Books published by publisher Story Trade Publishing Company

Finalist, 2015 INDIEFAB Book of the Year AwardKirkus Best Teen Books of 2015Kirkus Best International Teen Books of 2015Kirkus Best Teen Books of 2015 for an Adrenaline RushShortlisted, 2015 Prime Minister's Literary Award for Best YAShortlisted, 2015 Aurealis Award for Best YAShortlisted, 2015 Davitt Award for Best YAA 2015 CBCA Notable Book for Older ReadersLonglisted, 2015 Gold Inky Award'This is a taut, expertly crafted thriller, but it is also a devastating examination of grief, both the initial, acute pain of loss and the well-worn paths of years of sorrow.'—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books'A fiercely realized teen uses astrological skills to solve a heartbreaking mystery [Lim’s] taut, assured thriller weaves together astrology and mythology, poetry and poverty, and several generations of mothers whose love can’t protect their children from humanity’s ugliest tendencies. Teen and adult readers who like their mysteries gritty and literary, with a touch of magic: seek this one out.'—Kirkus [starred review]'Elegantly written...Weaving the past and the present seamlessly, the book feels realistic, even as Lim straddles reality and superstition. . . . A grim, often terrifying story, this mystery will keep readers guessing until the end.'——School Library Journal‘A complex and engrossing amalgam of suspense, relationships, and hope found and lost. Lim’s (Mercy, 2011) narrative is seamless, and readers will eagerly and quickly sympathize with the characters, while the fascinating glimpse into the world of astrology and charting adds another layer of interest. This has great potential as an intergenerational reading club selection, and the story’s ambiguous ending offers plenty of opportunities for discussion.’——Booklist Online"Smart and original—a beautifully written mash-up of mystery, thriller, and love story."—Vikki Wakefield, author of Friday Never Leaving"Compulsively readable. Avicenna is a captivating hero. . . . This gritty and mysterious love story will stay with me for a long time."—Cath Crowley, author of Graffiti MoonPraise for Rebecca Lim's Mercy series:"A modern-day Quantum Leap for the teen set (but with angels): well-rounded characters, including a particularly strong heroine; beautifully written prose; and a dark and twisting plot that kept me guessing until the very end."—Laurie Faria Stolarz, author of the Blue Is for Nightmares series"Subtly beautiful and utterly intriguing, Rebecca Lim's Mercy series brims with mystery and romance that pulls readers through the veil between worlds real and mythical."—Andrea Cremer, author of NightshadeAvicenna Crowe's mother is missing.The police suspect foul play. Joanne is an astrologer, predicting strangers' futures from their star charts. Maybe one of her clients had a bad reading?But Avicenna has inherited the gift. Armed with Joanne's journal, she begins her own investigation that leads into the city's dark underworld. The clock is ticking, and as each clue unravels Avicenna finds her life ever more in danger.The Astrologer's Daughter is a gripping, powerful mystery.Rebecca Lim lives in Melbourne. She worked as an attorney before leaving to write full time. Rebecca is the author of ten other books for children and young adult readers. Her Mercy series is published in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, Germany, and Brazil.

The last time William Shakespeare and Virginia went missing Cassie found them sitting on a coiled hose behind the fire station, and Dad called her 'Cassie Andersen, Peacock Detective'. So this time she knows what to do - she'll look for clues and track them down. But the clues lead her in an unexpected direction and Cassie finds herself investigating a confusing mystery about her family. The Peacock Detectives is a warm and engaging story for middle-grade readers about dealing with change and finding out who you are.

Finn and Kas are surviving on the coast―more than surviving: they’re enjoying the surf, the summer and being together. And now, the lights of Wentworth mean life could soon be back to normal. Finn is cautiously optimistic, but Kas knows she can never escape her status as a refugee, and that a return to slavery is a very real possibility. She’s nervous. And it turns out she’s right to be. When Kas is captured and taken inside the fences, Finn faces his greatest challenge yet. Taut and compelling―an exceptional conclusion to the Wilder Trilogy for teens, about resilience and self-reliance.

"There is nothing trivial about Meltzers fascinating facts. Full of interesting insights and quirky questions, this book goes beyond oft-discussed presidential trivia and exposes the reader to the stories that define our nations chief executives as individuals. 'So You Think You Know the Presidents' is a great reference guide for students and avid history buffs alike."

Owen is a ten-year old boy who has just moved to a new town and left behind his best friend and everything familiar to him. Unable to face unpacking his room, Owen decides to explore the woods behind his new home. He is stunned to discover a dragon named Phineas. Owen soon gains the dragons trust and learns that Phineas has lost the ability to fly. As he struggles to find a way for the dragon to return home, Owen learns friendship can be found in unexpected places.

Behind enemy lines, Jedi Knight Aayla Secura's covert mission is threatened by an encounter with Shon-Ju-a former Padawan turned cult leader. Shon-Ju claims to be after the same Separatist warlord that Aayla was sent to capture, but he also has plenty of reasons to hate the Republic and the Jedi. The Force is with Aayla, but she may need more than her lightsaber against The Deadly Hands of Shon-JuA"!

'Burton's descriptions of his anxiety and depression are tangibly poignant, giving authentic voice to those struggling with similar issues. His tone morphs fluidly from compulsively funny to devastating from one moment to the next, and his uproarious wit shines throughout. A heartfelt, accessible book that strives to break down the stigmas surrounding mental illness with remarkable humor and honesty.'—KirkusWinner of the 2014 Text Prize for Young Adult and Children's Writing‘Delivers some devastating truth bombs. Sexuality is hard. Identity is hard. Love is hard. School is hard This book shines a much-needed light back through the tunnel. It is a call-out to teenagers still struggling to find their way.’—Books + PublishingA funny, sad and serious memoir, this is David Burton’s story of his turbulent life at high school and beyond. Feeling out of place and convinced he’s not normal, David has a rocky start. He longs to have a girlfriend, but his first ‘date’ is a disaster. The same debilitating anxiety cripples his encounters with boys.He carefully constructs an outgoing identity—an extroverted, adventurous character, for whom everything is fine. But everything is not fine. At the center of it all, trying desperately to work it all out, is the real David.How to Be Happy tackles depression, friendship, sexual identity, suicide, academic pressure, love and adolescent confusion. It’s a brave and honest account of one young man’s search for a happy, true and meaningful life.David Burton is a writer from Brisbane, now based in Sydney, best known for his theatre work. A speaker and presenter in school across Queensland, David is passionate about finding ways to open dialogue about the challenges faced by teens including sexual identity, depression and family life.

With so many Jedi Generals occupied with the Clone Wars, routine assignments are falling to Jedi in training like masterless Padawan Nuru Kungurama. Accompanied by a hulking swoop biker named Gizz, Nuru's job begins as a protection detail but soon evolves to include a mystery massacre, the hijacking of a space freighter, and the kidnapping of a group of orphaned younglings.