Read NZ

Howick College

View schoolsView schools

Top 10 team members

  1. 1

    JaneR

    10,671 pts
    View this team member
  2. 2

    K McKeown

    8,010 pts
    View this team member
  3. 3

    Mr Fowke

    1,297 pts
    View this team member
  4. 4

    Ally P

    2,372 pts
    View this team member
  5. 5

    LyndaB

    1,534 pts
    View this team member
  6. 6

    Robyn

    1,108 pts
    View this team member

JaneR

10,671 pts
(9,783 pages read)

  • Killers of the Flower Moon

    By David Grann
    5 stars

    An incredibly moving account of the historical investigation into multiple murders of Osage Indians for personal gain that was thwarted by ongoing corruption and tainted by racism. A great book for senior secondary reading response or study. Also a movie.

  • Adolf Hitler. My Part in his Downfall

    By Spike Milligan
    4 stars

    A biographical short and humourous read that covers comedian Spike's early time in the army and his training at the start of World War 2. The remaining five books in the series are equally short and complete his war time histories.

  • The Thursday Murder Club

    By Richard Osman
    5 stars

    An insightful read about older people living in a retirement village and striving to make the most of their lives. The murder investigations carry the plot but it's really all about the characters, their lives, friendship, love, losses, life experience and inquiring minds. The characters are tenderly rendered. This is a gentle and enjoyable read for adults full of interesting and interested characters.

  • The Goldfinch

    By Donna Tartt
    3 stars

    The fairy tale story of a lost boy who becomes unmoored after tragedy and is forever searching. The writing is sometimes beautiful, almost painterly, but the main character is maudlin and self indulgent. The story meanders and is long winded.

  • Under the weather. A future forecast for New Zealand

    By James Renwick
    4 stars

    This is a book about climate change in NZ. It is also the story of the author's fascination with weather. This would be a good resource for teachers as James has some great analogies that make complicated ideas easy to understand. This would also be a good read for older teens who are trying to understand the topic. James uses simple easy to read language and doesn't get bogged down in jargon or technical terms. I love that this is NZ/ Pacific focussed but am disappointed there isn't an index. This is an excellent book if you want to know more about climate change.

  • System Collapse

    By Martha Wells
    5 stars

    I've enjoyed the whole Murderbot Diaries series. The eponymous and very sassy anti-hero is a robot who hacks it's software and becomes self-aware and conscious. While figuring out who/what it is Murderbot continues doing what it has always done, protecting designating humans and dealing out extreme punishments to anything that threatens them. An action packed space adventure with corrupt corporations and bucket loads of humour. Each book in the series is quite short making these a great read for young adults looking for something more.

  • The Year of the Locust

    By Terry Hayes
    1 stars

    This book needs editing (the first 12 pages don't add anything, pages 346-357 are a complete digression). Overwrought descriptions make it a laborious read. Very disappointing after the thrills of I am Pilgrim.

  • The running grave

    By Robert Galbraith
    5 stars

    Full of twists and turns and a cast of complex characters. As good as all the previous books in the series, I'm already looking forward to the next one

  • Punishment

    By Anne Holt
    3 stars

    Riveting and brutal. Justice and injustice. Damaged lives.

  • Cedar Valley

    By Holly Throsby
    4 stars

    Once again I enjoyed being immersed in the Gather Region. The author explores the lives of ordinary people facing every day dramas. I like meeting characters from the other books/towns but found the ending of Cedar Valley unsatisfying and unresolved.

  • Goodwood

    By Holly Throsby
    4 stars

    A teen's perspective on her small town, the people living there and two missing people. Holly Throsby has created a detailed world with interesting and well observed characters

  • The sinister booksellers of Bath

    By Garth Nix
    5 stars

    A rip roaring magical adventure full of great characters and non-stop action

  • The Seven

    By Chris Hammer
    5 stars

    An old mystery, a contemporary mystery, the story of weathy landowners, power and water set in Australia. A ripper of a story

  • Clarke

    By Holly Throsby
    5 stars

    Loss, hope and mystery shape the lives of the key protagonists in this story. A story about healing yourself with the help of those around you.

  • Laidlaw

    By William McIlvanney
    5 stars

    A troubled detective with heart and a tough veneer explores the underbelly of Glasgow

  • The left-handed booksellers of London

    By Garth Nix
    5 stars

    In this version of 1980s England the magic world is closer than you think. Susan discovers the magic, her missing father and makes new friends in this fantasy adventure

  • Everything is beautiful and everything hurts

    By Josie Shapiro
    5 stars

    I am no runner but loved running with Mickey as she faced life's frustration and joy, her journey of self discovery mirrored in her every step.

Add pages read