The Ability by MM Vaughan

The Ability by M.M. Vaughan and illustrated by Iacopo Bruno

No one has any confidence in twelve-year-old Christopher Lane. His teachers discount him as a liar and a thief, and his mom doesn’t have the energy to deal with him. But a mysterious visit from the Ministry of Education indicates that Chris might have some potential after all: He is invited to attend the prestigious Myers Holt Academy. When Christopher begins at his new school, he is astounded at what he can do. It seems that age twelve is a special time for the human brain, which is capable of remarkable feats—as… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Death of a father during military service
  • Death of a child
  • Kidnapping
  • Loss of autonomy (mind control)
  • Animal injury

Abel by Katee Robert

Abel by Katee Robert

Eight years ago, my family was betrayed by those closest to us. Now we’re back in Sabine Valley, staging our return during the feast of Lammas, where I step into the ring and ensure we’re given what we’re owed. Who we’re owed. Our enemies send their seven best warriors against me. With each victory, I win a Bride for each of my brothers. And for me? I’m saving the best for last. My Bride is Harlow, the woman claimed by the man I used to call friend—the one responsible for our exile. Eli. And if Eli has a problem with it? Well, then I’ll take him as my Bride, too. All the better to enact my revenge…and bring Sabine Valley to its knees.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Child abuse recounted
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Injury requiring surgery (gunshot wound)
  • Death of a mother from cancer mentioned
  • Murder of a father recounted
  • Gun violence
  • Mass death in an arson fire mentioned

A Good Night for Shooting Zombies by Jaco Jacobs

A Good Night for Shooting Zombies by Jaco Jacobs

Martin’s life changes the day his dad is killed in a car accident. No one talks about it, his mum refuses to leave the house, and his only consolation through the sleepless nights is solving difficult maths problems. Until he forms an unlikely friendship with his neighbour Vusi who dreams of making a zombie movie. The two are plunged head first into a wild adventure, pulling everyone they know along with them.Martin’s life changes the day his dad is killed in a car

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Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a father in a car accident
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The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Yoko Tanaka

What if? Why not? Could it be? When a fortuneteller’s tent appears in the market square of the city of Baltese, orphan Peter Augustus Duchene knows the questions that he needs to ask: Does his sister still live? And if so, how can he find her? The fortuneteller’s mysterious answer (an elephant! An elephant will lead him there!) sets off a chain of events so remarkable, so impossible, that you will hardly dare to believe it’s true.

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Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Physical injury
  • Death of a mother in childbirth recounted
  • Death of a father during military service recounted
  • Explosion mentioned
  • Animal illness & injury
  • Animal attack
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Impossible Causes by Julie Mayhew

Impossible Causes by Julie Mayhew

For six months every year, Lark Island is fogged in, its occupants cut off completely from the mainland. The community is small, tight-knit, and deeply religious. Lark seems like a good place for 16-year-old Viola Kendrick and her mother to be alone as they mourn Viola’s father and brother, both killed in a tragic accident. But the islanders are hiding dark secrets. As the winter fog sets in, Viola gets to know the Eldest Girls—the only three teenagers on Lark—and begins to learn about the island’s twisted history, including an old story of a young girl, whose death the… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Death of a father recounted
  • Murder
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Broken Pride by Erin Hunter

Broken Pride by Erin Hunter

A lion cast out from his tribe. An elephant who can read the bones of the dead. A baboon rebelling against his destiny. For generations, the animals of the African plains have followed a single rule: only kill to survive. But when an unthinkable act of betrayal shatters the peace, the fragile balance between predators and prey will rest in the paws of three unlikely heroes.

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Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Death of a father
  • Murder
  • Animal death & dead bodies
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The Tiger Mom’s Tale by Lyn Liao Butler

The Tiger Mom’s Tale by Lyn Liao Butler

Lexa Thomas has never quite fit in. Having grown up in a family of blondes while more closely resembling Constance Wu, she’s neither white enough nor Asian enough. Visiting her father in Taiwan as a child, Lexa thought she’d finally found a place where she belonged. But that was years ago, and even there, some never truly considered her to be Taiwanese. Lexa Thomas has never quite fit in. Having grown up in a family of blondes while more closely resembling Constance Wu, she’s neither white enough nor Asian enough. Visiting her father in Taiwan as a child, Lexa thought… Read more.

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Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Racism
  • Car accident
  • Death of a father
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The Matchbreaker Summer by Annie Rains

The Matchbreaker Summer by Annie Rains

Sixteen-year-old Paisley Manning has been attending Camp Seabrook since she was a little girl, when her parents ran it together. For the last few years, since her father’s death, she’s been the one helping her mom run the camp behind the scenes. This year, however, will be Camp Seabrook’s last hurrah because Paisley’s mom has met a guy online and they’re getting married. Sixteen-year-old Paisley Manning has been attending Camp Seabrook since she was a little girl, when her parents ran it together. For the last few years, since her father’s death, she’s been the one helping… Read more.

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Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a father
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The Company of Fiends by Kathryn Moon

The Company of Fiends by Kathryn Moon

After eight years on the stage with The Company of Fiends, the glow of the spotlight is starting to wear thin for Hazel Nix. The theatre is perfect for a girl like her—one with a secret she keeps even from her more monstrous peers—but playing pretend is only exciting for so long. After so many lovers, on stage and otherwise, Hazel has yet to make a lasting connection with anyone and considers taking her last bow at the company. Just as Hazel encounters a new and intriguing patron, disaster strikes the theatre. Girls are going missing… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Slavery
  • Human trafficking mentioned
  • Parental abandonment recounted
  • Child abuse recounted
  • Attempted sexual assault
  • Involuntary body modifications recounted
  • Cannibalism mentioned
  • Death of a father recounted
  • Murder
  • Torture, off-page
  • Strangulation
  • Home invasion
  • Physical assault (mugging)
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How to Spell Catastrophe by Fiona Wood

How to Spell Catastrophe by Fiona Wood

Nell McPherson is a catastrophe expert, but nothing has prepared her for the impending catastrophe of her mum’s plans to merge families with boyfriend, Ted and his annoying daughter, Amelia. As if that’s not dire enough, grade six is turning into an emotional obstacle course as Nell moves away from her old spelling bee friends and into some rule-bending with new girl, Plum. When Nell decides to tackle the biggest catastrophe of them all, climate change, and campaigns for grade six to attend the School Strike 4 Climate, old friends and new will come together, and along the… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Death of a father recounted
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