Blood Ties by Garth Nix and Sean Williams

Spirit Animals Book 3. Scholastic, 2014. ISBN 9780545599733.
Highly recommended. The once peaceful land of Erdas is being threatened by the Conquerors. Four young heroes, Conor, Abeke, Meilin and Rollan, have been gifted with a rare and special ability to call forth their own special animal, to help them in their fight against this evil. Unfortunately, the Conquerers have have developed an unnatural away to force animals to bond with humans, making them very powerful.
I really enjoyed this book, even though it was book 3 in a series I had never read, it can easily be read as a stand alone. Though I have to say, after finishing the book I was keen to locate and read the others in the series. I would highly recommend the book to students, especially those with an interest in animals, and adventure.
First we meet Meilin, as she battles her way through an ancient bamboo maze, helped by her spirit animal, a panda called Jhi. Impatient, angry and headstrong, she has left her three spirit animal friends behind, to save her homeland.
We meet the others, as they struggle together through enemy occupied territory, trying to avoid capture. Eventually, they all come together.
The story places the characters in situations where trust and friendships are tested, where self doubts and conflict arise and where eventually the youngsters learn that working together makes them stronger than trying to work alone. It's a great demonstration of young people from different cultures and backgrounds trying to work out their differences for the greater good.
The story culminates in a big battle, with some devastating losses, and finishes with a very touching moment. I don't want to give the ending away, but I'm looking forward to book 4 when it comes out.
Tiffany Boyer