Books

With his train home set to leave in a matter of minutes, Callum is forced to confront an unfortunate that his summer abroad in Paris was a disappointing, unmemorable failure of a trip. There was no teenage adventure, no summer fling, and his French-speaking skills didn't even improve. Going home after having accomplished so little would be bad enough too, without the many foreboding missed calls from his dad. So after a panic attack in the toilets jeopardises Callum's chances of catching the train back, he instead decides to stay in Paris to try and salvage the summer. It's the hottest weekend in France's history, however, and a curfew has been placed on the city. In need of a place to stay, Callum seeks out his estranged cousin and concert oboist, Harrison. Things go south after one of Harrison's shows, when his prized oboe is stolen just after a conversation with suspicious oboe super-fan Arnaud and his step-sister, the alluring but enigmatic Lilou. Callum finds Lilou outside the venue, who offers him a stick with Harrison and the remains of his failed trip, or come with her in search of Arnaud, into the heat of the scorching hot streets of Paris …From bestselling, award-winning author Meg Rosoff comes a hilariously chaotic novel of heartbreak, mystery, adventure, and thievery

Jo used to be the perfect high-school girl – class president, popular, bright and successful. But when nude photos of her were leaked to the entire school, her grades plummeted, her friends fell away and now she's a reckless, difficult social outcast. The girl who 'deserved' it. Then her former best friend Maddie disappears. Everyone else assumes Maddie has just run away but that doesn't add up to Jo. To discover the truth, Jo needs to get back in with the group of classmates who have shut her out: the boys who betrayed her and the clique of girls who whisper behind her back. And she has to make it look as if she wants to be there. The only way back in is through Hudson. An old fling with his own reasons for finding Maddie, he persuades Jo to fake date him. And it works. But as the truth about Maddie's disappearance comes to light, so do long-hidden secrets from Jo's past. Who is Jo really trying to find-Maddie, or the girl she herself used to be? A gripping read, perfect for fans of One of Us is Lying, We Were Liars and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder.

Aspiring inventor Isaac Turner lives with his dad, the horologist in charge of Big Ben. But when his father vanishes from the belfry on the night the clocks go back, leaving behind only a smashed pocket watch and a cryptic message, Isaac determines to find him. Hunting a trail of clues through London’s landmarks, Isaac uncovers a sinister plot in the gears of government and embarks on a race against time to save his father – and time itself.

Bea CAN’T WAIT for her birthday. There are only three days to go, and everything is going to be PERFECT! Then snow begins to block the roads … and everything begins to go wrong. With no party, no cards, and maybe even no cake, can Bea find a way to be OK – even in the middle of a really BAD day? This reassuring and funny book is the perfect springboard for talking to children about setting expectations and finding balance amidst disappointment.

The pressure is building for Greg Heffley, who discovers that when you mix heaps of family, a tiny beach house, and sweltering heat, it’s a recipe for disaster. Speaking of recipes—the secret ingredients behind Gramma’s famous meatballs have been closely guarded for years. Can Greg unpack all of his family’s mysteries before their vacation is over? Or will he just stir the pot?