impresses Elizabeth, and the two soon become firm friends. Elizabeth is further awed by Jennifer's claim that she is a witch!

Jennifer then invites Elizabeth to become her apprentice, on the condition that she completes a series of weird tasks. And afterwards, the both of them will concoct a flying ointment with an assortment of truly amusing ingredients. 

However, things do not take place as planned but start to go haywire instead. This leads to some misunderstandings between the two. Read this book to find what happens to these buddies.

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This John Grisham book is about Rick, a down-and-out chap who loves football and represents Cleveland Browns as a third-string quarterback. This story tells us how he fumbles big time during a crucial playoff, but gets a second chance to redeem himself in a small town in Italy called Parma.

His terrible performance causes the Browns to lose their chance at competing in the Super Bowl, and the enraged fans to chase him out of town. Left with no choice, Rick moves to Parma Panthers, the only football team that’s still interested to take him in despite this hiccup. There, he discovers that his teammates are a laid-back bunch, and they play the sport purely for the fun of it.

Rick slowly starts to warm up to the charms of Italy’s food, wine and a certain female opera singer. The story moves along smoothly; as Rick gradually adapts to his new environment, he learns how to speak a new language, park his car, and pick up and meet women.

The most interesting part of the story is when Rick seeks refuge in the grungiest side of professional football – playing quarterback with his inept and trying (but endearing) team-mates in the Italian National Football League. What ensues is, of course, a winsome story about team bonding and character building, as the underdogs challenge a powerful opponent for a shot at fame (that’s provided Rick doesn’t mess up again!).

I find this novel very touching, and I believe many people can easily relate to such a situation. The author has shown us, in a thought-provoking way, how we can sometimes get caught up with what others want us to be, and it’ll take a while before it occurs to us that we should choose to lead the life we like.

Through its creative narrative style, this book also allows us to see how it’s possible for someone to turn his life around and come out tops again, even after he has hit the lowest point in his life.

Football fanatics will love this book for it’s jam-packed with plenty of action, including a part where Rick grabs his last chance for a taste of glory in a semi-pro league. There’s also stuff in here that lovers of arts, opera and architecture will appreciate. Foodies are likely to find their mouths watering when they read about the delicious Italian food in Parma and Florence, while those who want a good laugh can savour the merciless satires of sports agents, writers, groupie team owners and Americans in Europe.

All in all, this is a gem of a book you should suss out soon!

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Even though we now live in a peaceful environment, past events like World War Two continue to come alive for us through non-fictitious accounts, such as those told in Anne Frank's famous diary.

Have you ever read any fictitious story that runs along this line? Well, Michelle Magorian has created one such spectacular classic story about a gawky, ugly duckling.

It starts with 17-year-old Rose (a young girl with a somewhat androgynous appearance and innocent naiveté) and her older sister Diana being sent by their mother to live in the countryside.

Throughout the story, we learn how Rose constantly lives behind the shadow of her more beautiful sister. Diana is the typical image of perfection, being attractive, modest, graceful and all. Rose, who even has a boyish nickname called Roe, simply loves to write.

Rose’s curiosity about a certain Miss Hilda, an eccentric woman who died two years ago, is aroused by the rumours she has heard. The cottage in which Rose is living in now was once her home.

She is exhilarated when she finds the key to Miss Hilda’s locked room one day, and uncovers the mystery behind Miss Hilda. There, she loses herself in the older woman's diaries and starts to enter another world that is rather unconventional.

Inspired by the charms of Miss Hilda’s forgotten, war-torn love story (and partly because of her jealousy over Diana’s romance with a neighbour's soldier son), Rose soon finds herself attracted to Derry, a boy who has come to stay for the summer…

They develop a wild relationship, albeit an uncertain one, which ends abruptly when he leaves. Rose is left to face a bitter reality. Apparently, love isn't what she envisions it to be at all, and especially in her time, when there's a war raging on.

Will Rose discover a silver lining in her dark cloud? Suss out this captivating page-turner today for an answer!

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This book by Sally Gardner tells of how protagonist Coriander Hobie's life is turned upside-down when her mother dies.

Coriander’s father remarries after her mother’s death. His new wife is a scarily zealous woman who despises Coriander because of the smallest things, and makes a slave out of her stepdaughter.

One day, Coriander gets locked up in a chest and is left to die. “How can she possibly survive?”, you may ask. But she does – with the help of powers hailing from another world.

Apparently, Coriander's mother is not who her offspring thinks she is. She was actually a fairy; and her shadow, which acts as her soul, is kept in a box in the Hobie household. And there’s a fairy queen who wants to get hold of that shadow, as she will be able to gain absolute power with it. The only thing is – she can only get the soul through Coriander…

So when Coriander finally manages to climb out of the box after three magical years, she starts on a frenzied search for her mum’s shadow so she can keep and protect it.

Although I find the introduction of the fairy world a little hurried, I think this book still has a strong appeal because of its fast-moving plot and interesting characters.

Want to know how the story ends? Read the novel to find out!

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I was attracted by the light bluish tinge of the luminous snow on the cover of Kim Edwards’ book. It gives me a sense of nostalgia, and seems to set a poignant tone for her bewitching tale too.

This novel begins with the introduction of David Henry and his wife Norah, who’s expectant with twins. Initially, they are exhilarated with the notion of having these new additions to the family. However, something devastating happens when Norah goes into labour; while her son Paul turns out to be healthy, her daughter Phoebe is struck with Down’s syndrome.

The stunned David Henry (who delivered the twins) makes a decision that will adversely affect the couple for the rest of their lives. He decides to tell his wife that their daughter has died, while he secretly entrusts the care of the infant to a nurse named Caroline.

This decision changes everyone’s life. Even as the years went by, Norah never stopped grieving even though Phoebe is presumed to have died. David Henry is also affected by this episode in their life. He never saw his daughter again and remains tight-lipped about her existence till the day he died. But he has secretly set up an account in Phoebe’s name, and leaves her some money.

Caroline has a hard time raising Phoebe. But in spite of the many difficulties, she finds it a fulfilling experience, and gradually becomes reluctant to keep in contact with the Henry family for she fears losing Phoebe.

I feel that David Henry is being selfish in choosing to keep the truth from his family. Just imagine all the pain and suffering his family has to endure all those years because of his sole decision! But though I disapprove of his action, I do sympathise with him, as he must have been under great duress and immense grief, and too devastated to make the right choice.

It dawned on me that certain decisions, when hastily made, could wreak consequences that last a lifetime. The sad turn of events is also due to David Henry’s decision to keep the secret to himself. I’ve learnt not to underestimate the impact of a critical decision, as it can either make or break you, and others as well.

If you want to know how the story ends, read the book to find out!

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What will you do if your best friend is dying? Go dancing, perhaps?

Well, at least that’s what Davida Wills Hurwin might recommend in A Time For Dancing.

In her first novel, Davida spins a tale of two dancers, Samantha and Juliana. These two teenagers are best friends who’ve been inseparable since, well, forever.

The two calls each other ‘one and only’, shares everything and have even made plans for their future. They have an amazingly strong and close relationship, and can't imagine themselves being apart from each other.

But one day, Juliana is diagnosed with diffuse histiocytic lymphoma, a type of cancer for which there is no cure.

Juliana finds it hard to cope with her rapidly changing lifestyle. She also slowly loses faith in her doctor and tries to seek treatment that uses unconventional methods. However, instead of getting better, her condition continues to deteriorate.

Samantha doesn't know what her role is while her best friend slowly wastes away. She tries to be the buddy she has always been to Juliana, but things do not quite turn out as expected. In fact, Samantha constantly feels angry with herself for seemingly causing their friendship to weaken.

Will the duo’s relationship withstand this horrible episode and the test of time? Suss out this impossibly brilliant tearjerker to uncover the answer.

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The spiffy, fuchsia colour and spunky illustrations on the cover of this Annie Sanders’ book sparked off my inquisitiveness and spurred me to find out what it’s about.

The book introduces us to Maddy and Izzie, and their respective families. These two ladies got to know each other through a ladies' luncheon that was held at a neighbour's place one day, as Izzie was delivering a Barbie doll cake she had made for Maddy’s daughter.

When Maddy suddenly loses her husband in a driving accident, Izzie tries to console the aggrieved widow, who now has to single-handedly take care of her kids and the household bills. She also helps out at Maddy’s house and sees to the well-being of her children.

One day, Maddy chances upon an empty box that was shipped to her house when her grandmother died three years ago. In it, she finds a recipe for a facial cream that her diseased kin had left behind.

Excitedly, Izzie and Maddy try to create the facial cream using the formula. It eventually turns out to be so popular that they decide to start a business to sell the product. They soon garner a good source of income from the business, and even find themselves being interviewed by newspapers and appearing on the front covers of magazines.

Overwhelmed by her newfound enterprise, Izzie begins to neglect her husband and their marriage died. Determined to get her friend back on the marital track, Maddy steps in to help…

How will this heart-wrenching yet heart-warming story end? Suss out this page-turner to get the answers.

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What is the price you have to pay if you’ve committed a crime in a moment of folly? In the case of two precocious star basketball players from Long Island’s City High School, it includes prestigious college basketball scholarships, a bright future and their family.

This is what Black and White is about. Written by Paul Volponi, the book tells the story of Marcus (of African descent) and Eddie (a Caucasian) who’ve overcome racial prejudices to become best friends. They do everything together, from playing basketball in school to committing robberies!

Compelled by the need for a new pair of basketball shoes (a symbol of their stellar status in the high school basketball league), they try to save and raise some money for it. After buying the expensive pair of shoes, they find that they have no money left and have to find a way to pay their dues.

Due to their big egos, they would rather resort to robbery than work at fastfood outlets for money. But they both agreed to stop after “getting enough” to tide them over.

Using Eddie’s late grandfather’s gun in their criminal acts, the two soon got hooked on the feeling of getting easy money. They could have stopped after robbing a lady, but went on to rob another two people. They thought they could get away with their crimes until one of them accidentally shoots a victim who recognises Marcus.

The two remained guilt-ridden days after that fateful incident, and constantly lived in fear until the police came and took Marcus away during a crucial match one day.

Marcus has to go through hell in jail while Eddie gets away scot-free (even though he was the mastermind). But in spite of the fact that all the odds are against him, Marcus forgives his friend.

I am very touched by how magnanimous Marcus is. I think it takes heaps of courage to admit that he took part in the crime, and even more gumption to keep mum about a friend who is actually the mastermind behind the crime. Apparently, the last thing Eddie will do is to betray his best friend and ruin his future.

In life, all you need is just one wrong step to set everything awry. In the case of Marcus, not only did he lose the special bond he shares with Eddie, but his family’s trust and pride in him as well.

How will things turn out for the pair? Read this book to find out!

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At first glance, this novel by Daphne du Maurier seems like a boring classic. It's written in the style of a 20th century "Jane Eyre" novel, and reads like one too. It also has slight, if unintended, references to Shaw's Pygmalion. Although the book is written in 1938, I feel that Rebecca holds a certain appeal for the 21st century audience.

The voice of this book belongs to a fresh-out-of-school girl who works as a personal assistant for Mrs Van Hoppers, a conceited lady who prefers to associate herself with the rich and famous. During a vacation in Monte Carlo, Mrs Hoppers introduces the girl to Maximillian de Winter, a semi-aristocratic owner of Manderley, a large estate in the country. The young lady falls in love with de Winter and marries him, despite their 20-year age gap.

She leads a new life in the country estate, called Manderley; but as she does not know how to run a large mansion, she leaves everything in the hands of the housekeeper. The servants there then start to discriminate against her as they feel she does not fit in, and sees her as merely an uninitiated schoolgirl living the high life.

The lonely girl (her busy husband is seldom around) soon learns about Rebecca, Maxim's deceased wife and ex-mistress of the house. She is constantly reminded of Rebecca through the scented handkerchiefs and traces of handwriting she had left behind. It doesn't help when visitors keep mentioning Rebecca, and describing her as charming, vivacious and sporty.

Though the young lady is now leading a life that she has always yearned for, it's one that's so foreign and radically different from her previous one. Having no one to share her thoughts with, she becomes gets deeply contemplative and slips into daydreams. Feelings of self-doubts and anxieties soon set in, and she develops a sense of insecurity that many young adult readers can relate to.

This perceptive offering explores the roles and social expectations of women (who are married into status). Upper-class women in the 1930s were expected to be graceful, polite, charismatic and nothing more than that; and a rich man's proposal was deemed as one of the quickest ways for a woman to ascend the social ladder et al.

You will notice how Rebecca's dark, gothic undertones actually contrast with the picturesque English countryside, as the author uses descriptions of landscapes to depict the new wife's emotions, especially those of her loneliness and despair. Also, Maxim's role in managing the estate is contrasted with his spouse's "frivolous" activities (such as knitting, sketching, going for walks).

Readers with a liking for thrilling mysteries might find delight in Rebecca's omnipresence, the housekeeper's haunting, ghost-like appearance and the newlywed's dreams and aspirations of being transported from a dull, monotonous life to one of extravagance and luxury.

I would highly recommend this book to those seeking a good introduction to romantic novels. Do keep a lookout for it!

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Many teenagers tend to prefer romance novels than books about some kid bonding with animals, so The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera (a story depicting the latter) may not go down well with teens in general. But let me assure you that this is really more than your typical "Free Willy" story.

It tells the story of Kahu, an eight-year-old Maori girl who has the ability to communicate with whales. Though Kahu is destined to be the future leader of her tribe, she's cruelly ignored by her great-grandfather (the present chief), because according to Maori tradition, females are not allowed to become chiefs. Despite his rejection, Kahu continues to love her great-grandfather and yearn for his attention.

The book tackles issues pertaining to gender biasness in the Maori society, how the women struggle to be accepted in their community, and the struggle to preserve the Maori identity and culture in a modern, fast-changing world.

As I flip the pages, I can't help but feel irritated by Kahu's great-grandfather, as he appears to be a really obstinate character. Because he is so blinded by tradition, he fails to recognise Kahu's intelligence, compassion and sensitivity - all of which are attributes of an astute leader.

Apart from the intriguing tale, I also find the author's writing style rather special; he fuses Maori culture and history within a story-telling context, so it isn't such a dry read (unlike history textbooks!).

Without a successor to lead the tribe, what will happen? Will the Maori culture bite the dust in the face of modernisation? Find the answers to these burning questions by reading the book!

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You've probably heard of the first, second and even third dimension. But have you ever wondered what the fourth and fifth dimensions are like?

According to A Wrinkle In Time (a moving novel by Madeldeine L'Engle), the former refers to time, while the latter refers to a tesseract or an eight-cell octachoron.

In this story, Margaret Murry (or Meg) is troubled when her physicist father, who's on a long and important government mission, suddenly stops sending her letters. Rumour has it that he has died. Thus, Charles Wallace, Meg's genius of a brother, together with Calvin, her new-found friend, embark on a journey to find her father.

The duo soon finds themselves in myriad dangerous and challenging situations. While fighting against the odds, they get sent to a place called Camazotz, where a huge pulsing brain known as IT calls the shots. And when Charles' inquisitive nature starts to get the better of him, he is "zapped" into becoming a member of IT's group.

As the gang can no longer hold out against IT, Meg's father (it turns out that he isn't dead) sends the tweens to another planet. But Meg is determined to save Charles (and eventually her brother too) from the evil clutches of IT.

Can she use her gift and power of love to save her loved ones? Read this touching tale to find out!

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Where Rainbows End (by Cecelia Ahern) is a captivating and moving story about unspoken love.

The tale first unfolds in the form of email exchanges between a couple of friends called Alex and Rosie. We learn that the Irish pair has been pretty much inseparable since young. But just as they are about to take their relationship to a higher level, Alex's dad decides to uproot the family to America after being offered a better job there.

Needless to say, Rosie feels her heart dying a premature death with their having to part. However, she manages to move on with her life and later even performed well enough in her studies lto be admitted in a university near Alex's home.

But things aren't as rosy as it seems. On the eve of her departure to the USA, Rosie receives some shocking news that threaten to ruin her plans for the future...

In spite of daunting circumstances, their friendship remains strong, thanks to their continual communication through emails and occasional meet-ups. However, whenever the couple decides to make a move to further their relationship, something will happen to thwart their plans; so much so that deep down inside, both of them begin to secretly wonder if they are ever meant to be more than friends.

The author successfully takes readers on a rollercoaster ride of heartaches and mixed feelings. At the end of the day, we too will start wondering if the couple will finally risk everything to be together after almost a lifetime of misunderstandings, suppressed feelings and missed opportunities. Curious to know how the story ends? Read the book for an answer!

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The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray is, without a doubt, one of the best books I have ever read.

This book is the last of a trilogy series. It is about a young girl called Gemma Doyle, who discovers that she possesses hidden powers and a connection to The Order, a mysterious occult of powerful women who once ruled the realms (a magical place where anything and everything is possible, and all is not what it seems).

Set in late 19th century at The Spence Academy for Young Ladies (a boarding school for girls), we see the 16-year-old venturing into the realms once again with her friends, and stumbling upon an ongoing power struggle amongst the tribal creatures there.

As the responsibility of saving the realms and the real world from destruction lands on Gemma's shoulders, she finds herself having to face dark forces that threaten to endanger her loved ones... and herself.

In her quest, Gemma is hindered by the Rakshana, a shady brotherhood who once protected the realms, but is now bent on seizing power both for themselves and the dark creatures from the Winterlands (a forbidden and doomed place in the realms).

Before all is lost, Gemma must prevail and find The Tree of All Souls, another source of magic that lies deep wtihin the heart of the Winterlands. On the other hand, she is also compelled to fight the demons in her own life, which she seems to be rapidly losing control over.

The author has conjured an unforgettable story about the struggles of a young girl who's still in search of her true self, and the result is both enchanting and alluring. Look deeper and you will also find underlying issues of sexuality, sexism and racism, all woven seamlessly into the plot too.

This novel is part fantasy, adventure, mystery, romance and thriller, expertly brewed into an intriguing concoction that promises to enthrall readers, and keep them at the edge of their seats with every twist and turn. It is as if the writer's words harbour a secret magic of their own - one that promises to keep followers riveted and hungry for more - right up to the last page.

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In The Giver by Lois Lowry, Jonas is a twelve-year-old who leads a predictable and safe life in a special community that experiences no music, pain and hunger.

When he is appointed as a Receiver of Memory, Jonas is entrusted with a task of keeping memories of the past, including the pain and pleasures they come with.

Under the tutelage of the current Receiver (known as the Giver), Jonas begins to receive memories vastly different from those in his current life. He starts to discover what it really means to be a human and experiences the bad things (such as hunger, misery, loneliness and pain) as well as good ones (like pride, love and joy) in life.

As a Receiver, Jonas is entitled to ask others questions pertaining to their personal lives. And by doing so, he discovers many appalling and unbelievable truths. But there is no turning back. All Jonas could do is to face the realities bravely and accept the wisdom that comes with knowledge.

This is a poignant and touching story that reminds us of what it means to be truly human. Do suss it out!

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Have you ever read stories about children who create imaginary playmates and are a cause of great worry for their parents? Such stories are a dime a dozen. And Cecelia Ahern's "If You Could See Me Now" would be just another one of them if not for the fact that it is written partially from the point of view of an "imaginary" playmate, who turns out to be not that illusory after all!

Elizabeth Egan gets stuck with caring for her nephew Luke whenever her sister Saoirse gets drunk and takes off without a word. This, in addition to her mounting workload and perfectionist tendencies, leaves her with no time for socialising at all.

Her life takes on a bland and predictable routine until Luke's imaginary playmate, Ivan Elbisivni ("invisible" spellt backwards), comes along. Initially, Elizabeth doesn't believe that Ivan's real. Even after he becomes visible to her later on, she refuses to acknowledge the existence of this "person".

Ivan's role is to be Luke's friend, so the last thing he expects is to be seen by an adult, much less fall in love with one! Elizabeth slowly changes as she came under Ivan's influence, and opens her eyes to the world of true love, to which she has been blind for so long.

Just when they finally become a couple, Ivan discovers an earth-shattering truth: as a resident of Ekam Eveileb ("make believe" spelled backwards), he is not supposed to be together with a mortal.

Can Ivan bear to leave Elizabeth, or will he spare her the heartache that would inevitably ensue? Read this touching tearjerker to find out!

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Do you enjoy stories with twists in their plots? If so, then this book will surely delight you!

Bindy seems to be an all-perfect girl. At Ashbury High, she scores an incredible average of 99.9 on the percentile in all her classes. She also keeps careful transcripts of everything that is said around her, so that nothing can go wrong.

One day, she is called upon to attend a Friendship and Development class with seven other students. This class serves to provide teens with a “life raft" to see them through "tricky seas of adolescence". Overseeing the class is a queer facilitator (with a strange name and weird accent).

In one exercise, the class has to write a critique of one another. After reading her classmates’ criticisms about her, Bindy starts to detest them and even names them “The Venomous Seven”.

As if by coincidence, Bindy's perfect life begins to fall apart. She now can't stop feeling sleepy all the time and even fails an exam for the first time ever! Worse of all, she doesn't seem to care anymore.

What could be the cause of these strange events? Is it sheer madness? Conspiracy? Or… murder? Read this book to find out if Bindy will revert to her old self, and whether there’s more to it than meets the eye.

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The Boy Next Door (by Laura Dower) is a story about two neighbours, Taryn and Jeff, who are also best friends.

However, their friendship starts to strain when Jeff makes fun of Taryn about her new spectacles in front of everybody one day. As both cannot summon the courage to make an apology and make up, they start to drift apart.

But there is hope for redemption yet. When Taryn's teammates do not turn up at a school carnival (they are supposed to be involved in a run), and leaves her all alone, Jeff steps in to help her. The pair reconciles, and we soon learn they actually hold a secret about each other.

Want to find out more? Read the book and be inspired by this story about the power of friendship and forgiveness today!

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In The Cottonmouth Club, Mitch Valentine has all his summer holiday activities planned out. He is looking forward to a fun-filled and exuberant vacation with his best friend Tick. Both of them had spent months planning a special retreat that's jam-packed with exciting things to do.

But out of the blue, Mitch's mum springs a surprise - she has organised a trip for the family to visit their relatives in Pitkin, Louisiana. In an instant, Mitch's world comes crashing down on him. Not only are all his holiday plans thwarted, but he also has to get stuck in a hot, sticky and dusty place down South!

However, Pitkin turns out to better that what he had expected. Mitch is being entertained with cricket matches, outdoor movies, great food (his favourite is the Southern-style fried chicken) and electrifying games that he has never played before. He also finds new company in a bunch of outlandish but trustworthy cousins. Then, Mitch gets to know a city boy (Finn), and the twosome soon lands up in loads of trouble.

How will he fare under the bad influence of Finn? Read the book to find out!

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“I (may be) in rags and tatters (on the outside), (but) I can (still) be a princess inside”, so says Sara Crewe, a loveable character in A Little Princess.

Frances Hodgson Burnett spins a heartwarming tale of the good-natured and tender-hearted Sara, who retains her wonderful personality even when she loses her riches and comfortable lifestyle.

The story begins with the young Sara joining an all-girls seminary in London, after her doting father (Captain Crewe) brings her over from India. In the school, she goes about “pretending” to make life magical, thereby bringing hope and joy to those around her. Her splendid clothes, however, arouse the jealousy of the money-minded Miss Minchin, who’s head of the academic institution.

When Captain Crewe loses all his wealth in a diamond mine joint investment scheme, Sara’s world turns upside-down as she is thrown into poverty. Besides having to brave her classmates’ cruel remarks, Sara is now also constantly taunted by the horrid Miss Minchin.

Despite all this, Sara remains as imaginative and kind as ever. She eventually proves to those who ill-treat her that she is still a becoming, spirited little princess at heart.

This moving offering warms the cockles in my heart. It shows us how we must stay brave in all kinds of circumstances, and that we too, can be little princesses – if we only try to adopt a positive outlook, and be as courteous and virtuous like Sara.

This timeless classic will delight adults and children alike. Pick up the book and start reading today!

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Have you ever experienced sibling rivalry? Now, imagine it 10 times worse, and with stakes that are   incredibly high!

The Other Boleyn Girl, by Philippa Gregory, which is based on a real story set in the Royal English Court during the turbulent rule of King Henry VIII, is about two sisters who compete for the ultimate prize – the love of a King.

It is said that in those days, rich aristocrat families would force their daughters to seduce the King because of their own quest for power. So when Mary Boleyn is sent to the royal court, catches the eye of the King and falls in love with him, her family realises that she could be used as a pawn.

However, the King’s desire for her soon wanes and Mary’s sister, Anne, steps forward and successfully seduces him from right under her sibling’s nose. The scheming Anne persuades the King to break away from the Roman Church and arranges for a divorce (the first ever) with his Queen to take place.

With Mary being sent into exile, Anne is named the new Queen. However, she does not get the respect of the people due to her obnoxious ways and her inability to bear an heir. The frustrated King then turns to a mistress for comfort. When Anne finally gives birth to a dead and horribly deformed baby, the flabbergasted King charges her with adultery and witchery.

Find out what happens to both Mary and Anne in this page-turner, whose powerful characters and strong plot promise to intrigue. This is definitely a thought-provoking novel that’s not only rich in history, but also teaches us a thing or two about how power does not always lead to happiness, and that we should take fate into our own hands in order to find the bliss that rightfully belongs to us.

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Jammy Dodgers Go Underground, by Bowering Sivers, tells a story about three brothers, Jem, Ned and Billy Perkinski, who steal a broom that will help them to make money.

Upon getting the broom, the trio gets initiated into Crossing Sweeper's Organisation and starts using the dough they've made to buy some food for themselves.

Everything seems to be going right for the siblings until one night when they got arrested for vagrancy when they are found sleeping at the doorstep of a shop. They are then put into Strand Workhouse and left to die of starvation in a coffin house.

Not content to sit around and wait to die, they cook up a plan to escape. They even manage to enlist the aid of their club captain to get into the sewers to save them.

Will the brothers live to see the light of day? Read this book to find out!

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Dark Rivers of the Heart, by Dean Koontz, is a book about freedom, reason and individuality. Its plot will grip you right from the start and leave you breathless at the finale.

The story centres on a loner called Spencer Grant and his adorable but cowardly dog, Rocky. One day, Spencer visits a bar where he chats up a waitress, and befriends her. He soon falls for her. However, when he tries to pay her a visit, he finds himself on the run instead. He has to escape some frightening characters; and as he gets thrown into the midst of a terrifying conspiracy, his mysterious past catches up with him.

Spencer knows he needs help, and he has to get it fast; and so begins his mad rush to escape from the devilish grip of his pursuer.
Koontz manages to keep the reader on a very tight lease throughout the story. This is a brilliant read and a suspenseful page-turner. I love the author's style of writing, as he is able to construct characters that seem almost real; I find myself starting to feel for Spencer, despite the fact that he is a fictitious character. With its sophisticated subjects and elaborate plot, this tale makes a truly satisfying read; every line delivers a great impact, and leaves you eager to read on. If you love thrillers, this book will definitely meet your expectations; so hold your breath!

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Truth Cookies (by Fiona Dunbar)

I really enjoyed reading this very nice and interesting book. The main characters in it are Lulu and Frenchy. Lulu has always confided in her mum about her problems. However, when her mum passes away, she seeks solace in her best friend, Frenchy, instead.

Life is good for Lulu until her dad falls in love with a woman called Varaminta Le Bone, who along with her son Torquil, moves in with them. Her father’s lover treats Lulu very horribly whenever he is not around. And Torquil constantly mocks Lulu and calls her “poodle”.

One day, Lulu goes home to find Torquil snitching a box belonging to her. This box contains many items of sentimental value, including her mum’s photos. Lulu complains to her dad but he paid no heed to her as he’s too busy preparing for his marriage to Varaminta.

Dejected, Lulu takes to the streets. One day, she chances upon a very old bookstore. She goes inside to browse around, and as she turns to leave, knocks over a bookshelf. As she was retrieving and placing the fallen books back onto the shelves, she comes across a book called The Apple Star. Upon flipping the pages, she sees a message that reads: “To my dear Lulu, this is a birthday present from me. Inside, you will find a lot of recipes which will help you in your life”, and a sign-off by her mum. At this point, the store keeper comes up to her and says, “In this bookstore, books find people”. Lulu is bewildered but decides to get the book.

Upon returning home, she shares her discovery with Frenchy and they find a recipe that says “Truth Cookies”. According to this recipe, whoever eats the cookies will tell the truth. Lulu decides to use that recipe on Varaminta and Torquil, to get them to expose their true colours in front of her dad.

Will Lulu succeed in her plan, and will she get back her precious box from Torquil? Read the book to find out!

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Fasting, Feasting (by Anita Desai)

This book spins a vivid and engaging story about the lives of two families from two different countries (America and India), and their plight in having to conform to the different cultural and societal norms in their respective countries.

In India, gender inequality is very much a part of life; and this is especially so in many rural areas where traditional beliefs prevail. Generally, only sons are allowed to go to school, and daughters are expected to marry young.

Desai relates the story of an Indian family with a son and two daughters. One of the girls, Uma, is of marriageable age and expected to be tying the knot. However, because of her plain looks, she seems to encounter great difficulty in doing so.

Uma has a cousin who's not allowed to go abroad to study despite her excellent academic performance. She got married to a seemingly decent boy, but was eventually tortured and driven to suicide.

The next part of the book is set in Massachusetts. Here, a child called Arun puts up with an American family while studying there. Life is not a bed of roses in this part of the world too. Everything seems to be falling apart in the household; and the lady of the house is mostly ignored by her husband and children. Through the nuances of the story, we learn that although gender discrimination is not prevalent, it still exists and its resulting consequences are terrifying for younglings.

I love the way in which Desai makes use of simple words to communicate ideas and feelings with intense meanings. Her descriptions are so vivid that she manages to turn phrases to pictures, and developed a story that flows so beautifully.

Things may move slowly at times, but you will never feel bored reading this book. With so many characters involved, it is amazing how Desai manages to develop them so well and not make a mess of the whole plot. In fact, what she has created is a captivating page-turner!

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Never judge a book by its cover. How true.

Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer, isn't your ordinary science fiction story. Judging by the look of the cover, you might think that it's a story about fights and gore.

But that isn't the case at all. In fact, the book is actually about a romantic tale of a boy who lives with a family of "kind vampires", who are very different from the stereotypical ones that we are more familiar with. These beings hunt only animals, protect humans and even live amongst them.

The story begins with Isabella Swan making her way to Forks to live with her father, following which her mother moves in with her new boyfriend, after being divorced from Isabella's father.

During her first day in school, Bella takes notice of this impossibly handsome guy called Edward, who seems to be distancing himself from her. She, however, makes it her mission to find out more about him and his siblings, all of whom seem so very "god-like".

Stephenie cleverly uses the contrasts between the eerie-looking cover of her book and the story of the blossoming relationship between Bella and Edward. She also carefully explores and explains the various myths surrounding vampires in this book.

As the story develops, so does the relationship between the two protaganists. Bella, caught between love and reality, so what will she choose to do? Will she and Edward overcome all odds to, errr, see the light at the end of the tunnel? Read on to find out!

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Could one go missing while out for a jog or disappear while in the midst of a crowd? And could one go missing when he/she is the very person who goes in search of missing people (that is, a private investigator)? It’s ironic, but it could happen.

This anime is about a group of teenagers fighting to protect Tokyo city from a group of monsters known as the Onis. The story opens with the introduction of Takuma Hiyuu, a transfer student-cum-experienced fighter in Magami High School. Quiet and patient by nature, this chap does not like picking fights for no apparent reason.

His gang of chums consists of the chairpersons of the Boxing Club, Archery Club and Student Council, as well as best friend Horaiji, a high school delinquent. These teenagers possess Ryumyaku (Dragon Veins), and they are constantly fighting with obnoxious opponents threatening to destroy the city and bring misfortune to its people.

The characters in this anime are all interrelated, and their relationships often keeps me entranced. If you like fantasy-themed plots too, then you’d most certainly fall for this manga. Suss it out!

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Do not be mistaken. Contrary to the suggestive title, this book bears no sexual content. Actually, it spins a beautiful tale about Megan, a popular girl in school who's struggling to be true to herself, and Perdita, a "freak" and social reject who's in the throes of developing her individuality.

The two girls meet when they are sent to detention one day. Megan discovers that Perdita is not as eccentric as many perceive her to be, but is merely unafraid of standing out from the crowd, despite being shunned by the others. Megan admires this quality in Perdita and gets to know her better. She even has a sleepover at Perdita's and befriends her. However, she lacks the courage to admit that Perdita is now her friend. When Megan is hanging out with her friends, she will turn her newfound pal away in their presence. But she doesn't realise that her cruel betrayal of their friendship is inflicting even more emotional pain on Perdita, as she's already hurting from having to deal with family problems.

When forced to choose between her clique and Perdita, Megan makes a decision she later regrets. In the meantime, a devastating tragedy unfolds in Perdita's life. Megan eventually picks herself up and leaves her posse of buddies. It is because she finally sees and appreciates the beauty of Perdita's strong and courageous personality. In the end, she too becomes unafraid of how others perceive her and gets into the spirit of "walking naked".

Personally, I feel that this book has inspired me to be just as brave, to hold on to my own beliefs and be unfazed by what others think of me. In short, it reveals how priceless individuality is!

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You may think this book is really stretching it, as it is described as a "journal through time and space". After all, Bobby Pendragon (the protagonist) is just your regular student. He's a popular member of the school basketball team, has a girlfriend who fancies him, and everything else going smoothly in his life. In other words, he leads quite the perfect, albeit mundane, life.

But all of a sudden, everything changes when his Uncle Press mysteriously appears and tells him, "I need your help". Before you can even say abracadabra, Bobby finds himself being whisked into an inter-dimensional portal, to Denduron, a medieval land with knights, kings, queens, and battles. His uncle also reveals that they, being the Travelers (people with powers to journey pass different dimensions), have to thwart the plans of a rogue Traveler named Saint Dane, whose plans involve the domination of everything that has ever existed, or will ever exist!

Anyone who expects him to transform into a gung-ho warrior will be sorely disappointed. In fact, Bobby is far from being a good fighter. More often than not, he finds himself being rescued instead of playing the role of rescuer. At first, the notion of expecting an ordinary student like him to survive in a world where one's greatest worry is staying alive, instead of academic grades, is quite ridiculous. However, what is truly amazing about the book is that although Bobby often feels as lost as any of us would under such daunting circumstances, he always manages to resolve issues through surprising ways that involve simple observations and quick thinking.

It makes me realise that sometimes, all it takes to solve seemingly difficult problems is to apply some logical thinking. So, really, brains do triumph over brawn, and each of us has the potential to be a hero waiting to be discovered!

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It's really hard to find a wonderful book these days, so imagine my pleasure when I chanced upon this paperback. Not only is it wonderful, it's absolutely splendid!

Book One of The Mystique Trilogy is a story about three women who are somehow connected to one another across different time periods and societies.

19th Century:
Hailing from this era is Ashlee Granville, the only daughter of an honorable lord. She has psychic talents but is forced to suppress them.

Thankfully, she has her nanny to confide in and even receives an education from a certain Lady Cavandish, whose brother's family Ashlee previously saved using her psychic abilities. Ashlee befriends Susan, Lady Cavandish's niece, and the two girls grow up together. Just days before their coming out into (high) society, Ashlee finds a red gnome and a spirit called Albray Devere, and in a twist of events, Ashlee and Susan eventually marry them. Little does Ashlee know, her husband also possess psychic powers that could change her life.

When the cat is let out of the bag, Ashlee seeks help from a dead gypsy-witch and then flees with Nanny and her husband. A thrilling adventure unfolds as a library curator named Moiler tries to stop them...

21st Century:
Meanwhile, in another realm, you'll find out about another character called Mia Montrose, whose great-great-grandmother turns out to be Ashlee! With some help, she finds more about her ancestor and does her best to help Ashlee on her quest - only to be stopped in their tracks by Mia's boss (read: Moiler)!

13th Century:
While getting you more entwined in this cobweb of a tale, the plot winds back to the olden days where you are introduced to yet another character called Lillet. A crucial person who is related to Ashlee's estranged hubby and Moiler, she appears to have a part to play in what ensues.

By now, you must be wondering how and why Moiler happens to be involved in all the three women's lives, and who exactly he is. Want to know how the story ends? Find out more by reading this book!

Congrats! You've won a pair of movie tickets for your submission and will be notified shortly.

The Dim Sum Dollies in the History of Singapore
Directed by Glen Goei, this cabaret show is making yet another comeback to incite riotous laughter amongst audiences.

Do you want to know what Sang Nila Utama really saw in the jungle? Or how Sir Stamford Raffles led his contingent of mosquito-beating followers around the island? What about bungling J-pop pilots, samsui women, kampung beauties, money-lending Dhobis, Peranakan matriarchs and Hainanese chefs (and their killer pork chops)?

Catch this wacky ride and let yummy dollies Selena Tan, Emma Yong and Pam Oei take you on an unforgettable spin today!

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Charlotte's Web by E.B. White is a moving story that teaches us important values of courage, friendship and loyalty.

When eight-year-old Fern finds out that her father (John Arable) is going to kill one of the pigs because it is a small and weak runt, she strongly opposes the idea. Managing to save the pig, Fern subsequently calls it Wilbur.

However, when Wilbur's appetite starts to increase (he begins to eat scraps of food in addition to milk), Mr Arable decides he can no longer afford to provide for it. Mrs Arable then suggests selling the pig for six dollars to her Uncle Homer Zuckerman's Farm.

At his new home, no one seems to be interested in Wilbur or wants to play with him. He begins to miss his fun walks, rides and swims. In this time of loneliness, a tiny voice (belonging to a grey spider called Charlotte A. Cavatica) reaches out to him. The pig and the spider soon become good friends, and Wilbur starts to like Charlotte better as the days go by.

Everything goes smoothly until an old sheep declares that the farmer is fattening Wilbur up so that he can be slaughtered. Feeling scared, the pig starts to cry. But Charlotte is determined to save Wilbur's life, although she has only the remainder of summer and half of autumn to do so.

If you want to know how an ordinary spider can save a pig from becoming smoked bacon and ham, read the book to find out!

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A first of the Charlie Bone series, this paperback is about Charlie, a young boy who is endowed with a special gift - one that lets him hear people in pictures speak and even visit them - a gift inherited from an ancestor.

While trying to awaken a girl who is hypnotised and lost in a web of deception, forgeries and lies, Charlie meets friends who are also endowed with special talents: Tancred the bringer of storms; Lysander the spirit commander, Emma the sleek glider, Gabriel Silk the intuitive guide (he can feel other peoples' feelings by touching their clothes), and Billy Raven the animal communicator.

Apart from these whimsical characters, Charlie runs into enemies too, like Manfred Bloor the hypnosis practitioner, Asa Pike the shape modifier, and Zelda Doblinsky the telekinetic connector. In a twist of events, Charlie soon finds himself being held by these and other evil forces...

Want to know how the story will end? Read on (and check out the second book Charlie Bone and The Time-Twister) to find out!

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Truth or Dare, Teen Queens and Has-Beens (by Cathy Hopkins) is a tale about Lia, a rich but humble girl who prefers to keep a low profile rather than boast about her wealth.

Although she is stunning, all the guys in her school do not dare to ask her on a date. She manages to attract the interest of Jonno, a school heartthrob, but this soon leads to trouble as "Teen Queen" Kaylie (who carries a torch for Jonno in spite of his disinterest) gangs up with her friends to start a mean campaign. They spread rumors and secrets, and send threats, to bully Lia.

Bogged down by the bullying, Lia begins to wonder why she has become a victim of circumstances. She also discovers that not all her friends are her true buddies as the notion of "stick together through thick and thin" disintegrates.

Instead of wallowing in self-pity, Lia chooses to look on the positive side and not be discouraged. She eventually finds her true love too, but I'm not going to tell you who it is. If you want to know who her knight in shinning amour is, read the book yourself!

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