Havelock North High School

Top 10 team members

Team members

WLS

10,767 pts

(8,519 pages read)

Sleeping Giants

By Sylvain Neuvel

4 stars

An interesting mixture of mystery and differing desires developed via a series of interviews.
The Book of Nonsense

By Edward Lear

3 stars

From the author of Owl and the Pussycat, 109 limericks.
Invisible Emmie

By Terri Libenson

3 stars

Classic note drop into the wrong hands. But what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, so they say.
Pride & Prejudice

By Laura Wood (retelling)

5 stars

A shorter dyslexia-friendly version of the classic.
Weyward

By Emilia Hart

5 stars

An amazing debut novel following three ancestors and their overlapping experiences as their actions are driven by justice, protective instincts and nature. Although they experience 'the worst of men', it is the women themselves who ought to be feared.
The Other Side of the Wall

By Simon Schwartz

3 stars

Insight into the difficulties of leaving East Berlin: family divisions and poor treatment of suspected traitors.
Look Both Ways: a tale told in ten blocks

By Jason Reynolds

5 stars

I'm seriously thinking of teaching this to Year 9s. Awesome for discussing and exploring 'structure'. A selection of linked stories about schoolkids walking home after school, cleverly incorporating street names as kind of chapter headings. Who knew they could be so realistic, relatable, funny and heart-warming? Deals with good relationships between friends, family and teachers and touches on topics such as: peer pressure, ADHD, bullying, camaraderie, dreams, fear, everyday heroes, Alzheimer's, panic attacks. It's hard to pick a favourite, but probably 'The Low Cuts Strike Again' and 'Call of Duty' stayed with me longest. Good vibes. Youth looking out.
No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference

By Greta Thunberg

3 stars

A collection of her speeches. I liked 'I am too Young to do this' and 'Cathedral Thinking'.
Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation

By Damian Duffy (Adapted by) , Octavia E. Butler , John Jennings (Illustrations)

4 stars

When an ancestor "calls" for your help, you go. Actually, it wasn't a choice and it meant time travel as a Black woman back to the days of slavery. Dressed in trousers and being so well-educated as well as a writer, Dana didn't fit in. She worked hard to establish a better future for fellow slaves on the plantation (by small and large acts) but often heard "I swear you white!" in return. It's a story of loyalty, loss, hardship, broken promises, oppression, punishment, violence, fear, control and decisive actions.
Graceling the Graphic Novel

By Kristin Cashmore and Gareth Hinds

5 stars

Those with the Grace of fighting are used by those in power to do their bidding. They must get their hands dirty but question their actions: "If a monster stops behaving like a monster, does it stop being a monster? Does it become something else?" This story deals with the manipulation by leaders of their followers and the struggle of those with or without Graces to oppose it. Enjoyable worldbuilding and beautiful illustrations. Katsa's thoughts remind me of the thoughts of Teddy Daniels in 'Shutter Island'. Both come to terms with their past actions and decide their best path forward.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

By Maya Angelou

4 stars

I listened to this as I was reading 'The Color Purple': glad the siblings managed to stay together growing up. Aggrieved at the treatment she receives from her mother's boyfriend. Saddened that the central character has been called a "symbolic character for every black girl growing up in America". Pleased that certain relationships with women show a way forward as in Momma, Mrs Flowers and Vivien. A beautiful title. *Didn't know how many pages to put as this was a one-hour audiobook which appeared to be an abridged version of the 300-page book.
Harry Styles The Unofficial Biography

By Ali Cronin

2 stars

Not sure why I picked this up as I don't like reading about celebrities, but I thought students would and I needed to delve into different genres. Published in 2017 it only covers the early stuff and a whole chapter on his past girlfriends...yawn!
Below

By David Hill

3 stars

Shame the cover gives away quite a bit of the plot. It starts well, becomes a little tedious in the middle (as we only have the perspective of those who are trapped) but then it builds tension expertly at the end. It's a survival story about remaining calm, rationing, building routine, fluctuating hope, and a love of the environment be it a forest or a mountain. [**potential spoiler**] A parent said, "You did everything wrong when you went into the tunnel, love. You did everything right after that."
When You Need the Right Words: What to say and how to say it

By New Seasons

2 stars

Categorised short quotes for use on greeting cards. Thought it could be used to get students thinking about how to identify purpose and audience (content, word choice, tone). Within the preface, it reads "...the most important words are not the fanciest--or even necessarily spelled correctly--but are those words that are most heartfelt."
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

By Holly Jackson

4 stars

This book revealed the deteriorating state of my eyesight having to reach for a magnifying glass to read the QAG Extended Project Qualification document which opens this story. I was okay with the production logs, interview transcripts but not so much the email and text transcripts! I enjoyed the pace and puns of this story. PS: I think I preferred 'Five Survive' though.
A Change of Key

By Adrienne Jansen

3 stars

This is a story of various immigrants with the mantra 'Don't tell anyone your past': Stefan, now a piano tuner, left Portugal because of his ex-wife's accusations. Marko, his flatmate with forged immigration papers, left Bulgaria because he may or may not have killed a man. Next door is Haider who left Iraq. Another neighbour is Nada who left Serbia and Phil, the cellist, and ex-high-school-wrestler. Singh is a taxi driver turned police informant who thinks Marko is ex KGB. Veronica is a single mother to Joseph from Sudan. “Once a whisper starts snaking through the corridors, it gathers mass, it becomes a rumour, a question, then an openly spoken phrase, a sentence. A statement in the lift.” Phil quotes the Internet, voicing other concerns - “Proximity without contact is the perfect medium for breeding prejudice.” This novel is about loss, rumour, risk, rent challenges, fellowship, peace, and rebirth.
Starfish

By Lisa Fipps

5 stars

Deals with body image, justifiable parental favouritism, misguided actions, an altered relationship with food, bullies, household arguments, the power of hurtful words, pet loyalty, early accepters, reclaiming what you love, friendships, sibling growth, therapist advice and slow realisations. I'm glad the whale references and symbolism were beginning to be reformed into positivity, but her brat brother has more work to do, and her mum reads like she needs a heart transplant. Ellie's actions are sometimes deplorable but other times have my full support.
Night

By Elie Wiesel

5 stars

I actually listened to an audiobook as I followed the printed words, but I had to pause it numerous times - if you've read it, you'll understand why. So many tales within will shock and sadden readers.
The Art of Walking Upright

By Glenn Colquhoun

3 stars

A nice collection of which I enjoyed 'Tom Kelly's laundry', 'Birdsong', 'The party', 'The trick of standing upright here', 'A problem while translating the Treaty of Waitangi' and 'Waves of settlement'. 'Bred in South Auckland' was already a favourite, discovered prior to reading the anthology.
A Letter To Jo

By Joseph Sieracki

4 stars

Spurred on by a letter written by his grandfather, the author completes his debut graphic novel denoting the struggles of war and the everlasting love of his grandparents' relationship. It provides a short biography to open plus the first page of the original handwritten letter, a typed full version with photographs and sketches at the end. I'm looking to write a unit on letter writing so this could work.
What Kind of Woman

By Kate Baer

4 stars

I enjoyed reading so many of these which were either sad, sweet, funny or enlightening about motherhood, marriage, and female friendships. I laughed at 'What Mothers Say' and 'Bus Stop'.
Iris and Me

By Philippa Werry

3 stars

I had been waiting for an NZ verse novel but don’t think this format necessarily added anything to this particular story. It was interesting to read of Iris’ battles as a single woman of this era but also that she kept so much of her life private (even from her family). Is it strange that the themes include perseverance as well as suicide? Perhaps it reflects the frailty of the mind when under such pressures.
Cuz

By Liz van der Laarse

3 stars

Sure it's a survival story, but less like Hatchet than you think. It's about reconnecting, working together to your strengths, family history, and lifelong learning.
Positively Izzy

By Terri Libenson

3 stars

Great illustrations in two styles to reflect Izzy and Brianna. It's about repercussions, stepping outside your comfort zone, changing friendships, sisterly roles and loyalty. Easy to see how fans of Raina Telgemeier will also like work by Libenson.
Wave

By Paul Dowswell

3 stars

I hadn't heard of the British World War I Pals battalions until this book! There's a kind of author's note at the back of the book. Although it was a successful recruitment drive (allowing men of the same location, workplace, trade or sport to train and fight together) , it meant that when fate hit, they also died together and the local community was devastatingly rocked. The idea was not repeated after the Battle of the Somme. The storyline covers your typical war topics and also includes the canary girls in the factories, rum portions prior to going over the top, body removal by moonlight and bodies stuck on the wire. It deals with: grief, guilt, regret, relief, disbelief, fear, mistrust and loss.
The Lost Art of Doing Nothing: How the Dutch Unwind with Niksen

By Maartje Willems

3 stars

Good discussion about the need and benefits of doing nothing. Incorporates similar ideologies from other countries - how it is known there - quotes and research. Grabbed a couple of interesting connections.
Patu: The New Zealand Wars

By Gavin Bishop

4 stars

In typical Bishop fashion, the open page spread of illustrations and history merge well together. At times, I found myself turning to Google for more information. Interestingly, I came across discrepancies with William Allen's age and fate. I liked following the McKay family history as well. I hadn't realised the British sketches of Pukehinahina pa were used as a model for trench warfare later in World War I.
The Savage Coloniser Book

By Tusiata Avia

4 stars

A brash personal voice. I liked Ma'i maliu (i) and Ma'i maliu (ii), Covid in the time of Primeminiscinda, Ten Eighty and Some Notes for Critics.
Welcome to St. Hell

By Lewis Hancox

3 stars

Reading outside my comfort zone...understanding more.
Pie in the Sky

By Remy Lai

4 stars

An intermediate book. A sad yet funny look at coping with losing a father and immigrating to Australia complete with typical brotherly angst and banter. Apparently how well you are coping can be measured by the weight and number of seashells you carry in your pocket - how sweet that the protagonist doesn't wish to add to his mother's stash. Whilst mum has big brother 'Staying Home Alone for Good Sons Who Listen to Their Mothers' rules, Jingwen has 'Rules for Making Cakes' rules. Expect bullying ("Smell Like Cake"), difficulties fitting in, language barriers ("Martian words"), misinterpretations (such as "SUGAR is sweet and SALT is salty"), loneliness, learning at different paces, guilt, and telling white lies.
Global

By Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin

4 stars

Two adventurous well-intentioned youngsters set off to improve the world: Sami to find his family's lost lucky knife and Yuki (with her rescued dog Locky) to reveal the truth of the grolar. In treacherous conditions in the Bay of Bengal and the arctic wilderness of Northern Canada, respectively, the negative effects of global warming are revealed. It includes themes such as: determination, calm vs panic, loss and change, piracy, disappointment, displacement, disaster, discovery, doing the right thing and symbolic objects.
Cup

By Alison Wong

3 stars

I liked 'Chinese Settlement, Arrowtown' given its historical content. Content draws on places, family and relationships, too.
Project Nought

By Chelsey Furedi

4 stars

Several likeable characters play their part in this sci-fi search-for-the-truth saga. It reminded me a little of 'Helen and the Go-Go Ninjas'.
School Journal Nov 2023: Level 4

By Susan Paris (Ed.)

3 stars

Looking for short texts to highlight punctuation rules. Found one here: 'Diving for Kaimoana' by (student) Jake Pont which sells the W-sentence and correct use of the comma. EG "When we jump into the generally freezing water, it's like a hole into another dimension." I also enjoyed 'Two Places' where I learnt that some families daisy-chain the names of the siblings: Soo-Boon, Boon-Im Im-Kieng, Kieng-Yii. How sweet! The non-fiction 'The Seaweed Invasion' was also quite good.
No Ordinary Sun

By Hone Tuwhare

3 stars
The Little Book of Shakespeare's Insults: The Bard's Best Barbs

By Orange Hippo! (Editor)

3 stars

From the classics "Frailty, thy name is woman!" to "I do desire we may be better strangers" and "Away, you three-inch fool!" Could simply ask students to punctuate the insults for a bit of revision.
I Want My Hat Back

By Jon Klassen

4 stars

Humorous picture book to lift your mood.
One in a Million

By Claire Lordon

5 stars

This is a heartfelt autobiographical graphic novel recalling a difficult time at high school due to medical misfortunes that remained undiagnosed for a long time followed by several surgeries. By revisiting this period of her life, Lordon has captured realistic thoughts of the time: 'Kathryn and I just became friends. Do I tell her the truth? If I do, what will happen? Will she still want to be friends with me? Will she tell everyone? What do I say? [to the question 'what are you doing for spring break?'] Thoughts after visits to the Mayo Clinic: 'I still have more questions than answers.' Thoughts concerning her upcoming operation after informing her teachers of the need for extra time and time off school: 'If I don't have much of a present, what kind of future will I have?' The illustrations are beautiful and the darker depressive mental health pages are pretty strong often shown with attacking or cyclical movements. What a neat front cover!
Unfamiliar Legends of the Stars

By Kate Camp

3 stars

I liked ‘The correspondence school’, 'Fireside occupation', 'Address', and 'Exchange'. One line from the latter created a strong image: ‘At the Post Office I use a pen / chained like a plug / to address my usual gurgle…’
How I Get Ready

By Ashleigh Young

1 stars
Critters of Aotearoa: 50 bizarre but lovable members of our wildlife community

By Nicola Toki

5 stars

Interesting information relayed in one page, so it's manageable for a bit of quick comprehension in the junior school.
Klara and the Sun

By Kazuo Ishiguro

3 stars
An Explanation of Poetry to my Father

By Glenn Colquhoun

3 stars

A poet's contemplation of the shape, sound, meaning, and words which create poetry in order to explain what poetry is. I enjoyed 'The first lesson', 'The shape of words', 'The sound of words', 'The word as a wrapping' and 'In other words'.
Skinny Dip

By Susan Parks & Kate de Goldi (eds)

4 stars

A neat collection of NZ poets writing in different poetic forms on school-related topics familiar to students: from the caretaker, to the sickbay, camp, lessons and class frog! All are categorised into Term 1 through to Term 4 with notes on the various poetic forms and poets at the back of the book.
Between

By Adele Broadbent

2 stars

Definitely pitched at intermediate-aged students. It's a story about secrets, misunderstandings, grudges, high expectations, taunting, and the importance of listening. It's more about camp, crushes, dares and a mad woman than football and paranormal activity.
Lucky Strikes

By Louis Bayard

4 stars

An enjoyable, well-paced, humorous yet sad read following lovable characters and Gus. Some of Mama's advice to Melia: "If'n you don't like the sight of worms, you'd best not turn over any rocks." She drops any notion of looking into Hiram's past. “Funny thing about Hiram. Any little failure he could sweep right out of his head, but success took root like a dandelion, wanted more of itself. He took to reading.” It touches on themes of greed making you mean, opportunity, loyalty, family, community, risk and reward, making ends meet, doing what you gotta do, and perseverance.
The Letterbox Cat & Other Poems

By Paula Green

4 stars

This collection contains lots of different approaches to poetry that students could try to emulate. There are shape poems, those with different rhyme schemes, humour and poems where the words are laid out adding another layer of meaning to the topic/message. I love Myles Lawford's illustrations to Green's poems. I liked the following: The Rainbow, Kite, The Fantail, Cat Naps, The Letterbox Cat, This Poem, Sand, When I Am Cold, Fire, Anifables, and Faces.

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