On the Pinehurst Book Shelves: 2021

Thursday, December 16, 2021

What we read in lockdown: our top picks for 2021

The Pinehurst librarians, Michele Coombridge, Sharon Blake and Deborah Walsh list their reading recommendations.

Picture Books

Weirdo by Zadie Smith

A gorgeous story of celebrating being your true self, accepting individuality in others, and embracing spontaneity.

Deborah

The great realisation by Tomos Roberts (NZ author)

Perfect to read with students and discuss what’s happening in our world right now. (Now that we've had a second year of lockdowns, this book may seem a rather romanticised view on what might just be our 'new normal'. The sentiment that we should all 'walk this earth more lightly', is a good one, however.)

The rock from the sky by Jon Klassen

There's a dry-wit humour to this clever picture book about friendship with difficult people.

And Tango makes three by Justin Richardson & Peter Parnell

An older book that is new to our library this year. This delightful book is based on the true story of two male penguins at Central Park Zoo, who are companions and want a family of their own. Both an award winner and a banned/challenged book in the U.S. which is an interesting juxtaposition.

My elephant is blue by Melinda Szymanik (NZ author)

Full of humour and heart, My elephant is blue is a hopeful story about big heavy feelings.

Hound the detective by Kimberly Andrews

Join Hound as he solves another tricky mystery.

Primary Non-fiction

Ducks overboard: a true story of plastic in our oceans by Markus Motem

Inspired by a true incident when 28,000 plastic toys in a container ship fell into the ocean and spread throughout the marine world. Lots of detail about plastic pollution, where it comes from and where it all goes.

We loved reading this one online, during lockdown.

Whiti, the colossal squid by Victoria Cleal (NZ author)

A story about New Zealand's famous colossal squid and other creatures from the deep.

New Zealand disasters by Maria Gill (NZ author)

Our response, resilience and recovery in times of tragedy.

When we walked on the moon by David Long

Wonderful real-life happenings from the Apollo moon landings; Apollo 11 to Apollo 17.

Tree beings by Raymond Huber (NZ author)

There is still so much to be learned from the natural world. This book is full of stories and informational details that teach us about the wisdom and nature of trees.

Facts vs opinions vs robots by Michael Rex

Learn about fact-checking in a humorous style.

Primary Fiction

Charlie Tangaroa and the creature from the sea by T.K. Roxborogh

An awesome adventure featuring Maori mythology and set in the Tolaga Bay area. (NZ author)

Michele

The astonishing future of Alex Nobody by Kate Gilby Smith

As a big fan of time travel novels and sci-fi in general, I loved this book and think it is a great one for senior primary and intermediate aged children, as an introduction to the world and rules of time travel and sci f-fi.

Sharon

City spies by James Ponti

'Spy Kids' meets 'The Famous Five'. Plenty of action and a dash of humour - a delight to read!

Sharon

The Big Woof conspiracy by Dashe Roberts

Sticky Pines is a sleepy little town 'where things get weird' . No one else can see problems, but Lucy Sladan, UFO believer, knows something is afoot in Sticky Pines. As things get weirder and weirder, she must try to solve the mystery and find the truth. Funny, with just the right amount of 'creepy' for younger readers.

Deborah Walsh & Michele Coombridge

The Highland Falcon thief by M.G. Leonard

Suspicion and accusation runs high among the passengers of the Highland Falcon. Will Harrison, the youngest person onboard, solve the mystery and catch the culprit in time?

Michele & Sharon

The Adventure Club: Red panda rescue by Jess Butterworth

A brand new illustrated series for younger readers about animals and adventure from much-loved author Jess Butterworth - writer of classic adventure stories in vibrantly described settings.

Michele

Middle Grade Fiction (9-13)

Unplugged by Gordan Korman

A middle grade adventure & mystery novel with themes of identity and friendship. Loved this one, and highly recommend this author.

Michele

Dog by Andy Mulligan

Adventure and fast-paced action, with a lot of humorous dialogue from the animals. Satisfying ending too. Themes of identity, bullying, separating parents and animal violence are mixed within this mystery adventure.

Deborah

Cogheart by Peter Bunzl

With her friends—Robert, the clockmaker’s son, and Malkin, her mechanical fox—Lily is plunged into a murky and menacing world. This books is a middle-grade steampunk, fantasy adventure.

Michele

The life and times of Lonny Quicke by Kirsty Applebaum

This is a great senior primary or intermediate read. I was intrigued by the idea behind this book "a Lifeling can save the life of another by giving up some of their own". It is a real hook and made the book a compelling read.

Sharon

Orion Lost by Alistair Chisholm

A group of young teens must take charge of their colony space ship after an unknown event leaves all the adults in suspended sleep, and with only an A.I. to give them instructions. Fast-paced action and adventure with twisty-turny dangers lurking in every corner of deep space.

Michele & Sharon

Wildfire by Rodman Philbrick

Survival and adventure in a rural forest fire.

Michele

Crater Lake by Jennifer Killick

When school camp goes bad. Warning - may involve zombies and aliens!

Michele

The remarkable journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart

Gentle, funny, heartwarming.

Deborah

Teen fiction

Tiger daughter by Rebecca Lim

A contemporary immigration story, set in Australia. Wen is a resourceful girl with a strong core of self-belief. She dares to challenge the old ways and create a better future for herself, and ultimately, her family.

Deborah

Katipo Joe by Brian Falkner (Book 1 & 2)

War, espionage and adventure. Brian Falkner's latest series is an excellent read.

Deborah

Nowhere Boy by Katherine Marsh

"This well-crafted and suspenseful novel touches on the topics of refugees and immigrant integration, terrorism, Islam, Islamophobia, and the Syrian war with sensitivity and grace." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review.

Deborah

The cousins by Karen McManus

The fourth murder-mystery novel by Young Adult mystery genius McManus.

These books are super-popular with teens.

Michele

Alone by Megan L Freeman

When twelve-year-old Maddie hatches a scheme for a secret sleepover with her two best friends, she ends up waking up to a nightmare. She finds herself alone—left behind in a town that has been mysteriously evacuated and abandoned. A fast-paced dystopian- survival story written in verse-novel format.

Michele

Land of fences by Mark Smith

The third book in Smith's totally amazing, action-packed trilogy, that began with The Road to Winter. Mark smith's latest novel, 'If not us' is on our summer to-be-read piles. Looking forward to that one too!

Deborah & Michele

The prison healer by Lynette Noni

An inescapable prison - a fight for mere survival - a girl with a mission to heal. My favourite book of the year, The prison healer, is a young adult fantasy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, and Sabaa Tahir. Recommended for Senior teen.

Sharon

Raft of stars by Andrew J. Graff

So much more than an adventure story! Loved this! Two boys, Fischer and Dale, (known as Bread), are on the run after an encounter with Bread’s violent dad, and struggling to survive in the Wisconsin wilderness. A story of the strong bonds of friendship and family, overcoming obstacles, finding your true self, and the power of nature.

Deborah

They went left by Monica Hesse.

Zofia is a Jewish girl, newly liberated from the Gross-Rosen, Nazi concentration camp. After an initial period of recovery and recuperation she sets out to find her brother, possibly her sole remaining family member. A touching story of sadness and hope. Because of the subject matter, and the rawness of this story I would recommend this book for mature young adults.
Sharon

Adult Fiction

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

Historical Fiction. Three women and their converging stories during their time code breaking at Bletchley Circle. I give it five stars.

Sharon

The fountains of silence by Ruta Sepetys

We love this author. Her two young adult novels are also historical fiction and both are amazing. Fountains of silence is set in Madrid, Spain in 1957, during the dictatorship of Francisco Franco.

Sharon, Michele & Deborah. 👍

The last guests by J.P. Pomare (NZ author)

This is a dark, psychological thriller, set around Auckland and Lake Tarawera, near Rotorua. Once I started to read I could not put this book down. It is scary, dark, twisty, intense and will definitely make you think the next time you stay in an Air BNB!

Sharon & Deborah

American dirt by Jeanine Cummins

Gripping, grueling, thought provoking.

Sharon and Deborah

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Charming and satisfying.

Michele

Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachael Joyce

From the author of the delightful 'The unlikely pilgrimage of Harold Fry' comes another winner: Full of joy, hope and humour, Miss Benson’s Beetle is a roller coaster of adventure, with moments of poignant emotion. This is one of my favourite books of the year.

Deborah

Finding Chilka by Mitch Albom

"Mitch Albom has done it again with this moving memoir of love and loss. You can’t help but fall for Chika. A page-turner that will no doubt become a classic.” --Mary Karr, author of The Liars’ Club and The Art of Memoir. Five stars

Deborah

Addressed to Greta by Fiona Sussman (NZ author)

NZ author, Fiona Sussman makes her mark in the kindness genre, alongside the greats such as Eleanor Oliphant, and Harold Fry. Five stars.

Michele

Cousins by Patricia Grace

Patricia Grace’s writing never fails to move me. Her characters and their lives resonate with me, and touch on experiences and emotions in my own Whānau.
Five stars once again, Patricia Grace.

Deborah

Merry Christmas and happy holiday reading from the Pinehurst Library team.

🎄

Monday, July 12, 2021

Friday, July 2, 2021

If you like Harry Potter ... try these

If you like Harry Potter-style fantasy...try some of these reading suggestions.

Recently I made a wall display featuring some 'if you loved Harry Potter' reading suggestions. We get asked for Harry Potter read-alike book recommendations all the time, so, I thought I would turn our suggested fantasy book list into a blog post

Below is a little blurb about each book and a comment on why I think it is a good 'read after' for the ever popular Harry Potter series.. 😀

From Goodreads: Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse - Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy's mom finds out, she knows it's time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he'll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends—one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena - Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.

The Percy Jackson series is an eternal favourite, and the second most popular series in our library. Suitable for all ages.

From Goodreads: This is a tale of missing persons. Madeleine and her mother have run away from their former life, under mysterious circumstances, and settled in a rainy corner of Cambridge (in our world).

Elliot, on the other hand, is in search of his father, who disappeared on the night his uncle was found dead. The talk in the town of Bonfire (in the Kingdom of Cello) is that Elliot's dad may have killed his brother and run away with the Physics teacher. But Elliot refuses to believe it. And he is determined to find both his dad and the truth.

As Madeleine and Elliot move closer to unravelling their mysteries, they begin to exchange messages across worlds - through an accidental gap, a portal of sorts, that hasn't appeared in centuries, and it’s attached itself to a parking meter just outside Madeleine’s home.

I am a fan of the complete uniqueness of this clever fantasy trilogy filled with adorable characters who will appeal to those who love the Harry Potter cast. A complex plot, more suited mature readers.

The classic fantasy that has stood the test of time and continues to impact children everywhere. Narnia… the land beyond the wardrobe door, a secret place frozen in eternal winter, a magical country waiting to be set free.

Suitable for all ages.

From Goodreads: It was 1798 when the Morningstarr twins arrived in New York with a vision for a magnificent city: towering skyscrapers, dazzling machines, and winding train lines, all running on technology no one had ever seen before, and powered by a secret cipher hidden within their creations. But after the Morningstarr’s disappeared, the puzzle was never solved, and the greatest mystery of the modern world became little more than a tourist attraction.

Tess and Theo Biedermann and their friend Jaime Cruz live in a Morningstarr apartment house—until a real estate developer announces that the city has agreed to sell him the five remaining Morningstarr buildings. And if Tess, Theo and Jaime want to save their home, they have to prove that the Old York Cipher is real. Which means they have to find the clues and solve it themselves.

Suitable for all ages.

Suitable for mature readers only, Year 9/10 upwards. Contains offensive language and violence. (Think, Harry Potter - the first year of university days).

In the start of this all-new series, Naomi Novik introduces us to a dangerous school for the magically gifted where failure means certain death – until one girl begins to rewrite its rules.

El Higgins is uniquely prepared for the school’s many dangers. She may be without allies, but she possesses a dark power strong enough to level mountains and wipe out untold millions – never mind easily destroy the countless monsters that prowl the school. Except, she might accidentally kill all the other students, too. So El is trying her hardest not to use it... that is, unless she has no other choice.

From Goodreads: When Lyra's friend Roger disappears, she and her dæmon, Pantalaimon, determine to find him. The ensuing quest leads them to the bleak splendour of the North, where armoured bears rule the ice and witch-queens fly through the frozen skies - and where a team of scientists is conducting experiments too horrible to be spoken about.

Lyra overcomes these strange terrors, only to find something yet more perilous waiting for her - something with consequences which may even reach beyond the Northern Lights...

From Goodreads: Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born, she's blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks--and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday.

But as Morrigan awaits her fate, a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North appears. Chased by black-smoke hounds and shadowy hunters on horseback, he whisks her away into the safety of a secret, magical city called Nevermoor.

It's then that Morrigan discovers Jupiter has chosen her to contend for a place in the city's most prestigious organization: the Wundrous Society. In order to join, she must compete in four difficult and dangerous trials against hundreds of other children, each boasting an extraordinary talent that sets them apart - an extraordinary talent that Morrigan insists she does not have. To stay in the safety of Nevermoor for good, Morrigan will need to find a way to pass the tests - or she'll have to leave the city to confront her deadly fate.

We love the Nevermoor series at Pinehurst and have celebrated each new book on its release. This enchanting series is popular with all age groups, young or old.

From Goodreads: Denizen Hardwick is an orphan, and his life is, well, normal. Sure, in storybooks orphans are rescued from drudgery when they discover they are a wizard or a warrior or a prophesied king. But this is real life—orphans are just kids without parents. At least that’s what Denizen thought. . . .

On a particularly dark night, the gates of Crosscaper Orphanage open to a car that almost growls with power. The car and the man in it retrieve Denizen with the promise of introducing him to a long-lost aunt. But on the ride into the city, they are attacked. Denizen soon learns that monsters can grow out of the shadows. And there is an ancient order of knights who keep them at bay

A sinister fantasy that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Suitable for year 7 and 8 upwards.

Eleven-year-old Casper Tock hates risks, is allergic to adventures and shudders at the thought of unpredictable events. So, it comes as a nasty shock to him when he accidentally stumbles into Rumblestar, an Unmapped Kingdom full of magical beasts. All Casper wants is to find a way home, but Rumblestar is in trouble

A fantastic novel suitable for all ages.

This is the story of a young boy Wizard and a young girl Warrior who have been taught to hate each other like poison; and the thrilling tale of what happens when their two worlds collide.

Once there was Magic, and the Magic lived in the dark forests. The Wizard boy, Xar, should have come in to his magic by now, but he hasn't, so he wants to find a witch and steal its magic for himself. But if he's got any chance of finding one, he will have to travel into the forbidden Badwoods. Xar doesn't realise he is about to capture an entirely different kind of enemy. A Warrior girl called Wish. So good! Suitable all ages.

From Goodreads: When the mysterious Nowhere Emporium arrives in Glasgow, orphan Daniel Holmes stumbles upon it quite by accident. Before long, the 'shop from nowhere' -- and its owner, Mr Silver -- draw Daniel into a breathtaking world of magic and enchantment.

Recruited as Mr Silver's apprentice, Daniel learns the secrets of the Emporium's vast labyrinth of passageways and rooms -- rooms that contain wonders beyond anything Daniel has ever imagined.

But when Mr Silver disappears, and a shadow from the past threatens everything, the Emporium and all its wonders begin to crumble. Can Daniel save his home, and his new friends, before the Nowhere Emporium is destroyed forever?

Ross MacKenzie unleashes a riot of imagination, color and fantasy in this astonishing adventure, perfect for fans of Philip Pullman, Cornelia Funke and Neil Gaiman.

Suitable all ages.

Other fabulous fantasy suggestions:

The School of Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

The Serpent's Secret by Sayantani DasGupta

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

The Uncommoners Series (The Crooked Sixpence) by Jennifer Bell

The Land of Roar by Jenny McLachlan