giftactionadventure Reading is not exactly the most active of pastimes, since it’s a bit hard to go running and jumping around when you’ve got your nose in a book. That said, what’s between the pages is often anything but inactive, and the best action books can have you jumping out of your chair with excitement. These books are sure to get your heart pounding without ever having to break a sweat.

HGF The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins

If you haven’t read this already, you’re really missing out. Everyone and anyone should read this tale of one girl’s survival against twenty-three other people her own age out to kill her. This is at the top of many people’s favourite reads lists for good reason, and to date it’s the only book that has kept me up until 3am because I couldn’t put it down.

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9780007326020 Skulduggery Pleasant
Derek Landy

Wise-cracking skeleton detective can do magic. There. You want to read it now, don’t you? It also helps that this phenomenal series contains a great cast of kick-butt characters, gripping action scenes, and more witty banter than you can poke a femur at.

9780670073054 Goliath
Scott Westerfeld

In this Steampunk adventure, two distinct cultures have evolved: the Clankers, who pilot huge mechanical machines, and the Darwinists, who have engineered animals like whales into floating airships. Alek and Deryn come from two countries at war, but are eventually thrown together in an epic adventure set in one of the most original worlds in YA fiction.

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9781405242356 Gone
Michael Grant

Imagine you’re in class one day and your teacher disappears into thin air. You go outside and discover that everyone over the age of fourteen has vanished. The world around you starts to crumble, and once certain kids start developing superpowers, things really start to get bad. This is Lord of the Flies meets the end of the world, and is every bit as thrilling as that sounds.

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9781741664492 The Outcasts: Brotherband #1
John Flanagan

For fans of Ranger’s Apprentice, here’s a new series set in the same world, and a good place for people new to the books to start. When Skandian boys reach a certain age, they begin their Brotherband training where they learn how to handle weapons, sail ships, and work together as a team. Hal and the rest of his underdog squad must team up to beat the bigger, stronger bullies. Full of friendship, laughs and plenty of action.

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holly-pic Holly Harper is a children’s bookseller at Readings Carlton. She also writes books for younger readers under the name H.J. Harper. Find out more about her books here and follow her on twitter - @hj_harper.