Milepost 3

by Kyla Zhao
ISBN: 9780593615867

The clock is ticking for May Li, whose middle-school chess team just earned a victory at the state championship—and with it, a ticket to nationals. What’s even more exciting is that May got an award for being the top female player and a splashy feature in the biggest chess magazine in the country.

May should be thrilled. But some of her teammates, including her supposed-to-be-friend Ralph, aren’t too pleased with the attention she’s getting—and they’re even questioning her skills. Backed into a corner, but not one to back down, May makes a move as bold as any of her chess tactics: She bets Ralph she can win the school’s internal tournament and be chosen as team captain for nationals.

The crown is May’s for the taking . . . except she’s starting to crumble under the weight of everyone’s expectations. Anxious feelings begin to affect her performance and, what’s worse, eat away at her love for the game. Now May is left to wonder: Can you still play for fun when you’re playing to win? 

IPC Personal Learning Goals: Resilient, Ethical, Collaborator

by Rajani LaRocca  
ISBN: 9780063295414 

Though music is outlawed in the land of Devia, Sona hears it everywhere. Sona is a Malech, a member of the ruling class that conquered Devia centuries ago. Malechs forbade music to prevent the native Devans from using their magic, and Sona hides her abilities lest they put her in danger.

Then Sona discovers an orphaned wolf pup. She believes the pup, with its golden ears, might be related to one of the five sacred beasts of Devia, and she vows to keep it safe. That means bringing the pup in tow when Sona embarks on a perilous quest, along with a Devan boy, to secure the nectar of life for a loved one who has fallen gravely ill. On the journey, as Sona uncovers secrets about the Malechian empire and her own identity, she realizes that the fate of the sacred beasts, and the future of Devia, just might come down to her.

IPC Personal Learning Goals: Enquiry, Ethical, Respect

by Ruta Sepetys
ISBN: 9780861549023 

Remember, you are bound by the official secrets act... 

It is the summer of 1940. The world is at war. These days, you don't know who you can trust or who might be a secret spy…

Maths whizz Jakob Novis has been recruited to the secret codebreaking centre at Bletchley Park. As Jakob works to crack the Nazi's Enigma cipher, his younger sister Lizzie is busy on an undercover mission of her own: to find their mother.

Filled with codes to decipher and mysteries to unravel, this is the unputdownable historical adventure that will have you on the edge of your seats.

IPC Personal Learning Goals: Resilient, Collaborator,  Enquiry

by Ruth Chan  
ISBN: 9781250855343

Ruth Chan loves her hometown in Toronto, hanging out with her best friends for life, and snacking on ketchup flavoured potato chips, which are the best. What Ruth doesn't love is having to move to Hong Kong after her dad gets a new job there. Her mom is excited to reunite with her family, but it's not the same for Ruth. In Hong Kong, her classes are harder, her Cantonese isn't good enough, and her parents are never around. Ruth feels lonely and completely uprooted. But as Ruth's dad tells stories about her family, about how they relied on their strength, courage, and each other to survive the most difficult times, Ruth realises that she too can be strong. Gradually, she puts down roots, knowing that home will always be where her heart is. 

IPC Personal Learning Goals: Respect, Empathetic,  Adaptable

by Gayle Forman 
ISBN: 9781420519211 

When troubled twelve-year-old Alex is assigned to spend his summer volunteering at a senior living facility, he forms a unique bond with a Holocaust survivor and learns lessons that change the trajectory of his life. 

IPC Personal Learning Goals: Resilient, Empathetic,  Communication

by Cai Tse
ISBN: 9781665927239

Young Wei dreamed of being a legendary lion dancer just like his dad. With his best friend Hung performing as the tail and Wei controlling the head, he knew they could become the next generation of lion dance champions. But after his dad's sudden passing, Wei abruptly quits lion dancing-and his friendship with Hung.

Years later, Wei is stuck…in life, in school, and on the bench at games. That is, until he crashes a junior lion dance practice and feels his long-sleeping passion wake up within him once more. The team is happy to have another member to carry on the tradition, especially as one as preternaturally talented as Wei. There's just one person who doesn't want him there: the self-proclaimed star, Hung.

As Wei and Hung fight to be considered the top lion dancer, both will have to learn how to face their mistakes head-on and remember what it really means to be part of a team. 

IPC Personal Learning Goals: Collaborator,  Respect

by Ross Montgomery
ISBN: 9781529502909 

"I'm Tom's dog, and he's my human. We belong to each other." Rebel is a good dog, and he loves his simple, perfect life on the farm with his owner Tom - until one day the war comes too close… Now Tom is determined to join the rebellion to defeat the king's men. But Rebel knows war is dangerous, and he will stop at nothing to save the human he loves. Rebel must bring Tom home before it's too late.

IPC Personal Learning Goals: Ethical, Resilient, Adaptable

by Sarah Armstrong  
ISBN: 9781761442049 

Cas thought running away from home would solve all his problems. But he didn’t count on getting hopelessly lost in the tangled Australian bush. Alone and afraid, Cas has given up all hope of rescue when he stumbles upon a strange family hiding out in the wilderness. He won’t survive without their help. But when he discovers they’re also on the run – from something so big, they won’t even talk about it – he realises his problems are just beginning … 

IPC Personal Learning Goals: Resilient, Ethical, Respect

by Silly Barton 
ISBN: 978-1761603563  

One morning, just as Tim was leaving for school, his mom called, "Tim! Tie your shoelaces. Something terrible could happen!" This is the story of the something terrible that did.

Sally Barton weaves a tale of mayhem and mess in this flip-flappin', street-slappin' first installment of the terrible things that happen on Rufus Street.

IPC Personal Learning Goals: Resilient, Enquiry

by Sandy Bigna
ISBN: 9781665985086  

Since the death of her younger brother, eleven-year-old Bones has spent most of her time drawing animal skeletons and foraging for dead things to add to her collection. She’s drifted away from her friends and doesn’t want to make new ones—not even with the sociable non-binary kid, Tenny, who’s moved in next door.

One night, under the light and magic of the full moon, Bones inadvertently brings a baby bird skeleton back to life. The creature doesn’t like its new state of being, so Bones must work out how to reverse her accidental curse.

But over time, Bones grows attached to her skeleton friend and has to decide whether she can let the baby bird go even though she doesn’t want to say goodbye. 

IPC Personal Learning Goals: Resilient, Empathetic,  Ethical

by Aaron Fa'aoso
ISBN: 9781743317099 

Twelve-year old Ezra is an ordinary boy who lives on Saibai, an extraordinary Australian island. He loves a laugh, he loves his family, and - almost more than anything - he loves a dare.

But when one of his dares goes wrong, Ezra realises he needs to make some decisions about helping out and measuring up. He learns that there's more than one way to look at, well, nearly everything.

And as ever-increasing climate disasters threaten Saibai, Ezra and his best mate Mason must draw on their resilience and courage to help the community survive a massive out-of-season storm. 

IPC Personal Learning Goals: Respect, Empathetic,  Ethical

by Karys McEwen
ISBN: 9781922790705  

Twelve-year-old Art and his younger brother Hilary are great friends, best friends.

When they move to Melbourne from a small town in Queensland things seem to be easy for Hilary, who is still in primary school, but Art struggles to fit in, and he’s become a target for school bully Jack. His dad is too busy to give him much attention, but Art has his stepmum, Sally, who is always ready to listen.

And there’s the paperbark tree. Art and Hilary climb into its branches and hold a secret meeting whenever they need to sort things out.

The only problem is Art’s not sure he still wants to be part of the paperbark tree committee. He’s getting older and he thinks he needs to solve his problems on his own. 

IPC Personal Learning Goals: Collaborator, Respect,  Resilient