Cambridge High School Library 2024

 By:  Jeff Benedict Location: NF 920 Sport Genre: His own The first definitive biography of basketball legend LeBron James, by the acclaimed author of  Tiger Woods . LeBron is unquestionably  the greatest basketball player of the 21st century . Off the court, LeBron's political activism, outspoken stance on racism and social injustice have helped build a social media presence that includes 117 million followers on Instagram and 51 million followers on Twitter. He is  an international brand worth billions  of dollars. He doesn’t just have huge endorsement deals with some of the biggest corporations in the world; LeBron sits on boards of directors and has an equity stake in the companies he sponsors. He has forged a close friendship with  President Barack Obama  and clashed publicly with  President Donald Trump . As a child, LeBron was a lost little boy living in a public housing project in Akron, Ohio. His mother, who had LeBron when she was j...

 By: Tessa Duder Location: FIC DUD Genre: NZ- Aotearoa History A powerful new historical novel from one of New Zealand’s best-loved YA authors An exciting new novel from the author of   Alex. In September 1840, two ships arrive on the shores of the Waitematā Harbour to establish Auckland, the new capital of New Zealand. Among the settlers on board the   Platina   is young Harry, travelling alone and determined to return to family in England. But the more immediate challenge is finding food and shelter — and hiding the truth about Harry’s real identity and what was left behind in Van Diemen’s Land. Review by "what next book"- Goodreads "This would have to be my favourite of Tess Duder Young Adult novels yet. Meticulously detailed and gripping, The Sparrow is a historical tale that spans 12,000 miles, genders, the rich and poor, people of good character and bad, over 4 years and three countries. The reader will see the very beginnings of Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand,...

 By: Carolyn Tara O'Neil Location: FIC ONE Genre: Historical Fiction, Retelling,    Anastasia   "Beautifully written, this is a story of friendship and survival after a tragic loss. A fascinating tale of a familiar legend and what happened in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution." Danielle “We are harder than anything the world can throw at us.” “I prefer a peaceful revolution.” She shook her head. “There’s no such thing.” "This fresh, thrilling take on Anastasia establishes that O'Neil is a debut author to watch." ― Buzzfeed From debut author Carolyn Tara O'Neil comes a thrilling alternate history set during the Russian Revolution. Russia, 1918: With the execution of Tsar Nicholas, the empire crumbles and Russia is on the edge of civil war―the poor are devouring the rich. Anna, a bourgeois girl, narrowly escaped the massacre of her entire family in Yekaterinburg. Desperate to get away from the Bolsheviks, she offers a peasant girl a diamond to take h...

By: Chloe Gong Location: FIC GON Genre: Fantasy. Historical Fiction, Mystery Retel l! “Nation over everything. But not you, sweetheart. Never your life in exchange” ―  Chloe Gong,  Foul Lady Fortune The first book in a captivating new duology following an ill-matched pair of spies posing as a married couple to investigate a series of brutal murders in 1930s Shanghai. It’s 1931 in Shanghai, and the stage is set for a new decade of intrigue. Four years ago, Rosalind Lang was brought back from the brink of death, but the strange experiment that saved her also stopped her from sleeping and aging—and allows her to heal from any wound. In short, Rosalind cannot die. Now, desperate for redemption from her traitorous past, she uses her abilities as an assassin for her country. Code name: Fortune. But when the Japanese Imperial Army begins its invasion march, Rosalind’s mission pivots. A series of murders is causing unrest in Shanghai, and the Japanese are under suspicion. Rosalind’s n...

 By: Ray Nayler Location: FIC Nay Genre: Sci Fi, Animals, Fantasy " A sure-fire Hugo contender (and probable winner)! No matter what you are looking for in a novel, The Mountain in the Sea is a real winner. You do not have to be a science-fiction fan to love it. The plot is gripping, with various groups in fierce competition as humans explore the nature of minds and consciousness and take actions that will be crucial to the future of humans and other life. The characters are fully developed; I believed in and cared about them." - Ange Humankind discovers intelligent life in an octopus species with its own language and culture, and sets off a high-stakes global competition to dominate the future. Rumors begin to spread of a species of hyperintelligent, dangerous octopus that may have developed its own language and culture. Marine biologist Dr. Ha Nguyen, who has spent her life researching cephalopod intelligence, will do anything for the chance to study them. The transnational...

 By: Hannah Kaner Location: FIC KAN Genre: Fantasy, Mythology, LGBGT "..theres a lot of enjoy about this. the characters are wonderfully developed, the plot is engaging, and the world is built up perfectly for a medieval fantasy." Jessica Kissen kills gods for a living, and she enjoys it. That is until she finds a god she cannot kill: Skediceth, god of white lies, who is connected to a little noble girl on the run. Elogast fought in the god war, and helped purge the city of a thousand shrines before laying down his sword. A mysterious request from the King sends him racing back to the city he destroyed. On the way he meets a godkiller, a little girl and a littler god, who cannot find out about his quest. Review from James on Goodreads "You are not welcome here, Godkiller" is a simple statement that piqued my curiosity when I opened the package that included Hannah Kaner's upcoming fantasy debut. I was so intrigued that I opted to read Godkiller next. I'm con...

 By: Paul Jennings Location: FIC JEN Genre:  Health, Nature, Family- Grief and Loss- tough stuff ! A sister and brother face the hardest year of their lives and discover the healing power of nature in this compelling tale from master storyteller Paul Jennings. Emily loves the bush and the native animals on her family's reforested property, particularly the beautiful rainbow lorikeets that nest in one of the tallest trees. But then her father is diagnosed with a terminal illness, and Emily's world enters a tailspin. Her twin brother, Alex, refuses to accept the truth. His coping mechanism is to build elaborate additions to his treehouse in the superstitious belief that it will avert disaster - leaving Emily to deal with harsh reality on her own. When Alex secretly adopts a feral kitten, going against everything that's important to Emily, the siblings' emotions reach boiling point - with potentially dangerous consequences for them all. A moving story of family, loss and l...

 By: Lucy Hope  Location: FIC HOP Genre: Historical Fiction. Gothic "I loved this! Great Gothic vibes." A dark, gothic adventure set on the island of Anglesey in North Wales and featuring a very fantastical beast… Wren lives in an ancient castle in the mountains near the sea. The wind whistles through it and the walls sing to her. Wren is busy inventing things, and her father is busy disapproving. But the castle contains a mystery and as Wren is drawn further into it, she realises the answer lies in the very foundations of her home, foundations that are being shaken to their core…

 By: Mari Mancusi Location: FIC Man Genre: Fantasy, Dragon s Set off on a high-stakes, action-packed adventure in this story about friendship, survival, and fighting for ones you love, perfect for fans of Wings of Fire and How to Train Your Dragon .  No one predicted the dragon apocalypse. The dragons came suddenly and decimated the world as we knew it, including New York City. Now, three years later, Noah, his hardcore survivalist father, and a ragtag group of survivors are barely scraping by in this new reality. Kids scavenge not only for materials in abandoned homes but also for leftover books at the library. Adults spend their time establishing a make-shift society and defending their shelter... with any means available. At least for the few months the dragons are hibernating, until it’s no longer safe aboveground. Noah has seen the damage these creatures can do firsthand. When it comes to It's kill or be killed. But a chance encounter between Noah and a young dragon ...

 By: Francesca Gibbons Location: FIX GIB Genre: Fantasy With all the magic of Narnia and the humour of Mary Poppins, this is a future middle grade fantasy classic – and the beginning of an unforgettable journey… The thrilling third volume in the bestselling middle-grade trilogy, beautifully illustrated throughout by Chris Riddell Step through the door in the tree and into another breathtaking adventure. . . When Anneshka’s hunt for the greatest kingdom brings her into our world, Imogen and Marie know it’s bad news. But Anneshka isn’t their only problem. Mum’s boyfriend, Mark, is sick and getting sicker, thanks to the monsters he accidentally carried home. Can the girls escape Anneshka and find a cure for Mark before it’s too late? Their quest will take them through the door in the tree and further than ever before, into the magical lands of Nedobyt beyond. But there is more to this kingdom than meets the eye. Miro, Imogen and Marie must learn its secrets if they’re to save their fa...

 By: Tricia Levenseller Location: FIC LEV Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance I loved this book. The pirate captain, Princess Alosa, was bad to the bone and I loved it! Seventeen-year-old Alosa, daughter of the feared Pirate King, is on a mission. She must retrieve an ancient hidden map, the key to a legendary treasure trove. The catch? Alosa needs to conceal her considerable combat skills and allow herself to be captured by her enemies, giving her the perfect opportunity to search their ship. More than a match for the ruthless pirate crew, Alosa has only one thing standing between her and the map: her captor, the unexpectedly clever and unfairly attractive first mate, Riden. But luckily, she has a few tricks up her sleeve- and no lone pirate can stop the Daughter of the Pirate King.

 By: Gareth Ward Location: FIC WAR Genre: Fantasy "The airship's genie is just the best." Tarquin the Honest, Wizard of the Silver Weasel, is a liar, a coward, a charlatan and a cheat. And, according to his diminutive roguish sidekick Lunar Nix, those are his most endearing qualities. On a perilous quest to recover The Golden Gauntlet for a mysterious patron, Tarquin and his band of unlikely warriors must navigate the terrors of the Sorrow Wood, battle zombies, giants, zombie-giants and an entire evil order of necromancers. Despite never living up to the expectations of his hero father, somehow Tarquin – through his multitude of dubious skills and a deluded perception of his own greatness must defy death to overcome a series of complex challenges. Will Tarquin betray his friends to save his own skin, or will he roll the dice and risk everything? Only the goddess Fortuna knows and she’s not telling.

 By:  Scott Westerfield Location: FIC WES Genre: Dystopia, Youth Fiction, a classic! COMING TO NETFLIX!!!!! Westerfeld has created a good old-fashioned coming of age tale in a sf world. Sure it's a YA novel, but that's ok. We need to create another generation of sf readers. Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. In just a few weeks she'll have the operation that will turn her from a repellent ugly into a stunning pretty. And as a pretty, she'll be catapulted into a high-tech paradise where her only job is to have fun. But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to become a pretty. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world—and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally a choice: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. Tally's choice will change her world forever....

 By: Emilia Hart Location: FIC HAR Genre:  Historical Fiction Fantasy, Witches COVER ART!!!!   KATE, 2019 Kate flees London – abandoning everything – for Cumbria and Weyward Cottage, inherited from her great-aunt. There, a secret lurks in the bones of the house, hidden ever since the witch-hunts of the 17th century. VIOLET, 1942 Violet is more interested in collecting insects and climbing trees than in becoming a proper young lady. Until a chain of shocking events changes her life forever. ALTHA, 1619 Altha is on trial for witchcraft, accused of killing a local man. Known for her uncanny connection with nature and animals, she is a threat that must be eliminated. But Weyward women belong to the wild. And they cannot be tamed… Weaving together the stories of three women across five centuries,  Weyward  is an enthralling novel of female resilience and the transformative power of the natural world.

 By: Mariah Fredericks Location: FIC FRE Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery Mariah Fredericks's  The Lindbergh Nanny  is powerful, propulsive novel about America’s most notorious kidnapping through the eyes of the woman who found herself at the heart of this deadly crime. When the most famous toddler in America, Charles Lindbergh, Jr., is kidnapped from his family home in New Jersey in 1932, the case makes international headlines. Already celebrated for his flight across the Atlantic, his father, Charles, Sr., is the country’s golden boy, with his wealthy, lovely wife, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, by his side. But there’s someone else in their household—Betty Gow, a formerly obscure young woman, now known around the world by another name: the Lindbergh Nanny. A Scottish immigrant deciphering the rules of her new homeland and its East Coast elite, Betty finds Colonel Lindbergh eccentric and often odd, Mrs. Lindbergh kind yet nervous, and Charlie simply a darling. Far from home a...

 By: Joseph OConnor Location: FIC OCO Genre: Historical Fiction, Thriller, Italy Bring on the movie- it will parallel Schlender's List! “I have come to see neutrality is the most extremist stance of all; without it, no tyranny can flourish.” A literary thriller based on the true story of an Irish priest in the Vatican who rescued victims of the Nazis in Rome under the nose of his SS officer nemesis. From the bestselling and prizewinning author of Shadowplay. September 1943- German forces occupy Rome. SS officer Paul Hauptmann rules with terror. The war's outcome is far from certain. An Irish priest, Hugh O'Flaherty, dedicates himself to helping those escaping from the Nazis. His home is Vatican City, the world's smallest state, a neutral, independent country within Rome where the occupiers hold no sway. Here Hugh brings together an unlikely band of friends to hide the vulnerable under the noses of the enemy. But Hauptmann's net begins closing in on the Escape Line a...

 By : Scarlett Brade Location: FIC BRA Genre: Thriller, Fiction Mental health SHOULD HE LIVE OR DIE? YOU DECIDE. Charlotte Goodwin looks directly at the camera and reveals a chilling truth to the thousands watching her Instagram live broadcast. She has killed her ex-boyfriend's new partner in cold blood. But she is not finished yet. With bloodied hands she takes a calm sip of tea before continuing. Lincoln Jackson will now make his confession, then the viewers must vote to decide whether he should live or die. The public display sends shockwaves rippling through the online community and the numbers of viewers skyrockets. But as Lincoln's past is revealed, how will he be judged? Bonded by mutual tragedy, Charlotte's three best friends have supported each other through the soaring highs and devastating lows of their lives. Now, in Charlotte's hour of need, her friends also face a choice, whether to help her get away with murder. The Hive explores our darkest fears of the ...

 By: Kathryn Foxfield Location: FIC FOX Genre: Mystery Thriller For fans of Karen McManus' One of Us is Lying, Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None and films like I Know What You Did Last Summer. Mind games. Murder. Mayhem. How far would you go to survive the night? Blackmail lures sixteen-year-old Ava to the derelict carnival on Portgrave Pier. She is one of ten teenagers, all with secrets they intend to protect whatever the cost. When fog and magic swallow the pier, the group find themselves cut off from the real world and from their morals. As the teenagers turn on each other, Ava will have to face up to the secret that brought her to the pier and decide how far she's willing to go to survive. Review "A gripping read! I was always a huge fan of Point Horror as a teen, so this took me right back; it's deliciously dark, a little bit tongue-in-cheek, and has a satisfyingly high death count! Abandoned funfairs are always a bit of a winner on the creepy front, ...