Reader's Advisory Introduction

Bryony Walters
These books are all tales of adventure, with strong female protagonists, for girls from 13-16. They have themes of independence, and being strong willed, making your own fate, and not letting other people control the way you live. There is a range of different types of adventures, and characters, such as sailing the high seas, Ancient Greek legends, a Native American girl, a girl from an alternate universe, one from a possible future, another from a dystopian future, and one from a mediaeval fantasy land of knights and magic.

Bloody Jack

Citation:
Meyer, Louise, A. Bloody Jack: being an account of the curious adventures of Mary 'Jacky' Faber, Ship's Boy, Boston : Harcourt, 2002.

 

Annotation:

This fast-paced historical fiction novel follows a spirited teenager, who decides to change her fate of begging and stealing, and becomes a ship’s boy, hunting pirates. It is set in the 18^th Century and is descripting and engaging, as she struggles to maintain “The Deception”, while having countless adventures, including surviving being a castaway, and a romance with another Ship’s boy. This is the first book in the action-packed Bloody Jack Adventures series, starring a brave and compelling character.

Links:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/295649.Bloody_Jack

 

Antigoddess

Citation:
Blake, Kendare. Antigoddess, London : Orchard, 2013.

Annotation:
This action packed urban fantasy is the first in the series "Goddess War", which reimagines Greek mythology in an original and intriguing way. No longer immortal, Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war desperately needs to find Cassandra, a teenage girl who can see into the future. However, her gift may be running out, and the gods are all dying, except for Apollo, who has been masquerading as Aiden, Cassandra’s boyfriend. This thrilling supernatural novel deals with contemporary issues of climate change and pollution, as Demeter, the goddess of agriculture is sinking into the desert, and Poseidon, the god of the sea is dying from ocean pollution.

Links:
http://kendareblake.com/books/goddess-war-series/antigoddess/

Alanna: The First Adventure

Citation:

Pierce, Tamora. Alanna: the first adventure, New York, New York: Scholastic, 2013, first published in 1983.
 

Annotation:
Tamora Pierce's novel; Alanna: the first adventure, is the first in the fantasy series “Song of a Lioness.” Alanna is determined not to let the sexist laws of her kingdom, the mediaeval land of Tortall, get in the way of her dream to be a knight, and protect her people. She pretends to be her brother, and sets out to train at the castle. There she meets Prince Jonathan of Conte and George Cooper, King of Thieves. She may be small, but she becomes a great sword fighter through sheer strength of will, and becomes a hero in her own right.

Links:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13831.Alanna

Graceling

Citation:
Cashore, Kristin. Graceling, London : Gollancz, 2008.

Annotation:
Graceling, by Kristin Cashore is an innovative fantasy adventure book, the first in the Seven Kingdoms series, which takes place in the kingdom of Monsea, where a select few are born with a Grace, a magical gift, that enhances a special skill. The book deals with the destruction that can come with such power, as Katsa is forced to use her own Grace to kill for the despotic king with the power to control minds. She meets the enigmatic Po, the Prince of Lienid, and together they set out to rebel against the King’s unjust reign, and Katsa comes to terms with her own horrific Grace.

Links:
http://www.gracelingrealm.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3236307-graceling

The Hunger Games

Citation:

Collins, Suzanne. The hunger games, London : Scholastic, 2009.

 

Annotation:
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins is a bleak dystopian novel which follows Katniss Everdeen as she fights for her life in the brutal and sadistic games where children are forced to kill each other by the oppressive government for the entertainment of the Capitol, and to keep the poorer citizens in line. This action-packed book deals with the emotional consequences of violence, as well as resistance in the face of inequality, and the power of love and human connection. This heroine is both strong, and brittle, her complexities making her a compelling character.

Links:
http://www.thehungergames.co.uk/
https://www.amazon.com/Hunger-Games-Book/dp/0439023483

Tomb Raider

Citation:

Tamaki, Mariko et al. Tomb raider. vol. 1, spore, Milwaukie: OR Dark Horse Books, 2016.

 

Annotation:

This suspenseful graphic novel has Lara Croft searching for a mushroom that will grant immortality, but first, she will have to face the Knights of the Spore, who want to keep the power for themselves. Lara Croft is an interesting character, refreshingly prickly, and pragmatic, with a tenacity that is unparalleled. With bright and dynamic artwork, this is a fast-paced and thrilling start to a saga.

Links:
https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-5067-0010-6
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28439652-tomb-raider-vol-1

 

 

 

Nobody's Princess

Citation:

Friesner, Esther M. Nobody's princess, New York : Random House, 2007.

 

Annotation:

This exciting novel reimagines the infamous myth of Helen of Troy, as a young girl frustrated by the confines of being a woman. She disguises herself as a boy, and learns to fight, hunt and ride horses, preparing her for an epic adventure, where she meets Atalanta, a fierce female warrior, visits the Oracle at Delphi, and embarks on a quest for the Golden Fleece with Jason of the Argonauts. The novel goes beyond the face that could launch a thousand ships, and creates a strong and inspiring heroine.

Links:
https://www.teenreads.com/reviews/nobodys-princess

 

 

 

The Sacrifice

Citation:

Matcheck, Diane. The sacrifice, New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1998.

 

Annotation:
This bittersweet Western adventure is set in the 18^th century, centring on a Native American girl “Weak-one-who-does-not-last”, so named because of a prophecy concerning her and her twin. It was foretold that one of them would die, and one would be the Great One. When her brother dies, she is cast out, and she must prove to them that she is meant to be the Great one, as she sets out to avenge her father. When she is captured by the Pawnee, she realises she still has a lot to learn.

Links:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1123460.The_Sacrifice

The Golden Compass

Citation:

Pullman, Philip. The golden compass, New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1996.

 

Annotation:
This compelling and richly detailed classic explores Lyra Belacqua’s alternate universe of armoured polar bears, shape-shifting daemons, and a truth-telling device, as she unravels the mystery of Dust, and what happened to her friend Roger, as the kidnapping Gobblers become more than just a story. The witches begin to gather and reports of disturbing experiments bring her further and further north, while her uncle, Lord Asriel is conducting experiments of his own, which may change not just her world, but every alternate universe, forever.

Links:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/119322.The_Golden_Compass

Take Back the Skies

 

Citation: Saxon, Lucy. Take back the skies, London: Bloomsbury, 2014.

Annotation:

This fast-paced novel follows Cat Hunter, a wealthy girl with a cruel and controlling father, as she flees an arranged marriage, dressed as a boy, and discovers that the government has been lying to her. If their country is no long at war, why do they keep taking children when they turn 13? This suspenseful steampunk novel has it all; adventure, mystery and romance in a fascinating world.

Links:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18594501-take-back-the-skies