Terence Blacker, The Angel Factory
(Macmillian, 2001, 229 pages, 0 333 90072 3)

The Angel Factory is a sinister read, tracking a boy who finds out that, already assimilated into everyday society, is a group of 'angels'. Should he join these all powerful beings, or return to a society where he can trust no one? See review

Joyce Carol Oates, Big Mouth and Ugly Girl
(Collins, 2003, 273 pages, 0 00 71 573 x)

This book is an original, inventive school story about companionship and friends, where Matt must fight accusations against him. It seems now all his friends have deserted him, and he only has Ursula, the school loner, to stand by him.  See review

Celia Rees, Blood Sinister
(Point (Scholastic), 1996, 199 pages, 0 439 98231 6)

Ellen reads about her strange ancestor and the links between past and present and works out that she is next in line for something terrible. See review

Melvin Burgess, Bloodtide
(Penguin, 2001 (first published in 1999), 370 pages, 0141306890)

A savage, powerful story about gang wars in the future. Also has quite a lot of brutal violence and a bit of swearing. See review

Sally Prue, Cold Tom
(Oxford University Press, 2001, 136 pages, 0 19 271887 8)

A sensational novel about an elf named Tom who must discover the true meaning of friendship, while trying to escape from a bitter past, and facing enemies at every turn. See review

Nick Manns, Control-Shift
(Hodder Children's Books, 2000, 196 pages, 0 340 76511 9)

Control Shift is a great read, combining the past and the future to create a gripping horror adventure involving strange events when a family move to a new house. See review

Kevin Crossley-Holland, At The Crossing Places
(Orion, 2001, 362 pages, 1 85881 398 0)

A tale of knights and battles, At the Crossing Places recounts Arthurian legend as young Arthur de Gortanore tries to discover his true past, facing many foes along the way. See review

Malorie Blackman, Dangerous Reality
(Corgi, 2000 (First published 1999), 192 pages, 9 780552 528405)

A new robot, VIMS, fascinates Dominic, until he finds out about its violent tendencies and realises the truth behind the creation. Can he stop it? See review

Ann Halam, Dr Franklin's Island
(Dolphin Paperback, 2001, 214 pages, 1 85881 396 4)

A fast-paced book set on a remote desert island following three children fighting to survive. Not everything is what it seems to be on the island, and the three are not alone. See review

Anthony Horowitz, Eagle Strike
(Walker, 2003, 352 pages, 0744590574)

The 4th instalment in the Alex Rider series offers a storyline as enjoyable and vibrant as all of the others, perhaps especially so with the inclusion of virtual reality and an even more evil tycoon than before. See review

Anthony Horowitz, The Falcon's Malteser
(Walker, 1986, 218 pages, 0 7445 4124 7)

The Falcon's Malteser is one of the best Horowitz reads - clever, funny and with a great detective/mystery storyline at the same time. See review

M.T.  Anderson, Feed
(Walker, 2002, 314 pages, 0 7445 9085 X)

Titus takes a trip to the moon (this is the future) and meets the girl of his dreams. She fills him with new ideas, and the power to rebel against a system which has held them all captive for so long. Loads of swearing though, so not suitable for all. See review

Philip Gross, Going For Stone
(Oxford University Press, 2002, 215 pages, 019271905X)

An inventive read and sinister read, following a boy who unveils a secret behind a strange acting academy.  See review

Nancy Farmer, The House of the Scorpion
(Simon & Schuster, 2002, 380 pages, 0689836872)

Matt is created and thrust into a world filled with drug barons and cruelty, but his purpose in the fictional country of Opium soon becomes obvious, and he is powerless to do anything about it - or is he? See review

Francis Bryan, Jim Hawkins and the Curse of Treasure Island
(Orion, 2002 (first published 2001), 344 pages, 1 84255 213 9)

The swashbuckling unofficial sequel to the renowned Treasure Island, following Jim Hawkins' return to the island, and to an unpleasant surprise. See review

Melvin Burgess, Kite
(Puffin Books, 1999 (first published 1997), 172 pages, 0 14 130041 8)

Kite follow Taylor, the son of a gamekeeper, who must struggle against his family's beliefs for what he thinks is right, even if it means a direct opposition to his father's plans.  See review

Nick Giffored, Piggies
(Puffin, 2003, 214 pages, 0 14 131489 3)

A adventure/horror story following Ben who is transported to another world where Vampires preside over all others, and farm humans for their blood.  See review

Anthony Horowitz, Point Blanc
(Walker, 2001, 282 pages, 0 7445 5971 5)

An amazing sequel to the classic James-Bond style adventure "Stormbreaker". Point Blanc is a hugely exciting, fast-paced book which tracks Alex Rider as he tries to foil an evil plot taking place at an academy in the French Alps.  See review

Sherryl Jordan, The Raging Quiet
(Simon and Schuster, 2003 (first published in 2000), 318 pages, 0 689 83686 4)

Set in Mediaeval times, where Marnie must fight against accusations of being a witch, and therefore risk losing her life.  See review

Chris Ryan, Rat-Catcher (Alpha Force)
(Red Fox, 2002, 186 pages, 0 09 943925 5)

Five young people try to track down the infamous Rat-Catcher, who hunts down and kills the street children of Quito, in Ecuador. They end up having a tough time with the hard security and almost impossible conditions, but they are determined to win. See review

Gordan Korman, Son of the Mob
(Scholastic, 2003 (first published 02 in U.S), 262 pages, 0 439 97709 6)

The story of Vince, the son of the most respected gangster around, as he struggles to lead an independent existence, away from any family connections which interfere with his social life. See review

Celia Rees, Soul Taker
(Hodder, 2003, 152 pages, 0340878177)

Fat, unpopular and bullied by his dad, Lewis is about as miserable as you can get. So when the mysterious toy shop owner offers him a way to be handsome, successful and to have the girlfriend of his dreams, Lewis jumps at the chance. No price would be too great, or would it? See review

Kenneth Oppel, Sunwing
(Hodder Children's Books, 1999, 278 pages, 0 340 75300 5)

Sunwing, the sequel to Silverwing, again tracks the bat Shade, who must confront the forces led by his lifelong enemy, Goth, and try to rescue his long lost father. See review

Chris Ryan, Survival (Alpha Force)
(Red Fox, 2002, 208 pages, 0 09943924 7)

Washed up on a remote desert island, the members of Alpha Team have to struggle to stay alive against the odds, which include searing heat, savage pirates and the deadly Komodo dragons. See review

Ann Halam, Taylor Five
(Orion, 2002, 176 pages, 1 85881 792 7)

A rebel attack destroys Tay's home - an orang-utan research camp in Borneo - and she, her brother and an orang-utan named Uncle must struggle towards the next settlement, but which holds secrets they don’t want to know. See review

Malcolm Rose, Transplant
(Point, 2003, 244 pages, 0 439 98205 7)

A thriller about terrorism and an unlikely relationship between two young people, both living examples of the latest medical treatment in two different fields. See review