Hillmorton High School

103,556 pages read and 4,266 team points

Team members

Willow

11,868 pts

(11,051 pages read)

Cute Mutants Vol 1: Mutant Pride

By SJ Whitby

4 stars

Queer book? Check. Kiwi author? Check. New take on X-Men/mutants? Check. The only thing letting this fantastic book down is the writing. Because the story is told in first person, the inner monologue matches the main character who feels like a download of a tumblr fanatic/chronically online Gen Z-er. The language is resonant of this persona and makes it hard to read sometimes because it feels so cringe. Outside of that, I love being able to pick up elements of the story that feel super relevant to NZ, specifically Christchurch (many mentions of an earthquake/multiple earthquakes) which is a fun experience. There’s 5 volumes of this, and I will 100% read all 5 and pretend the inner monologue of the main character doesn’t bother me because I want to love this so much, and want to have more queer kiwi books to read and feel like supporting this one will be a good omen for more of these to exist in the future.
The Nixies Song

By Holly Black

3 stars

6th book in the Spiderwick Chronicles (originally Beyond the Chronicles, but has since been renumbered). Was great to dive back into this series, but it wasn’t what I had remembered. The characters are all kind of bland and not ones you want to root for. Great to read if you’re still a young person, but doesn’t hold up as an adult reading them!
Asylum Novellas

By Madeleine Roux

0 stars

Started it and just haven’t gotten far. First time reading this one though.
A Court of Mist and Fury

By Sarah J Maas

0 stars

Incomplete, but I’ve made good progress and want it recorded! Had to return it to the library before getting to finish it for the challenge. sequel to ACOTAR - I’m not enjoying the start as much as I enjoyed ACOTAR, mostly because one of the main characters is now very insufferable and any time I have to read chapters with him in it I get annoyed. I am enjoying how it’s showing that Feyre is experiencing trauma after the events of the first book and hasn’t turned her into a “I experienced trauma but now everything is fine so I’m fine” character. Can’t wait to finish it!
Stepping Stones

By Lucy Knisley

4 stars

First book in the Peapod farm series - I had read the second one earlier and really enjoyed it so I figured I should go back and read where it all began! It was a very cute look into blended families, changes after divorce, and how a city kid manages becoming a farm kid.
It’s In His Kiss (Bridgerton #7)

By Julia Quinn

5 stars

This edition included the second epilogue. my partner and I have been reading these together since 2022 and it’s a little bittersweet coming to the end of the penultimate book in the series. I loved how different Hyacinths story was compared to her siblings because she herself is so different. I love that her husband was a perfect fit for her, and matched her energy so well. There were plenty of twists and turns, and it felt more like a mystery with a romantic subplot (but very explicit romance throughout!) highly enjoyed this one
The Greatest Thing

By Sarah Winifred Searle

4 stars

I really loved this look into high school as a larger person, dealing with fitting in, sexuality, and finding your passion and people. While this was set in 2002/2003, a lot of the experiences still felt similar to my own experiences about 5-10 years later. Win/Fred/Winifred deals with a lot of mental health battles that turn into physical and eating battles, dealing with changing friendships and friend groups, and her internalised feelings. This one definitely tugged on my heart strings a lot, and I’d highly recommend it.
Crumbs

By Danie Stirling

4 stars

A cute little romance story told through baking and magic
The Infinity Particle

By Wendy Xu

5 stars

A futuristic sci-fi story set on a different planet between a girl and the AI created by her favourite scientist. A fascinating look into ethics, robotics, AI, and how it all works within the human existence.
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 1: Vol. 3

By Hirohiko Araki

4 stars

The thrilling conclusion to part 1 of the Jojos Bizarre Adventure manga series. The action sequences are fantastic and keep you drawn in. I can’t wait to see what Part 2 has in store!
Apple Crush

By Lucy Knisley

4 stars

A cute Halloween story about a young girl who feels surrounded by people in love whereas she’s just focused on friendship. A very good read
Fresh Start

By Gale Galligan

4 stars

A great look into life as a kid of an American diplomat who has to move around a lot. Follows middle schooler Ollie as she faces an embarrassing experience before moving, and finding her way to fitting in at her newest school, keeping a good family dynamic, and discovering what it’s like to have some stability in her life.
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 1: Phantom Blood Vol 2

By Hirohiko Araki

4 stars

Second volume to part 1 of Jojos bizarre adventure. Continues on the story from vol 1
Huda F Cares?

By Huda Fahmy

4 stars

Continuing following Hudas own life, this graphic novel centred around her sisters and a trip to DisneyWorld. I love Huda’s comedy, and how she depicts her religion in art. I look forward to reading her next book
Shred or Dead

By D. Bradford Gambles

2 stars

This was a really weird read that had a lot of skateboarding/skate culture, but also took a weird turn into aliens that felt disingenuous to the story. It did feel like it kept dragging and I couldn’t wait for the end - realistically I should’ve DNFed this, but I pulled through begrudgingly.
Passport

By Sophia Glock

5 stars

This graphic memoir of Sophia’s life living in Central America was a fascinating look at American families living abroad and the difficulties their children face when trying to find their place when they don’t know the language and culture of the place they’re trying to fit into. It details how Sophia is trying to be a teenager, but also find her place where she is while following her family’s rules to fit in. I really enjoyed this graphic novel.
Hey, Mary!

By Andrew Wheeler

5 stars

Thank you to Oni Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this incredible graphic novel detailing a catholic boys journey of self discovery. As someone who was also raised somewhat religious (not catholic, and certainly not as devout as Mark), it is a difficult journey to finding yourself while also wanting to maintain connection with the spiritual world, especially when the pathways you know won’t support who you are. Andrew Wheeler does a phenomenal job bringing in catholic and queer history to aide Mark on his self discovery journey. Rye Hickman beautifully illustrates the story to help convey everything through subtle mannerisms, iconography on characters, and really being the story to life. It’s not often I tear up reading a graphic novel, but this one resonated with me in ways I didn’t see coming. If you also are queer and have any sort of religious connection, this one is a must read. Also to any Catholics or other religious folks wanting to see why the queer community is a great place that should be accepted, this is a good place to start.
Manga Classics: Les Misérables

By Stacy King, SunNeko Lee, Crystal S. Chan, Victor Hugo

4 stars

I’ve loved the story of Les Misérables for years after discovering the musical. I have always intended to read the actual novel, but its size has always seemed rather daunting. This manga is the perfect size to learn more about the story Victor Hugo initially told. While it is not an exact depiction due its much shorter length, it still captures the essence of the story, the depth of the characters, and the important key moments from the story (as I know them from the musical at least!) the art style is beautiful and helps boost the story. If you are wanting to dip into the waters of Les Misérables but like me are put off due to its length, this is a great way to learn some more about the story in an easy to follow adaptation. Highly recommend!
Bookshops and Bonedust

By Travis Baldree

5 stars

There’s not much I can put into words how much this series has meant to me since I first picked up the first book. This instalment just added to the story tenfold! I love how it’s both cosy and adventurous all at once. How the story just sits into the plot calmly and also has impending action just underneath. Travis has an incredible way with words and has really built up a wonderful world that I don’t want to leave. Highly recommend this book for those of you who love cosy fantasy. Incredible read!
Asylum

By Madeleine Roux

5 stars

Revisiting an old favourite from my teen years hoping it would live up to my enjoyment from my youth! It definitely did, and I can’t wait to go through the remaining books in the series. Story follows 16 year old Dan Crawford to a university for the summer putting on a summer study program for university bound high schoolers. What they don’t expect is to be housed in the former asylum that is on school grounds. Not ideal accomodation, but they settle in only for the creepy and weird to start impacting Dan, his roommate, and his new friends. A fantastic read for those who love the creepy
Hooky 1

By Miriam Bonastre Tur

3 stars

A graphic novel about 2 twin witches learning about their family and its legacy within their community and what it means for them. It felt like it dragged on a bit but was overall okay
Yes I’m Hot In This

By Huda Fahmy

4 stars

A collection of comics discussing Muslim life and the microagressions Huda deals with wearing hijab in a comedic manner.
A Court of Thorns and Roses

By Sarah J. Maas

4 stars

I picked this up after seeing a few students reading it and avoiding it from TikTok recommendations forever. Turns out it was better than I thought it would be! Once I started I really couldn’t put it down and didnt want to.
Witchcraft: A Graphic History

By Lindsay Squire

3 stars

I really enjoyed the art style and the layout of the book. It was really informative and taught me a lot about witches and their history. I did also enjoy the story about Biddy Early and Lindsay in the graphic novel style as it added a fictional element to an otherwise nonfiction book. What brought the rating down is just how the non-fiction elements came into the fiction story and vice versa. The non-fictional elements would bring me out of the story at a point where I’d be invested as there would be quite a bit to read before returning to Biddy and Lindsay’s story. This is a unique non-fiction book that provides a lot of really useful information while adding in a story that uses that information in its plot. This is a really good read for anyone wanting to learn more about witches and I would still recommend giving it a read.
The Littlest Fighter

By Joey Weiser

4 stars

I really enjoyed the art style of the characters in this. I enjoyed the story telling and how the moral came to be. It’s a great look into revenge and whether it will end as satisfyingly as you’d expect. Highly recommend this one!
Cucumber Quest: The Ripple Kingdom

By Gigi D. G.

3 stars

Second in the series. Still a cute heroic story, just a little meh.
Terminal Punks

By Matthew Erman

3 stars

A fascinating take on capitalism and modern society through the lens of a sci-fi themed event.
Keedie

By Elle McNicoll

5 stars

I read A Kind Of Spark last year and fell in love with the story and how it was told. Finding out Elle wrote a prequel was very exciting for me. It was great to revisit this story and learn more about the family from the first book and how it came to be how it was in the first book. I also love how Elle represents the autistic community in her books and how vastly different each character is. Such a great read!
Home Office Romance

By Kintetsu Yamada

4 stars

I really liked this cute look into how a relationship between two neighbours developed and grew. The characters were sweet and really create a cute couple. The relationship building is also played out well. Highly recommend this cute novel
Cucumber Quest: The Doughnut Kingdom

By Gigi D. G.

3 stars

This graphic novel takes the concept of the male hero and flips it on its head. It’s a cute heroic tale of sibling bonds and chaos.
Sensor

By Junji Ito

5 stars

I’ve seen Junji Ito books everywhere and decided to give one a go. I picked this one up and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it! The story telling covers over several different years coming back to the same central theme and people. Ito does a great job creating a weird and wonderful story that is also creepy at the same time. I can’t wait to read more of his work!
Hungry Heart

By Jem Milton

4 stars

This was such a cute little squishy romantic graphic novel. I really loved the characterisation of each character, the way the connection between characters was displayed, and the art style used to depict each character. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, and loved the complexities it showed of celebrity and how it can impact people and their enjoyment of their world. Highly recommend!
The Well

By Jon Allen

4 stars
The Secret Lives of Candy Hearts

By Tommy Siegel

4 stars
Mika and the Howler

By Agata Loth-Ignaciuk

4 stars
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Part 1 Phantom Blood Vol 1

By Hirohiko Araki

4 stars
Death Note Short Stories

By Takeshi Obata, Tsugumi Ohba

4 stars

Additional stories in the death note world
Death Note Vol 13: How to Read

By Takeshi Obata, Tsugumi Ohba

3 stars

A resource to go with the death note series
The Walking Cat: A Cats-Eye View of the Zombie Apocalypse

By Tomo Kitaoka

5 stars

A cute story interwoven through one cat living in the zombie apocalypse. Really loved it
Heebie Jeebies

By Matthew Ermaan

4 stars

A silly goofy story about a haunted school
Lore Olympus: Volume 7

By Rachel Smythe

5 stars

A great addition to the lore Olympus series. Can’t wait for the next one

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Hillmorton High School

103,556 pages read and 4,266 team points

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