August Book Roundup

 

Skandar and the Unicorn Thief by A.F.Steadman

A wonderful new fantasy series - one of the best I've read in a long time. Skandar and the Unicorn Thief will be popular with lovers of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. 

Thirteen-year-old Skandar Smith has only ever wanted to be a unicorn rider, and the time has finally come for him to take his Hatchery Exam, which will determine whether he is destined to hatch a unicorn egg. But when Skandar is stopped from taking the exam, and the mysterious and frightening Weaver steals the most powerful unicorn in the world, becoming a rider proves a lot more dangerous than he could ever have imagined. And what if Skandar was always destined to be the villain rather than the hero? Get ready for unlikely heroes, elemental magic, fierce sky battles, ancient secrets, nail-biting races and, of course, bloodthirsty unicorns. Publisher review 

Highly recommended. We will have copies in the Primary library and the College 7-13 library. 

Rebel Skies by Ann Sei Lin.

I listened to the eAudiobook of this one, and I loved the Japanese language references and accent of the reader, Susan Momoko-Hingley. I was gripped by the story and delighted by the unique characters. 

Kurara has never known any other life than being a servant on board the Midori, but when her party trick of making paper come to life turns out to be a power treasured across the empire, she joins a skyship and its motley crew to become a Crafter. Taught by the gruff but wise Himura, Kurara learns to hunt shikigami – wild paper spirits who are sought after by the Princess. But, are these creatures just powerful slaves for the Crafters and the empire, or are they beings with their own souls – and yet another thing to be subjugated by the powerful Emperor and his Princess?

5 Stars - age recommendation 9-14years. Held in college 7-13 library.

The Midnight Children by Dan Gemeinhart. 

What a wonderful story.
Rav is a boy who is bullied, friendless, and who’s life is a daily, depressing struggle. He lives in Slaughterville, a town known for its meat works, where his dad works. Rav’s parents are good solid citizens, but his dad has difficulty communicating with his son, which reinforces Rav’s feelings of otherness.

Rav is fascinated when a family of seven children mysteriously arrive and move in to the house next door. Rav becomes part of their secretive lives, and especially close to Virginia, who is around his age. He finds out that these children have no parents, and are on the run, desperate to stay together.

A mysterious, suspenseful adventure with beautiful messages of friendship, loyalty and believing in yourself.
However, there are dark, possibly frightening elements to the story, with quite graphic detail of the slaughterhouse and its processes, and a man (The Hunter), who is searching for, and intent on capturing the children. This could be disturbing for sensitive young readers.
Suitable for mature upper primary and year 7 and 8s.

Until the Road Ends by Phil Earle 

Oh, the cuteness of this cover!

When Peggy saves a stray dog from near-death, a beautiful friendship begins. Peggy and Beau are the only thing that can ever come between them is war. Peggy is evacuated to the safety of the coast, but Beau is left behind in the city, where he becomes the most extraordinary and unlikely of war heroes.
Night after night, as bombs rain down and communities are destroyed, Beau searches the streets, saving countless families. But then disaster strikes, changing Peggy’s life forever. With her parents killed, both she and Beau are left alone, hundreds of miles apart. But Beau has a plan to reunite them at long last . .

Teenage Fiction

One of Us is Back by Karen McManus

The latest book from Young Adult mystery/crime  writer sensation, Karen McManus. This book takes us back to Bayview High, the setting for the first murder mystery in One of Us is Lying, and One of Us is Next. 

Our readers just can't get enough of these exceptional teen mysteries and the release of the TV series has made them ever more sort after. 

Cop & Robber by Tristan Bancks 

Tristan Bancks is an Australian author who writes gripping crime novels for teens & middle grade students. His books include Two Wolves, The Fall, and Detention. 

The suspense and tension of these novels make them wonderful recommendations for reluctant readers, and for boys who want action books featuring young male central characters. Harder to find than you'd think! 

Below by David Hill 

When Liam dares his classmate Imogen to come on a forbidden tour of the railway tunnel being drilled through a nearby mountain, he hopes she’ll quit protesting about it damaging the environment — his dad is an engineer working on the tunnel, after all.

Just as they reach the huge tunnelling machine everything goes horribly wrong. When the rocks stop falling and the dust settles, they are trapped, kilometers below ground, in the dark. Water is trickling in and beginning to rise. And nobody knows where they are.

Can they stop arguing and start working together to escape before it's  time runs out? 

A suspenseful adventure story by award winning New Zealand author David Hill. Winner of the New Zealand Book Award Junior Fiction award 2023. 

Ages 9-13  will find this an engaging read. 

The Arc by Ben Oliver 

(The Loop - Book #3)

The Loop is a dystopian series that has gained a lot of young adult interest since its release in 2020. The Arc is book three in this series 

Luka Kane is a 16 year old, serving his second year in a futuristic and oppressing prison where every inmate is on Death Row.  When we first meet Luka he is beaten down by the futility of incarceration, but when rumours spread of an uprising, Luka seizes an opportunity to escape. This rebellion unleashes a series of terrorising threats,  blood thirsty zombies and tough choices. Luka's narrative on remaining ethical, and keeping his humanity, run through his every life-and-death decision. 

This series is gritty, intense, violent and it is an action-packed read.

Age recommendation - 13 years upwards

Non-Fiction and Visual Texts 

Around the Ocean in 80 Fish & other Sea Life by Dr Helen Scales (illus. by Marcel George)

This stunning Non-Fiction resource introduces land lubbers to 80 of the ocean's strangest and most surprising inhabitants. 

Beautifully illustrated in fine water colours, while not compromising on the depth of text, this book is suitable for any age and will be well used by primary and college students.   

   

Celebrate with Us by Valerie Wilding 

Meet 20 children from around the world as they tell us about the feasts and festivals they enjoy and the religions and customs they follow.

This Is Our World ― Celebrate With Us!, written by Valerie Wilding, is the follow-up to the critically acclaimed This Is Our World . It’s a vibrant and colorful celebration of our planet’s cultural diversity―an unforgettable journey that brings the people, customs, and religions of 20 places around the world vividly to life for young readers.

Germ Lab: the gruesome story of deadly diseases by Richard Platt. illus. by John Kelly

Prepare to be infected with fun and fascinating knowledge. The Germ Lab tells the gruesome story of deadly diseases, told by the filthy pests that spread the germs!

Discover history's worst epidemics and pandemics and see how and why they happened, including the "Black Death", polio, and coronavirus. Hear the "eyewitness" accounts from the pesky rats, flies, ticks, and creepy-crawlies who spread the most terrible viruses around the world and cause the most damage. Watch out for terrible typhoid, beware of malicious malaria, and learn more about cruel Covid-19.

Brave Every Day by Trudy Ludwig

From social-emotional learning expert Trudy Ludwig and award-winning picture book illustrator Patrice Barton (co-creators of The Invisible Boy) comes a story about managing anxiety and finding the courage to stand up for yourself and others.

With themes of 'bravely trying' and finding support in friends with similar fears, this thoughtful book will be added to our Emotional Resilience resources list. 

Emotional Resilience List .docx

   

Ember and the Island of Lost Creatures by Jason Pamment 

This is the second book in a Junior Graphic Novel series about a tiny lad named Ember, living alone among a world of Giants, finding his way and trying to fit in.

In this book, a kindly sea turtle tries to help Ember settle in to a new school, where a cast of weird and wonderful classmates make him feel even less at home. But, perhaps their stand-offish nature is not quite what it seems. 

Picture Books 

Knight Owl by Christopher Denise 

I simply love this picture book!

Since the day he hatched, Owl dreamed of becoming a real knight. He may not be the biggest or the strongest, but his sharp nocturnal instincts can help protect the castle, especially since many knights have recently gone missing. 

While holding guard during Knight Night Watch, Owl is faced with the ultimate trial—a frightening intruder. It’s a daunting duel by any measure. But what Owl lacks in size, he makes up for in good ideas.

A Caldecott Honor Winner and  New York Times  Bestseller! 

 

We're going to find the Monster 

Award-winning author Malorie Blackman's (Noughts and Crosses YA dystopian series)latest work is a wonderful picture book about a dad who invites his children to come in from the garden and 'Wake the Monster'.

A cute story full of imagination and playfulness with a strong 'Going on a Bear Hunt' vibe.  

 

The Eight Gifts of Te Wheke by Steph Matuku.(illus. by Layla Mutton-Rogers)

A trickster octopus named Te Wheke snatches Tamati's little sister while they play at the rock pools. To get his sister back from the depths of the ocean, Tamate must pay Te Wheke in eight treasures. 

A delightful story set on the New Zealand sea shore. 

     Hope you enjoy sharing these books with your young people. 

Celebrations of reading at Pinehurst

It has been a super-busy (and fun) term for the library, with two special weeks dedicated to the enjoyment of reading, falling within weeks of each other.

The first of these was Readers’ Week – a week of bookish events for Year 7- 13.

Readers’ Week was held in Week 2 and comprised of a week full of author visits, book quizzes and a day when the Languages Dept. teachers dressed up and paraded as famous literary characters.

Our speakers this year were Brian Falkner, author of the Katipo Joe series and our very own Ms. Helen Easson author of The Legend of Jack Riddle. Both presenters were excellent, and well received by the students. 

Ms. Helen Easson

Winners of the Booklovers' Quiz 

Booklovers' Quiz MC, Ian

Brian Falkner and his award-winning books 

Book Week

In Week 5 it was time for the Primary School’s yearly celebration of ‘Book Week’. This year our speakers included:  NZ Author Susan Brocker,  a storyteller from Tim Bray productions, and a puppet enactment run by our students and led by Mrs. Blake, primary school librarian.

Hairy Maclary's Caterwaul Caper was the Lynley Dodd book chosen for the puppet show performance, and there was much Ye-owlling and Woofing to be heard as the children creatively enacted their parts. 

Many of our activities were set around the theme of '40 Years of Hairy Maclary’, and true to this theme the library team ran a personality quiz which could tell the students which Hairy Maclary dog they were most like! We hired a badge-maker and got handy punching out dog badges for all who took the test.

The morning book quizzes are always a competitive favourite between the primary classes, and our focus this year was on New Zealand books and authors. This year's Book Week became a wonderful way to introduce the children of our Pinehurst community to many of the classic book favourites that have been loved by young New Zealanders for generations. 

We had many, many entries to the colouring competitions, and our littlies loved the puzzles and activities they could do in their library time. 

During Book Week the library does not just turn into a stage for actors and authors, it turns into a book shop as well! The Scholastic Book fair brings with it an air of excitement and the children love the opportunity to browse and buy books with their parents. 

Book Week and Readers' Week are always fun; a real celebration of reading. 

A Guess Who image goes out each morning with the Morning Book Quiz

Mrs.Walsh helping in the Book Fair 

Dylan, from Tim Bray Productions was a wonderful presenter

Showing off our Hairy Maclary dog badges

And you are ... a Schnitzel Von Crum !!
Hairy Maclary dog badges 

Activities and colouring fun

The puppet players - Caterwaul Caper 

Setting up for such events we are always thankful to have a supportive property team. They truly went the extra mile when installing our Hairy Maclary decals for Book Week. Thank you John and Colin!

 

Student Voices - Book reviews from some of our most avid readers

 The Land of Stories Series by Chris Colfer 

The Land of Stories was by far one of the best books I have ever read in the Pinehurst library. It just fills you with excitement and suspense and every page makes you want to read more and more. There are six books in the series and the first book is called 'The Wishing Spell'. 

This series is so creative, funny, and full of fantasy. I cannot get enough of it, and totally recommend this to everyone of all ages. 

Reviewed by Renee

The Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Mass

The Pinehurst library offers a wide variety of genres, but I personally enjoy the fantasy ones.

One book, Throne of Glass, was a particularly fun read. The story is narrated by the main character, Celaena Sardothien. Calaena is an eighteen-year-old girl, trained as an assassin, and serving a life sentence in the mines of Endovier. To earn herself freedom she must represent the prince of Adarlan in a battle-to-the-death tournament.

This book was grim, witty, and wild - to say the least! I was constantly on the edge of my seat and am currently, thoroughly enjoying the rest of the series.

Reviewed by Isabella 

The Cherub series: Brigands MC by Robert Muchamore

I would recommend this book to anyone that loves action or adventure books. It has a nice flow to it, and the plot is great. It has a great start and is about a group of kids that have been trained as intelligence agents. The mission in this book is infiltrating a gang – known as the Brigands – and finding out how they are managing to sneak weapons into the country. Brigands MC is book 11 in the Cherub series. Overall, it is a great book, and I would highly recommend it. 

Reviewed by Callum

Scavengers by Darren Simpson

The book, Scavengers by Darren Simpson, is about a boy called Landfill. Landfill lives in a place that he calls Tinderland. In reality... it's a trash dump! He and a man called Babagoo have been scavenging there for years- without stepping outside the walls that surround them. Babagoo is constantly enforcing the endless rules that he makes to keep Landfill inside the walls. Rules such as; deadly "Outsiders" and the so-called "Rot". 

But Landfill is curious. What is Babagoo hiding from Landfill and what really lies behind the wall? 

My favourite character in the book was Landfill himself, because I enjoyed reading about his adventurous and interesting personalit. His character is intriguing and develops as the story unfolds. I couldn't wait to find out more about his mysterious past.  

Reviewed by Inyoung.

Wings of Fire series by Tui T.Sutherland.

The series Wings Of Fire is about five dragons who set out on a daring mission to stop a raging war...

What I liked about the series is that it makes me hook onto the books, and doesn't want me to stop. 

There are five books in the series, starting with The Dragnet Prophecy.

Series one: 1. The Dragonet prophecy

            2. The lost heir 

                           3. The hidden Kingdom 

                           4. The dark secret 

                           5. The brightest night 

I rate this book 4.5/5. I recommend you try it!

Reviewed by Stanley

The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni

Let me start by saying that I loved this book so much! All the characters were fantastic, something I don’t usually say, and the dialogue between all the main characters was fabulous. Lynette Noni is such a great writer and the plot twists she writes are (mostly), so unexpected. 

I highly recommend this book and am definitely going to be reading the next two books in the trilogy.

Recommended for Year 9 upwards

Reviewed By Ana 

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

‘It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.' Do you agree? 

Pride and Prejudice is a compelling and relatable classic that remains relevant even today. Travel with Lizzy Bennet through the countryside of 19^th century England, and the ballrooms of her hometown Meryton, and meet the formidable Mr Darcy. It is Mrs. Bennet’s goal in life to see her five daughters married - will it be so? What a to do there shall be!

If you have loved Pride and Prejudice you might also like these books with similar settings:

• Longbourn by Jo Baker   (Senior college/adult)
• Emma by Jane Austen
• The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by A. Conan Doyle

 Reviewed by Jodie 

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Scythe, by Neal Shusterman, is a page turning thriller following the two characters Rowan and Citra in a dystopian future where Scythes are the only people who can kill. 

Rowan and Citra live in a world where you can’t die – unless a Scythe gleans (kills) you. You can turn the corner and revert to a younger self and live forever. 

Scythes are seen as noble citizens in the world – but not for Rowan and Citra. Which makes it even harder when Scythe Faraday choses them to be his apprentices; To be future Scythes. But only one of them can become a Scythe. To make things worse – the Scythedom (the Scythe Government) see that they are working together to both not get chosen for the Scythe role. They introduce the rule “The winner between the two has to kill the loser as their first glean” 

This book has been keeping me on my toes so far. I am really loving this book and I highly recommend it. If you want a good read with action, humour and a little bit of romance along the way - I recommend Scythe as your next read. 

Scythe comes in a Series of three books: Arc of a Scythe. So, if you get addicted to reading this book, make sure you don’t miss out on the other books in the series – Toll and Thunderhead. 5 Stars!

Reviewed by Chloe 

Stormbreaker - By Anthony Horowitz

The Alex Rider series follows an English teenager by the name of Alex Rider on his reluctant journey as a spy for M16. He was recruited as a secret weapon for M16 after his uncle – and only family member – died in a suspicious crash. Alex investigated this and eventually got drafted (forced, actually) to work for M16.

The first book follows Alex as he navigates his uncle's killer, Herod Sayle, and a Portuguese man 'o' war.   He continues to have dangerous and thrilling adventures that are fun, breathtaking, and exhilarating to read. 

This is a terrific book for all ages, easy and quick to follow and read, not too gruesome or boring, perfect for 10 – 12-year-olds. 

Reviewed by Aayoung

The Coddling of the American Mind by Jonathan Haidt & Greg Lukianoff

A Senior Non-Fiction Review   

The Coddling of the American Mind explains the change in how we perceive and deal with risks nowadays compared to 10 or 20 years ago, the change in how universities operate, and the negative effect of overprotection on children. It explains how the introduction of the internet and social media has affected children and teens, how parents nowadays are more “paranoid” and the “culture of safetyism.”

The book explains in detail how parenting is a major influence on the ability of a child to cope and deal with risks and explains the problems with the current social norms. It explains in detail methods to fix and deal with these problems.

The vocabulary used and the situations explained may be quite unfamiliar to most children/teens as they describe the so called “outside world” that we have yet to experience. 

Overall, I cannot really say I enjoyed reading the book as many situations explained were also quite unfamiliar to me, but it has informed me of many problems and solutions to avoid, as well as a new perspective on society.

Reviewed by Roger.   

    👏 With huge thanks to our students who took up the challenge of         writing these thoughtful book reviews. 

 

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.

                                                   🎄