Wellington High School and Com Ed Centre

97,504 pages read and 2,717 team points

Team members

Helen M

12,495 pts

(9,911 pages read)

Iris and me

By Philippa Werry

5 stars

This is a NZ YA novel written in verse, about an imaginative account of the life of poet, journalist and writer Iris Wilkinson aka Robin Hyde. I wondered if I would like the style of this writing but was surprised when I found it easy to read even when the narrator jumped around in time. Not knowing much about Robin Hyde I came away with a better understanding of her and l appreciated the quotes and the authors notes at the end of the novel. A good entry read for a student interested in Robin Hyde
A Language of Dragons

By S.F. Williamson

5 stars

Currently reading... it's Bletchley Park with dragons in a 1920,s dark academia setting... fun so far
One second after

By William R Forstchen

4 stars

Listened to this as an audiobook. This novel that follows the happenings in a small USA town following an EMP emission. Sobering and thought provoking.
The Grimmelings

By Rachel King

4 stars

A fun tween fantasy read. Horsey kids would enjoy this adventure with a fairytale flavour. Learning some Scottish words was an added bonus.
The Mijo Tree

By Janet Frame

4 stars

A lyrical but dark little novella published after the authors death, written in the style of a fairytale with an Afterword detailing significant events in the authors life.
Juice

By Tim Winton

3 stars

Post apocalyptic journey through Australia vaguely reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy's The Road. It's an environmental story of extreme climate change, survival, exploration of human values. I was fascinated in the brutal environment this story is set in and the first half of the book I enjoyed. The remainder was not quite what I was hoping for ... more of an exploration of self by the main character under extreme conditions, as the central un-named narrator tells his story.
Onyx Storm

By Rebecca Yarros

4 stars

#3 in the Empyrean series.... as expected steamy spicy fantasy romance with action, dragons and magic. Given this was #3 in the series I was a little surprised to find I hadn't predicted the storyline and that I thoroughly enjoyed the journey. While I still think it could do with a little less emotional romance I found it highly entertaining and I know it will be popular. Warning there is a cliff hanger ending.. I will be looking for #4 when it's written
Wrens under the radar

By Colleen Shipley

4 stars

An NZ war time story of 8 WRENS based in rural Blenheim working in secret to decode messages from Japanese submarines. An entertaining and informative read.
The other black girl

By Zakiya Dalila

2 stars

Found it difficult to like the main character she comes across self righteous / selfish / spoilt. I liked the premise and persevered. Sole black employee in publishing business is initially elated when another black women is employed but then things take a darker turn. Office politics, racial discrimination, micro aggressions. The last 40 or so pages sped up but didn't deliver a believable or satisfying conclusion
Caged

By Susan Brocker

4 stars

Quick enjoyable tween read. Suitable for Year 7 to 9 read-a-loud.
The dry

By Jane Harper

5 stars

Excellent murder mystery set in small town Australia
Recursion

By Blake Crouch

5 stars

Excellent sci fi. Neuro scientist Helena Smith is developing a technology that preserves memories. Meanwhile Detective Barry Sutton begins to investigate people experiencing FMS false memory syndrome. Takes a bit of getting used to jumping around time lines but unputdownable!
Blackmail & lies

By Mary-Anne Scott

4 stars

Small town kid with a druggy dad gets to experience an elite boarding school. Bullying, snobbery and blackmail go hand in hand with some attention from girl and things eventually come to a head. Good NZ YA read with a male protagonist that other teenagers would recognise.
The peacock and the sparrow

By I.S. Berry

3 stars

Spy novel with an aging burnt out CIA agent set in Bahrain at a time of unrest and revolution. Not your usual action and glamour much more gritty. At times I didn't appreciate the misogynistic way women characters were written. Entertaining none the less.
Legacy

By Witi Hereaka

3 stars

Ya time slip story where Riki finds himself experiencing his Grandfathers life as a māori soldier in WW1. Kudos for the obvious research undertaken to describe life as a māori soldier but wasn't my cup of tea. The ending was disappointing.
Star Splitter

By Matthew J. Kirby

4 stars

YA Sci-fi thriller: 17 year old joins her scientist parents who are exploring a desolate post-extinction planet 14 light years from earth but something is not quite right... A good quick read that I would recommend to teens who enjoy sci-fi
The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry

By Ransom Riggs

3 stars

A new Ransom Riggs series about a very average protagonist who has hopes that a magical world is real. Slow to start, loses focus a bit in the middle but entertaining. Protagonist Leopold is 17 but reads much younger and has very low self-esteem. I would pitch it to Year 7-9 students, has Harry Potter/Percy Jackson vibes without the energy, but the magic is fun.
The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door

By H. G. Parry

3 stars

Quite delightful if slow dark academia fantasy read set in post war Britain in 1920's. More suited to an adult audience than YA (but not because of spicy content: there is none).
Glimpse

By Jonathan Maberry

4 stars

Creepy and atmospheric, a supernatural thriller/ horror about recovering junkie Rain and the cracks in between reality and nightmares. Jonathan Maberry is a long time favourite of mine and he didn't disappoint with this one.
Rise of the Governor

By Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga

4 stars

A novel spin-off of the Walking Dead comic series that provides the back story for the character The Governor. Listened to as an audiobook and surprisingly good entertainment on a holiday road trip. Definitely not family listening!
Fate Breaker

By Victoria Aveyard

4 stars

#3 in the Realm Breaker series a very satisfying fantasy quest
The Crown's Fate

By Evelyn Skye

3 stars

#2 in the Crown's Game series follows the story of the Russian Imperial Enchanter. Without giving the story away it has magic, battles, love and friendship set in Imperial Russia. A fun YA sequel
The Crown's Game

By Evelyn Skye

4 stars

A historical fantasy set in Imperial Russia as two teens compete to be the Tsar's Imperial Enchanter.
Catch a falling star

By Eileen Merriman

5 stars

An entertaining but thought provoking teenage drama following Jamie, an aspiring actor, writer and seemingly energetic funny guy who is crushing on his best friends girlfriend. Jamie runs on amazing highs but his risk taking is getting out of control and he is worrying about darker thoughts. A good read covering the subject of relationships and teenage mental health. Recommended for teens
Artificial Condition

By Martha Wells

5 stars

#2 in The Murderbot Diaries: an excellent sci-fi series of novella's told from the perspective of a sentient cybernetic security unit who develops human characteristics and emotions. Great action and character development I would sell this to a reluctant teen reader.
Small Gods

By Terry Pratchett

4 stars

Great entertainment (and a lot of truth to be found) in this parody and satire about religion. Terry Pratchett at his best.
Blade Breaker

By Victoria Aveyard

4 stars

#2 Realm Breaker series an epic quest with a band of unlikely and reluctant heroes continues... and delivers an action packed fantasy adventure.
Guards! Guards!

By Terry Pratchett

4 stars

Entertaining as always
Coming home to roost

By Mary-Anne Scott

4 stars

I'm not a teen reader but think teenagers would connect with the characters in this slice of life read.

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Wellington High School and Com Ed Centre

97,504 pages read and 2,717 team points

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