So you want to be a Doctor?

So you want to be a Lawyer?

The Great American Novels - The Atlantic (See me for details on how to log in to The Atlantic)

Undergraduate Reading Lists

International Book Awards

Different but Worthwhile - Foreign YA Fiction Translated to English (Goodreads)

Translated Fiction (World Kid Lit) Search by Country or Region

Global Literature in Libraries Initiative

We Need Diverse Books

Travel Books

Enter for a chance to win Bookazine book vouchers and Starbucks vouchers! Prize winners will be decided in a raffle. One completed bingo row (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) = one raffle ticket.

You can only use a book for one bingo square; no reusing books. No rereading, you must choose books you’ve never read before. The competition starts on June 24th, and the submission deadline is on the first and second day after the holiday. Each book must be started AFTER June 24th.

Try to read for at least 30 minutes every day. You will need to spend more time reading to complete the whole card though! Not sure how to find a book in a particular category? Click the links below

New York Times

Other Reading Ideas

• Find me a Book

• 43 of the Most Iconic Short Stories in the English Language

• The Greatest Books of all Time

Book Reviews

• Teen Book Finder Search 4,000+ books, audiobooks, and films from YALSA's book awards and book lists.

• Epic Reads

• Shepherd

Goodreads Lists (YA)

• The 100 Most Popular Young Adult Books on Goodreads

• Top 100 YA Books (According to Goodreads Members)

• 100 of the Most Popular YA Books of the Past Five Years

Other Lists

• Teens' Top Ten (YALSA)

• Time Magazine 100 Best YA Books of All Time

Author and Celebrity Recommendations

• Patrick Ness

• F. Scott Fitzgerald

• BTS

• What genres do you like to read? Do you enjoy fantasy, 🕵️‍♀️ mystery, horror, graphic novels, non-fiction? Are you fan of dystopian fiction or cli-fi? Or just try a completely new genre!

• Who are your favourite authors? Have you read all of their books?

• Read the blurb first! To get an idea of what a book is about, read the short summary that's usually printed on the back of the book. If it sounds interesting, try the first few pages.

• Ask for recommendations from friends, family, teachers, or Mr Mac!

• Don't be afraid to put a book down: It's okay to stop reading a book if you're not enjoying it. Reading should be fun, so don't force yourself to finish. Try giving it a few chapters before deciding, as some stories get better.

• Try one of our curated themed lists, for examples our list of award-winning book

• Try telling the Mr Mac Bot what you read recently and it will suggest a similar book for you.

May 2024: Coming Soon.

April 2024: Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross (Young Adult Y8+)

When two young rival journalists find love through a magical connection, they must face the depths of hell, in a war among gods, to seal their fate forever. After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again. But eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow just wants to hold her family together. Her mother is suffering from addiction and her brother is missing from the front lines. Her best bet is to win the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette. To combat her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish—into the hands of Roman Kitt, her cold and handsome rival at the paper. When he anonymously writes Iris back, the two of them forge a connection that will follow Iris all the way to the front lines of battle: for her brother, the fate of mankind, and love. Shadow and Bone meets Lore in Rebecca Ross's Divine Rivals, an epic enemies-to-lovers fantasy novel filled with hope and heartbreak, and the unparalleled power of love. -- The Publisher

Nebula 2024

• Winner of the novella award: “Linghun”, (Linghun)

• Shortlisted for novellette:

  • I Am AI, (Shortwave)

• Andre Norton Award ()

  • Iron Widow

  • A Snake Falls to earth

  • Wizard's Guide to ...

International Book Awards

Translated Fiction

• • &

Best Books of 2023 (6-8)

Best Books of 2023 (YA)

The only children's choice book award in Hong Kong is now in its 7th year. The Awards are an opportunity for students of all ages in Hong Kong to vote on their favourite books. The books are nominated by schools across Hong Kong and the short list is selected by a panel of librarians from both primary and secondary schools. Books are chosen for their broad appeal, subject matter, design and international representation.

(11 to 15 years)

(15 to 18 Years)

Horror Books in the VSA Library

What is Historical Fiction?

Historical fiction is a genre of literature that takes readers back in time, allowing them to experience different historical periods, places, and events through the eyes of fictional or sometimes real characters. These stories are set in the past and often feature detailed descriptions of historical settings, customs, and everyday life, blending fictional elements with real-life history to create immersive narratives. Historical fiction, can completely transport you to another place and time, helping you to excape from the present while better understanding the history.

Historical fiction brings history to life, and allows you to experience different times and cultures through exciting stories and interesting characters.

Usually historical fiction stories are set more than 20 years in the past.

Some of the most popular settings for historical fiction in middle school books include:

• World War II, The MIddle Ages, Ancient Civilizations. ..

Classics

Historical Fiction Books that are shelved in another Genre

• Historical Mystery: Combines historical settings with mysteries or detective elements, where characters solve crimes or uncover secrets from the past.

• Historical Romance: Focuses on romantic relationships set against a historical backdrop, often exploring the challenges and social expectations of the time.

• Historical Fantasy: Adds magical or supernatural elements to historical settings, blending real events with mythical or fantastical aspects.

• Historical Adventure: Centers on thrilling journeys or quests within historical periods, often featuring explorations, battles, or escapes.

• Historical Thriller: Involves suspense and high-stakes tension, often set around wartime, espionage, or political intrigue in historical eras.

• Historical Horror is another compelling blend with historical fiction! In historical horror, eerie or supernatural elements are woven into a past setting, often exploring the fears, superstitions, or folklore of that era.

• Alternative history: In alternative history, the author reimagines significant historical events with a twist—exploring "what if" scenarios that change the course of history. For example, it might explore what would happen if a major war had a different outcome, a key figure made a different decision, or a significant invention appeared earlier or later than it did in reality.

• Time travel fiction??

NIght Gardener, another horror, kelly yang, All the lovely bad ones: a ghost story

Books for Mature Readers

Ruta Septys

How to Write a Book Review

Want your review read? Try some of these tips:

• Finish the book!: It seems obvious, but you want to have a complete picture of the story before writing your review.

• Let it simmer: Give yourself a little time after finishing the book to let your thoughts settle. Sometimes your initial feelings can change over a day or two.

• Proofread: Nothing ruins a great review like typos and mistakes.

• A little personality: Don't be afraid to let your own voice shine through. Did the book make you laugh? Say that!

How should I structure my book review?

Here's an example (remove the section headings in your version):

Spy School by Stuart Gibbs

1. Hook: Imagine if your clumsy, totally normal life suddenly turned into a James Bond movie. That's Ben Ripley's reality in the Spy School series!

2. No-Spoiler Summary: Ben's an average kid until he's mistaken for a genius and thrown into a secret CIA academy. There's gadgets, villains, action-packed missions, and a whole lot of Ben just trying to keep up.

3. Honest Reaction: These books are total popcorn fun - fast, hilarious, and impossible to put down. Ben's the perfect underdog hero, always getting into ridiculous situations. Plus, there are just enough twists to keep you guessing.

4. Who Would Like This Book?: If you love action movies, a side of awkward humor, and stories where the stakes are ridiculously high, Spy School is for you.

You don't have to follow the above structure! Another good option is a listicle review; e.g. "5 Reasons Why I Loved This Book".

When your review is finished, follow the instructions below to add the review to Destiny Discover.

Add your Book Review to Destiny Discover

1. Login

2. Sign in with Google

3. Find the book you want to review and click 'View More Details'

4. Add your Review and give it a Star Rating

5. Send me a message to fast-track your review's approval

Short Stories [Free online]

Edgar Awards

The Winners of the 2024 Golden Penguin Awards

Reader's Choice Award

1. Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation (Winner)

2. Spy School Project X

3. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

Year 6 Awards

Top Books

1. Spy School Project X

2. The Hunger Games

3. Murder most unladylike

Year 8 Awards

1. A good girl's guide to murder

2. Scythe

Year 9 Awards

Top Books

1. The Hunger Games

2. The cruel prince

3. Better than the movies

Top Authors

1. Jennifer Lynn Barnes

2. Stephen King

3. Rick Riordan

An Introduction to Cli-Fi

Climate Fiction, or Cli-Fi, is a genre that uses stories to show us how climate change could impact our world. These stories might be about a future where the environment is severely damaged, or they might show people coming up with ways to overcome environmental disasters. Through the use of imagination based on scientific facts, Cli-Fi serves as a creative mirror reflecting the serious issues our planet could face due to global warming and environmental neglect.

Destiny Discover: Climate Fiction

If you're looking for some sound advice and guidance, check out our Piece of Mind book collection. These self-help books provide guidance and supportive words from experts, and cover lots of different topics, including:

• Mental Health & Wellbeing • Anxiety, depression, OCD, and more • Building confidence and self-esteem • Mindfulness

• Relationships & Communication • Friendships, dating, and family • Dealing with bullies and conflicts • Speaking up and being heard

• Puberty & Growing Up • Changing bodies and sexuality • Finding your identity and purpose • Stress management and motivation

• Personal Growth & Success • Developing good habits • Believing in your potential • Setting goals and growth mindset

Take a look at the Piece of Mind book section and find the right read for you!

Try listening to an audiobook while you are reading a book.