The exams are over! Darrell and her friends can now look forward to a fun time ahead as they will staging a Christmas pantomime.

Among the interesting bunch of characters involved in this performance are Moria, Catherine, Maureen, Gwendoline Mary, Alicia, Betty and June.

Moria is strict, harsh and domineering. Catherine, on the other hand, is totally different – she is the sort who likes to pour oil on troubled waters and run around helping people with their chores. So she ends up being a doormat for everyone else and is given the nickname ‘Saint Catherine ’. However, to everyone’s disappointment, Moria is the one who’s chosen as the head girl and producer of the Christmas pantomime.

Maureen Little attends Malory Towers because her former school, Mazeley Manor, had to be shut down. Maureen and Gwendoline Mary are very much alike. Both of them have golden hair and big blue eyes, talk endlessly about themselves and laugh at the same silly jokes.

But Gwendoline gets furious with Maureen one evening, when the latter starts getting all the attention from her mother and governess when they come for a visit. Later on, however, she mends her ways because she realises that she herself is just as self-centered as Maureen!

At one of the rehearsals for the pantomime, the girls get into a huge argument; and this ends up with Alicia and Betty resigning from the pantomime. Though the other girls are upset, there is nothing they can do about these two strong-willed girls.

Alicia has a sister, June, who’s in the first form. The cheeky and defiant June writes anonymous letters to Moria, who saves her when she nearly gets expelled! This makes Alicia grateful to Moria for saving her sister.

Enid Blyton fans, if you want to read more about these interesting characters and find out how things eventually turn out in the fifth form at Malory Towers, grab hold of this book!

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Dani is a young Indian girl whose family had settled in England long ago. Dani’s mother has just married her close friend Ravi, who has a daughter, called Lalita, from his previous marriage,. This means Dani now has a new stepsister.

Lalita hates Dani because she blames her mother for breaking up her parents’ marriage, and does not want to have anything to do with her. Dani is just as angry with her mother for marrying Ravi, as she had promised Dani she would not remarry. To make things worse, Dani has to move to a new home and school; and she ends up going to the same school as Lalita.

Overwhelmed by all these happenings, she confides in her beloved grandmother, who gives her a special gift in an attempt to help distract her from all the turmoil and problems she is facing with Lalita and her new school.

Her grandmother’s gift is a copy of the diary she had kept as a child, which details everything that happened to her when her family moved from India to England in the 1960s. However, the writings are in Punjabi, so Dani has to make a tremendous effort to read and understand them. But as soon as she starts translating them into English, Dani realises that her effort is worth it as the writings are very interesting.

Reading about her grandmother’s friendship with the mischievous Milly, her best friend and classmate, is very fun. But it soon becomes clear there's more to these stories than meets the eye, as the past could help change Dani’s future.

Dani will have to delve deeper to figure out what really happened all those years ago and more specifically, what happened to Milly.

This is a wonderfully heartwarming story about the relationships between friends and family members. Dania’s diary is an interesting, fun and light-hearted read for all.

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It's the time for the school of Sandhurst to announce the Legend of Sports person of the year. The person deserving of this title has to play eight sports, including surfing, cricket, football, soccer, basketball, athletics and swimming.

In this book, which is the eighth and last of the series, we will find out who Sandhurst’s Legend of Sports is.

Mitchell Grady and his friends, Bryce Flavel, Daryl Ratsasis, Jimmy Paisley, Liam Diopolus and Luci Rankin, have battled their way to the finals. But when latest update of the Legend of Sports notice board shows that that Mitchell's rival, Travis Fisk, has gained four more points. This means his score is now equivalent to Mitchell’s. Bryce suspects that Travis's father Mr Fisk is behind this...

The day before the competition, Mitchell and his friends visit their friend Jack, who’s a teacher in another school. There, they meet Mr Fisk and Travis. Bryce goes around the school to shoot video clips. Upon entering the locker room, he is attracted by some posters on the wall and puts his camera aside to take a look at them. When Mitchell and his friends call for him, he forgets to retrieve the camera, which is still left in operating mode, in his hurry to meet up with them.

When they are about to leave the school, Bryce suddenly remembers that he has forgotten his camera and races back to the locker room to get it. When he scans through the videos later on, he finds that a conversation held between Mr Fisk and Travis in the locker room has been captured on camera.

If you want to know what the group of friends learnt from the video, and what happens during the final lap of the competition, read this story!

This is a book I would recommend to young readers. I hope that after reading it, you’ll be inspired, like I am, by Mitchell’s determination not to give up easily on things that are difficult to accomplish, and to have more perseverance like he does.

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Subtle moves, deadly politics and a city at the verge of chaos… This book has it all. A Betrayal In Winter tells of the court politics brewing in a fantasy city where brothers are expected to kill each other in order to win the throne.

It begins with the murder of one brother and the disappearance of another two. With the king at death’s doorstep, most of the people in the city are eager to find out who’ll be the first to draw blood and who’ll be the last one standing. A fallen poet (which is what a magician is called) has been given the particularly nasty task of finding out who the murderer is, as the two brothers have sworn that they are not guilty of the deed.

It seems like the author had no intent of following the traditional style of whodunit novels. Instead, he reveals who the murderer is early in the story, and gives readers an insight into how people make decisions with the limited information they have. Indeed, readers would feel as if they are observing a chess game being played by many opponents, each with his/her own agenda, and shrouded under a veil of secrecy.

What I find really brilliant about this book is that the characters always examine themselves first, before considering the other people around them. Various options are always provided at each turning point; and each character reacts like a rational human being, and not some fanatical knight bent on saving his honour. At times, I was taken by surprise when the reasons for taking a particular path are revealed, and I realised that they involve thinking processes that go far deeper than what I had fathomed.

I would advise action-seekers not to pick up this book as the quiet turn of events and careful choice of words may put them off. But if political intrigue excites you, then I believe this piece of work will suit your taste.

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Necropolis is the fourth book in the captivating Power of Five series. The series revolves around five teenagers, who are Gatekeepers – special people who prevent evil forces, called the Old Ones, from taking over the world. The cycle of the Old Ones escaping and the Gatekeepers defeating them keeps repeating; and with each cycle, new Gatekeepers are born.

In Necropolis, the Old Ones are back. Matt – the undeclared leader of the Gatekeepers Pedro, Jamie and Scott – sets about looking for the fifth Gatekeeper, a girl named Scarlett Adams.

Scarlett has accidentally entered a door in a chapel that is marked with a five-pointed star. This door – one of the twenty-five strewn all over the world – enables Gatekeepers to go round the world in an instant, provided they know where they want to be teleported to.

Scarlett comes upon an accomplice of the Old Ones, and is then being tracked by them. But she miraculously returns home and her story is splashed all over the papers, leading Matt and Richard Cole, his journalist friend, to her.

However, Scarlett is lured to Hong Kong, where the sinister Nightrise Corporation is. Nightrise helps the Old Ones look for Gatekeepers. Thankfully, Scarlett is rescued by the Pah Lien, or White Lotus Society, a group that is aware of the dangers posed by the Old Ones.

But something goes awry and Scarlett falls into the hands of Nightrise. Matt plans a stakeout with Lohan, a member of the White Lotus Society, and the five Gatekeepers are eventually united. They go through one of the Gatekeepers' doors in a Hong Kong temple. However, the five of them are separated again as they have forgotten entirely about their destination.

If you wish to know what’s the final outcome is, read the book! This fast-paced and well-written story is filled with wit and intrigue, and sets the tone for the fifth book, which will surely be a blast too!

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Never underestimate the power of a teacher to transform lives. When the rest of the world gives up hope on Sheila, a troubled kid, Torey Hayden steps in and proves them wrong.

One Child is a true story of how Hayden, a young teacher, reaches out to a bright child hidden beneath the defensive shell she has deliberately enclosed herself in.

The child, Sheila, is a violent six-year-old abandoned on the highway by her mother when she was merely four. She is sent to Hayden after she was found to have committed an atrocious act. Hayden holds special classes for children who are severely retarded, or considered beyond salvation by all other institutions.

Sheila never talks or cries, and she terrorises all the other students daily, yet Hayden refuses to subscribe to everyone else’s belief that she is beyond help.

With her boundless love and patience, Hayden goes against all odds to bring out the spark she sees in a little girl who’s hurt and lost in a complicated world. As Hayden puts up a tough fight for what she believes in, Sheila transforms dramatically and proves to be much more than what others perceive of her.

Hayden takes her readers through her personal journey with Sheila, as they go through daily battles in the classroom, stumble together to forge a beautiful yet delicate relationship, and learn from one another what it takes to be a survivor.

I see no attempt on the part of the educator to glorify herself, or to earn pity for a child victimised by a family she cannot choose. Rather, the author bares it all for us to understand the physical and emotional experiences of both the teacher and student.

This inspiring read truly exemplifies a teacher’s power to touch lives and change the world.

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Meet Paul Edgecombe, a guard at the state penitentiary. More specifically, he's the boss of Block E, where the worst, cruellest and most evil of all criminals come to spend their last days before meeting their end in the electric chair.

Murderers, rapists, kidnappers… Paul has seen them all. In fact, he has sent so many people to their death that he thinks he can no longer be surprised by any of the criminals arriving at the penitentiary.

But he is wrong. When the gigantic John Coffey, who’s convicted of the murder and rape of two little girls, comes in, Edgecombe has a subconscious feeling that there is something special about him. But what is it?

As the story unfolds, the shocking and amazing truth about John Coffey is revealed. Edgecombe soon figures out that Coffey is actually innocent. But how can he prove it?

Though this story is cleverly told, I thought the sequences in the middle of it seem a little jumbled. Nonetheless, The Green Mile is a well-paced story with believable characters and a fantastic “atmosphere” – elements that are typical of a Stephen King’s novel.

It is thrilling to see how King shapes seemingly unrelated characters and scenes into a bizarre but totally credible plot with a heartwarming ending.

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I would like to tell you about Youn Hee and Me, an interesting book about family life.

The story is about Caitlin, whose parents are divorced. She lives with her mother and a brother called Si Won, or Simon in English. Her mother adopted Simon, a Korean orphan, when he was very young.

One evening, her mother comes home from work and asks for Caitlin and Simon. She tells them that Simon has a sister called Youn Hee, and she is living in a Korean orphanage. Simon and Youn Hee were orphaned when their parents died in an accident.

As Caitlin is a generous-hearted child, and does not mind having a sister whom she can share her feelings and thoughts with, their mother adopts Youn Hee.

Youn Hee is not much bigger than Simon. When she arrives at their home, she seems so small and timid, and she does not speak English. After her new mother gives her English language lessons, Youn Hee is able to speak a little English.

But troubles begin when Youn Hee is not willing to “share” Simon with Caitlin. The two girls start arguing, and Youn Hee threatens to take Simon back to Korea.

So what’s going to happen next? Will Youn Hee really take Simon away, or will they ever be able to live together as one happy family?

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As everyone would surely know, Harry Potter is a young school-going wizard. “Prisoner of Azkaban”, the third book in the Harry Potter series, is very exciting, as there are misunderstandings between the various characters and revelation of secrets.

The story begins with Sirius Black escaping from Azkaban, where wizards like him are imprisoned. Azkaban is a horrible place – it is guarded by characters called Dementors, who suck out all happy thoughts from the prisoners, and eventually make them go mad.

After Sirius Black’s escape, the Dementors go to Harry’s school – Howarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry – to provide security, in case the escaped prisoner turns up there.

As the story progresses, we learn about Quidditch, an exciting competitive sport played by the students; Sirius Black entering the school; and Harry and his friends finding out the truth about his father (James Potter), Sirius Black, Professor Lupin (a teacher at Hogwarts) and Peter Pettigrew (the wizard who betrayed Harry's parents and transformed himself into Ron’s pet rat).

J.K. Rowling really knows how to create a good plot and fill it with exciting twists and turns. Once you start reading this book, you won’t want to put it down!

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Like Agatha Christie, Alistair Maclean is a master at crafting suspense stories. Because of the detailed descriptions and vivid ways in which he conveys feelings, you’d think that instead of reading a book, you are actually entering portals to visit the scenes and see the events happening before you. And I think his book, “The Guns of Navarone”, best exemplifies this.

In the story, twelve hundred British soldiers on the island of Kheros are going to be attacked by Germans in seven days, and their last hope is to evacuate the place.

But the only route that’s unguarded by German patrol ships is the Western Maidos Strait, which is situated east of Navarone, a German island fortress. But on the island’s northern coast is a cave containing two gigantic cannons that can hit targets over the area spanning the northern entrance to the Western Maidos Strait. Thus, no ship is able to pass through the strait and evacuate the soldiers from Kheros.

Eventually, the head of allied intelligence, Captain James Jensen, decides that they have to stage a guerrilla-style sabotage mission to destroy the cannons. He brings in Keith Mallory, a legendary climber in the desert long-range force; Andrea Starvos, a lieutenant-colonel who is a born killer; Dusty Miller, a genius with explosives; Casey Brown, a skilled engineer; and Andy Stevens, another skilled mountaineer.

They plan to climb the south cliff of Navarone – a huge precipice that’s not guarded by the Germans, evade the German patrols and destroy the dangerous guns of Navarone.

Read this book to see how Maclean blends terror, suspense, mystery and adventure together to create a thrilling story with an incredible ending.

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Alexandra (Alex) Shanahan is not your typical beautiful and sweet-mannered flight attendant. Having given up a good corporate career with a very agreeable income to become a private investigator, she has been hired by OrangeAir to infiltrate a prostitution ring targeting first-class passengers. To crack the case, she goes undercover as a flight attendant, but gets more than she bargained for.

The witty and cunning Angela Siobhan is the mastermind behind the sophisticated operation. However, she faces competition from another expanding prostitution ring in Los Angeles, and is losing both her clients and girls to this competitor.

Alex takes advantage of this situation to get close to Angela, so she can obtain information for the case. However, this proves to be no easy task, as Angela isn’t willing to reveal much to her.

However, Alex eventually manages to close a business deal with Angela, on the pretext of being her business consultant. She probes and digs out information from Angela, and is thus able to make good progress on the case.

But things also become more precarious and complicated. Alex is suddenly attacked in her home; and her friendship with her close friends is jeopardised when they misconstrue the nature of her relationship with the “ring leader”.

Another problem Alex faces comes in the form of Harvey Baltimore – her mentor. Though Harvey assists and guides Alex in the case, he becomes more of an obstacle to her instead. He feels that the mission is getting far too dangerous for Alex at time, and insists that she closes the case.

As things get worse, Alex is forced to make great sacrifices. But even then, will she succeed in breaking up the prostitution ring?

I thoroughly enjoyed the intricate and dynamic plot of this thriller. You too will derive much pleasure and excitement from it, especially if you are an aspiring private investigator! It’ll show you how the great minds of private investigators work, and the risks and challenges they have to face in the name of duty.

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Hannah and Joey have been best friends forever. But when Joey’s new foster brother, Paul, turns up, everything changes.

Initially, they all get along well with other each. Hannah’s older brother, Kit, befriends Paul and shows him around his new school, and helps him to fit in and make friends. The four of them – Kit, Hannah, Paul and Joey start to hang out and have fun together.

But then, all of a sudden, things start going wrong. Joey and Kit began going out together, without Paul and Hannah. Later, Paul gets bullied by Kit’s friends, who see him as a total dork as he is only interested in art and refuses to join the other boys at soccer games. It isn’t too serious at first, but the bullying gradually becomes more aggressive and even violent. Paul gets tripped over, pushed, shoved and kicked, and even have the belongings in his bag thrown out.

Hannah’s world is turned upside down. Distressed to see Paul, whom she secretly has a crush on, being bullied by the ruffians, she suggests he tells his problems to Miss Quinn, a lovely and helpful teacher in the school. However, Paul stubbornly refuses to do so, as he is afraid that if the people at the care-centre find out that he has problems fitting into the new environment, they will take him back to Glasgow – where he doesn’t want to return to.

After being bullied by Kit and his gang, Paul loses all of his self-esteem and confidence. He goes missing, leaving Hannah’s and Joey’s families frantic.

Can you help a friend in trouble if they do not want you to? Hannah does not know how to rescue Paul but perhaps, with a little bit of help, Paul could save himself...

This truly wonderful and heart-warming book, which is about friendship, fitting in and accepting others, will tug at your heartstrings. I recommend you read it!

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This riveting novel by Jodi Picoult, a New York Times bestselling author, revolves around the lives of two families – the Hartes and the Golds.

The two families have been living as neighbours for eighteen years, sharing weal and woe. So, it comes as a pleasant and somewhat expected surprise when the relationship between Emily and Christopher, children of the respective families, blossom from that of close childhood friends to something more.

The pair has been soulmates since birth but become star-crossed lovers as time goes by. One of them dies and the other survives in what’s said to be a suicide pact gone wrong. But the statement made by the “survivor” is thrown into doubt when a motive is discovered.

The Pact paints an indelible portrait of the anguish and emotional struggles of the protagonists and their families. The meandering subplots in this riveting physiological drama will keep you clutching the edge of your seat right to the end. I put down the book only once – to get more tissues.

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Sixth grade is about to begin. Everyone is busy and excited preparing for the new school term. That is, everyone except Cathy Carlson.

Her best and only friend had moved out of town and she is at loss as to how she can find another friend so quickly. But her problem is resolved when she befriends a girl called Cassidy McDew.

Cathy creates a new nickname for herself: Cat. Though she is an A+ brainiac, as well as a bookworm with many spelling bee awards, Cat is clueless when it comes to fashion and pop music.

Unfortunately, Cassidy is the total opposite of her. Stylish Cassidy is definitely not a bookworm and has her eyes on Milo Lennox, a famous pop singer. Cat will do anything, including hiding her smarts, just to be Cassidy’s friend.

But things get more complicated when another girl, Shana Fitz, befriends the duo. Somehow, it just isn’t possible for three girls to be best friends, especially when one hates the other!

The rich and fashionable Shana is determined to have Cassidy all to herself, and when she finds out that Cat is hiding her smarts, she threatens to reveal the truth to Cassidy if Cat does not do as she says.

And while Cat is focusing so much on her problems with her friends, her grades start to slip. Cat’s parents have to pull her away from Shana and Cassidy in order to get her to concentrate on her studies again.

So, did Shana succeed in having Cassidy all to herself? And will Cat ever have true friends and retain her good grades? You’ve to read this book to find out!

This story is about friendship, and teaches us that true friends are those who are honest and help you when you are in trouble.

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The protagonist of this fantasy story is fifteen-year-old Bobby Pendragon, a Traveller embarking on yet another mission to protect the territories of Halla from Saint Dane, an evil shapeshifting demon.

A Traveller is an individual originating from one of the ten territories of Halla, and has the responsibility to save his or her territory when something goes wrong. They possess special abilities and have to train and introduce their successor to his or her new life. And only they and their aides (called “acolytes") are the only ones who know of the existence of flumes.

Pendragon has to struggle to survive in Eelong, a territory of Halla, where jungle cats (called “Klee”) are supreme beings and humans (called “Gar”) are lower life forms who do all the menial work.

Pendragon tries to find out what kind of plot Saint Dane is hatching while searching for the traveller of first earth, Gunny, whom he believes is in trouble. But before that, he has to find Seegen, an elder Klee who has gone missing.

Meanwhile, Pendragon’s acolytes, Courtney and Mark, meet Seegen at the flume on second earth. Before Seegen suddenly dies, he tells them that Saint Dane plans to poison Eelong.

Courtney and Mark learn that Seegen has been killed by the poison from Cloral, another territory of Halla. Saint Dane had tried to poison Cloral in the past, but failed as an antidote had been created in time to derail his evil scheme. They also find out he has managed to get his hands on the poison again and intends to use it to get rid of all the gars in Eelong and thus destroy the territory.

The two acolytes are unable to reach Pendragon, so against his advice, they use the flumes to travel to Cloral to obtain the antidote for the poison and send Seegen’s corpse back to Eelong at the same time.

When Seegen’s daughter, Kasha, found her father’s dead body at the flume, she gets angry and blames Pendragon and the other Travellers for his death. Fortunately, Seegen had left her a box containing a note and map to Black Water, where Gunny is.

So, Kasha and Pendragon, along with Seegen’s acolyte, York, go in search of Black Water. Upon reaching it, they make some surprising discoveries.

I enjoy the plot very much because of its unpredictable twists and turns. The author has also introduced dashes of humour throughout the story, which will surely lift the spirits of its readers. I strongly recommend it to everyone, especially those who love good fantasy stories.

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Sachi has always been different from the rest of the village children. While they are brown and sturdy with brown or black eyes, her skin is startlingly translucent and pale, and her eyes are dark green like the moss on the forest floor.

It seems her blossoming beauty is going to waste as she submits to her fate of being a farmer’s wife. However, her destiny changes one day when Princess Kazu passes through the village where she lives and decides to takes her in as a handmaiden. Thereafter, she manages to catch the eye of a young shogun, Lord Iemochi, and later becomes his concubine.

However, her happiness as the shogun’s concubine is short-lived as he dies some time afterwards, when civil war between the northern and southern regions erupted.

Sachi is duty-bound to lure the enemies away from the palace and the princess. She gets rescued by a rebel warrior, Shinzaemon, and finds unknown feelings stirring within her. However, she lives in a traditional world in which honour and propriety take precedence over personal desires and passion.

Before she dares dream of a life with Shinzaemon amidst all the unrest, Sachi also uncovers the secret of her own origin. She discovers that she is of noble blood, and also the daughter of a shogun’s concubine and carpenter – such a coupling is unheard of in those days as it is a complete social disgrace.

Will Sachi put aside honour and follow her heart to marry Shinzaemon? And will she be reunited with her birth parents?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it interweaves romance with epic history so seamlessly that it is difficult to tell what was fictitious or not. And I find it cool that palace women were trained to be warriors and well-versed in swordplays to protect themselves and the shogun against enemies.

Another interesting thing I learnt is that although the plot encompasses romance, the word “love” does not appear in the story at all. Want to know why? Read the book to find out!

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This story is told through protagonist Peony, who revels in studying The Peony Pavilion, an opera published in 1598. The plot mirrors that of the opera, and common themes abound: an intelligent girl rebelling against social norms; the educative power of literature; the painful throes of passionate love; and family sagas.

Peony is like every other sixteen-year-old girl. She dreams, she writes and she sews, whilst fate plays with her heart. She has met a man called Ren, and foolishly fallen in love with him. But her family has arranged for her to be married to someone else. So she desperately pines for her beloved, and believes that the only way to be with him is through death. After all, like in the opera, all is well after Mengmei weds his ghost wife Liniang.

Alas, when her father reveals that her groom is Ren, Peony can only exhale with joy, as her lovesickness has caused her body to waste away, and she eventually dies.

Peony transforms into a hungry ghost who’s fated to wander the earth for eternity. Years later, Ren marries Ze, a spoilt and stubborn maiden, and the daughter of another wealthy nobleman.

Find out how Peony continues to express her love for Ren, and what eventually happens to her, and the state of her relationship with Ren.

Author Lisa See has woven a compelling tale of angst and affection, and shown us how love can be simple, yet complicated. And her book is an absolute treat for all!

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This story revolves around an unlikely friendship between a young boy named Robert and an old lady.

When Robert, a student, volunteers for a project that requires him to visit a rest home and “exchange wisdom” with an elder, he meets an old lady called Edith Sorrel.

When Robert asks for her wisdom, all she says to him is: Top floor flat, Chance House. Later on, Robert learns about a boy who was said to have jumped to his death from the top floor of Chance House. This draws him to the house, and after spending a night there, discovers he has the qualities of courage and determination within himself.

Robert gradually grows to love Edith. Upon learning that the old lady has liver cancer, Robert does everything within his power to try to save her.

It turns out that the old lady is a firebird; and she begs Robert to sew a coat of feathers for her. So, he works day and night to sew the coat, in the belief that it would save her life.

However, when the class bully discovers the coat, he takes it from Robert and starts a fight with him. During the fight, one of the feathers, which are found on the top floor of Chance House, is ripped out of the coat. At the same time, Edith’s condition suddenly takes a turn for the worse and she falls into a coma.

Read this book to find out if the coat could save her life and learn the other secrets about Chance House.

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Hannah Verde, the main character in this story, feels that she has been living a life of deceit – as a Jew in a Christian country, a girl in boy’s clothing, a passionate young woman dressed as a Holy Fool, and

betrothed to one man but in love with another, a servant in the royal household who loves one master but adores another, and caught in the rivalry between the two.

The story unfolds in 1553. As she’s being pursued by the Inquisition, Hannah is forced to flee with her father from Spain to England.

Due to her gift of foreseeing the future, Lord Robert Dudley, the charismatic son of King Edward’s protector, brings her to court as a holy fool to serve King Edward, Queen Mary and ultimately, Queen Elizabeth.

Being hired as a fool but working as a spy, promised to wed another man while in love with her master Lord Robert, and incriminated by the laws against heresy, treason and witchcraft, Hannah must choose between the safe life of a commoner and a dangerous but intriguing life with the royal family.

Teeming with vibrant details about that period and characters who are seamlessly woven into a sweeping tapestry of historical events, this story is so realistically told by Gregory that you’ll feel as if you are there with Hannah, and spending every minute of your life flirting with death!

At the beginning, everything might seem rather confusing to you as the story starts by sending you back in time, and is filled with historical trivia (Gregory, a history and literature major, has obtained all these facts before weaving her tale).

Overall, I would say that this book is a good read. Not only will you enjoy the romantic and exciting tale, but get to learn more about England’s history without being bored to tears!

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This heartwrenching story tells of an extraordinary friendship between two boys living in Germany during World War II. The two, Bruno and Shmuel, are kept apart not only by a fence, but by differences in nationality and religion too.

Bruno is a nine-year-old who is forced to move from his hometown in Berlin to Auschwitz in Germany because his father, a commander in the German Army, has to oversee the administration of a concentration camp.

From his bedroom window, Bruno can see the seemingly never-ending fence of the concentration camp, as well as sense the ominous feeling that hangs like a shroud over the campsite.

One day, while exploring the fence, Bruno meets Shmuel, a Polish boy who’s of the same age as him. From thereon, the boys develop a strong and unlikely friendship.Bruno visits Shmeul every day without fail, and brings him food and snacks. Even when he realises that he is not supposed to befriend Shmuel because he is a Jew, he continues to visit him. During his visits, he will sit by the fence and spend his whole afternoon talking and playing with Shmuel.

Bruno’s mother feels that staying in Auschwitz will do the children no good, so his father decides to send the whole family back to Berlin. Though the dismayed Bruno bids Shmuel farewell, he later decides to visit the place that Shmuel calls home, as well as help him find his missing father.

The ironic contrasts between the two boys form the basis of this story. Bruno enjoys the privileges of a rich family while Shmuel is subject to torture by the soldiers in the camp. As Bruno is the son of the commander tasked to eliminate all Jews, their friendship is ill-fated from the start. However, the boys are determined not to let these differences get in the way of their friendship.

The ending is not what I expected; and as I read it, I was engulfed by a wave of devastation. Read this heartwarming and heartbreaking tear-jerker if you want to know what happens to Bruno and Shmuel in the end.

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Charlie Gordon wants to be smart. For most of his life, he has struggled with learning how to spell, read and count.

Now, 32-year-old Charlie will find his wish coming true, for Doctors Strauss and Nemur are giving him a chance to be part of an experimental treatment created for people like him. So far, this treatment has only been tried on another subject – a mouse called Algernon.

After the operation, Charlie improves by leaps and bounds. He has a great memory, studies countless foreign languages and writes research papers. In short, he is a far cry from the Charlie who once struggled to use periods and commas properly.

But how would he cope emotionally? Will his social intelligence catch up with his new-found intellect? It turns out that the operation has not made him more popular, or a nicer person. Instead, he has lost his friends and his job. And no one can understand him anymore.

Readers of this touching story will find themselves being taken on an emotional ride.

And as you’ll soon learn, intelligence is, alas, not everything in life. After all, what are we (and even the geniuses among us) without love?

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Who would guess that flat-chested, five-foot-nine freshman Amelia Thermopolis is heir to the throne of Genovia?

It is already bad enough for her to find out that her mother, Helen Thermopolis, is dating her algebra acher, Mr Gianini. And now, she discovers that she is actually Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo, princess of Genovia! Soon, Amelia gets a bodyguard who follows her everywhere, except to the ladies' room, where he would just stand outside and wait for her!

But Amelia would rather stay with her best friend, Lilly Moscovitz, and help to save the environment than leave for Genovia. However, Amelia's grandmother tells the press that her granddaughter is the Princess of Genovia, and the very next day, Amelia is featured on the front page of the New York Times! So she has little choice but to take lessons from her grandmother on to learn how to be a princess.

Then, Josh Richter, the cutest and coolest boy in school, breaks up with Amelia's enemy and asks her out just to... Read this exciting book to find out more about Amelia's unusual life!

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Many girls dream of becoming a princess, but for Miri Larendaughter (who’s named after a mountain flower), being one can be a nightmare!

Miri and her family live on the high slopes of Mount Eskel, and work in the quarry there to pound out a meagre living.

One day, word arrives from the lowlands that the king’s priests have divined that the next girl who marries his son, Prince Steffan, must be from Mount Eskel.

Prince Steffan will travel to the village to choose his bride, but first, all the eligible girls must attend a makeshift academy where they will learn to prepare themselves for the royal life of a lowlander.

At the academy, Miri finds herself confronting the fierce competition among 20 girls, as well as trying to resolve her own conflicting desires. There, she also makes a good friend out of Britta Paweldaughter, who turns out to be Prince Steffan’s childhood playmate. And when the girls face danger at the academy, it is Miri who comes to their rescue.

Miri may be a small girl, but she proves to be wise beyond her years, and better than those bigger and older than her!

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Despite its rather unusual title, this book is a surprisingly good read. What I also find amazing is that it was first published such a long time ago – in 1956!

A true incident inspired the author to write the story, which is set in China during the Second Sino-Japanese War. It revolves around Tien Pao, a young Chinese boy who is accidentally separated from his family, and his struggle to return home.

When the Japanese forces invade China, Tien Pao and his family manage to escape to Hengyang. To make ends meet, his parents have to work at a nearby American airfield and leave Tien Pao to look after his sister Beauty-of-the-Republic, along with three little ducklings and the family pig. They live onboard one of the sampans that are tied up along a river bank.

One night, there is a heavy rainstorm and Tien Pao’s sampan breaks away from the rest while he is asleep. Soon, he awakes and finds his boat being swept down the river and right into the enemy’s territory! Only he and the family pig, which he named Glory-of-the Republic, are on the boat. Tien Pao’s desire to return home overcomes his fear, and he embarks on a long journey to get back to Hengyang and reunite with his family.

He encounters interesting but dangerous adventures along the way. Starving children, driven to eating mud to alleviate their desperate hunger, wrestle with him to get hold of Glory-of-the Republic (aka food), and he is nearly shot by the Japanese soldiers. He comes across an injured American airman and rescues him. This airman turns out to be Lieutenant Hamsun, the leader of a flight squadron, and an old acquaintance whom he used to ferry across the river bank.

The pilot is grateful to Tien Pao for rescuing him even though they are in the midst of the enemy stronghold, and brings Tien Pao back to his barracks. The soldiers there find Tien Pao to be a likeable chap. After listening to the account of his adventures, they joke that he has now ended up in the “house of sixty fathers” (which I guess is the inspiration behind the title of this book), as the barracks is home to sixty men. But this joke angers Tien Pao, making him protest: “But I have a mother and a father!”.

Tien Pao’s insistence on returning to his family moves the soldiers, and Lieutenant Hamsun decides to help him. But the Japanese have already invaded Hengyang, and it seems that the last of the refugees have fled the place. So, would Tien Pao eventually reunite with his parents, or is he destined to stay on at the “house of sixty fathers”?

This story was written about five decades ago, but its themes of persistence and determination are still relevant in today’s world. We may not have experienced war before, but in the gloominess of this current economic crisis, it helps in reminding us never to give up, and motivates us to persevere, no matter how tough circumstances may be.

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This humourous and action-packed story tells of the trials and tribulations of protagonist Laura Shane.

The story begins on a snowy, lightning-streaked night, when Laura’s mother dies while giving birth to her. After her mother’s death, Laura leads a seemingly uneventful and blissful life with her father, until one day, when a robber corners them in their family shop. Just as father and daughter are about to be killed, a streak of lightning scratches the sky, and a man with blue eyes and blonde hair (whom we later know to be Laura’s guardian angel) comes to their rescue.

Not long after this incident, Laura is orphaned and sent to live in an orphanage. Life isn’t dull there, as she meets a pair of twins who occasionally indulges her in dark humour. She also has to escape the advances of a red-haired man called Willy. This is when her guardian angel comes to her rescue again.

Laura grows up to become a millionaire writer and enjoys a blissful life with her husband, Bob, and their son. But it doesn’t all ends well. Her life starts to change as she finds herself getting involved in a series of accidents and has assassins pursuing her. But each time she gets into a nerve-wrecking situation, she is saved by her guardian angel.

The only thing Laura is sure of is that she must take her child and escape from these mysterious assassins, whom like her guardian angel, seem to appear whenever lightning strikes.

Who is this guardian angel of hers, and what is his motive of saving her from all her close brushes with death? Will Laura’s life end tragically or will she go on to lead a blissful life once again?

Read this book to find out more about the identity of Laura’s guardian angel and the reason behind the streaks of lightning that mark the arrival of both her pursuers and guardian angel.

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Young Charles Darwin, or Charley, is at a loss; he doesn’t know what he wants to be when he grows up. Although he tries to be obedient to his father by focusing on his studies, he hates being cooped up in a classroom memorising endless pages of Greek and Latin literature, learning about the human anatomy or studying Bible scriptures.

He does not wish to be a doctor or a parson, he just wants to be outside collecting birds’ eggs, feathers, rocks and insects. Hence, when he is being invited to go aboard the HMS Beagle for a round-the-world exploration trip, he immediately agrees, even if it means leaving behind his childhood sweetheart, Fanny Owen.

This story goes on to narrate his adventures during the journey and the numerous life-threatening situations he has to face, as well as his heartaches and homesickness. But the risks and pains are worth it, as the observations he makes over the course of his five-year expedition form the basis of the groundbreaking theories that have been compiled into his book On the Origin of Species.

This fictionalised account of how young Charles Darwin breaks from convention to follow his passion is really fascinating and exciting. Carolyn Meyer’s descriptions of this great and controversial naturalist’s journey are so vivid that it will feel as if you, the reader, are sharing his experiences as you turn the pages. Indeed, I found the story so captivating that I was unable to put down the book until I have reached the last page. Adventure lovers, this is a book you must not miss!

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Twelve-year-old Cassie Emerson is definitely not your regular teenager. She has a lot to cope with as she struggles to hold the family together. Her father has left the family for an unknown reason and her mom, now the sole breadwinner, has to constantly work overtime, leaving her with little time to manage the household. What’s more, her teenage sister would not put in her share of the workload and her little brother is constantly seeking attention. So it's all up to Cassie to prevent total chaos at home… or so she thinks.

Things at school aren’t any better. Her two "best friends” are starting to become mean towards her. On top of that, there’s a cute boy who has been sending her mixed signals. With her life being turned upside-down, Cassie’s grades start plummeting, fast.

And then there's Mr Mullaney, the weirdest and most difficult seventh grade English teacher, who hates literally everything she does. Cassie thinks that Mr Mullaney isn't reading the brilliant fantasy stories she has put so much effort into writing and only cares about the number of pages she has written. She feels that her effort is not appreciated and starts submitting silly journal entries like "A Virtual Tour of My Insanely Messy Desk".

But her sassy humour isn't winning her any friends or helping her ailing grades. So what's a girl to do when her life gets totally insane?

The author has given us a witty, poignant and moving portrayal of a feisty, confident and humourous girl with a spunkiness that’s most refreshing. Anyone who has faced tough times and persevered will identify with Cassie. This enjoyable novel also teaches us about balancing family life with schoolwork. I loved reading it and I hope you will too!

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This is a gentle love story with a twist. It is set in present-day Ireland, in a small town in County Cork. The story will definitely touch the heart of anyone who has ever loved or longed to be taken notice of.

Elizabeth Egan, the protagonist, is a woman who’s bound by an unwavering sense of duty. She is so organised that people may find this trait of hers rather irritating.

Elizabeth has an impossible sister, Saoirse, who adds to the burdens she already has to bear. Saoirse stumbles through life and is oblivious to the devastation she leaves in her wake, mainly because Elizabeth is the one who has to deal with the frustrating consequences.

Saoirse’s six-year-old son Luke, on the other hand, is a well-adjusted and kind-hearted little boy who seems to remain amazingly “unscathed” even though he has to live with a completely dysfunctional family.

Then there’s Ivan, a beautiful character whom author Cecelia Ahern has created. He is child-like and has a delicious sense of fun. He also has an infinite capacity to share his love in the purest and most unselfish of ways. However, his fun is spoilt once he learns more about the world, and has to face responsibilities, and make decisions and sacrifices.

This magical tale is fantasy, suspense and romance all rolled into one. Although the plot is rather foggy at the beginning, the interesting climax towards the end of it makes things much more fascinating and exciting. This book is indeed a page-turner, so get your hands on it quick!

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The protagonist of this suspense thriller is Ethan Truman. He is a security chief whose job is to protect Hollywood superstar Channing Manheim, otherwise known as “The Face”.

Ethan’s employer has been receiving threats, and six mysterious black boxes containing macabre items have been delivered to the Manheim’s estate. One of them, which contains an apple and a doll’s eye, prompts Ethan to investigate the matter. By doing so, he has unknowingly taken on the responsibilities of being a “guardian angel” to the people around him.

But the person behind this is actually going after Fric, the innocent and lonely son of Manheim, instead of the star himself. He is an eccentric man who hates the world so much that the extent to which he manipulates people against each other will shock you. His meticulous and fool-proof plans (so explicitly described by Koontz) to capture Fric is extremely hair-raising.

The occurrences of murders and ghostly apparitions are important elements to the development of this entertaining read. After all, Dean Ray Koontz is one of America’s most popular novelists, renowned for his chilling and gripping suspense thrillers that are usually filled with horror, mystery, science fiction and satire.

So it’s not surprising that this book is a page-turner. It is packed with plenty of thrills, has a happy but unpredictable ending, and is definitely not for the faint-hearted!

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You would have probably heard of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the musical genius who amazed the world with his wonderful compositions, but have you heard of Nannerl Mozart, his elder sister?

One wonders what it must be like to be like her – the musically talented sister who has to live under the shadow of a musical genius of a brother.

This historical fiction is written from Nannerl’s viewpoint, and captures her feelings and actions so vividly that readers will stay captivated and enchanted till the very end. It also explores issues like the gender discrimination Nannerl faces in her time.

Though musically talented like her brother, Nannerl cannot realise her passion and dreams as her father refuses to let her further her studies in music. He is the typical male chauvinist who stubbornly believes that boys should be favoured more than girls. And because of this, the family's fortune is being spent on nurturing Wolfgang, and as a result, the family is being saddled with a mountain of debts.

One would have never thought of Wolfgang as a cheeky, mischievious and attention-seeking brat, but your impressions of him might change after you read this book. Because of all the attention that has been given to him when he was a child, he grows up to be a selfish man who constantly seeks the attention of women.

This book tells the story of Nannerl, the “other Mozart", a passionate musician who never stops dreaming despite the obstacles she has to face. Wolfgang forges ahead into a celebrated musical career but Nannerl has to cope with romantic turmoil, family strife and frustrations over derailed ambitions while finding comfort in her music. Read this book to learn more about her life!

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The plot of this bestseller seems to come from someone with a really wild imagination!

This suspenseful tale tells of the unrelenting conflict between the Russians and Britains from the days of the Nazi regime up to the present day. The story’s protagonist is Adam Scott, the son of a British colonel called Gerald Scott. When the colonel died, he left a will bequeathing Adam with a mysterious letter, which had been given to him by a senior Nazi named Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering.

After reading the letter, Adam learns that he is being entrusted with a mission – to search for a Russian Orthodox icon called Saint George and the Dragon. A similar icon, which is apparently a fake, is believed to be kept in a winter palace.

A chain of deadly events is set into motion when Adam takes possession of the icon. The conflict between the Russians and British worsens, and the police and secret agents from both countries go on the hunt for Adam and the precious icon.

Adam runs for his life, embarking on a perilous journey across Europe. When he accidentally drops the icon, it cracks open, revealing a password leading him to the discovery of the Nazi empire’s secrets.

I enjoy reading this book immensely as the story is fast-paced, thrilling and compelling. It is certainly a book action buffs would love!

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This book, the third installment of the enchanting 44 Scotland Street series, is sure to delight author Alexander McCall’s many fans. It brilliantly portrays the lives of the various characters and going-ons in the Edinburgh townhouse at 44 Scotland Street.

Firstly, we are introduced to the impressionable and exuberant Pat, who finds herself falling head over heels in love with a handsome and charming man called Wolf.

Next, there is Bertie, a six-year-old prodigy who yearns to escape the suffocating clutches of his mother Irene, and her crony, psychotherapist Doctor Fairbairn, and fit in with his peers. But he continues to be smothered by the both of them.

Then there is Angus, an eccentric man in his fifties, who finds solace in the companionship of his beloved dog Cyril. He reminisces about his conversations with his soulmate, Domenica, who has gone on an anthropological odyssey to The Straits Of Malacca. But in the meantime, his loneliness is temporarily allayed by the arrival of Domenica’s friend – the attractive-looking author and feminist Antonia.

Last but not least, there’s Big Lou, an affectionate and empathic lady. She has an erstwhile boyfriend, Eddie, whose misdemeanours make her heart ache.

Several themes stand out in this story. One of these is deception. Looking at the relationships between the various characters, we see that sometimes reality is far from the truth and not everything is what it appears to be.

Another theme is the desire for freedom. When Bertie goes to Paris without his mum, he savours independence for the first time in his life, and demonstrates that he is able to survive on his own even though he is only a six-year-old. Interestingly, the author also uses comparisons between London and Singapore to convey the concept of freedom. London enjoys freedom and democracy, while Singapore takes tremendous pride in its achievements of peace, security and efficiency. He questions if freedom is really such a good thing, since it can lead to complications.

Feminism, love and friendship are the other themes of the story, which also imparts morals, such as the importance of accepting things (which can actually be much harder than giving them), and the fact that sometimes the truth can be a disappointment.

The author also reminds us that money doesn’t necessarily bring social success or happiness, to cherish life as it is so frail, and most importantly, to respect others and appreciate their kindness, lest misfortune strike us before we are able to show them our gratitude.

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Sophie Kinsella delivers lessons about life brilliantly in this story, which I think every woman and young person should read.

Rebecca Bloomwood is a shopaholic whose life seems so perfect to many young women. She lives in the trendiest neighbourhood in London and hangs out with a group of socialite friends who are always there for her. And she is a writer for a financial magazine who advises consumers on personal savings and investment strategies.

Ironically, Becky is an incurable spendthrift! Who would buy a useless stash of cosmetics just to get a "free" beach bag? Her reckless spending habits soon land her in big trouble, as finance companies start to send her letters of notices and warnings to demand payment. Knowing that she has to find ways to pay off these bills before things get completely out of control, she tries every method to cut back on spending and make more money. But it’s of no use, as Becky carries on spending (guiltily) whenever she sees something on sale.

Her bills pile up but she tries to avoid the problem, either by tossing them away or stuffing them into the dressing table drawer. Eventually, all her credit card privileges are frozen. She becomes depressed, but is still too proud to confess to her parents that their daughter, the so-called “successful woman” with the so-called “top job” is a disorganised and deceitful mess, and up to her eyeballs in debt! Her only consolation is that she can cheer herself up by buying herself something, just a little something…

Meanwhile, a story which Becky has concerns about comes up. And for the first time in her life, she works wholeheartedly and fights tooth-and-nail for the sake of her friends, not knowing that doing so is going to totally transform her life...

Read this compelling story to find out what happens to Becky!

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Sophie Kinsella delivers lessons about life brilliantly in this story, which I think every woman and young person should read.

Rebecca Bloomwood is a shopaholic whose life seems so perfect to many young women. She lives in the trendiest neighbourhood in London and hangs out with a group of socialite friends who are always there for her. And she is a writer for a financial magazine who advises consumers on personal savings and investment strategies.

Ironically, Becky is an incurable spendthrift! Who would buy a useless stash of cosmetics just to get a "free" beach bag? Her reckless spending habits soon land her in big trouble, as finance companies start to send her letters of notices and warnings to demand payment. Knowing that she has to find ways to pay off these bills before things get completely out of control, she tries every method to cut back on spending and make more money. But it’s of no use, as Becky carries on spending (guiltily) whenever she sees something on sale.

Her bills pile up but she tries to avoid the problem, either by tossing them away or stuffing them into the dressing table drawer. Eventually, all her credit card privileges are frozen. She becomes depressed, but is still too proud to confess to her parents that their daughter, the so-called “successful woman” with the so-called “top job” is a disorganised and deceitful mess, and up to her eyeballs in debt! Her only consolation is that she can cheer herself up by buying herself something, just a little something…

Meanwhile, a story which Becky has concerns about comes up. And for the first time in her life, she works wholeheartedly and fights tooth-and-nail for the sake of her friends, not knowing that doing so is going to totally transform her life...

Read this compelling story to find out what happens to Becky!

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This is your conventional bittersweet love story: Boy meets girl, they see past each other’s shortcomings and fall in love, only to be pried apart eventually. Then what is it about this story that makes it the avant-garde chart-buster that it is today?

One could say that it’s because it smacks of saccharine sweetness. Or perhaps attribute it to the meandering plot with twists and turns that leave you breathless. However, one thing that’s immutable is that A Walk to Remember is a book you’ll unequivocally fall in love with!

The story centres on the events in the life of seventeen-year-old Landon Carter. This bonafide rebel without a care in the world lives in the “Neolithic” era, during which women wear dresses and the men don black, shiny top hats. It’s 1958 and Landon’s last year in Beaufort High, a town that could best be described as two-bit and simple. He is unwittingly coerced into interacting with the nondescript Jamie Sullivan, a minister’s ethereal daughter and peace-rallying, critter-saving, Bible-carrying “good girl”. Predictably, being polar opposites, the two fall in love, after some tumultuous vicissitudes.

The situation isn’t all hunky-dory though. An expeditious turn of event resulted in an apocalypse for their small town and emotional Armageddon for Landon. Faced with a monolithic predicament, Jamie demonstrates to him the depths a human heart can reach for love’s sake, and catalyses his rite of passage from a sheltered and apathetic youngster to a caring and loving young man.

Despite the tenuous mask of conventionalism that it seems to wear, A Walk to Remember carries a profound message. When you read it, you will be blown away when you discover the treasures within its pages. This sweet, old-fashioned story of everlasting love will tug at your heartstrings, and remind you how powerful love can be.

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Twilight fans, while you are waiting for the release of the "New Moon" movie, I recommend you read the House of Night series of stories by P.C. & Kristin Cast.

These books are suitable for young adults as they cover interesting and diverse issues, as well as make references to current pop-culture icons. Currently, four books in this series are available, and the next one, Hunted, should be out soon.

In the first book, Marked, things got a lot harder for protagonist Zoey Redbird. As if being sixteen isn't complicated enough, she is being marked by a Vampyre hunter and must leave behind her normal life. Her family is disgusted, but her grandmother, however, is ecstatic to learn that her granddaughter has bonded with Nyx, the Night Goddess.

In the next book, Vampyre School, Zoey quickly discovers she's not like all the other fledglings. She has been handpicked by Nyx to serve some special purpose. Now, the most popular girl at the House of Night can't stand the competition, and to make things worse, an incident with her almost-ex-boyfriend Heath makes it impossible for her to leave her old life behind.

Zoey returns in Betrayed as the head of the Dark Daughters, a school society that she plans to reform so that its members have something to be proud of. Nyx marks her further, adding a series of tattoos around her face to indicate to anyone who sees her that she is more than just an ordinary fledgling. When something awful happens to her group of friends at the House of Night, Zoey feels like she can't go on, but that awful incident becomes even worse than she could ever imagine. Now, it's up to her to get to the bottom of a dark secret brewing in the House of Night. At the same time, she also has to deal with her feelings for Heath, fellow fledgling Erik Night, and part-time professor and Vampyre poet laureate Loren Blake (who has been writing her romantic poems).

In Chosen, we see Zoey harbouring several dark secrets, which she longs desperately to share with her best friend. Unfortunately, the only person she can trust is the last fledgling on earth she wants to turn to. Things with Heath are still complicated, Erik is starting to feel left out and Loren has made his intentions clear. Besides juggling three very complicated relationships, she also has to try and make right a horrible wrong and what’s worse is that she can't turn to any of her friends for help. One by one, friends become enemies, and enemies turn out to be friends!

Quick, get hold of these books. I bet you’ll be hooked on them once you get started!

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We often associate war with hatred, revenge, bloodshed, violence and rulers who stop at nothing, including destroying the lives of innocent people, to satisfy their mercenary needs.

However, the book Under A War-torn Sky deems that humanity can surface in a cold-blooded war, and it is possible to find warmth, no matter how deeply it is nestled, in the depths of a vengeful heart.

It tells the story of Henry Forester, a nineteen-year-old American pilot in the Air Force squadron, whose job is to defend his people from the evil and tyrannical clutches of dictator Adolf Hitler during World War 2. On an arduous mission to Southern Germany in his B-24 bomber plane, he battles with the pilots of Hitler’s Luftwaffe planes over France. He gets shot down behind enemy lines, and is forced to evacuate from his plane.

From then on, Henry begins a long and excruciating journey on foot to escape capture. Throughout the journey, he has to hide from the cruel Nazis, who will stop at nothing to capture their enemies. He also meets people who are willing to risk their own lives to help him in his escape home. Though he isn’t certain if the motives of these people are genuine, he eventually learns to trust them, knowing very well that he cannot make it very far without their help. Along the way, he is captured twice by the Germans, and tortured to make him reveal information about the people who helped him escape. But he manages to escape each time.

During his second capture, an old German soldier, tasked with the job of killing him, shows him the escape route instead, knowing very well the consequences he has to face if he is found out. He fires his gun into the air to give his compatriots the false impression that he had already killed Henry.

This story is a page-turner from start to end. It gladdens me that even in the darkest of times, when it seems that every heart has been hardened by the cruelty of war, humanity prevails and shines in some of our fellow beings. Readers of this book will surely rejoice in the triumph of good over evil, just like I did!

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Sophie Smith and her best friend Kylie Lovett are very different in character. Kylie is outgoing, impulsive, loud and sometimes wild, while Sophie is more introverted, thoughtful, shy and well, small. Nevertheless, they make a perfect team. Together, the both of them can do just about anything!

When Kylie signs the both of them up for cheerleading tryouts, surprisingly, it is Sophie who makes the team and lands in the spotlight, while Kylie ends up being the school mascot, which is a costumed mule!

As Sophie has to attend practices without Kylie, she initially feels like an outsider among the other members of the cheerleading squad, who are confident, popular and mostly pretty. However, she gradually becomes accepted as part of the clique and tries to include Kylie in it. However, Kylie does not get along with Sophie's new friends. Soon, Sophie feels torn between fraternising with her best friend and her fellow cheerleaders.

The plot takes a melodramatic turn when Sophie is suddenly shunned by both her old and new friends after she dances with Scott, a star football player whom the head cheerleader previously dated, and whom Kylie also has had a crush on.

Can Sophie and Kylie root for each other again, before the clock runs out on their friendship?

Do read this simple book about fitting in, being true to oneself, standing up against the popular and cool kids in school.

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Welcome to the future where art has come to a stage where the masterpieces are actually alive, as the canvases upon which they are painted them are real people!

This new art form is called hyperdramatic art (HD). In this strange and surreal art scene, beautiful young men and women queue up to be painted and pose, and then be eventually purchased or rented by various collectors. These paintings do not only take the form of live human beings but also that of inanimate objects, like a table, chair or lamp.

The master of this form of art is Bruno van Tysch, and it is every model’s dream to be painted by him. He already has several famous exhibits under his belt and is currently preparing for his next big one – the long-anticipated Rembrandt collection.

However, there are several complications in the days leading up to this exhibition. Someone has already killed several models, some of whom are very famous, original art pieces, in a seemingly brutal fashion. And the next victim is expected to be one of the models about to be showcased at the Rembrandt exhibition.

The murders occurred despite the extensive safety measures that have been put in place to protect them. Thus the authorities and the Foundation (one of the leading HD pioneers) have come together in a race against time to prevent another death and unmask the killer. Will they succeed? Read the book to find out!

The plot is refreshing and the author has done a very good job of expanding it, as she also manages to describe the HD world she has created with startling accuracy. The mystery behind the killer’s identity and true intentions make this book a philosophical thriller that keeps you guessing right to the end. All in all, this is a great book that you really mustn’t miss!

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Julie of the Wolves is the story about a young 13-year-old Eskimo named Miyax. Her mother died when she was little, leaving Miyax and her father Kapugen behind. Miyax adores her father, who teaches her many skills that are necessary for survival in the Arctic.

Sadly, as it is stipulated by law, Miyax has to go to school, and Kapugen to war. The young girl is told that should anything happen to Kapugen or should she be unhappy, she can marry Daniel, the son of her father’s business partner Naka.

This story is told in three parts, Amaroq, the Wolf (a narration of Miyax’s present predicament in the tundra), Miyax, the Girl (a flashback of her past) and Kapugen, the Hunter (a continuation of the present).

Miyax attends school in the town of Mekoryuk, and assumes an American name, Julie. News soon arrives that Kapugen may be dead. Julie consents to marry Daniel but realises later that he has problems. When he attempts to rape her, she runs away to San Francisco to look for her pen pal Amy, and changes her name back to Miyax.

Miyax becomes lost during her journey. The starving girl seeks help from a wolf pack. She starts studying the gestures and "language" of the wolves, and learns to mimic them. She quickly adapts to their living patterns, thus making herself less threatening to the alpha male Amaroq. It isn’t long before she is accepted by the pack, becomes part of them and is able to stay alive. She follows the wolves, who come to her help in times of need.

Later on, she discovers that it is hunting season and the wolves are in danger from humans in hot pursuit of them. Amaroq is killed by the hunters, and Miyax has to force the other wolves to leave her for the sake of their own safety.

She builds a life for herself and discovers that Kapugen is still alive. She hurries to meet him, but when she leaves him after finding out that he has married an American woman and abandoned his Eskimo culture.

Do pick up this beautifully illustrated book! You’ll be mesmerised by the simplicity and grandeur of life in the Arctic!

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I love this book. It is about Amelia and her friends, Carly and Leah, and Carly's “enemy”, Hudson.

Both Carly and Hudson are running for student counsellor president of their school, while Amelia aims to be the counsellor's secretary and Leah, the treasurer.

Carly tells the students that they should vote for her as president “for their own good”. She promises to change the TV news into movies produced by the students. As for Hudson, he promises to place candy machines around the school, as his father owns a candy factory.

One day, as Amelia and Carly are walking home, they come across a cute puppy. They wish they could adopt it, but neither of them is able to. They decide to wait for three weeks to see if anyone is willing to adopt the puppy; if not, they will have to be sent to the animal shelter.

Amelia and her friends put up posters in their school to inform people about the puppy. Soon, they find that the posters have gone missing. Amelia suspects Hudson to be the culprit.

It so happens that the teachers have caught Hudson peeling down the posters red-handed. Because of this, he is disqualified from running for student counsellor president. And so in the end, Carly is voted as student counselor president, Amelia becomes her secretary, and Leah is the treasurer.

This book teaches us that whatever it is we do, we should never resort to underhanded means in order to succeed.

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This book is an introduction to world history from the beginning of human civilisation to the early 20th century. It includes a number of fancy illustrations, and uses clear and simple language to trace the major developments in the history of the world. Time charts and maps are also used to give readers a clearer picture of when and where things happened.

It is very interesting as it contains many fascinating facts about daily life, as well as explanations about how archaeological discoveries are used to help us find out more about the past. The book does not attempt to be a comprehensive historical account of the world, but it provides an excellent starting point for our exploration. Though it is fairly expensive, this is a book that’s worth buying as it provides a lot of useful information.

These are the reasons I like this book so much and want to recommend it to everyone else!

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The story in this young adult fantasy novel is set in New Jersey, where the residents aren’t only humans, but also include three faeries living in a trash-filled swamp and a kelpie (shape-shifting water demon) living in the ocean and nearby creeks. These surreal winged, spiked and hollow-backed creatures give the entire novel a sort of dream-like quality.

The story traces the life of Kaye Fierch, a sixteen-year-old half-Asian girl. Kaye has been living a nomadic life with her band-hopping mother Ellen for the past six years. She is an independent, capable and rational girl, despite her encounters with faeries as a child.

Strange circumstances force Kaye and Ellen to return to New Jersey, where they will be staying with Ellen’s mother. There, Kaye fails in her attempts to contact her faerie friends, so she almost convinces herself that they are imaginary after all.

But later on, she finds her old friends, who tell her that she is a changeling – a faerie child who’s swapped for a human one. She is actually a pixie glamoured to look human. There are ways to remove the glamour, one of which is for Kaye to roll in a bed of clover until she touches a four-leafed specimen. But she turns out to be green and winged creature with an extra joint in each finger and huge, pure-black eyes. With help from a bribed kelpie, she manages to harness her own magic and re-glamour herself.

But an identity crisis turns out to be the least of Kaye’s problems, as she has also been picked to be a tithe sacrifice in a ritual!

This is the most enjoyable of all the books I’ve read so far. I definitely recommend it to anyone who isn’t fond of reading, as its intriguing storyline and beautifully rendered characters will definitely keep readers spellbound!

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When it comes to creating fantasy stories, no one can pull if off as stylishly as Cassandra Clare. City of Bones - the first in the Mortal Instruments Trilogy – is a fine example of her work.

This book contains well-developed and highly likeable cast of characters, myriad demonic and undead creatures (ranging from the famous descendents of Dracula to warlocks) and dashes of satirical humour and romance.

Protagonist Clary Fray chances upon a murder of a boy in a pub. His killers are a band of three vigilantes known as Shadow Hunters, who see the world as being populated by magical inhabitants, otherwise known as Downworlders.

Clary is a Shadow Hunter by blood too. The fragile glass walls surrounding her innocent world is broken overnight upon the mysterious kidnapping of her mother. Only then does Clary discover that her life has been based on an intricate web of lies and deceit, and everybody around her has secrets to hide.

Amidst the chaos of slaying demons, fearful whispers of the resurrection of Valentine rip across the realm of the Downworlders. Valentine is a fallen Shadow Hunter who threatens to return and upset the delicate balance of the Shadow World.

Clary finds herself increasingly drawn to the enigmatic Jace Wayland, the daredevil Shadow Hunter who saves her life. Jace’s history is shrouded in mystery, and he has an infamous reputation for being a top-class demon slayer with a predatory nature, cocky mannerisms and uncanny survival instincts.

Cassandra Clare delivers a surprising and heart-wrenching twist to the story that leaves readers hungering for more. Well, her second book City of Ashes has already hit the bookstores, and it promises another action-packed ride for readers. Pick up these books and you’ll surely be entranced from the very first page.

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This story about a teenaged girl named Rosie Sinclair is filled with action, suspense and romance.

Rosie’s beloved granddad is a crook who gets busted while on his very last job. As he has to serve a six-month jail term, he hands over his handphone and the keys to his cool black Mercedes to Rosie for safekeeping.

Although Rosie has to ferry her granddad's elderly friends around in the Mercedes as they run their errands, she soon realises that she stands to gain some benefits from the car too. It has helped her attract attention and land dates with two of the hottest guys in town. One is the sweet, sporty and cute Todd and the other is gorgeous badboy Chris.

Life is looking pretty rosy for Rosie until the day she receives the first threatening call on her granddad's handphone. A jewellery heist has gone wrong and a diamond ring is missing, and every crook in town believes that her granddad has something to do with this. And someone is hunting him down to get hold of the diamond ring. However, her granddad claims that he knows nothing about the ring at all.

As his safety is in jeopardy, Rosie engages the help of her best friend Glenda to try to solve the mystery. In the end, the real mastermind behind those threatening calls and high-speed car chase turns out to be someone really unexpected! Who could it be? And which boy will Rosie choose to be with in the end? Read the book now to find out!

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The story begins with husband and wife John and Jenny Grogan deciding to buy a puppy because of their own childhood experiences with dogs. Their pleasant memories give them the perception that dogs, especially Labrador retrievers, are obedient, faithful and easy to train. But it’s only when Marley came along that they realise not all dogs are the same!

Marley is a tiny little yellow furball of a puppy John and Jenny brings home. It turns out that this is a huge mistake as Marley takes after his parents. This means he can be as quiet as a mouse, and sweet and calm like his mother is, or wild like grass and strong as a bull, just like his father. The couple has gotten themselves a dog that’s mischievous beyond their wildest imagination, and life would never be the same for the both of them again!

Marley the puppy grows very quickly into a large ninety-seven-pound dog (exceeding the average weight of a male Labrador retriever) who’s always full of mischief and very strong.

John and Jenny enrols Marley for obedience class, but he gets expelled right after the first session! The instructor has described him as “a young and wild dog”.

Though Marley is mischievous, sometimes aggressive, wild as a banshee and strong as a bull, he is always gentle to babies and children. He seems to “understand” them and would never harm them. He also brings much love and joy to John and Jenny, and in his own way, teaches them to enjoy and treasure life.

As you read their intriguing story, you’ll want to keep turning the page to find out what’s going to happen next. You’ll also laugh at Marley’s hilarious antics. However, the most important thing is that, like John and Jenny, you’ll also learn to treasure life and get over the sadness in it.

Read this book now and then go catch the movie, which will be showing in Singapore very soon!

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This gripping gothic romance novel has rocked the world and garnered a massive fan-base. It has also been adapted into a phenomenal chart-topping movie.

The story charts the relationship between the all-too-human Bella Swan and handsome centenarian vampire Edward Cullen. The Cullens are a vampire clan who pass themselves off as a family, and feed on the blood of animals instead of humans.

When Edward first meets Bella, he finds that she is the first person whose mind he is unable to read, and he is also exceptionally drawn to the smell of her blood. This sorely tests his self-discipline in resisting the urge to feed on humans.

Bella, a new student at Forks High School, is strangely attracted to Edward too. This leads to a whirlwind romance that’s fraught with danger for Bella. Later, she is being hunted down by bloodthirsty nomadic vampires and discovers that her best friend is actually a werewolf.

The perpetual tension between vampires and werewolves – who are sworn enemies - soon becomes a contentious issue. If Bella ever transforms into a vampire, the treaty between the two species will be broken and war will begin. But what if the alternative lies in Bella's life?

The series of Twilight Saga novels has gripped the interest of female readers all over the world with its intensity and romanticism, and also cultivated a strong male fan base. Gothic myths and legends have captivated generations of readers and viewers, but Stephenie Meyer’s stunning stories about vampires and werewolves defy convention. The series has been hailed as “modern-day Romeo and Juliet meets Anne Rice”. As the movie is currently showing at local cinemas, get hold of the books right now!

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This wonderful novel by Jodi Picoult will keep readers fascinated with every turn of the page. It weaves a poignant story about a family who struggles to salvage their love for one another and keep their relationship with each other from crumbling into pieces.

Kate is a teenager who has been battling with leukaemia since young. Being the apple of her parents’ eye, they feel the same anguish and torment Kate goes through each time she comes home from the endless rounds of chemotherapy treatments.

In order to save Kate, her parents decide to have another baby, Anna, who inherits precious genetic material that will be critical in saving Kate. Anna possesses genetically identical tissues with Kate, and thus there’s no fear of the latter experiencing cell remission, rejection or a relapse. In the bid to extend her sister's life, Anna has to donate her cord blood, granulocytes and peripheral blood stem cells, lymphocytes and bone marrow to Kate.

Since Anna has been created solely for the purpose of saving her sister, she feels like an empty vessel roaming the earth, and has no sense of direction or purpose in her life. But the last straw for her comes when her parents expect her to donate a kidney to Kate. She feels that this is entirely unethical and firmly believes that she has the right of authority over her own body, regardless of what her parents’ wishes. She proceeds to file a lawsuit against her parents for the legal rights over her own body.

This move threatens to tear the family she loves apart, and will most probably have fatal consequences for Kate. However, as Anna is beginning to question her meaningless existence, she decides to take charge of her own destiny rather than submit to fate. Will she allow her parents to veer her off this path, put her own life in peril to save Kate and sacrifice her own aspirations in order to keep her family intact?

Go read the story yourself to find out!

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Love reading fantasy books? If you do, then you should take a look at this award-winning book by Ian Irvin. Once you pick it up, you won’t want to stop reading till you have reached the end of it! Geomancer is the first book in the Well of Echos Quartet series. This is followed by Tetratch (Book Two), Scruator (Book Three) and Chimera (Book Four).

The story is set in a warring world known as Santhenar. Humans are locked in a battle for their world and civilisation against the lyrinx (intelligent, winged predators from the void who will do anything to gain their own world).

The protagonist of this story is Tiaan, a crystal worker who works in a manufactory that produces controllers for clankers (giant machines used in battles). Tiaan has a special talent for finding a special crystal, and realises her talent in the art of geomancy. However, there are risks involved and many have died in mastering this art. Besides facing these risks, Tiaan also gets sabotaged by one of her rival workers, Irsis, and is exiled.

With the war dragging on and humans on the losing side, what will happen to Santhenar? Will it be overrun by the lyrinx and will it be the end of humanity? Or will the humans succeed and reclaim their world? Read the intriguing stories in this series of books to find out.

The stories also highlight to readers that the most essential aspects of life are friendship and honour. I highly recommend them to all readers, especially those who are fans of fantasy stories, as these are the definitely the best I’ve read so far!

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This book is one of the most touching, thought-provoking literary works I’ve ever read. Its author, Mitch Albom, makes use of surprisingly straightforward prose to get readers to think hard about how they are spending their life right now.

This story is about an elderly man, Eddie, who works at an amusement park called Ruby Pier. Since his wife Marguerite died almost forty years ago, Eddie has been living a life of isolation. He has no relatives and his only friends are fellow workers in the park.

Eddie has spent his entire life in the park. When he was a child, he used to play there with his brother and friends. As a teenager, he worked there under the guidance of his estranged father, who used to violently abuse him. Now, as an adult, he has taken over his father's position as a maintenance worker at the park. At one stage of his life, he also did a short stint as a soldier in the Philippines during World War Two.

While working in the amusement park one day, Eddie sees a ride suddenly stop in mid-air. He catches sight of a young girl named Annie on the ground, standing just below a carriage that is about to plunge down onto her. Without hesitation, he pushes her out of the way and takes the fatal blow himself. The last thing Eddie feels before passing out is a pair of small hands placed in his own hands.

When he wakes up, he realises that he is in heaven, and a ten-year-old boy again. There, he meets five different people, all of whom have an impact on his life in some way, and vice-versa. All of them have either a valuable life lesson or important value to impart to him. As his time with these five people passes, he has learnt five different things and begins to finally understand each momentous chapter of his life.

The five people he meets are: The Blue Man, his commanding officer during his brief participation in World War Two; Ruby, a girl who witnessed the death of his father, and whose name is the focal point for the amusement park where Eddie works; Marguerite, his wife; and Tala, a young boy whose life he did not managed to save when he was a soldier.

The Blue Man, who is part of a carnival freak show because his skin is completely blue, begins to tell Eddie about his life in “heaven”. He also teaches him his first lesson: That all of us are connected in some way, and whatever we do in our daily life will somehow have an impact on another person's.

In the last chapter, we see Eddie queuing in line for his turn to pass on his own life’s lesson to the next person, which turns out to be Annie, the little girl he had saved.

This book’s poignant and touching tale is sure to move any reader. It teaches us to better examine our own life, appreciate what we have and think about what there is within our power to change.

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Mouse is a notorious 14-year-old teenager known for vandalising his school gym with graffiti. Wanting to better himself, he struggles to stay out of trouble as much as possible –but that is before he meets the beautiful, smart and cool Cat at his social worker's office.

Cat has a well-off family, goes to a posh school and lives in a swanky house, in comparison to Mouse's tiny flat in a rough estate. But despite that, it doesn't make her well-behaved or happier. Torn by her problems and the lack of attention her parents give her, Cat becomes rebellious and determined to break all the rules in order to attract her parents' attention.

It seems that it is fate that they should meet and become close friends. But can their friendship survive the secrets and lies, and the shocking events that follow?

In addition to Mouse's problems in this friendship, he and his Mom have offended a local thug who doesn't like the efforts Mouse's mum is putting in to make their community clean and drug-free.

Lucky Star is a book about friendship, family, fear and most importantly, fighting back against injustice and standing up for your own rights. It also shows in a unique and special way that luck can sometimes be found in the most unexpected places!

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The protagonist of this heartwarming story is Hattie Owen, whose family's boarding house is where she feels most at home. Hattie has never really given any thought about the world outside her small town in Millerton.

However, during the summer Hattie turns twelve, her predictable small-town life isn’t the same anymore. That’s when she meets Uncle Adam, whom she never knew existed before. Hattie’s uncle has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and autism, and sent away to a special school by his parents (Hattie's grandparents) when she was only two years’ old. Since then, the institutionalised Adam is kept a “family secret”. However, the institution recently lost its funding and had to close down, so Adam has to return home for the first time in over a decade.

Hattie, a shy girl who prefers the company of adults, takes to her excitable uncle immediately. Despite his condition, she learns to love him. And because of her strong sense of empathy and wisdom, the two becomes friends.

Uncle Adam is closer to her age mentally and behaves more like the younger brother she never had, rather than an uncle. This childlike man enjoys quoting from episodes of “I Love Lucy”. He’s innocent, always fun and spontaneous, and in need of a guiding hand. In a way, his endless enthusiasm for new experiences helps brighten up Hattie's world.

However, Uncle Adam also suffers from severe mood swings, and is a constant source of embarrassment to his parents. Unfortunately, Hattie's grandparents have trouble dealing with his intense way of seeing the world. They see Adam as an unwelcome visitor who is to be tolerated.

Hattie's family and friends aren't ready to deal with Adam's mental problems either, thus she is caught in the middle. However, she relishes the joy she finds in being with Uncle Adam that summer, and their friendship changes her life. She experiences adventure, tragedy and enlightment as she ''lifts the corners of her universe'' in order to better understand those around her, and learn how to heal and communicate with them, as they emerge from 'the confines of their safe, comfortable world to painful challenges'.

Her firm standards of fairness, tolerance and understanding are severely challenged by Adam's reception by the local community. The children consider him a freak; and to the adults, he is an oddity and sometimes a nuisance. Hattie responds to these attitudes towards Uncle Sam by making it her self-appointed task to guide Adam through his temporary life in Millerton.

Hattie also has to struggle with her relationships with her family and friends, and learns what it means to be different. The Owen's world is thrown upside down as they learn to care for, and relate to Adam.

The powerful characters and unpredictable storyline will surely keep readers glued to it. Although this wonderfully entertaining and thrilling story is set in 1960, it isn’t only great for children of this generation but for everyone too, as we can all learn a great deal from it. It also challenges readers to evaluate how they relate to those who are different, as well as to find a way to ''lift a corner of the universe'', by exploring what lies beyond their own world.

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The book is about a girl named Kimi, and her sister Hana. The girls are daughters of the Jito* living in a province of feudal Japan. Kimi dreams of becoming a samurai warrior even though the Jito culture dictates that girls cannot be samurais.

They have an uncle whom they look upon as a caring, respectful and noble man, as he often teaches them kungfu skills to protect themselves. But he is actually envious of their father, who holds a higher rank in the Jito. He murders their father, and their mother and brother mysteriously disappear.

The sisters are determined to seek revenge on their uncle and restore their family’s honour. To do so, they disguise themselves as boys in order to train at a school for samurais. They are then thrown headlong into a life of warrior codes, sharp swords and shadowy figures. Their uncle's son also attends the same school and despises them as he is now the son of the Jito.

Their determination to seek revenge is so great that Kimi can’t wait for the chance to stab her uncle with a dagger. But in the end, her teacher advises her against doing so. Instead, they go in search of their mother and brother, who are still alive and staying in another town. They eventually find the two and are united as a family once again.

This story is so interesting and sets my heart pounding in excitement as I turn the pages. I love it so much I would like to read the story all over again! Its vivid characters and their intriguing conflicts are simply fascinating!

*In feudal Japan, land stewards would be appointed by the central military government to each of the estates (shoen) into which the countryside was divided. Each land steward or jito collected taxes and maintained the peace; he was also entitled to a portion of the taxes collected. The position, created by Minamoto Yoritomo in 1184, came to be hereditary.

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This story is about a special bond between two farmhands called George and Lennie. The two of them are just like cowboys, whose jobs are to round up cattle and perform chores on a ranch.

Lennie is slow and does not know how to control his strength. This is specially so when he becomes fascinated, frightened or angry by something. Lennie is burly and tall, yet he worships the ground the small and weak Lennie walks on. Both of them share a secret dream – to rear rabbits on their own farm.

The story begins with both men being portrayed as fugitives on the run, as Lennie had unwittingly molested a girl after being fascinated by her. Upon hearing her screams, he covered her mouth out of fear and accidentally suffocated her to death.

The men escape to another town where they start life anew on a farm. There, they meet Curly, the bosses' son. He’s a troublemaker who’s always trying to prove himself and picking on people he can bully. His wife is a flirtatious woman who constantly tries to draw the affection of other men.

The climax of this story is where George encourages Lennie to retaliate if Curly picks on him. He does so, breaking Curly's pride and arm into smithereens. After that, he has to hide in one of the sheds on the farm for a while.

One day, Curly's wife comes by and flirts with Lennie. In the process, he gets frightened, and suffocates and kills her, like what he did to the other girl. Somehow, Lennie knows that his time is up, and goes to a spot in the woods as George had told him to do so should anything go wrong. George knows that Lennie would be killed for what he has done, so he wants to kill his friend himself, rather than let others do it. When Lennie sees George, he knows what to expect and allows George to put a gun to his head and pull the trigger.

This sad story tells of the difficulties single men face when they are poor and jobless. They barely have enough to feed themselves or a roof over their head as they are at the mercy of abusive landowners who hold the law within their hands.

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Twenty-eight-year-old Aurora Teagarden (Roe) leads a relatively dull and humdrum life. She is merely four-foot-eleven tall, wears tortoise-rimmed glasses and has already realised her childhood dream of being a librarian. She grew up in Lawrencenton, Georgia, a small suburb of Atlanta.

Roe only has one “fetish” that can be considered remotely fascinating or interesting – she belongs to a club called “Real Murders”. The club has over ten members who meet once a month to analyse famous murder cases.

Her life is simply a series of mundane routines until one day, when everything changes. That is when she discovers the murder of one of the members of Real Murder. As it so happens, the murder is a replication of a case that she is about to discuss, and she feels compelled to take charge of the investigations. And henceforth, our heroine’s life becomes more glamorous.

Readers will have great fun “following” Roe as she spends her day at the Real Murders Club and encounters all sorts of characters when the murders start to multiply. The development of two love interests in her life is also another aspect of the story that readers will find very entertaining. And they’ll soon discover that this lively lady actually possesses acute observation and analytical skills. She also has a wry sense of humour, and remains unruffled in times of crisis.

There’re several interesting characters at Real Murders; they include Melanie, the secretary; Benjamin, the manager of a communist candidate running for mayor; and Sally, a reporter. The problems of these characters are highlighted throughout the story.

For instance, the middle-aged Sally has to deal with a drug-addict son while struggling with her lacklustre career in journalism. Readers might empathise with her plight, but a twist in the plot will make them view things differently.

The tension increases as the plot progresses. Not only are there other lives in peril, but those of Roe and her family are being threatened as well. Towards the ending, Roe and her younger half-brother Philip come to a confrontation with the masterminds of the murders themselves.

This story ends on a rather promising note, and there’s definitely more for readers to look forward to in the next book (this book is the first of a series).

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This story is about a Maori tribe and their way of life, including the ordinary everyday occurrences and rituals they practice. The most significant part of the story is about their tribal traditions, which are closely linked to the supernatural.

Key to its plot is the supernatural powers that allow the Maoris to ride whales. Such special feats have great significance and a big impact on the Maori tribe, as they are supposed to be held by the leader of the tribe.

Both the natural and supernatural find a connection in Kahu, an ordinary girl who loves her grandfather and goes to school like everybody else. But she’s also a girl with lots of will and determination, and an even greater power – one that enables her to ride the whales.

In this story Kahu is the bridge that brings the two levels of human existence – the natural and the supernatural – together.

At first, the whale rider may appear to be a complex story about strange powers and beliefs. However, after reading it thoroughly, you’ll realise that it is just simply a book about family values and traditions. It teaches us important lessons about love and power, and the need to prioritise our lives in order to attain them.

I was pretty bored when I started reading the book, but soon fell under the spell of the storyteller. In fact, I loved the story so much, I’ll probably read it again at some point in the future.

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This striking novel by Sarah Dessen is about the poignant and heartwarming story of 16-year-old Annabel Greene. Coming from a well-to-do family, Annabel seems to have it all – a beautiful home, two gorgeous sisters, loving parents and head-turning good looks. She should be a very happy girl, but beneath the surface of it all, things are not what they seem.

In just in one short summer, everything changed completely for this golden girl. Her so-called best friend Sophie goes round spreading wild rumours about her, one of her sisters has been diagnosed with an eating disorder, and almost died from it. To top it off, she does not have anyone to turn to for help; her mom is a fragile woman who cannot handle pressure well, her other sister is away in college and her father is simply helpless.

Annabel starts to hide from her ex-best friend Clarke and the rest of her schoolmates, and tries to stay out of the limelight as much as possible.

Everything would have remained the same had she stayed home, been a good girl and watched history documentaries with her father. But one night, something happened that resulted in the entire school turning against her. Her life is fraught with confusion and fear, but Annabel can’t do anything about it, so she spirals down the social ladder and keeps quiet about everything…

As an outcast, she no longer sits at the “popular table” but right next to the wall, where a boy with an undesirable reputation also sits. Now, the boy, a loner, finds himself crossing paths with the miserable girl.

But he eventually befriends her and helps her turn her life around. Most importantly, he teaches her to just listen, and not judge or lie. But is it possible for Annabel to erase the painful memory of that night and move on with her life? Read the book to find out!

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This book by Roald Dahl is a collection of seven short stories, which are generally regarded as being targeted at a slightly older audience than many of his other children's books. The stories were written at varying times of the author’s life, and two of them are autobiographical in nature.

The most captivating of these stories is that of Henry Sugar. This eponymous novella (which is a story within a story within a story within a story) exemplifies Dahl’s masterful fiction-writing skills.  

Henry Sugar is a vain, wealthy and idle playboy who loves to gamble and is not above cheating to win. He hobnobs with the likes of himself – the wealthy who “have a terrific urge to make themselves still wealthier than they already are…”

One summer weekend, while staying at a friend’s mansion, he wanders into the library out of boredom and discovers a book that is to change his life drastically. He is drawn into reading the book by a statement on the first page: "A Report on an Interview with Imhrat Khan, the Man Who Could See Without His Eyes" by Dr. John Cartwright.

Dr Cartwright is a surgeon at Bombay General Hospital, and the story relates his fateful meeting with an Indian man called Imhrat Khan, who travels around the country to perform unusual feats of “seeing without his eyes”. After watching his performances, Dr Cartwright is fully convinced that there is no trickery involved. Upon learning how Imhrat picked up this miraculous skill, he is extremely thrilled as he realises the significance of his amazing discovery and how it would change the whole course of medicine. From a doctor’s point of view, Imhrat is the most valuable man alive, and he must get hold of him and keep him safe. Dr Cartwright gets so steamed up thinking about it that he immediately starts writing down with great care everything that Imhrat has revealed to him. I won’t spoil your enjoyment by revealing the rest of that story.

After reading this report, Henry Sugar is all fired up too, as the gambler in him starts imagining the tremendous benefits he could reap if he succeeds at developing the inner sense of sight too. The second story relates how he sets out to acquire this incredible skill, with the motive of accumulating limitless wealth at the casinos he frequents.

At this point, Dahl, the master of intrigue, pauses to query “what a competent fiction writer would have done to wrap this story up”. He even offers several possible variations of a conclusion, and eventually conjures an intriguing ending for his readers once again.

In the final segment, the author (presumably Dahl) tells us how the story of Henry Sugar came about. Apparently, after Henry's death, his accountant John Winston wants the world to know what the “richest man on earth” had done, so he seeks out the author, who finds the tale fascinating and agrees to write it.

The concluding chapters of the book contain Dahl’s accounts of his experiences as a fighter pilot and how he got his “lucky break” in becoming an author. He credits his foray into writing to his mentor, C S Forestor, a famous writer whose books are read by millions of people the world over. 

These chapters also contain insights into his life at the boarding schools he went to, how his teachers tormented him and the degrading remarks they wrote in his end-of-term reports. Among them are: “I have never met a boy who so persistently writes the exact opposite of what he means. He seems incapable of marshalling this thoughts on paper”, “Vocabulary negligible, sentences malconstructed”, “This boy is an indolent and illiterate member of the class” and “Consistently idle. Ideas limited”. 

In this book, the well-loved and world-renowned fiction writer with 30 years’ experience also shares useful pointers on developing good original plots, scribblings of his own ideas for stories like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Fantastic Mr Fox, as well as the very first story he wrote, entitled “A Piece of Cake”. 

If you’re a budding author, you’ll find these accounts a source of great inspiration, so do include this book in your must-read list. And if you’re simply a book lover, it would also be worthwhile adding it to your holiday reading list.

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Though our lives are far removed from princesses, castles, giants, ogres, witches, elves and Greek mythical figures, many of us have grown up imbibing fairy tales and nursery rhymes of make-believe worlds containing such elements.

Fairy tales are not as innocuous as they seem. Like stories from the Ramayana, one of the most important literary works of ancient India, they generally convey moral teachings exemplifying the forces of good versus evil (think Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, The Three Little Pigs…).

If you love fairy tales but feel that you are “too mature” for them, Can’t Catch Me and Other Twice-Told Tales is a book that may be right down your alley.  This novel work by Michael Cadnum, a published author of children’s and young adults’ books, rekindles the joy of reading beloved classic myths and fairy tales, by retelling them through his contemporary and compelling philosophical perspectives.

You’ll have many a chuckle over the tart and witty ways in which he deftly twists and modernises the themes of traditional classics like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Gingerbread Man, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Humpty Dumpty.

His quirky assemblage of 18 “rearranged” and retitled tales introduces complex, sociological topics within a familiar context. There’s the unrepentent Gingerbread Man and his tirades against overprotective parents, meddlesome neighbours and untrustworthy foxes; and there’s the giant's wife who simply wants Jack (who’s famous for having climbed the beanstalk and stolen the golden goose) out of the picture so that she and her mate may continue collaborating on poetry.

Here’s an excerpt from “Can’t Catch Me” (after “The Gingerbread Man”) that youths of today can surely identify with: “Nobody talks about this. Parents, all they think about is the wood, the ashes, the ventilator, all they think about is keeping the heat. They never think to let you know what it’s going to be like. They want you in the stove. That’s what they want. You’d burn up in there, sure, but parents want you in the stove.”

And here’s yet another from “Together Again” (after “Humpty Dumpty”) that illustrates Cadnum’s acerbic wit: “I tried to halt the galloping guard, but they rode down upon us, despite me. By then, of course, Lord D was all hoof-and-yolk, and I had to employ my share of military language to set things right, and more than a few lads felt the bite of my riding crop later in the barracks.”

If you are looking for fun and refreshing stories to read during your school holidays, grab a copy of Can’t Catch Me and Other Twice-Told Tales. If you adore it, check out other books by this award-winning poet and novelist from Albany, California. They include The Book of the Lion (a National Book Award finalist) and In a Dark Wood (a Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist). Cadnum is a former fellow of the National Endowment for the Arts, and has also published several collections of poetry and picture books for children.

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This wonderfully tender story by Cathy Cassidy is about friendship, secrets and fitting in with others.

Ginger is a girl who’s deemed as an “outsider” in her elementary school, as she doesn’t make friends easily. However, when she starts high school and meets the cool and confident Shannon, her life changes completely. She swaps her puppy fat and pigtails for make-up and hair straighteners and has never looked back since.

But when the both of them befriend a lonely girl called Emily, everything changes. Shannon starts helping Emily, by giving her a makeover and transforming her from a geek to a totally awesome girl. This makes Ginger feel left out and she begins to wonder if Shannon is still her best friend.

To make things worse, she has a crush on a saxophone-playing boy in a trilby hat named Sam, whom Shannon hates and does not approve of. Shannon bosses Ginger around and makes decisions for her, so much so that the latter gradually loses all her self-confidence. She just couldn’t pick up the courage to say no to her "best friend".

Will Ginger and Shannon drift apart or will they stay best friends forever? And will sparks fly between Ginger and Sam, who could most likely be the wrong boy for her. Well, pigs may fly and the wrong boy could very well turn out be the perfect one after all...

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Thirteen-year-old Dawan and her family live in the conservative society of Thailand where girls are often meant to be seen but not heard, while boys are given all the privileges life has to offer.

Dawan and her brother are studying in the same class, but she beats him in the school examinations and wins an exclusive scholarship to study in the city. But instead of celebrating her achievement, Dawan’s family is less than pleased to hear the news. Although Dawan has made every effort to clinch the scholarship, Dawan’s father insists that her brother deserves the opportunity more because he is a boy.

But in spite of her father’s disapproval, Dawan stands up for herself and eventually triumphs over the odds. I especially admire the courage and determination that she shows as she fights for her dream. She manages to overcome her father’s objections and eventually changes his mind by proving her capability.

The two most important underlying messages in this story by Minfong Ho are to fight for your dreams and cherish your loved ones. As the story tells us, it is the love for each other that holds Dawan’s family together as they gradually learn to accept one another.

I’m sure this heartwarming story of love and hope will move you to tears. And I hope that Dawan’s struggles would inspire many of you out there to persevere and bravely face the odds in pursuing your dreams, as anything is possible if you simply believe in yourself.

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Damaged is an inspiring true story of the relationship between Cathy Glass, an experienced foster carer and Jodie, the most challenging charge she has ever had. The book is written and narrated by Cathy herself.

When Jodie arrives, the first thing she does is to soil herself, and then proceed to wipe “it” on her face while grinning wickedly! Jodie greets Cathy's teenaged children: Adrian, Paula and Lucy by giving each of them a sharp kick in the shin. And that night, Cathy wakes to find Jodie covered in blood – she has cut her own wrist and smeared the blood over her face.

Jodie's behaviour starts improving as she begins to trust Cathy and her children. Over time, she discloses her secrets, and reveals that she had been sexually abused by her father. With childlike honesty, she relates details of the abuse she had been subjected to by her parents and other relatives. It soon becomes clear that Jodie's parents are involved in the operation of a paedophile ring, and their neighbours and social services have turned a blind eye to their sickening deeds.

As Cathy prepares for Christmas, she tries to help Jodie cope with her increasing nightmares and hallucinations. Jodie also has to undergo a number of interviews and physical examinations to build a case to prosecute her parents. Meanwhile, Cathy tries to find a school that will accept Jodie. Christmas and the New Year pass, and Cathy is delighted when Jodie makes friends during her first few days at school.

However, as Jodie continues to disclose details of her abuse, she becomes withdrawn and suffers frequent panic attacks. To cope with the trauma, she begins using a number of alternate identities, but seems to be unaware of this problem when questioned about it later on. She is later diagnosed as suffering from dissociative identity disorder.

The prosecution case against Jodie’ parent collapses, as their former neighbours refuse to testify. Meanwhile, Jodie becomes increasingly withdrawn and is finally pulled out from school. It's clear she needs psychiatric therapy and Cathy urges social services to provide funding for her treatments. Eventually, a meeting is arranged. Cathy arrives with hope in her heart, but is shocked when the panel decides to take Jodie away from her and place her in a residential therapy unit instead.

Cathy and her children prepare Jodie for the move, but they are worried that she will see it as yet another rejection. After Jodie leaves, Cathy finds a touching letter from her, asking if Cathy will be her "mummy" when she gets better. I won’ reveal the ending, but suffice to say, justice is served.

I bought this book a few weeks ago with the intention of reading it during my holiday, but just before taking off, I decided to read a couple of pages just to get the gist of the story. Well, that was a big mistake… I couldn’t put it down and read the whole book within two nights! This is just one of those books which makes you want to find out “what is going to happen next”.

If you are into true stories you will love this book, but if you get emotionally upset easily, then I would recommend you stay clear of it as most of the accounts in it are rather sad and could distress you. I found myself in tears after the first few chapters, as the writer’s poignant accounts of the psychological damage caused to such a young child unfold.

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As always, Agatha Christie’s detective novels never fail to keep her readers enthralled from beginning to end. Among them is “The Clock”, which I find especially fantastic.

The main protagonist in the story is Sheila Webb, a shorthand typist. One day, she has to go to 19 Wilbraham Crescent for an appointment at 3 o’clock. Upon arriving at the place, she is greeted by a corpse who’s surrounded by five clocks!

Just as she is pondering what to do, the mistress of the house – Mrs Pebmarsh – appears. As Mrs Pebmarsh happens to be blind, she almost treads on the corpse. The shocked Sheila screams and runs out of the house, only to land up in the arms of the young Sergeant Colin Lamb.

By the time the authorities arrive, one of the five clocks mysteriously vanished. Unfortunately, Mrs Pebmarsh isn’t able to see what happened. Despite making many investigations, the police have yet to identify the corpse.

Now, it’s up to Inspectors Hardcastle and Lamb, as well as the retired Hercule Poirot, to solve this baffling mystery.

If you would like to know how they are going to solve the mystery, read the book to find out!

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At first glance, this novel by J D Salinger seems like an old classic that’s to be forever relegated to high school reading lists, and one of those books that students are required to read even though they hate doing so. I thought it was an American novel about baseball or/and farming, but was pleasantly surprised to find that it’s actually a surprisingly easy read.

The story is about Holden Caulfield, an underachieving youth who’s frustrated with life in the dull environment of his boarding school. He has just been expelled yet again, after failing all his subjects (except English). Exasperated, he leaves his boarding school a few days before the time was due. He travels back to New York City and decides to stay in a hotel for a few nights before returning to his parents’ home. The rest of novel is mostly about Caulfield grappling with his frustrations in dealing with the people around him, and coming to terms with his inner thoughts and emotions.

Initially, the reader might see Caulfield as the typical reckless, rebellious teenager. But as the story evolves, we discover his reasons for disliking people, not applying himself or attempting to improve. Along his journey, he has adult mentors who try to convince him to mend his ways, and in the end, he learns the importance of family and education in one’s life.

Even though this novel was written in 1945, many of the teens today will be able to relate to Caulfield’s feelings of resentment and his disillusions with the adults around him. The casual, almost conversational language used in the narration of the story also makes it feels as if you are reading a long letter (with frequent digressions) from Caulfield.

The book is a good introduction to modern American literature, and its timeless themes will resonate with readers of all ages.

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Would you do a favour for a friend who had once betrayed you, and what’s more, with the knowing that your life will change drastically if you agree do so? This is the decision that Kamryn has to struggle with when Adele, lying on her deathbed, pleads with her to adopt her five-year-old daughter Tegan.

Kamryn and Adele used to be best friends until the time when Kamryn finds out that her friend has slept with her fiancé Nathaniel. As if this blow isn’t bad enough, Kamryn later learns that Adele is bearing Nathaniel’s child!

It is a difficult choice for Kamryn to make, as she has to decide if she is ready to let the seed of Adele’s and Nathaniel’s misdeed enter her life for good and remind her of her painful loss every day. Unfortunately, Kamryn does not have much of an option as there is no one else to take care of Tegan. Kamryn’s carefree life is about to become completely different, as she now has to care for the young life that’s placed in her hands as Adele wilts away.

Author Dorothy Koomson uses simple, every-day occurrences that can happen to almost anyone to weave a touching tale of forgiveness and acceptance. For instance, it is the arrival of a birthday card in the mail that is to change Kamryn’s life forever. The innocence of little Tegan also offers a refreshing take on complex adult issues.

“My Best Friend’s Girl” truly exemplifies the power of unconditional love, as it is this driving force that has taught Kamryn to forgive and forget. This is an enjoyable read that will not only offer you a good laugh, but move you to tears as well.

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This wonderful novel by Jodi Picoult is about a man named Shay. After being charged with killing a policeman and his stepdaughter, Shay becomes the first person in decades to be sentenced to death in New Hampshire.

While he is on death row, he gets news of a young girl who is in need of a heart transplant. This is actually a significant piece of news, as coincidentally, this girl is the second child of the policeman whom he was accused of murdering 11 years ago. Anxious to give the lass another chance at life, Shay offers to donate his heart to her.

However, the young girl's mum refuses to accept his offer as she still harbours hatred for him, as he has taken the lives of her husband and child. But can she have the heart to refuse his help and bear to see her daughter die before her eyes? As the characters angst over these issues, there is a twist to the plot - some new discoveries pertaining to the murder case are revealed...

You'll find yourself asking many questions as you turn the pages: Would anyone believe Shay this time around and think he is actually innocent? Is Shay simply lying so he can be released from his impending death sentence? Would he be able to "redeem" himself and be given a chance to save the girl?

Well, if you want to know the answers, quickly go grab a copy of this paperback!

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This Frances O'Roark Dowell book is a touching tale about family ties and relationships.

It features protagonist Maddie, an 11-year-old girl living in a children's home. She and a friend there create a scrapbook called the "Book of Houses", where they display their picture collection of abodes which they fancy living in. 

One day, a new girl called Murphy arrives at the home. She claims that she is able to fly and tells them about her exotic travels. When Maddie shows Murphy her scrapbook, they instantly become friends. The two girls, together with some of the other children, are inspired to build a fort they've visualised in their dreams.

But as time goes by, Murphy begins to drift away from Maddie and starts becoming close with another girl. Problems start surfacing after the two of them quarrel over this and other issues.

What will happen to the pair? Read this book to find out!

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This book by Jodi Picoult has an intriguing plot that will draw readers in. The author also does an amazing job of portraying the varied viewpoints of the different characters, as you will soon discover when you get immersed into the story.

It is Year 2000. Jack St Bride arrives at Salem Falls after being released from prison with nothing more than his clothes and forty-three dollars. He wishes to start afresh in this small, quaint town that’s far away from the place where he was convicted of a crime against a high-school student.

Jack then gets a job at Do-or-Diner. That’s where a girl called Addie Peaboy works. Addie has a sob story: her drunkard widower father often gets drunk and stresses her up. This emotional turmoil results in Addie’s abnormal behaviour – she makes conversation with her deceased daughter while preparing meals. Then, in a turn of events, she gets distracted by Jack and falls for him. But little did Addie know what she’s getting into…

Meanwhile, an inebriated Jack stumbles upon a group of high-school girls one night and is being incriminated for assaulting one of them. Although absolutely certain that he did not do anything wrong, Jack finds himself jolted back to his unforgiving past as he faces a stream of harsh accusations. Now, he needs to rely on his lawyer as well as Addie (provided she’s sane and willing) to defend him and help him prove his innocence.

Is Jack really as pitiful as he seems to be? Will he finally break free from what could possibly be wrongful accusations made against him? You’ll enjoy the satisfaction of getting the answers by reading this book, so waste no time in getting hold of it!

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How would you react if you found out it fate has “arranged” it such that you are paralysed at birth, and then find out that someone could actually step in to wrench you away from fate’s vice-like grip and allow you to live as a healthy adult later on?

Dean Koonz’s book purports to illustrate this through the trials and tribulations of Laura Shane, the protagonist who’s bounded in a string of hilarity-cum-action-filled sequences.

The story begins on a lightning-streaked and snowy night when Laura’s mother dies after giving birth to her. Since that fateful day, Laura leads a seemingly uneventful and blissful life with her father, until a robber corners them in their family shop one day.

Just as father and daughter find themselves on the brink of death, a streak of lightning scratches the sky and a blue-eyed blonde, who’s depicted as Laura’s guardian angel, transcends to save them.

Not long after that event, Laura’s father too passes on, and she is sent to live in an orphanage. When strange things start to take place at the orphanage as well (a brunette tries to harm Laura and she attempts to escape from his clutches), the mysterious guardian angel reappears time and again to save her…

Many other events and freak accidents continue to plague Laura’s life as she grows up, gets married, gives birth to a son and becomes a rich author. But there’s a similarity in all these situations – lightning will strike and her guardian angel will always be there to help her out.

Just who is this “person” and what is his motive? Will Laura’s life end like a cruelly twisted fairy tale or otherwise? Pick up this book and find out for yourself!

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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!

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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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