Browse the Books of 2011

This year, Books in the Wild has eleven great books for you to hunt down and read. They include addictive fiction, inspiring autobiography and awesome graphic novels. Enjoy!

Fiction:

	Brand-New Emily by Ginger Rue Emily is just an ordinary 14-year-old without a mum, until the day she accidentally becomes the most unpopular girl at school. Desperate to stop the bullies, she enlists the help of a PR guru, in town with the latest teen celebrity. Soon Emily becomes Em, the one everyone wants to be with – but in becoming someone else, will she forget who she really is?
	Keeper by Mal Peet Keeper is the incredible story of how a poor logger’s son became an almost unbeatable football World Cup goalkeeper, and of the mysterious man who teaches him his skills in a South American rain forest. The story pulsates with the tension of a world cup final, and all paths lead to a spine-tingling ending. You don’t need to be a football fan to enjoy this remarkable and mysterious story. Mal Peet is an English author who writes mainly for young adults. His novels have won several awards, including the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize.
	The Medusa Project: The Set-Up by Sophie McKenzie Fourteen years ago, scientist William Fox implanted four babies with the Medusa gene - a gene for psychic abilities. But Fox died and the babies were hidden away for years. Now the children are teenagers - and unaware that their psychic powers are about to kick in. Cocky, charismatic Nico thinks his emerging telekinetic abilities will bring him money, power and the girl of his dreams. He's about to find out just how wrong he is. This is the first book in The Medusa Project series. The latest title, ‘Double-Cross’ (number five in the series) was published in June 2011.
	Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman Callum is a nought – a second-class citizen in a world run by the ruling Crosses. Sephy is a Cross, daughter of one of the most powerful men in the country. In their world, noughts and Crosses simply don’t mix. And as hostility turns to violence, can Callum and Sephy possibly find a way to be together? They are determined to try. And then the bomb explodes… Noughts & Crosses is the first book in a series which consists of four novels and one novella. Read this first, then read the rest.
	See Ya, Simon by David Hill Simon likes girls, weekends, mucking about and playing practical jokes. But Simon has muscular dystrophy - he's in a wheelchair and doesn't have long to live. In a story that is both laugh-out-loud funny and deeply moving, Simon's best friend, Nathan, tells of their last year together. David Hill is a New Zealand author, especially well known for his young adult fiction. He lists Maurice Gee, Joy Cowley and Margaret Mahy as his favourite authors.
	The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares A story of friendship, heartache, love, growing up and staying together, this book follows the adventures of four best friends, who will be spending their first summer apart. When a magical pair of jeans comes into their lives, their summer turns upside down. This book was adapted into a film of the same name in 2005. Three sequels to the book have been published.
	Small Steps by Louis Sachar Two years after being released from Camp Green Lake, Armpit is home in Austin, Texas, trying to turn his life around. But it’s hard when you have a record, and everyone expects the worst from you. The only person who believes in him is Ginny, his 10-year old disabled neighbour. Together, they are learning to take small steps. He seems to be on the right path, until X-Ray, a buddy from Camp Green Lake, comes up with a get-rich-quick scheme.
	Trash by Andy Mulligan Raphael, Gardo and Rat are three boys who live on a dumpsite, sifting through trash, and worse, to find enough to live on. One day they find a bag – a bag of treasure, a bag of secrets, a bag that will change their lives forever. Now they’re on the run from the police, racing to find another treasure and right a terrible wrong. It’s run or die.

Non Fiction:

Screw It, Let’s Do It: Lessons in Life by Sir Richard Branson Sir Richard Branson’s autobiography will inspire you to learn and grow while embracing life's lessons and opportunities. Sir Richard describes how he struggled with reading difficulties as a child, overcame set-backs and almost lost everything. This is an honest, down to earth depiction of a young man growing up in a modest, normal family. The difference is how he made the most out of life and turned opportunities into gold. Richard Branson is the founder of Virgin Records and Virgin Airways. He is a self-made billionaire and has made his fortune from doing the things that he loves best.

Graphic Novels:

	Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief: The Graphic Novel by Rick Riordan In this explosive graphic novel retelling of The Lightning Thief, Percy Jackson’s life is in turmoil. Zeus, God of the Sky, thinks Percy has stolen his lightning bolt - and making Zeus angry is a very bad idea. Can Percy find the lightning bolt before a fully-fledged war of the Gods erupts? There are five books in the Percy Jackson series, and one movie has been made so far. Rumour has it the second movie will be out next year.
	Witch & Wizard: Battle for Shadowland by James Patterson In a blink of an eye, their world has changed, with the oppressive New Order declaring all magic as evil incarnate! In this action-packed tale spinning out of author James Patterson’s bestselling novel, Witch & Wizard, sibling teenagers Whit and Wisty Allgood use their newly discovered magical powers to infiltrate the enemy territory of the New Order to gain control of the inter-dimensional Shadowland. James Patterson is the world’s bestselling author. He’s won many, many awards and has appeared as himself on the TV shows “The Simpsons” and “Castle”. This graphic novel is the first in a series.
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