Parnell School

44,099 pages read and 2,983 team points

Team members

NovelNinja

18,073 pts

(11,134 pages read)

Juice

By Tim Winton

5 stars

Tim Winton is the master of words. He can say a lot in a few words. Having said that, this book has many words! Set a couple of hundred years in the future where the land has succumbed to the intense dry and the intense wet, this story is how people are coping. The un-named protagonist is being held captive with a young girl underground by a man only named as Bowman. He is sharing his life story about who he is and what he’s done. It is tough reading at times because of the guilt about we are doing to our planet and intrigue about how people can cope with such resourcefulness. My favourite read in the past few months.
Black Silk and Sympathy

By Deborah Challinor

4 stars

Gorgeous cover! Fascinating historical story about a woman undertaker in Sydney in the late 1880s. Sassy, brave and ahead of her time, Tatty is a force to be reckoned with. Deborah Challinor has done some incredible research in this topic. I’m Ilooking forward to reading the next one in the series.
Charlotte’s Web

By E.B. White

5 stars

This classic book had just been returned from one of our Summer Readers and they said they loved it so it inspired me to read it again. An absolute classic story about friendship, love and respect. Love, love love!
The Bookseller at the End of the World

By Ruth Shaw

5 stars

I loved this book! Ruth has written this with alternating chapters of life in the bookshops in Manapouri and her life before becoming a bookseller at the end of the world. It is an easy and fascinating read.
Wild Boy: To the Edge and Back

By Brando Yelavich

4 stars

Brando Yelavich aka Wild Boy tackles another solo walk, this time around the coastline of Rakiura Stewart Island. He discovers a lot about himself and others and comes out with a refreshed view of life. Written in a chit-chatty style perfect for the adventure. What a cool young man
We are Wolves

By Katrina Nannestad

5 stars

Three German siblings fight against all odds to survive without their family after the war is finished and the Russian soldiers arrive. Harrowing topic but written with warmth and love. The bravery of Leisl Wolf will sit with me for a long time
Madam

By Antonia Murphy

4 stars

Compelling reading about an escort agency set up in Whangārei
The Unadoptables

By Hana Tooke

4 stars

Set in 1800s Amsterdam, 5 orphans set out to find family and find it in a very surprising way.
Alliana Girl of Dragons

By Julie Abe

3 stars

A Cinderella inspired Japanese story of an orphan girl. Not enough dragons
The Girl from London

By Olivia Spooner

4 stars

Two stories told simultaneously present day and 1940 based on the true story of an organisation evacuating children from England to “the dominions” ie, NZ, Australia and South Africa. Inspired me to research the history of the ship Rangitane that they travelled on.
Did I Ever Tell You This?

By Sam Neill

3 stars

Being the NZ icon that he is, I thought the book would be more about his life growing up and becoming a highly regarded star but there were lots of side stories about people who I didn’t know or didn’t want to know about
The Space Between

By Lauren Keenan

4 stars

A story set in 1860 Ngāmotu New Plymouth about the conflict between Māori and settlers told by 2 perspectives - a Māori wahine who is married to an English man and an English woman. Well researched and written with mana
Checkerboard Hill

By Jade Kake

4 stars

A gentle story about a woman facing the reality of being Māori in Australia and contemplating her whakapapa and whanaungatanga ties.
When I open the Shop

By Romesh Dissanayake

4 stars

A story of food, grief and life in present day Wellington.
The Promise of One Tree Hill

By Graeme Dingle

3 stars

Graeme Dingle’s autobiography of his life giving to others
Our Land in Colour

By Brendan Graham

4 stars

A stunning collection of colorised photographs from 1860 - 1960 showing the history of Aotearoa NZ. Each photo is accompanied by detailed account of where and when the photo was taken along with historical facts of the time period.
Three Wild Dogs and the Truth

By Markus Zusak

5 stars

A lovingly written memoir by master author Markus Zusak dedicated to his 3 rogue-ish dogs and the incredible love for them even when they acted like wild animals. Be ready with a tissue…
Kataraina

By Becky Manawatu

4 stars

Weaving the threads of history and whānau for the first book Aue with connections to whenua and whakapapa. I found the timeline hard to keep up with. Beautifully written
Amma

By Saraid de Silva

5 stars

A beautifully written story about 3 generations of women each dealing with trauma of experiences that were life-changing.
The Memory Thief

By Leonie Agnew

4 stars

An unusual meeting between a troll boy who lives in the Dunedin Botanic Gardens and eats memories and a teenage girl. Quite dark. One of those books with a theme of ‘be careful what you wish for.’ Beautiful cover and illustrations.
Strays and Waifs

By Mandy Hager

4 stars

Two unlikely women become friends and solve a mystery with a little bit of supernatural power. Predictable ending. Well thought out characters who felt real. I enjoyed the familiarity of its setting on the Kāpiti Coast.
A Very French Affair

By Maria Moyle

3 stars

A well-written self indulgent memoir of giving up life in Aotearoa for life in rural France
The Call

By Gavin Strawhan

4 stars

A suspenseful thriller set in Aotearoa
A Life Less Punishing

By Matt Heath

4 stars

A self help book that is different to other self help books as it’s written in an entertaining manner - a little tongue in cheek and humorous stories.
Wizardry to Wētā Verse

By Elena de Roo

4 stars

Elena’s ability to bring words to life is an amazing skill. This collection of poems could easily be put to music and become whimsical ditties. Aimed at 5 - 10 year olds but I think more like 8 - 14.
World Without End

By Jancovici - Blain

4 stars

A graphic novel written by knowledgeable experts in the field of climate change and renewable resources. Made me feel a little guilty about some of the things I do.
Tell Me Everything

By Elizabeth Strout

4 stars

Love comes in so many different forms, but it is always love. If it is love, then it is love.” I enjoyed ‘meeting’ up with past characters to see how their friendships had blossomed and grown. Olive Kitteridge is a force to be reckoned with.
No Words

By Maryam Master

5 stars

A beautiful story of friendship and overcoming adversity in a world that can be cruel. Maryam Master is a genius who writes with compassion, hope and wit.
Magpie Hall

By Rachael King

5 stars

Beautifully written story set in 2 time periods in the South Island of Aotearoa, dealing with tattoos, taxidermy and death
For Every One

By Jason Reynolds

5 stars

A beautifully written poetry book about dreaming big no matter how big or small they maybe. Jason is a very talented writer/poet.
Leave the Girls Behind

By Jacqueline Bublitz

3 stars

A young woman obsessed by her past trauma sets out to find out more about what happened and who was involved. The paranormal aspect adds an extra dimension. I felt I needed to refer back to remember characters and their part of the story. Much preferred her first book “Before You Knew my Name”
Sheep with Boots

By Maritgen Matter

4 stars

A funny story about a wolf and sheep with a fun twist. Cute illustrations
By Any Other Name

By Jodi Picoult

4 stars

Who really was William Shakespeare? Did he write all those plays or did someone else? Again, Jodi Picoult’s research has looked into something interesting with 2 intertwined stories of Shakespeare’s ghost writer in the 1500s and present day sexism in playwriting.
The Wild Robot Escapes

By Peter Brown

4 stars

A great sequel to ‘The Wild Robot’ which questions “who is family?”, “what is love? I love the quote “Every problem has a peaceful solution. Violence is unnecessary.”
This is Us

By Pete Carter

4 stars

An easy read. A collection of brief stories by everyday NZers about they feel about living in NZ pre-covid.
Āria

By Jessica Hinerangi

5 stars

Thought provoking poetry about growing up Māori but “not being Māori enough” Clever use of rhythm and word placement.
Thunderhead

By Sophie Beer

4 stars

A YA novel about a twelve year old girl who is dealing with her first year in a high school, friendships and the impact of tumours to her hearing. She loves music and finds solace in the lyrics of old style songs. I love the way it’s written in a diary style peppered with a playlist of 5 songs for each chapter.
Everything is Beautiful and Everything Hurts

By Josie Shapiro

4 stars

Heavy theme tackling many issues of society. Great debut novel by a Kiwi writer. I love reading about places I recognise
Fire

By John Boyne

5 stars

Third in a series of 4 books. Read in one sitting. Hard to read but hard to put down. John Boyne has woven some evil and manipulation and I was not expecting the twists and turns. Highly recommended

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Parnell School

44,099 pages read and 2,983 team points

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