"Critically Acclaimed" refers to a text or writer who has an established critical reputation. This includes award winning texts as listed below. It does not necessarily mean a best seller.

Those denoted with an * are suitable for Level 1 wide reading only.

Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta
A teenager's search for identity.

Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman
A love story across races that don't mix.

Holes by Louis Sacher *
Wrongly convicted of theft, Stanley is sent to boot camp.

Malcolm and Juliet by Bernard Beckett
Malcolm decides to research teenage sex for his science fair project.

Tu by Patricia Grace
Story of the Maori Battalion soldiers.

Violence 101 by Denis Wright
Thoughts of a violent offender.

Sold by Patricia McCormick
Story of a girl sold into prostitution by her parents.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
A story of racism set in Southern America.

The Colour Purple by Alice Walker
Novel about an abused and uneducated black woman's struggle for empowerment.

I am not Esther by Fleur Beale
Young girl's struggle to conform to her uncle's strict religion.

Mr Pip by Lloyd Jones
Set in Bougainville during its civil war.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel
A ship sinking results in a young boy sharing his life raft with a Bengal tiger.

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
Story of Liesel, a young girl in Nazi Germany, and her book thefts. Narrated by "Death."

Once Were Warriors by Alan Duff
Violence in a Maori whanau.

Blindsight by Maurice GeeA story of loyalty and family ties featuring siblings Alice and Gordon.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
A young girl raped and murdered looks down from heaven at the effect her death has on family and friends.

Juno of Taris by Fleur Beale
Juno lives in an artificial, controlled community. She begins to question the authority in her community.

Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Mogarian
About a young boy evacuated from London during WWII and sent to live with a surly man in the country.

Boy in Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne *
Innocent friendship amid the Holocaust.

For more titles visit your library.