Graffiti by Dirk Strasser

This small novel is set in Melbourne, Australia and is all about Steven, who comes to the city by train to see his orthodontist. New to the streets of Melbourne, he becomes disorientated and finds himself encircled by a gang of youths who are quick to see that he is lost. Steven then finds himself enmeshed in some kind of fantasy world, wherein graffiti artists have been abducted into a strange world which exists on the other side of the walls around the city. They can  only be rescued by reaching in through their individual tags which embellish the walls and which only disorientated people have the ability to see. Author, Dirk Strasser has written many novels for teenage students and is well-known for his fantasy novels  Zenith and Equinox which have been published in both Australia and Germany.

Lucky Star by Cathy Cassidy

"Don't judge a book by its cover." Now in regards to this particular book this is pretty good advice. I own a copy with this first cover and to me it doesn't look like it would attract too many male readers. The cover below this one might. The book is all about high school student Mouse, a budding graffiti artist, who likes to take a few risks every now and again and is not afraid of what people might think of him. However, he soon learns that some of the risks that he takes have such traumatic consequences that could change his life forever. One of the messages in the novel is about respect and the idea that it has to be earned and not bought or demanded. It also examines the importance of friendships and relationships. If you enjoyed our class novel Driftwood, then I think you would enjoy this one too. For more information about the author check out her website: http://www.cathycassidy.com/