New Releases by John Marsden

Is there a geographical centre of Islam? What was Australia''s political crisis in 1975? Are swinging seats found in a playground or in Australian politics? And why is gravity so heavy, man? John Marsden, Australia''s bestselling writer for teenagers, turns his attention to the inside of the human brain and answers these and other vital questions. From Germaine Greer''s politics and the belief systems of Buddhists and Christians to what Harry said when he met Sally and other movie moments that have become myths, The Head Book is an entertaining collection of bite-sized pieces of vital information, wit and wisdom, and interesting and useful facts.

Judith Nobel is a respected, strong-willed young school teacher who came to the island in the Pacific Northwest a decade ago to give birth to her twin daughters. A private person, the locals know little about her except that she''s a gifted educator. Ben Trilby is another of the Island''s anomalies, an ex-police officer who says little and limps around on a cane while quietly running his local business. Like Judith, Ben came to the island to forget about his past, as well as the shooting that killed his female partner and left him crippled for life. Appearing content within their secluded, but separate lives, Judith and Ben know something is missing. One day, an innocent action of one of Judith''s pupils sets into motion a series of events that will end in a tragic accident. Clinically dead for twenty-two minutes, Judith finds herself in a kind of utopian library where the books she''s invited to read are about people from her past who have died. From these books she learns a secret about each person that she never knew before. When she leaves the library, she takes with her the will to love again. In the Lord''s Library is a colorful story about ordinary people, and the extraordinary strength of the human spirit.

The author of A Killing Frost continues his bestselling series. " Marsden '' s style is as surefooted as his independent band of teens. "— School Library Journal Ellie and her friends had been rescued. Airlifted out of their own country to the safe haven of New Zealand, they''d arrived burnt and injured and shocked, with broken bones, and scars inside and out. They did not want to go back. But five months later the war is not over, the nightmares continue, and there are two compelling reasons for them to return: a planned sabotage of the air base in Wirrawee and, most important, the families they left behind. In this episode of the tale begun in Tomorrow, When the War Began and continued in The Dead of Night and A Killing Frost, John Marsden takes us back to Hell, the outpost for a group of teens in a war-ravaged country. "Ellie is a solid narrator whose no-nonsense approach to love, war, and friendship makes her an unusual and impressive female protagonist. A personalized war novel that is apocalyptic yet open-ended enough for another sequel, Darkness benefits from not being limited to fitting into any one genre, but satisfactorily including aspects of several."— Booklist "Contains as much riveting suspense and cliffhanger chapter endings as the first three."— The Horn Book

John Marsden is not just one of Australia''s most successful writers of all time; he''s also one of our best teachers of writing. "Highly recommended" Sun Herald "The most exciting, interesting and useful book on the teaching of writing" Australian English Teacher The ultimate "get off your bum and do it" book, Everything I Know About Writing will motivate anyone to write. It''s a lively, funny guide to writing, as readable as a novel, but packed front to back with ideas and insights. This new edition has one other great feature: 600 extraordinary topics, guaranteed to have you or your students writing before you know it. Everything I Know About Writing is the most painless way into writing - ever.

Manhood: The Big GigThis is the most urgently needed book of our time. Where Steve Biddulph''s best-selling Raising Boys talks to parents and teachers, Secret Men''s Business talks to young men themselves–in the way that only John Marsden can. It sets out, in direct, honest language, the things every young man needs to know... And the things young men aren''t being told.Not just the obvious. Not just the basic. As John Marsden says: "In one way all you have to do to become a man is to stay alive. Physically you''ll grow into a man.But to become a man who is mature, independent, responsible and wise, you''ll need to do more than just have birthdays."Young men who read this book will learn how to be strong, how to be honest, how to confront their fears. They''ll understand how to deal with men and women, parents and teachers, male friends and female friends. They''ll get a sense of the integrity that every true man needs. They''ll find ways to resolve problems without being destructive or self-destructive. They''ll have their questions about sex answered... In clear, straightforward language. With Tomorrow, When the War Began, John Marsden wrote the most powerful novel for teenagers ever published in this country. Now he has written the most powerful non-fiction work ever made available to young men.

Australia has been invaded. Nothing is as it was. Six teenagers are living out their nightmare in the sanctuary of a hidden valley called Hell. Alone, they make their own rules, protect what is theirs, and struggle for courage and hope in a world changed forever. Seeking supplies, allies, and information, the friends make forays into enemy territory, drawing on nerve and resourcefulness they never even knew they had. As the risks become greater, so too do the sacrifices they must make. Intense, passionate, and compulsive, The Dead of Night continues the frighteningly real story begun in Tomorrow, When the War Began.

Examines in detail the history of the Celtic kingdom of the Scots. Offers the reader insights into the world and times of Celtic Scotland that other books rarely achieve.

"Australia''s king of young adult fiction" The Australian She has parents, a brother, friends and a dog. Sometimes the dog seems like the only one she can trust. Her life is about to fall apart. The dog is Checkers. The book is unforgettable. Fans of Veronica Roth, Suzanne Collins and John Flanagan will love John Marsden.

A prayer expressing deeply held hopes for the new millennium.

A warm and funny novel from the bestselling author of the Tomorrow series, Staying Alive in Year 5, Cool School and Creep Street "Australia''s king of young adult fiction" The Australian Last week, Mrs Hazell got us to write a story called ''The Biggest Disaster I Ever Caused''. I should have asked for extra time to write it. I''ve got a feeling that by tomorrow I''ll be able to do a whole new version. Tony and his friends are seriously bored with their lives. They go ''looking for trouble''. But when a strange and secretive family move in down the road, Tony begins to wonder whether trouble hasn''t come looking for him. And once trouble finds him - it doesn''t want to let him go!

From the multi-award winning and bestselling author of the Tomorrow series It''s your first day at your new cool school.By lunchtime you could have gone into the wrong toilets, gatecrashed the staff room, blown up the science block, been hypnotised by the principal, asked for a date, broken every bone in your body. . . It''s up to you. You could have felt joy, fear, love, revenge, rage, embarrassment. . . It''s up to you. You could have become your school''s biggest hero. . . or its biggest loser. . . You make it happen.

Scott and his friends are simply staying alive in year 5 until their surprising new teacher, Mr Murlin, comes along.Boring textbooks go into the bin, eating chocolate in class becomes compulsory and suddenly it''s OK to be weird.But Mr Murlin is not popular with everyone. . .Staying Alive in Year 5 is a monster hit for primary school readers from one of Australia''s most popular storytellers, John Marsden.

When Ellie and six of her friends return home from a camping trip deep in the bush, they find things hideously wrong -- their families gone, houses empty and abandoned, pets and stock dead. Gradually they begin to comprehend that their country has been invaded and everyone in the town has been taken prisoner. As the horrible reality of the situation becomes evident they have to make a life-and-death decision: to run back into the bush and hide, to give themselves up to be with their families, or to stay and try to fight. This reveting, tautly-drawn novel seems at times to be only a step away from today''s headlines.

John Marsden follows the course of the sea-road of the early Celtic saints from Ireland to the western coast and isles of Scotland. He explores the spiritual tradition of the White Martyrdom of Exile for Christ as it was lived out by these voyager-visionaries against the seascapes of the Hebrides.

The relationship between two teenage girls who become acquainted through letters intensifies as their correspondence reveals some of the terrible problems of their lives.

"Australia''s king of young adult fiction" The Australian Lisa Morris could be the girl next door. She could be your cousin. She could be sitting behind you in class. She could be you. But Lisa, cool and beautiful Lisa, remote and private Lisa, has more going on in her life than anyone imagines. Only her journal knows the truth about her life. Only her journal - and you. Fans of Veronica Roth, Suzanne Collins and John Flanagan will love John Marsden.

A book for all people. And all who read it will be changed by the experience. ". . . an extraordinary book. . . I would commend it to everybody." Terry Lane, ABC Radio The Journey is a story of young people in a world so different and yet so like our own. It is a world in which young people must undertake a journey of discovery on their way to becoming adults. Fourteen-year-old Argus sets out on his journey away from his valley and his parents, never knowing what adventure will befall him next. He learns how to survive in the wild until he meets with a travelling fair, which he joins, becoming a friend of Mayon the storyteller, of Lavolta and Parara - twins who share the same body - and many others. But it is with the sweet and wise Temora that he learns some of the deepest secrets. All journeys must find an end. Argus leaves the fair and travels on alone, until his last and greatest adventure beckons him home. There he tells, for the approval of his elders, the seven stories which are now his story. But all is not done. There is one more chapter to be lived out in the story of Argus. Fans of Veronica Roth, Suzanne Collins and John Flanagan will love John Marsden.

General survey of the history of transmissible disease in Australia; includes types of infective and parasitic disease present in pre and post-contact Aboriginal population; population estimates; morbidity rates.