Havelock North High School

16,367 pages read and 2,858 team points

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10,034 pts

(7,242 pages read)

This Book Kills

By Ravena Guron

0 stars

Just started...
Amazing Tales of Aotearoa

By Glenn Colquhoun

4 stars

"Stories and gods are almost the same thing" says Glenn Colquhoun. I love how all the stories are centred around the sisters Hareata and Brianne who live on an island where everyone is related. Funny how the stories are often shared as they complete chores! Amongst the stories is a comic strip and a predominantly lyrical story, too.
Hine and the Tohunga Portal

By Ataria Sharman

5 stars

This seems suited to the Y8-Y9 age group. Any new Māori vocabulary can be worked out using context (or clarified using Te Aka Māori Dictionary). It isn't onerous for those who are not fluent in te reo Māori. Set in a parallel universe through a portal full of mākutu and matakite, Hine and Hōhepa, with the help of many forest dwellers, defy Kae (the shapeshifter) and his goal to rule both worlds. Whilst my favourite character was Nohinohi, closely followed by Ngaro, Poutūterangi also stood out with her subtle yet strong appearances. The recurring instances of green mist, green light and pounamu contrasted well with Kae's black in this good vs evil plot. It's a story about the corruption of power-seekers, burden of falling foul of trickery/betrayal, discovery of family, strength of sibling loyalty, magic/strength of culture/whakapapa, unlikely friendships and sacrifice for the common good.
101 Ways to Find Calm

By Rebekah Ballagh

5 stars

Lots of these tools were either postures from a yin yoga class, or activities which had been incorporated into my school's Encompass well-being classes. I'm going to use 'Letting Go' to help me sort my study which has become a dumping ground for school papers (I probably don't need). I'm going to use the '5, 5 or 5 Tool' as advice to a student who is self aware that they procrastinate. I may use the 'Bias' activity to explain negativity bias and confirmation bias. I learned about binaural beats...and tried it for 30 minutes. However, I still love listening to Marnie and Patrick Laird - the Brooklyn Duo (a pianist and cellist). And that's okay because that's 'Mindful Music'. I plan to use some of these as unfamiliar texts because they are a quick read, but contain techniques such as imperatives, similes, and personal pronouns.
The Choice

By Nicholas Sparks

3 stars

This booklet seems to be simply chapter one of the full book. It's the meet-cute between neighbours Travis Parker and Gabby Holland which came about due to their dogs' apparent interlude. Gabby thinks Moby impregnated Molly and she isn't happy!
All That We Know

By Shilo Kino

5 stars

This is a contemporary text with strong views about Māori and Pakeha past and present actions concerning colonisation's effect: tokenism, appropriation, shame, to name a few. Māreikura doesn't drink and says, "I'm decolonising my whakapapa." The narrative manages to incorporate te reo Māori (as you'd expect) and unpacks meaning without seeming like a dictionary. It's super humorous with jokes featuring the likes of Scotty Morrison.
Kill Joy

By Holly Jackson

3 stars

A murder-mystery evening amongst friends ends too simply for the main character. This would probably have been better read as a book rather than an audiobook.
Arch-conspirator

By Veronica Roth

4 stars

Time and time again, when one's rule is threatened, it never ends well. This re-telling of Antigone's stubborn loyalty to her brother, Polyneices - fulfilling his wish, even though it meant her own death - removes the suicides. (So maybe teachers can teach this text). The themes of civil disobedience, morality, loyalty, authority, and gender are still here and the ending is still sad once all the consequences of her action play out.
School Journal - August 2015 (Level 3)

By Various

4 stars

Looking for short extracts to set up reciprocal reading groupwork with Year 9s. Enjoyed 'Clowning Around' by Wayne Erb about the clown doctors, 'The Leather Satchel' by Emma Martin about second child syndrome - being jealous - until she has to give up her education and dream for a job in order to earn money to help the family, and 'Boost' by Eirlys Hunter about well-to-do students taking a shortcut to improve their appearance or brain via 'upgrades' instead of working hard for them. It all comes at the cost of losing their creativity.
Caged

By Susan Brocker

4 stars

Likeable main character, Sam, partners with Niko, Aunt Ruby, some other characters and Cherry Bomb to put things right in a daring rescue. The storyline deals with poverty, shame, animal cruelty, meth, vapes, protection, choices, care, responsibility and family. A good pace with short chapters which ought to appeal to young readers who love animals.
Pronounce Maori With Confidence

By Hoani Niwa

3 stars

Good reminder of commonly mispronounced words and frequently used words.
Violet Black

By Eileen Merriman

4 stars

The dystopian world building is established with slightly altered terms such as M-fever, Zuber, and travellators and is maintained with references to the effects of global warming with weather and crop differences. "I...scoop my own snow and roll it into my first-ever snowball. There's never any snow in Auckland, or anywhere in the North Island for that matter, not for at least the past ten years." Ethan describes a "perfectly spherical orange object with dimpled skin" and stares at it concluding that it is genetically engineered since "the Citrus Blight ravaged all our limes, lemons and oranges five years ago." Certain characters are telepathic with the power to share speech, images, memories, predictions and colour hues. The authorities who care and train them, however, manage to block such capabilities. I got Potteresque petronas vibes when each Vortex survivor took on a particular bird during their outer body experiences. The unconfirmed details of Ethan's left-handed sidekick Rawiri and their VirtReal game Eternity is enough to make you want to read the next book in the trilogy, not to mention the mess Black Wolf's got himself into and the reference to Asclepius. It deals with opposing perspectives, epidemics, vaccination, healing, manipulation, surveillance and monitoring, terrorism, betrayal, lies, loss, imprisonment, trust and unity/identity.
Like Trees, Walking

By Ravi Howard

5 stars

Based on a true story, this is descriptive, funny, sad, and raw. It highlights the South dealing with racism, death, police, blame, dreams of escape, religion, family obligations, legacy and slow change. The main character comes from a long line of funeral directors and so every loss in Mobile, Alabama is known to them first and the bodies treated with reverence. Whenever the phone rang, it was a death knell. It's a reminder that the repercussions and aftermath of murder are drawn out and run deep.
Des Hunt

By Phantom of Terawhiti

4 stars

Living off the beaten track whilst his dad researches and writes a book results in new friendships for Zac. Ever observant, Zac finds an interesting item amongst the debris from a marine wreck. With fairly astute tracking skills he locates and protects what he finds whilst doing his best to avoid unwarranted attention. Deals with karma, protective instincts, consequences, criminal opportunists, media interest, riding on the coattails of someone else's fame, and 'every good turn deserves another'.
I'm Still Here Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness

By Austin Channing Brown

4 stars

I started reading this last year (and didn't count those 58 pages) but kept wanting to take note of what I'd read. Although it's about the African American perspective, it could apply to many minorities (not in the exact same way, of course). The author unpacks 'diversity' (which often simply 'adds people of color like sprinkles on top. The cake is still vanilla') and 'reconciliation' and comes to terms with 'anger' concluding that 'racism never went away; it just evolved'.
Cry of the Taniwha

By Des Hunt

5 stars

This opens with aplomb as you follow the thief on his short-lived escapade and then you are introduced to Matt who doesn't like the prospect of his school holidays being spent in Rotorua until he befriends Jackson and Eve. The storyline references the pink and white terraces and some scientific information on how the land changes given the mud pools and geysers in the area. Matt is a detectorist excited by the prospect of finding something valuable until others take an interest in him. It covers choices, gang influence, honesty as the best policy, and the thrill of the find.
13 Reasons Why

By Jay Asher

3 stars

I liked the structure applied through the tape narratives and Clay. I like that all characters (even the one held up on a perfect pedestal) were interpreted as flawed or imperfect in some way - some were super terrible like being a bystander to a rape, not reporting a stop sign issue. But, the tension at the end just left me pondering...no one stopped her so she was "right" to take that journey and "move on"? She was "on her way out" so she may as well submit or succumb to the rumours about her? She asked Clay to leave and he did as she wanted - geez, what an arse? She couldn't comprehend her parents finding her swinging, but pills are okay? Are these the messages to take away? I was thankful for the hopeful callout to Skye to end, but is that enough of a "lift" for such a dark topic, especially given the age of the target audience? ?
Presto!

By Paul Tobin

2 stars

Neat illustrations. Cool switchable attire from burglar to civilian. Neat entry to home base. Loyal ballerina comrades who run interference at the drop of a hat. Bandette herself seems conflicted. She is a burglar who keeps some of the stolen goods to herself. She illustrates 'honesty among thieves' (after the fact). She thanks her comrades for their help. She teases Daniel. She is kind to cats and dogs. She is a thorn in Belgique's side but is willing to give him tips on FINIS.
Cold

By Mariko Tamaki

4 stars

"Todd knew, when he was alive, that a person is never just one person. There's a the person you are in front of people, and the person you are when you are alone." Georgia leans into the oddness of the death of Todd a boy from the neighbouring all boys' school where her brother goes. She hates her mother's children's books based (inaccurately) on her childhood. And she's perplexed but happy in the abrupt change of circumstances which makes Carrie her best friend despite Shirley - the ex-best friend - who seems really shallow.
Awatea's Treasure

By Fraser Smith

4 stars

An adventure involving crays, geese, ambergris, local neighbours, family visitors, an old fort, messages and a talking parrot.
California Out There Volume 1

By Brian Augustyn, Humberto Ramos and Sandra Hope

2 stars
The Harder They Fall

By Bali Rai

2 stars

A Barrington-Stoke Teen story on bullying, loss, poverty and friendship.
Te Ao Māori: The Maori World

By Rāpata Wiri

2 stars

A lovely section on Tāne-nui-a-Rangi meeting house at the Auckland University and the gods of the Māori world who appear on its ridgepole as well as the ancestors who appear on the pillars of the house and as carved figures.
The Curse Box

By E E Richardson

5 stars

Vampires. Snakes. Spells. And a magic shop. From the Barrington Stoke Teen selection, this one is a fun fantasy storyline with a twist ending.
Tilt

By Mary Hoffman

4 stars

It's a story about following your heart, saying 'no' to societal expectations, studying what you want and solving puzzles (why does the tower of Pisa lean?). Brilliant father-daughter relationship.
Eat and Love Yourself

By Sweeney Boo

3 stars

Covers eating disorders, depression, body dysmorphia and self-love.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi

By Toby Morris with Ross Calman and Mark Derby. Translated by Piripi Walker.

4 stars

Dual text in English and te reo Māori providing a general outline of the situation before, during and after the treaty signing, together with a timeline. It is bookended with a current New Zealander's differing views of the significance of the historic day as a child and adult.
Let's eat, Grandma!

By Karina Law

5 stars

An illustrated, humorous, clear and comprehensive explanation of punctuation marks, word classes, sentence types, common confusions and five common language techniques. It uses specific jargon such as adverbial clauses, interjections, modal verbs, passive voice and relative pronouns. My only complaint is that it states that a metaphor describes but really it doesn't. It highlights the shared characteristic between the two things being compared. There is a difference. Only an adjective describes.
The Enchanted Mist

By Xoë Hall

3 stars

Uenuku stumbles across the love of his life in a mist not of this earth. He tries to contain her in the darkness of his house sealed with mud, but after heavy rain comes the sun. After years of separation and unsuccessful searching, a reunion is allowed. He cries with joy, and a rainbow appears from his tears.
The Legend of the Kea

By Philip Temple

4 stars

The pitfalls of greed and power are the loss of peace and light as seen in the Time of Quarrelling where birds screeched and screamed instead of sang and trees suffered. But the great bird of all birds, Ka, arrived to dish out consequences making all birds accountable for their actions and responsible for the revival of the forest. True to form, the kea is a bit cheeky, but still manages to land on its feet.
Kahukura and the Sea Fairies

By Pauline Cartwright

5 stars

Kahukura literally 'followed his dreams' in order to learn from the patupaiarehe how to catch more fish in one hit - a net. However, he sought trickery to obtain one of their nets. Finally, he returned to his people and taught them how to make their own nets.
Night of Shame

By Miranda Lee

1 stars

Now that I've read one of these types of books, I don't feel like I had missed out.
Nine Girls

By Stacy Gregg

5 stars

Great humour, culture and sadness all tied up in one with some nostalgia for readers of a certain age. You will probably adore Bones and Paneiraira because they are influential components of Titch's journey. Her parents' arguments serve to express contrasting perspectives of the time. The storyline covers: whakapapa, tapu vs hapa, whanaungatanga, role of mātāmua, turangawaewae, tangihanga, arero horihori, "black spots", rautapu, mana whenua, and historic protests. A great text for intermediate students with te reo Māori perfectly interlaced in the narrative.
Heiress Takes All

By Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka

4 stars

Loved Kevin. Wished I could see/eat Deonte's cake. Seethed at Maureen’s request of her errand girl. Confused still about what EH stands for. Saddened by lack of great father figures: "How young can you start feeling like an inconvenience without permanent psychological damage?" “He’s never done pro bono legal work in his life!” Realised 'you only see what people want you to see'. Understood 'hell hath no fury like a woman (or teacher) scorned'. Loved Oliva's ability to pivot under multi-layered scheming. Agreed that self-selected party favours are best.
Not Always Lost

By Tegan Morris

3 stars

This story reminded me of 'Face' and 'See Ya, Simon' in that it deals with a teenager coping with a disability. Shay struggles to adjust to life in a wheelchair and the concept that her old life as she'd imagined it couldn't be recovered. A wise neighbour tells her, "It's what you do with what's between your ears that counts. You can be just as great as you thought you would have been before. You might just have to work a bit harder or try a different path to get there." "Each time she came home from physical therapy and there was no change, it was just another confirmation of the diagnosis." The effort then seemed pointless. Yet another mind adjustment was needed upon hearing that she would not be able to walk again. "...she could see the portable ramp leaning against the fence to make space for the new permanent ramp." It deals with: disability, fear, determination, courage, support, change, finding your place and hope.
Assassins Anonymous

By Rob Hart

4 stars

I've been delving into the world of assassins lately with 'The Day of the Jackal' and 'Based on a True Story' and 'Assassins Anonymous' is in the same category. It's hilarious and honest. What scares our protagonist the most is "whether Ravi is going to see it in my eyes when we sit across from each other. That I'm no longer willing to kill. That I can no longer protect myself. I've got to sit down with the lions and hope they're not hungry." How do you beat someone without killing them? The story covers the inner turmoil of recovery from guilt to revenge and acceptance, and the questions of whether violence is innate or learned, if people can indeed change, and if it's okay to do something bad to save many. There are handlers, a criminal Craigslist, weaponry, code names and a cat called P. Kitty. But remember, "Sixty percent of recovery is cute slogans."
Peace Maker

By Malorie Blackman

3 stars

Michela struggles to follow all the rules banning her from reading about weapons and warfare. After all life on board the Alliance ship Kitabu is one of non-violence and pacifism. Time after time, she is caught reading banned books and writing about battles. An encounter with an alien ship pressures them to change their approach. This story is about conformity vs rebellion, values, courage, adversity, adaptation, and compassion.
Wave

By Paul Dowswell

3 stars

I hadn't heard of the British World War I Pals battalions until this book! There's an 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.
Tsunami

By Ned Wenlock

3 stars

This was much darker than I'd imagined with a fairly grim ending. At school, instead of illustrating the story the teacher had read, Peter draws a sheep surrounded by wolves - "I took the theme of evil infiltrating good, as depicted by the wolf among the sheep, and flipped it to reflect my current position through my eyes you understand, of good being totally surrounded by evil…" His neighbour and classmate is a bully who threatens and beats him. Every action that boy takes (even if it seems sweet) is part of a bigger, meaner picture. The tsunami is a metaphor for the ever growing fear of an unseen threat. But by the end, you have to wonder whether Peter is good and innocent at all. It reminds me of a scene in To Kill a Mockingbird, but here it seems more deliberate. Nice cut away to the shower, Wenlock! The final panel is what I assume is a POV of the ocean which is flat (no ripple effect, no tsunami, no consequence) but Peter has a fear of water because he cannot swim. I wouldn't call this a bildungsroman because I don't see any growth or enlightenment in the characters - any of them - unless you add your own final panel.
Te Kahu Rolleston: Te Tukanga Ako

By Te Kahu Rolleston

5 stars

I think you are very familiar with this book (*wink, wink*). It was great to listen to Te Kahu as a keynote speaker at the Hawke's Bay English Teachers' Association 'Big Day Out' two days ago where he talked through the contents of this book and his mahi. We even participated in some of his workshop writing activities. It not surprising how similar his tukanga ako is compared to Auckland's 'Action Education'. It just solidifies the importance of the steps prior to a writing task. This is a gem of a resource you've helped bring to the fingertips of teachers. Thanks for the free copy.
The Guest List

By Lucy Foley

5 stars

A whodunnit that only makes sense once all the relationships' histories are revealed. Dares and pranks continue to cause heartache - are they ever worth it? *contains self-harm and suicide references
Sunshine

By Jarrett J. Kroscoczko

4 stars

I see this as a story about the benefits of volunteering rather than a positive message about how camps help cancer victims and their families. The main character reflects on his experience: "Somehow the math didn't add up. No matter how much we had put into that week at camp, we all got so much more out of it." It 'got me' on page 131 when one teen cancer battler and camp attendee says. "I don't want to make friends with any of the new kids that come through the hospital." After being called selfish and cold, he replies, "Nah. They'll end up losing me. I don't want them living through that same grief."
The Recruit: the graphic novel

By Robert Muchamore

3 stars

Who doesn't love a training school for espionage?
The Girl Who Owned a City

By Adapted by Dan Jolley

2 stars

Great illustrations and cover. I didn't like that when Jill questioned Lisa about calling Glenbard 'her' city, she didn't 'grow' as a person/leader. "I found it, I planned it, I filled it with my supplies, and now I run it." She won't see herself as a custodian and her role as an honour, while it lasts (there's dust in her future, remember). She never foresaw that some of her independent decisions would be poor ones and acted like all of her ideas were worthy. I did like that she had the foresight to collect medical supplies as well as food, but thought Craig's idea to grow their own food even better.
The Clockwork Girl

By Sean O'Reilly

2 stars

Two inventors compete at an annual fair in a Pinocchio/Frankenstein-esque way. One is a tinkerer and the other a botanist. Each approach has its heartache and heartbreak or miracle. Huxley and Tesla must rely on each other's attributes to remain alive.
The Altered History of Willow Sparks

By Tara O'Connor

2 stars

In this graphic novel, two friends do their best to fit in at high school, despite being labelled the nerds. It's easy to hate the bullies in this story since they seem quite violent. Neat (but not original) concept of a book in which you can write your future. As always, there are consequences. Notes from the author reveal her creative process which was interesting.

7 - 0 - 1

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Havelock North High School

16,367 pages read and 2,858 team points

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