Sunday, 16 December 2007
Thursday, 29 November 2007
NCEAs
At last, the dreaded NCEAs are over. Which means I can READ books!!
For you pre-teens out there, "The Clique" series by Lisi Harrison is pretty ah-mazing, and it has really good pointers on fashion, and some cool comebacks! You should really read it!
For you pre-teens out there, "The Clique" series by Lisi Harrison is pretty ah-mazing, and it has really good pointers on fashion, and some cool comebacks! You should really read it!
Tuesday, 6 November 2007
LOTR
That's the acronym for a much loved series. The one with the rings, speaking trees, elves, magic potions and plants, giant spiders, and frail old wizards with sweeping white beards.
No, that's not Harry Potter.
It's Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien. And until my bestie Roonie influenced me to read them, I really disliked the series. For no reason. Yes, people, never judge a book by its cover. That's so true. I've learnt heaps from that. And now, I am so into Lord of the Rings!
So, give every book a chance, and don't forget to mention some really good ones to me!!
Until then, good-bye.
Angelica
No, that's not Harry Potter.
It's Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien. And until my bestie Roonie influenced me to read them, I really disliked the series. For no reason. Yes, people, never judge a book by its cover. That's so true. I've learnt heaps from that. And now, I am so into Lord of the Rings!
So, give every book a chance, and don't forget to mention some really good ones to me!!
Until then, good-bye.
Angelica
Harry Potter countdown ..
There's something wrong with it, I know, but I really don't want to take it out. Please bear with it .. :) (though I know you will)
Cheers,
Angelica
Cheers,
Angelica
Monday, 9 April 2007
More Teen Reads
The Pinhoe Egg - Diana Wynne Jones
The profilic British writer's latest in the Chrestomanci series is a long-awaited sequel to the story of the young enchanter Cat, unassuming hero of Charmed Lives. Diana Wynne Jones, now in her early 70s, is in top form, pulling off yet another of her intricately crafted adventures in her fully realised fantasy universe of related worlds.
Playing for Keeps - Denis Martin
At the end of summer holidays, teenager Rikkers witnesses a fishing boat explosion in which a man is murdered. The victim's daughter Pip then turns up at his local school, troubled and hostile. Rikker's quest to break down the barriers and become her friend sees him entangled in a dark underworld of violence and drugs smuggling.
Hideout - Lorraine Orman
An exciting story of running away and finding oneself, set on the wildly beautiful Kapiti Coast. Things at home have spun out of control for Roz, a 15-year-old doing her best to look after herself and protect her little sister Dawn from a negligent mum and predatory stepdad. The desperate Roz decides she has to take charge, running away with Dawn to an empty bach on an isolated beach. But their wild and windy hideaway is no easy refuge and when disaster strikes, who can Roz turn to for help?
Losing It - Sandy McKay
This novel deals with the tricky subject of anorexia head on. The story is told through diary entries and letters between Jo, incarcerated in hospital, and her best friend Issy, leading a normal busy, happy life at home and school. As part of her therapy Jo is confined to her room, cut off from the world and not even allowed to wash her hair unless she agrees to eat. Why would she rather starve and live like this than in the world? The source of her illness is gradually revealed in this empathetic exploration of a baffling condition whose victims are, in the main, teenage girls.
These reviews came in the newsmag (newspaper-magazine) CANVAS.
The profilic British writer's latest in the Chrestomanci series is a long-awaited sequel to the story of the young enchanter Cat, unassuming hero of Charmed Lives. Diana Wynne Jones, now in her early 70s, is in top form, pulling off yet another of her intricately crafted adventures in her fully realised fantasy universe of related worlds.
Playing for Keeps - Denis Martin
At the end of summer holidays, teenager Rikkers witnesses a fishing boat explosion in which a man is murdered. The victim's daughter Pip then turns up at his local school, troubled and hostile. Rikker's quest to break down the barriers and become her friend sees him entangled in a dark underworld of violence and drugs smuggling.
Hideout - Lorraine Orman
An exciting story of running away and finding oneself, set on the wildly beautiful Kapiti Coast. Things at home have spun out of control for Roz, a 15-year-old doing her best to look after herself and protect her little sister Dawn from a negligent mum and predatory stepdad. The desperate Roz decides she has to take charge, running away with Dawn to an empty bach on an isolated beach. But their wild and windy hideaway is no easy refuge and when disaster strikes, who can Roz turn to for help?
Losing It - Sandy McKay
This novel deals with the tricky subject of anorexia head on. The story is told through diary entries and letters between Jo, incarcerated in hospital, and her best friend Issy, leading a normal busy, happy life at home and school. As part of her therapy Jo is confined to her room, cut off from the world and not even allowed to wash her hair unless she agrees to eat. Why would she rather starve and live like this than in the world? The source of her illness is gradually revealed in this empathetic exploration of a baffling condition whose victims are, in the main, teenage girls.
These reviews came in the newsmag (newspaper-magazine) CANVAS.
Monday, 29 January 2007
True Colours (Series) - Melody Carlson
This series is one of my favourites (others include Harry Potter, Fearless and Famous Five). The books are mainly for teenage girls - always written from a teen girl's perspective (mostly, she is around 16, 17 or 18 years of age) - and are on topics such as anorexia (I hope it's the correct spelling), alcohol, suicide-pacts, cutting, and stuff related to girls like this. These are Christian books, so, in the end, the girls always find a way out of their troubles and bring God in their lives.
The books are cleverly written by Melody Carlson, and are all available in the Auckland City Libraries.
I highly recommend these books for teen girls like me.
The books are cleverly written by Melody Carlson, and are all available in the Auckland City Libraries.
I highly recommend these books for teen girls like me.
Saturday, 27 January 2007
Whitcoulls books for young adults - 12+
These are books given in the Whitcoulls Books for Young Adults list. I'm just typing them out here in my blog. No other intention.
Pick of the Bunch:
How I live now - Meg Rosoff
When 15-year-old Daisy is sent from America to England to stay with her eccentric country cousins she enjoys the leisured peace of life more than she expects. Her perfect summer is blown apart when a bomb explodes at a train station, killing thousands. England is at war. Although the war doesn't seem to have much impact on the children at first, their lives are gradually altered by the harrowing events that unfold. Set in the present day, this remarkable book presents a chillingly believable scenario about the chaos that ensues when a country is tipped into war. But it is also a luminous tale of loyalty, friendship and love.
Modern Classics:
The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
The epic adventure of Frodo, a young hobbit entrusted with an immense task. Frodo must make a perilous journey across the Middle Earth to destroy the One Ring and prevent Sauron, the Dark Lord, from using it to rule all living things.
Fiction:
Thura's Diary - Thura Al-Windawi
What would it really be like to live through the bombing of Baghdad? This poignant diary is a first-hand account of a family living in a city under attack. Thura is a nineteen-year-old Iraqi girl who describes the chaos and destruction around her and relates how families try to keep life as normal as possible.
Abarat - Clive Barker
Candy Quackenbush lives a life of mind-numbing boredom in Chickentown, a small town in the middle of the Minnesota prairies. One day she meets an astonishing seven-headed man and decides to return to his world, the Abarat, with him. As Candy journeys through the Abarat she finds herself caught up in the struggle for power between two very dangerous opponents.
Noughts and Crosses - Malorie Blackman
Callum, a Nought, and Sephy, a Cross, are growing up in a harshly segregated world. The two teenagers believe their friendship can overcome all obstacles but they have underestimated the hatred between the dominant black Crosses and the underclass of white Noughts. As events move towards a chilling conclusion, Callum and Sephy find that not only their friendship but their lives are in danger.
The Power of One - Bryce Courtenay
This young readers' edition of the bestselling novel for adults by master storyteller Bryce Courtenay focuses on Peekay's childhood. Born in a country divided by racism and hatred, six-year-old Peekay learns one day that small can beat big and armed with this knowledge he resolves to fight injustice in his own country.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Mark Haddon
A wise, funny and agonizingly honest book about one boy's search for the truth. Christopher has Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism. When his neighbour's dog is killed Christopher decides to write a detective novel based on his search for the killer. This is a hard task for someone who doesn't understand emotional responses, but Christopher's quest uncovers more than one secret and forces him to confront a bigger world than he's used to.
On a Good Day - Deborah Burnside
Lee's mother is an alcoholic and there often isn't enough money for food - or a new school uniform. Lee doesn't want anyone to find out and as a result she has no close friends at school. She slowly develops a relationship with Gunna, a boy in her homeroom, but friends and family do not approve of her new friendship. While On a Good Day deals with some emotionally harrowing issues, including the tragic deaths of young children and domestic violence, it is still essentially a hopeful account of a teenager's life.
Thunder Road - Ted Dawe
When 19-year-old Trace moves to the big city his new roommate Devon introduces him into a whole new world. Always into fast cars and speed, Trace is transfixed by Thunder Road - a strip of road where the street racers test their machines and their nerve. Then Devon hatches a dangerous moneymaking scheme and Trace convinced to go along with him - but it begins to feel like a big mistake.
Spilled Water - Sally Grindley
A powerful drama set in modern day China. When Lu Si-Yan's father dies her uncle resents having to support the family and sells Lu Si-Yan into domestic service where she is no more than a slave. Lu Si-Yan is determined to escape, but there are no easy options for an uneducated young girl from rural China. An exploitative factory owner traps Lu Si-Yan into a punitive work contract and it is two long years before she can join her family again.
Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card
Ender Wiggin enters Battle School at the age of six. There his life is strictly disciplined by mind games and computer battles fought in deadly earnest. Instinct, compassion and genius makes Ender a brilliant fighter. But as he trains, an alien invasion draws closer. Ender will be pushed to the limits of endurance, for he has a unique destiny.
A Gathering Light - Jennifer Donnelly
Mattie's dream is to save enough money to go to university. She finds work at a local hotel, where she becomes caught up in tragedy. She has promised a young guest, Grace Brown, to burn her love letters. But then Grace is found drowned, and Mattie decides to read the letters, which hold the key to Grace's death. This is a moving record of poverty and racism at the turn of twentieth century.
Across the Nightingale Floor - Lian Hearn
A haunting and beautifully written novel set in feudal Japan. Takeo only knows the way of peace and, when everyone in his village is slaughtered by a warlord, he is grateful to be saved by a nobleman, Lord Shiguru. Takeo is drawn into a world of treachery and violence that is unfamiliar to him. When he has a unique gift he becomes an integral part of the struggle for power. The sequels, Grass for his Pillow and Brilliance of the Moon, are just as enthralling.
At the Sign of the Sugared Plum - Mary Hooper
It is 1665 and Hannah is excited at the prospect of her first trip to London. She is going to help her sister, Sarah, in her sweetmeats shop, 'The Sugared Plum'. But Hannah does not get the welcoming reception she expected. Sarah is horrified that Hannah did not get her message to stay away, for the Plague is taking hold of London ... Hannah's story continues in Petals in the Ashes, set during the Great Fire of London.
Lily B on the Brink of Cool - Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
Lily is not looking forward to the summer vacation. Her best friend has gone to Young Executive Camp and she is left at home with her very "uncool" parents. Then, at a family wedding, Lily meets some distant relatives who seem to be glamorous, adventurous and environmentally aware. Eventually Lily discovers that the Le Blancs are not what they seem.
This entertaining novel is sure to be a big hit with fans of Jacqueline Wilson and Meg Cabot.
Chinese Cinderella - Adeline Yen Mah
Adeline Yen Mah's mother died giving birth to her, and so she has been considered bad luck by her family ever since. Unwanted and unloved, Adeline spends many years trying to find acceptance, respect and love from her family. A true story that opens many avenues for discussion.
Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society - Adeline Yen Mah
A fictional story set during World War II, based on the experiences of Adeline Yen Mah and the kung fu stories she wrote as a child. Chinese Cinderella is thrown out of her home and joins a secret kung fu society. She and the other children are sent on a dangerous mission to rescue American pilots who have crashed in Japanese-occupied China.
Where I Live - John Marsden
While I Live: The Ellie Chronicles is the first book in a new series featuring Ellie Linton, heroine and narrator of the Tomorrow When the War Began series. Ellie is looking forward to resuming a normal life with her parents, but then they are killed by a band of enemy soldiers from across the border. The war has exploded into Ellie's life once more.
I Can Jump Puddles - Alan Marshall
The boyhood story of Alan Marshall, a victim of polio. Born in a country town in Victoria in the early 1990's, Alan tells of his determination to beat his crippling disease. His story is a testament to the power of the human spirit when faced with hardship and an inspirational demonstration of the power of mind over matter.
A Little Piece of Ground - Elizabeth Laird
Karim is a 12-year-old Palestinian boy living in Ramallah. His school has been destroyed by Israelis and the family lives in an unsettled life dominated by fear. All Karim wants is a little peice of ground on which to play soccer and have a little bit of normality in his life. This book has stirred controversy. As it is narrated from the point of view of a Palestinian boy, some critics have described the book as "anti-Israeli".
The Changeover - Margaret Mahy
Laura Chant's little brother starts dying when the evil Carmody Braque puts a spell on him. Laura turns to an older boy at school for help, for she suspects he has special powers. His mother and grandmother, both witches, tell Laura that the only way for her to save her little brother is to "changeover" and become a witch herself.
Feeling Sorry for Celia - Jaclyn Moriarty
Elizabeth Clarry is "incredibly bad at being a teenager". She doesn't have posters on her walls or makeup on her dresser, and she has a Teletubbies quilt cover. This is a very funny novel, written entirely in letters between Elizabeth and her friends, not to mention the notes that she and her mother leave stuck on the fridge for each other.
The Recruit - Robert Muchamore
When James' mother dies suddenly, he and his younger sister are separated and James is sent to an orphanage. It is not long before James is recruited by CHERUB, a top-secret agency taht trains child spies. James is sent to their boot camp where he has to undergo a terrifying and rigorous training schedule. To give up means humiliation. To fail could mean injury, or even death.
Mister Monday (The Keys to the Kingdom No. 1) - Garth Nix
Arthur is a reluctant hero. He is meant to die an early death from an asthma attack, but he is saved by a key that is shaped like a tuny clock hand. Although Arthur is safe, his world is now in deadly danger. The key brings with it a plague brought by strange creatures from another realm. A sinister stranger called Mister Monday, his avenging messengers with blood-stained wings, and an army of dog-faced Fetchers will stop at nothing to recover the key, even if it means destroying Arthur's entire world.
Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging - Louise Rennison
A laugh-out-loud account of the daily life of Georgia Nicholson, teenager, cat-owner, misunderstood daughter. She has a three-year-old sister who may have peed somewhere in her room, a father who tries to understand her, and a cat that wants to kill the neighbour's poodle. Fortunately there are several more titles about Georgia for those who become addicted.
Ties that Bind, Ties that Break - Lensey Namioka
Set in China in 1911, Namioka's novel is about a young girl, Ailin, who refuses to have her feet bound. As a result, the family of her intended husband breaks their marriage agreement. As she enters adolescence, Ailin finds that her family, shamed by her decision, will no longer support her. She must somehow find a way to support herself. This book will appeal to anyone who enjoyed Chinese Cinderella.
Out of Tune - Joanna Orwin
Jaz is out to shock her family. She doesn't get on with her parents, but when her great-grandmother gives her some old family diaries to read, Jaz is fascinated by the story of her ancestor, Maggie. The narrative moves between the lives of two girls, contemptory Jaz and nineteenth century Maggie who has escaped poverty on Shetland Island only to find herself struggling for survival on Stewart Island.
Pick of the Bunch:
How I live now - Meg Rosoff
When 15-year-old Daisy is sent from America to England to stay with her eccentric country cousins she enjoys the leisured peace of life more than she expects. Her perfect summer is blown apart when a bomb explodes at a train station, killing thousands. England is at war. Although the war doesn't seem to have much impact on the children at first, their lives are gradually altered by the harrowing events that unfold. Set in the present day, this remarkable book presents a chillingly believable scenario about the chaos that ensues when a country is tipped into war. But it is also a luminous tale of loyalty, friendship and love.
Modern Classics:
The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
The epic adventure of Frodo, a young hobbit entrusted with an immense task. Frodo must make a perilous journey across the Middle Earth to destroy the One Ring and prevent Sauron, the Dark Lord, from using it to rule all living things.
Fiction:
Thura's Diary - Thura Al-Windawi
What would it really be like to live through the bombing of Baghdad? This poignant diary is a first-hand account of a family living in a city under attack. Thura is a nineteen-year-old Iraqi girl who describes the chaos and destruction around her and relates how families try to keep life as normal as possible.
Abarat - Clive Barker
Candy Quackenbush lives a life of mind-numbing boredom in Chickentown, a small town in the middle of the Minnesota prairies. One day she meets an astonishing seven-headed man and decides to return to his world, the Abarat, with him. As Candy journeys through the Abarat she finds herself caught up in the struggle for power between two very dangerous opponents.
Noughts and Crosses - Malorie Blackman
Callum, a Nought, and Sephy, a Cross, are growing up in a harshly segregated world. The two teenagers believe their friendship can overcome all obstacles but they have underestimated the hatred between the dominant black Crosses and the underclass of white Noughts. As events move towards a chilling conclusion, Callum and Sephy find that not only their friendship but their lives are in danger.
The Power of One - Bryce Courtenay
This young readers' edition of the bestselling novel for adults by master storyteller Bryce Courtenay focuses on Peekay's childhood. Born in a country divided by racism and hatred, six-year-old Peekay learns one day that small can beat big and armed with this knowledge he resolves to fight injustice in his own country.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Mark Haddon
A wise, funny and agonizingly honest book about one boy's search for the truth. Christopher has Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism. When his neighbour's dog is killed Christopher decides to write a detective novel based on his search for the killer. This is a hard task for someone who doesn't understand emotional responses, but Christopher's quest uncovers more than one secret and forces him to confront a bigger world than he's used to.
On a Good Day - Deborah Burnside
Lee's mother is an alcoholic and there often isn't enough money for food - or a new school uniform. Lee doesn't want anyone to find out and as a result she has no close friends at school. She slowly develops a relationship with Gunna, a boy in her homeroom, but friends and family do not approve of her new friendship. While On a Good Day deals with some emotionally harrowing issues, including the tragic deaths of young children and domestic violence, it is still essentially a hopeful account of a teenager's life.
Thunder Road - Ted Dawe
When 19-year-old Trace moves to the big city his new roommate Devon introduces him into a whole new world. Always into fast cars and speed, Trace is transfixed by Thunder Road - a strip of road where the street racers test their machines and their nerve. Then Devon hatches a dangerous moneymaking scheme and Trace convinced to go along with him - but it begins to feel like a big mistake.
Spilled Water - Sally Grindley
A powerful drama set in modern day China. When Lu Si-Yan's father dies her uncle resents having to support the family and sells Lu Si-Yan into domestic service where she is no more than a slave. Lu Si-Yan is determined to escape, but there are no easy options for an uneducated young girl from rural China. An exploitative factory owner traps Lu Si-Yan into a punitive work contract and it is two long years before she can join her family again.
Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card
Ender Wiggin enters Battle School at the age of six. There his life is strictly disciplined by mind games and computer battles fought in deadly earnest. Instinct, compassion and genius makes Ender a brilliant fighter. But as he trains, an alien invasion draws closer. Ender will be pushed to the limits of endurance, for he has a unique destiny.
A Gathering Light - Jennifer Donnelly
Mattie's dream is to save enough money to go to university. She finds work at a local hotel, where she becomes caught up in tragedy. She has promised a young guest, Grace Brown, to burn her love letters. But then Grace is found drowned, and Mattie decides to read the letters, which hold the key to Grace's death. This is a moving record of poverty and racism at the turn of twentieth century.
Across the Nightingale Floor - Lian Hearn
A haunting and beautifully written novel set in feudal Japan. Takeo only knows the way of peace and, when everyone in his village is slaughtered by a warlord, he is grateful to be saved by a nobleman, Lord Shiguru. Takeo is drawn into a world of treachery and violence that is unfamiliar to him. When he has a unique gift he becomes an integral part of the struggle for power. The sequels, Grass for his Pillow and Brilliance of the Moon, are just as enthralling.
At the Sign of the Sugared Plum - Mary Hooper
It is 1665 and Hannah is excited at the prospect of her first trip to London. She is going to help her sister, Sarah, in her sweetmeats shop, 'The Sugared Plum'. But Hannah does not get the welcoming reception she expected. Sarah is horrified that Hannah did not get her message to stay away, for the Plague is taking hold of London ... Hannah's story continues in Petals in the Ashes, set during the Great Fire of London.
Lily B on the Brink of Cool - Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
Lily is not looking forward to the summer vacation. Her best friend has gone to Young Executive Camp and she is left at home with her very "uncool" parents. Then, at a family wedding, Lily meets some distant relatives who seem to be glamorous, adventurous and environmentally aware. Eventually Lily discovers that the Le Blancs are not what they seem.
This entertaining novel is sure to be a big hit with fans of Jacqueline Wilson and Meg Cabot.
Chinese Cinderella - Adeline Yen Mah
Adeline Yen Mah's mother died giving birth to her, and so she has been considered bad luck by her family ever since. Unwanted and unloved, Adeline spends many years trying to find acceptance, respect and love from her family. A true story that opens many avenues for discussion.
Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society - Adeline Yen Mah
A fictional story set during World War II, based on the experiences of Adeline Yen Mah and the kung fu stories she wrote as a child. Chinese Cinderella is thrown out of her home and joins a secret kung fu society. She and the other children are sent on a dangerous mission to rescue American pilots who have crashed in Japanese-occupied China.
Where I Live - John Marsden
While I Live: The Ellie Chronicles is the first book in a new series featuring Ellie Linton, heroine and narrator of the Tomorrow When the War Began series. Ellie is looking forward to resuming a normal life with her parents, but then they are killed by a band of enemy soldiers from across the border. The war has exploded into Ellie's life once more.
I Can Jump Puddles - Alan Marshall
The boyhood story of Alan Marshall, a victim of polio. Born in a country town in Victoria in the early 1990's, Alan tells of his determination to beat his crippling disease. His story is a testament to the power of the human spirit when faced with hardship and an inspirational demonstration of the power of mind over matter.
A Little Piece of Ground - Elizabeth Laird
Karim is a 12-year-old Palestinian boy living in Ramallah. His school has been destroyed by Israelis and the family lives in an unsettled life dominated by fear. All Karim wants is a little peice of ground on which to play soccer and have a little bit of normality in his life. This book has stirred controversy. As it is narrated from the point of view of a Palestinian boy, some critics have described the book as "anti-Israeli".
The Changeover - Margaret Mahy
Laura Chant's little brother starts dying when the evil Carmody Braque puts a spell on him. Laura turns to an older boy at school for help, for she suspects he has special powers. His mother and grandmother, both witches, tell Laura that the only way for her to save her little brother is to "changeover" and become a witch herself.
Feeling Sorry for Celia - Jaclyn Moriarty
Elizabeth Clarry is "incredibly bad at being a teenager". She doesn't have posters on her walls or makeup on her dresser, and she has a Teletubbies quilt cover. This is a very funny novel, written entirely in letters between Elizabeth and her friends, not to mention the notes that she and her mother leave stuck on the fridge for each other.
The Recruit - Robert Muchamore
When James' mother dies suddenly, he and his younger sister are separated and James is sent to an orphanage. It is not long before James is recruited by CHERUB, a top-secret agency taht trains child spies. James is sent to their boot camp where he has to undergo a terrifying and rigorous training schedule. To give up means humiliation. To fail could mean injury, or even death.
Mister Monday (The Keys to the Kingdom No. 1) - Garth Nix
Arthur is a reluctant hero. He is meant to die an early death from an asthma attack, but he is saved by a key that is shaped like a tuny clock hand. Although Arthur is safe, his world is now in deadly danger. The key brings with it a plague brought by strange creatures from another realm. A sinister stranger called Mister Monday, his avenging messengers with blood-stained wings, and an army of dog-faced Fetchers will stop at nothing to recover the key, even if it means destroying Arthur's entire world.
Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging - Louise Rennison
A laugh-out-loud account of the daily life of Georgia Nicholson, teenager, cat-owner, misunderstood daughter. She has a three-year-old sister who may have peed somewhere in her room, a father who tries to understand her, and a cat that wants to kill the neighbour's poodle. Fortunately there are several more titles about Georgia for those who become addicted.
Ties that Bind, Ties that Break - Lensey Namioka
Set in China in 1911, Namioka's novel is about a young girl, Ailin, who refuses to have her feet bound. As a result, the family of her intended husband breaks their marriage agreement. As she enters adolescence, Ailin finds that her family, shamed by her decision, will no longer support her. She must somehow find a way to support herself. This book will appeal to anyone who enjoyed Chinese Cinderella.
Out of Tune - Joanna Orwin
Jaz is out to shock her family. She doesn't get on with her parents, but when her great-grandmother gives her some old family diaries to read, Jaz is fascinated by the story of her ancestor, Maggie. The narrative moves between the lives of two girls, contemptory Jaz and nineteenth century Maggie who has escaped poverty on Shetland Island only to find herself struggling for survival on Stewart Island.
Thursday, 25 January 2007
Ten things to do in your Christmas Holidays (a bit late, I know)
- Volunteer your time: Get into the Christmas spirit and volunteer for a charity (e.g. Kidney Kids). Pick something you feel strongly about: SPCA, Youthline, Salvation Army. You'll be giving the best gift by helping others in need and will get the opportunity to learn skills to add to your CV!
- Join a: Gym, youth group, language class, art class, dance class.
- Make gifts/cards for friends and family: Use your talents, artistic, construction, or baking to bake for friends and family. The best gifts are homemade!
- Get active: Organise a day out with mates, swimming, playing frisbee, walking, biking.
- Expand your mind! Visit the library!: Choose a book about a country, language, different culture, history, how to ... and learn!
- Make a movie: Even Peter Jackson had to start somewhere! So beg or borrow a video camera and get started!
- Get creative: Write a short story, poem, song, paint a picture. Express yourself!
- Have a picnic: Pack a picnic lunch, get some friends together and head to somewhere with a nice view, sit back, relax and enjoy!
- B'n'B: Grab a book and head out to the beach! Don't forget to slip, slop, slap - skin cancer isn't cool!
- Keep in touch: Write a letter to a long lost friend or relative. You never know you may get something back - and it's great to get mail in the post!
These fun-filled activities originally came in the Waitakere City Council Libraries (Edition: December 2006), and I simply copied them out here. The real credit goes to the Libraries for inventing these.
Buddy - V. M. Jones (NZ author)
Josh Cranford loves running, soccer, cricket - anything, actually, as long as it's a sport. Most of all, he loves to win. But one person stands in his way - Shane Hunter. They clash in everything, and Shane always comes out best especially where girls are concerned. Makes it feel that way, anyhow.
Then along comes an off-the-wall new teacher and a wicked new challenge: the Energex Iron Kid Triathlon. The perfect chance to take Shane on and come out on top.
Except Josh can't swim. He never has, and vowed he never would. If he's going to enter the triathlon, he'll have to overcome his fear of water ... and take the first step to confronting a secret buried too deep in his past to think about.
Josh's decision triggers the most important six weeks of his life - and Shane Hunter isn't the only problem. Josh not only has to learn to swim; he has to learn to deal with his dad's new live-in partner, Suzanne (who can't cook, by the way). And then there's his biggest and most painful secret of all ... Buddy.
Rating: *****
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* = Very boring
** = Boring
*** = Okay
**** = Good
***** = Excellent! You've got to read this!
Then along comes an off-the-wall new teacher and a wicked new challenge: the Energex Iron Kid Triathlon. The perfect chance to take Shane on and come out on top.
Except Josh can't swim. He never has, and vowed he never would. If he's going to enter the triathlon, he'll have to overcome his fear of water ... and take the first step to confronting a secret buried too deep in his past to think about.
Josh's decision triggers the most important six weeks of his life - and Shane Hunter isn't the only problem. Josh not only has to learn to swim; he has to learn to deal with his dad's new live-in partner, Suzanne (who can't cook, by the way). And then there's his biggest and most painful secret of all ... Buddy.
Rating: *****
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* = Very boring
** = Boring
*** = Okay
**** = Good
***** = Excellent! You've got to read this!
Fearless (series) - Francine Pascal
She's a Black belt. A sharpshooter. Fluent in six languages. She can lift twice her weight and flip a 200-pound man over her shoulder. All this in an ordinary-looking seventeen-year-old girl. Gaia Moore is a walking ambush.
No rating given.
No rating given.
Wednesday, 24 January 2007
From the mixed-up files of Mrs. Basil. E. Frankweiler - E. L. Koningsburg
Straight-A's Claudia Kincaid decided to run away from home - so did her miser brother, Jamie. She decided to live in the the Metropolitan Museum of Art in comfort - they could sleep on the big, antique beds of Marie Antoinette, and get to wear sneakers!
Claudia wanted to be someone different - she was bored with her routined lifestyle. Then came a distraction in her life in the form of a statue of an angel. Lady Claude and Sir James simply could not go home till she found out its maker: and this was a question which baffled even the experts!
The former owner of the statue was Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler, and without her help, Claudia and Jamie could not have solved the mystery of the angel - or found a way to go home.
Rating: ****
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* = Very boring
** = Boring
*** = Okay
**** = Good
***** = Excellent! You've got to read this!
Claudia wanted to be someone different - she was bored with her routined lifestyle. Then came a distraction in her life in the form of a statue of an angel. Lady Claude and Sir James simply could not go home till she found out its maker: and this was a question which baffled even the experts!
The former owner of the statue was Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler, and without her help, Claudia and Jamie could not have solved the mystery of the angel - or found a way to go home.
Rating: ****
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* = Very boring
** = Boring
*** = Okay
**** = Good
***** = Excellent! You've got to read this!
Not without my daughter - Betty Mahmoody
All is going well for Betty Mahmoody - she has a loving husband, a beautiful daughter, and her husband is also a doctor in the U.S. - that is, until 'Moody' announces a two-week trip to Iran to visit his family.
Arriving in Iran, she realises that Moody plans on staying there forever. In a country where women have to wear chador even on the hottest day; where innocent children are carried off to the mining grounds to work, never to return again; and worst of all, where a wife has no option but to obey her husband everytime, everywhere.
So how will Betty escape, along with her daughter Martha, when they have no passports, no money, and no telephone to use? (And to top it all, no family member helps them at all.)
Rating: *****
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* = Very boring
** = Boring
*** = Okay
**** = Good
***** = Excellent! You've got to read this!
Arriving in Iran, she realises that Moody plans on staying there forever. In a country where women have to wear chador even on the hottest day; where innocent children are carried off to the mining grounds to work, never to return again; and worst of all, where a wife has no option but to obey her husband everytime, everywhere.
So how will Betty escape, along with her daughter Martha, when they have no passports, no money, and no telephone to use? (And to top it all, no family member helps them at all.)
Rating: *****
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* = Very boring
** = Boring
*** = Okay
**** = Good
***** = Excellent! You've got to read this!
Malgudi Schooldays - R. K. Narayan
Swaminathan lives in Malgudi and likes to play Cricket. Swami's days are full of action - when he is not creating a ruckus in the classroom or preparing in his inmitable way for exams, he is trying to acquire a hoop from the coachman's son to run down the Malgudi streets, playing tricks on his grandmother, or stoning the school windows, inspired by a swadeshi demonstration. But the greatest feat of Swami and his friends lies in putting together a cricket team for the MCC (the Malgudi Cricket Club) and challenging the neighbouring YMU (the Young Men's Union) to a match. Just before the match, however, things go horribly wrong, and Swami has no option but to run away from home, wanting never to return to Malgudi again ...
Rating: *****
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* = Very boring
** = Boring
*** = Okay
**** = Good
***** = Excellent! You've got to read this!
Rating: *****
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* = Very boring
** = Boring
*** = Okay
**** = Good
***** = Excellent! You've got to read this!
Lucky T - Kate Brian
This book is about a typical junk-food loving American teenage girl, Carrie Fitzgerald. She is the luckiest girl in her school, being the youngest team member on the high school basketball team, lead girl in the school play, and dating the cutest boy in the school - all thanks for the 'lucky T' her father sent from Morocco.
The story changes dramatically when her mother accidentally sends the T to the 'Help India' fund, and Carrie travels all the way to India to rescue it.
Is the T really that lucky? Will she actually find it in the second-most populated country of the world? Or will Carrie find luck in something else ... ?
Rating: ***
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* = Very boring
** = Boring
*** = Okay
**** = Good
***** = Excellent! You've got to read this!
The story changes dramatically when her mother accidentally sends the T to the 'Help India' fund, and Carrie travels all the way to India to rescue it.
Is the T really that lucky? Will she actually find it in the second-most populated country of the world? Or will Carrie find luck in something else ... ?
Rating: ***
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* = Very boring
** = Boring
*** = Okay
**** = Good
***** = Excellent! You've got to read this!
Books to read before you're 21
Anne of Green Gable
Chasing Cassie
Are you there God? It's me Margaret - Judy Blume
Brighton Rock - Graham Greene
Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
1984 - George Orwell
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
The Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
The secret diary of Adrian Mole, aged 13 3/4 - Sue Townsend
The time traveller's wife - Audrey Niffeneger
The worst case scenario survival guide for University
The Harry Potter series - J K Rowling
Hmm ... hopefully I'll get to read all these before I'm 21 - make sure you do, too!
Chasing Cassie
Are you there God? It's me Margaret - Judy Blume
Brighton Rock - Graham Greene
Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
1984 - George Orwell
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
The Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
The secret diary of Adrian Mole, aged 13 3/4 - Sue Townsend
The time traveller's wife - Audrey Niffeneger
The worst case scenario survival guide for University
The Harry Potter series - J K Rowling
Hmm ... hopefully I'll get to read all these before I'm 21 - make sure you do, too!
Hey!
Hey everyone, this is my new blog, and all the bookwormies get excited, because I'm going to be putting in stuff about BOOKS! Reviews, release dates, etc.
Most of the stuff I put in will be related to Auckland, for example the libraries, NZ authors, etc. Sorry for the inconvenience caused.
Please leave some comments as well, as it would help me make my blog better!
Most of the stuff I put in will be related to Auckland, for example the libraries, NZ authors, etc. Sorry for the inconvenience caused.
Please leave some comments as well, as it would help me make my blog better!
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