New Releases by Tony Abbott

How an ancient land became a great democracy. ''Tony Abbott should be congratulated ... This history of Australia is vivid, readable, provocative'' Geoffrey Blainey, historian Australia is one of the world''s great success stories: a land long hidden from outsiders, chosen as a convict dumping ground, where - since 1788 - people from many backgrounds have built one of the freest, fairest and most prosperous countries on earth. By the standards of a harsher time, the early governors tried to respect the original inhabitants and to encourage the convict outcasts of the British Isles to make a new start to a better life. This Indigenous heritage, British foundation and immigrant character have shaped the land of the ''fair go'' especially for those willing to ''have a go''. It''s not perfect, even now, yet mostly we have a history to be proud of. Within a century of settlement, Australia had not only the world''s highest standard of living but had become a global pioneer for democratic freedoms such as the secret ballot, the payment of MPs and voting rights for women. A country largely created by settlement and negotiation has evolved from ''White Australia'' at the time of federation into one of the world''s most colour-blind societies and has managed the transition from an old ''Anglo'' identity to a civic patriotism based on an overriding commitment to Australia and its values. This book is intended to give anyone interested - as every Australian should be - an account of our past that''s positive, while not oblivious to our mistakes and imperfections as a nation. If to be an Australian is still to have won the lottery of life, the history that''s produced us is surely something to savour. Now a major TV documentary available to stream at Sky News Australia. ''Tony Abbott should be congratulated ... This history of Australia is vivid, readable, provocative'' Geoffrey Blainey, historian ''I think it''s very good'' Tom Holland, historian Australia is one of the world''s great success stories: a land long hidden from outsiders, chosen as a convict dumping ground, where - since 1788 - people from many backgrounds have built one of the freest, fairest and most prosperous countries on earth. By the standards of a harsher time, the early governors tried to respect the original inhabitants and to encourage the convict outcasts of the British Isles to make a new start to a better life. This Indigenous heritage, British foundation and immigrant character have shaped the land of the ''fair go'' especially for those willing to ''have a go''. It''s not perfect, even now, yet mostly we have a history to be proud of. Within a century of settlement, Australia had not only the world''s highest standard of living but had become a global pioneer for democratic freedoms such as the secret ballot, the payment of MPs and voting rights for women. A country largely created by settlement and negotiation has evolved from ''White Australia'' at the time of federation into one of the world''s most colour-blind societies and has managed the transition from an old ''Anglo'' identity to a civic patriotism based on an overriding commitment to Australia and its values. This book is intended to give anyone interested - as every Australian should be - an account of our past that''s positive, while not oblivious to our mistakes and imperfections as a nation. If to be an Australian is still to have won the lottery of life, the history that''s produced us is surely something to savour. Now a major TV documentary available to stream at Sky News Australia. PRAISE ''Tony Abbott''s book is inspired by love of country, yet he comes to grip with our flaws. This is a fresh, powerful, highly readable single-volume history of Australia that deserves a wide audience'' Paul Kelly, editor-at-large, The Australian ''Scholarly researched, scrupulously fair-minded and very engagingly written, this is big narrative history at its best. It explains why Australia is such a wonderfully unique place, and why history is all the better when written by those who themselves helped make it'' - Andrew Roberts, author, Churchill: Walking with Destiny ''Not quite the "white armband" version of history I was expecting in the first half, nor a "Liberal Party highlights package" in the second half. I enjoyed reading it'' - Peter FitzSimons, author, Kokoda This is an immensely readable account of how - as I frequently call it - the "Australian Achievement" has been built'' - Hon John Howard OM AC, former prime minister of Australia ''Tony Abbott''s latest book is a powerful antidote to the poison of little and bad history ... we have much to be thankful for and to build on'' Hon John Anderson AC, former deputy prime minister of Australia and leader of the National Party ''The former prime minister has done a good job with Australia: A History'' Frank Bongiorno, historian ''if you have a serious interest in Australian history, the book will go on your shelves'' Hon Kim Beazley AC, former deputy prime minister of Australia ''Tony Abbott has written with reverence and richness, bringing our nation''s past, although both painful and proud, to life with striking clarity'' Nova Peris OAM OLY, first Aboriginal-Australian Olympic gold medallist and former Labor senator ''This book is a compelling reminder of our inheritance, which gives us a reason to be proud of who we are and the country we''ve become'' - Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, federal senator for Northern Territory ''Tony Abbott brings history to life in a way that is both enlightening and deeply engaging'' Brett Lee, former Australian international cricketer ''This book helps us rediscover our past with honesty and respect, so we can better understand our present and shape a stronger, more inclusive future'' Dai Le MP, independent member for Fowler

Written by award-winning author Tony Abbott and perfect for fans of The Ethan I Was Before and The Thing About Jellyfish, this bittersweet middle grade novel follows the ghost of Denis Egan as he teams up with his living twin brother to solve the mystery of his death. Denis Egan is dead. He’s okay with that. It’s been five years since he died, and the place where souls go is actually pretty nice. Sure, there are some things about his life and how it ended he can’t quite recall, but that’s how it’s supposed to be. Remembering could prevent Denis from moving on to whatever’s next. However, something is standing in his way. His twin brother Matt can’t let go of him, and as long as the living are holding on to his memory, Denis can’t rest in peace. To uncover the truth about what happened that day five years before, Denis returns to his hometown and teams up with Matt. But visiting for too long has painful consequences for Denis, and Matt’s renewed interest in his brother’s passing is driving a wedge between his still-grieving parents. Can the two boys solve the mystery of Denis’s death without breaking apart the family he’s left behind?

Think your town is weird? Step into Grover's Mill—known to the local kids as the "Weird Zone"—from the award-winning author of the Secrets of Droon series. There's no place like home. Seriously, there's no place like the bizarre town of Grover's Mill, home to friends Liz, Holly, Sean, Jeff, and Mike—but also to aliens, monsters, dinosaurs, giant robots, and a potato capable of mind control. It could have something to do with the location—in the middle of a triangle containing a secret UFO testing base, a dinosaur burial ground, and a cheesy horror movie studio. Whatever the reason, enter at your own risk . . . Zombie Surf Commandos from Mars!: When disgusting alien zombies start rising from the lake, Holly, Liz, and Jeff must escape—or their brains will become an afternoon snack. The Incredible Shrinking Kid!: After a blast of purple light zaps Holly's brother, Sean—shrinking him to four inches—the friends need to make sure he doesn't end up in an evil toy-store owner's collection. The Beast from Beneath the Cafeteria!: Liz and her friends battle a dinosaur with a craving for junk food—and an appetite for destruction. Attack of the Alien Mole Invaders!: Not to make a mountain out of a molehill—but a colony of giant moles from outer space has tunneled under Grover's Mill. With the help of a secret government invention, Jeff and Holly must stop them in their tracks. The Brain That Wouldn't Obey!: Mike is sure he's going to win the school science fair with his potato-powered radio, "Potadio." But when his invention is electrocuted to life and takes over the minds of the teachers and students, it's boy vs. spud. Gigantopus from Planet X!: When Sean and Holly must battle a gigantic robot octopus controlled by an evil alien, it sucks big-time. Cosmic Boy Versus Mezmo Head!: After an alien blasts Jeff with an X-ray on his way to audition for his school's outer space version of The Wizard of Oz, his favorite childhood toy, a Cosmic Boy space helmet, gets stuck on his head. The space invader has his own mind-controlling Mezmo head helmet, and now the two will butt heads . . . or, uh, helmets. Revenge of the Tiki Men!: There's no time to lounge around—huge Tiki heads with a grudge against Grover's Mill are turning the town back into a jungle. It's up to the kids to fend off a total disaster.

Owen and his best friend, Sean, are both eleven years old. They've lived on Cape Cod all their lives, and now that they're a little older, they'll finally be free to spend some time on their own. But Sean's mother has a different idea—she hires a babysitter to look after Sean. Paul is in his twenties, and a well-liked guy from church. Paul starts doing things that just feel wrong. Because they've always been as close as brothers, Sean tells Owen, and no one else. What's not certain to Owen is what he should do. Sean warns him not to tell anyone what is happening. But if Owen doesn't tell, could something even worse happen to Sean? This harrowing and sensitively told tale of child abuse is a must-read for anyone who might ever be called upon to help a friend in need. This title has Common Core connections.

This concluding book in bestselling author Tony Abbott’s critically acclaimed middle grade adventure series is a mile-a-minute thrill ride. Perfect for fans of Rick Riordan and Ridley Pearson. “Upon my life, I will.” Across the centuries, every Guardian who has protected one of the twelve relics of the Copernicus legacy has taken this vow. But never have the consequences of the promise been more profound. The secret network of the great astronomer’s spies is the target of an assassination plot, led by the despicable Galina Krause. And now the Kaplans are more alone than ever before as they race from France to Antarctica against a deadly ticking clock. There is not much time left for Wade, Darrell, Lily, and Becca to find the remaining relics and defeat their enemies. But are they willing to risk the life of one of their own in order to save the world?

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Eric has been wounded during an epic battle with Ko and his beasts. Now, the young wizard lies in a coma, trapped in a dream-state halfway between fantasy and reality. Desperate to find a cure, Neal, Julie, and Princess Keeah rush to Samarindo, a beautiful but dangerous city famous for its dark magic. But they are immediately attacked by a group of bandits. Can the friends track down the cure before it's too late?

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Keeah, Julie, and Neal are determined to find a cure for the poison that transformed Eric into the evil Prince Ungast. Their quest takes them to a lost empire deep in the desert, where the mischievous Sand Children are hiding a magical elixir that may hold the secret to Eric's recovery. But the journey is filled with danger, for Gethwing is determined to stop them. And the Moon Dragon has a powerful new henchman at his disposal: Lord Sparr. . .

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Eric and his friends are on a mission! They must uncover the meaning of the treasure of the Orkins: A silver snowflake that cannot melt. Together, the kids travel to the ice fields of northern Droon. But the journey is long and dangerous. The kids' enemies are on their trail, and they'll stop at nothing to get the treasure. . . .

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Oh no! The secret of Droon is a secret no longer. Eric's mother knows about the rainbow staircase . . . and what's worse, so does Gethwing. The Moon Dragon has sent his minions to the Upper World to search for a magical object that could give him power over all of Droon. Now no place is safe from Gethwing's dark magic. . . .

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! A visitor from the future has returned to Droon. Her name is Salamandra, and she is a sorceress -- and an old foe. But Salamandra really seems to want to help Eric and his friends. She shows them a terrifying vision of the future in which Droon's capital has burnt to the ground. The kids will do anything to prevent this vision from becoming a reality. But can Salamandra be trusted? Or are Eric, Julie, Neal, and Keeah playing right into the sorceress's hands?

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! It's a dangerous time in Droon. A mysterious ancient sorcerer has arrived, waking the infamous Warriors of the Skorth and wreaking havoc. He seems to be an expert in the most evil, long-ago magic, and leads Eric and his friends on a treacherous journey to the Dark Lands. But what awaits them there? And what is the mysterious sorcerer really after? Eric hopes that it's not too late to find out -- and stop him.

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Eric, Julie, Neal, and Keeah are on a rescue mission! Galen, Max, King Zello, and Queen Relna are being held prisoner in the forbidding forest of Jabar-Loo, and it's up to the kids to save them. But setting them free is easier said than done. For Jabar-Loo is a place of ancient, unfathomable magic, where even the closest friend can be mistaken for a deadly enemy. . . .

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! There's no place like home! Eric and his friends have finally restored the Rainbow Stairs, but that was the easy part. Now Gethwing is loose in the Upper World, and the Moon Dragon is causing big trouble. Eric, Julie, and Neal have to protect their town, but they're up against mysterious creatures, strangely-behaving parents, and powerful magic. Can the kids stop Gethwing before he destroys the Upper World -- for good?

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Ko's beasts have taken over Doobesh, a dangerous city full of thieves and pirates. Now they're hard at work at the magical forge in the nearby Dark Lands, creating powerful armor that will make them unstoppable. That is, unless Eric and his friends destroy the armor first. The race is on! Can the kids beat the beasts, flatten the forge, and dash out of the Dark Lands in time? On your mark . . . get set . . . GO!

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! The city of Ut is a city of secrets. Mysteriously, it only appears once every one hundred years. And to enter, you need the key, which is kept in the magical bottle of Ut. Eric, Keeah, and the others need to get inside the city to help a friend. The good genie, Hoja, is being held prisoner there, and he needs rescuing! They have discovered the secret of the magic bottle, and so they know they can get inside the city walls. But what they don't know is that Ut holds other secrets. Dark, dangerous secrets. Secrets that involve a certain sorcerer named Sparr...

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! An immortal dragon. A long hidden secret. The kingdom of Droon is at the brink of war. . .The situation in Droon has never been more desperate. The wizard Galen is missing. Eric has been forced undercover with Gethwing, the all-powerful Moon Dragon. And millions of beasts are assembling outside Jaffa City, ready to attack Droon's capital.Eric, Keeah, Neal, and Julie will do whatever it takes to save their beloved kingdom. But to defeat the Moon Dragon, they'll need to uncover the greatest secret in all of Droon. . . .

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Eric, Julie, Neal, Keeah, and all their friends are about to discover one of Droon's biggest secrets, in a Special Edition like we've never seen before! The kids are transported to Droon's past and future and we read the story from their different points of view.

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Cats don't bark. They meow. Or at least they did before Eric used Droonian magic in the Upper World. When he cast a spell with the wand of Urik, everything got messed up - now weird stuff, like barking cats, are all over!Eric and his friends hurry down the magic staircase only to find more trouble. Earthquakes have rocked Droon; and Galen's under a nasty spell. Time for some back-up! The brave Knights of Silversnow could help, but they're in a deep sleep in the Ice Hills. The knights have the power to make things right again, but only if the wand of Urik has the power to wake them up.

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Lord Sparr is back... and meaner than ever! This time, he is in search of the Coiled Viper, an ancient magical object of unknown, incredible power. Princess Keeah and her Upper World friends - Eric, Neal, and Julie - know they have to stop Sparr from uncovering the Viper. But there's one little catch. The Viper can't be found in Droon... because it's hidden somewhere in the Upper World!

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Galen's in trouble! He's disappeared into the evil land of Goll, and it's up to Eric, Julie, Neal, and Keeah to help him. The Wand of Urik is the powerful tool Galen needs. But the Wand's been missing for years. The only way to find it is by studying the powerful words of The Moon Scroll, an ancient chronicle of Droon history. Everyone knows that the Scroll holds mysterious secrets. And following its clues to the Wand of the Urik is sure to be cool. But no one has any idea just how exciting the journey will be - until the Moon Scroll leads them back through time!

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! The sea witch Demither is stirring up a storm in Droon. Keeah has to stop her! This mission could make or break Keeah's wizard training. And Eric, Neal and Julie think they can help their friend. But many surprises await them in Demither's underwater world-and many secrets will be revealed.

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! When Neal's dog Snorky slips into the magical closet, the kids have no choice but send him to Droon. It's a lucky thing they do, though, because a strange thing has just occured in the land of Oobja, an earthquake has uncovered the remains of an ancient Droon city called Tarkoom - and, what's more, the city has started to come back to life!

Filled with pulse-pounding action and cryptic codes, The Golden Vendetta is the third engrossing book in bestselling author Tony Abbott's cloak-and-dagger series for young readers. Fans of Rick Riordan and Ridley Pearson will love this adventurous series. It's been two months since the Kaplan family hunted down the Serpens relic, but when the evil Galina Krause suddenly and violently reappears, Wade, Darrell, Lily, and Becca have no choice but to face her again. Now they must race to find an artifact said to be crafted by Leonardo da Vinci himself—perhaps the strangest Guardian of all. Along the way, they uncover another layer to Galina's sinister endgame . . . and there might not be enough time to stop it. Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts

Travel deeper into the mysterious world of the Copernicus Legacy with the Copernicus Archives: exciting, fast-paced novellas that get you close to the characters and the heart of the adventure. The Copernicus Archives #2: Becca and the Prisoner's Cross is studious language expert Becca's thrilling first-person account of the next stop in the Kaplans' perilous journey. As Becca and her family race through London, it's up to Becca to make sense of the strange time blackouts she's experiencing before the evil Teutonic Order beats them to the next relic. Or worse, hurts the people she loves. Perfect for fans of Rick Riordan and Ridley Pearson, Becca and the Prisoner's Cross continues the thrilling Copernicus Legacy quest and brings one of the characters into the spotlight. Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Somebody has robbed the Lumpies' village! And it can't be Lord Sparr - because he has mysteriously disappeared. The rumor is that a terrible beast is behind the crime. So Eric, Julie and Neal set off with Khan and Princess Keeah to find the creature. Instead they find a big surprise!

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Zoom! It seems like all of Droon is competing in the Quest! And Princess Keeah wants to win the prize, since it might break the magic spell on her mother. But some people aren't playing fair. Can Eric, Neal, and Julie stop the other racers from stealing a victory?

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Eric, Julie, and Neal have a problem. The nasty Lord Sparr has stolen a magic jewel from their friend Princess Keeah. The princess really needs their help. The good news is the jewel is in Lord Sparr's secret palace. The bad news is the secret palace is in a volcano!

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Uh-oh! Neal has a problem. He's turned into a bug-again. Eric and Julie hope someone in Droon can help. Princess Keeah thinks there might be a cure in the City in the Clouds. Too bad the friends only have one day before the city disappears!

The quest for the relics continues. Travel deeper into the mysterious world of the Copernicus Legacy with the Copernicus Archives: exciting, fast-paced novellas that get you close to the characters and the heart of this action & adventure for kids. Wade and the Scorpion’s Claw picks up right where The Copernicus Legacy: The Forbidden Stone left off, with the Kaplan family seeking the next Copernicus relic. Now Wade, the curious, analytical, yet starry-eyed member of the group, leads the chase for another of the ancient relics through the busy streets of San Francisco while on the run from one of Galina Krause’s most treacherous henchmen in a thrilling tale full of puzzles and riddles. Perfect for fans of Rick Riordan and Ridley Pearson, Wade and the Scorpion’s Claw continues the thrilling Copernicus Legacy quest and brings one of the characters into the spotlight. Supports the Common Core State Standards With a ruthless new enemy on his trail and a deadly secret hiding in plain sight, can Wade solve the puzzle before it’s too late? Secret Society Adventure: Wade Kaplan must face off against the treacherous Teutonic Order to protect his family and a powerful secret. Fast-Paced Novella: A quick, thrilling read that drops you right back into the world of the Copernicus Legacy, perfect for fans of the main series. San Francisco Setting: From the crowded airport terminals to the mysterious docks of Sausalito, the chase for the next relic unfolds across the iconic city. Historical Mystery: Uncover clues left behind centuries ago by the great astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus in a high-stakes quest that blends past and present.

Sixth graders Devin and Frankie try to save star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet when they're magically transported into Shakespeare's classic play. When their teacher assigns Devin and Frankie—short for Francine—the lead roles in their class production of Romeo and Juliet, the two best friends aren't thrilled. How are they supposed to say their lines when they don't even sound like they were written in English? Luckily, the library's magic security gates come to their rescue again, and they leap into Shakespeare's famous tragedy. Unfortunately, they land right in the middle of a sword fight between two warring families, the Montagues and the Capulets. When they find out that Romeo Montague has fallen in love with Juliet Capulet, Devin and Frankie decide it's up to them to make sure this unlikely couple lives happily ever after. But can they change the book's tragic end and save the young lovers from their fate? "The message that reading is important and can be fun comes through loud and clear," writes School Library Journal about the Cracked Classics series. "The short chapters make this an ideal read-aloud and a treat for reluctant readers."