Best Reads
Suggested by staff of Cork City Libraries.
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne 
Bruno is a nine-year-old boy growing up in Berlin during World War II. He lives in a five-storey house with his family and servants. His father wears a fancy uniform, is promoted to commander and the family move to Out-With. When Bruno gets there he is immediately homesick. His new home is smaller, full of soldiers and there is no one to play with. From his bedroom window, however, he notices a town of people dressed in striped pyjamas separated from him by a wire fence. Bruno is forbidden to explore but one day, he follows the wire fence cordoning off the area where these people live from his house. He meets a Jewish boy called Shmuel. Almost every day, they meet at the same spot and talk. Eventually, for a variety of reasons, Bruno decides to climb under the fence and explore Shmuel's world.
Other suggested readings by Central Library.
Sabriel by Gareth Nix
Sabriel is packed with adventure and contains all the ingredients for an exciting thriller: magic, evil sorcerers, humour, deceit and betrayal. Sabriel is the daughter of the Mage Abhorsen and has lived outside the walls of the Old Kingdom all her life. However when her father goes missing, Sabriel is hurled into the supernatural world. Evil manifests itself in the form of corrupted sorcerer's and magical flying machines. This tale follows the enthralling and compelling journey of a young girl desperate to find her father.
Other suggested reading from Bishopstown Library.
Angus, Thongs and Full-frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson by Louise Rennison. 
Brilliantly funny, teenage angst author Louise Rennison's first book about the confessions of crazy but lovable Georgia Nicolson.
Other suggested readings from Douglas Library.
Darkhenge by Catherine Fisher
Rob’s sister Chloe lies in a coma after a riding accident, trapped in a forest of dreams between life and death. But when a dark druid shape shifts his way into Rob’s life, despair turns to hope. Because the druid knows the way through the Unworld , where he claims Chloe is imprisoned. Could the ominous black ring of timbers slowly emerging from a secret archaeological dig hold the key to rescuing her?
Other suggested readings from Hollyhill Library.
The City of Ember by Joanne DuPrau
Darkness is spreading like a contagion in the underground city of Ember as its worn-out electrical system grinds down. Its empty stores no longer supply replacements for the light bulbs that blow out. As food and resources dwindle, Lina and Doon begin to suspect the existence of a world beyond Ember. Salvation for Ember lies in the cavernous outer darkness but will the intrepid pair be brave enough to try it?
Other suggested readings from Mayfield Library.
Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo
Heroism or Cowardice? Private Peaceful charts the childhood of Thomas Peaceful in the early years of the 20th century and his eventual underage enlistment in the British Army. Not for the faint-hearted, this challenging tale asks, “What really is war is all about?”
Other suggested readings from St Mary's Road Library.
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld 
This book centres around a girl named Tally who is about to turn sixteen. But in Tally's world, anyone who is normal is ugly. Once turning sixteen, anyone of anybody, can have an operation that turns them into being an attractive pretty. Shay, a new friend of Tally's isn't so sure about being an attractive pretty but would rather be an ugly instead. So now Tally has to choose, to either find Shay after her running away and turning her in to authorities or to never turn pretty at all. With extreme makeover shows such as “The Swan” the world of Tally is not too far-fetched.
Other suggested readings from Tory Top Library.