Katikati College

42,498 pages read and 3,114 team points

Team members

Wellyphant1

23,973 pts

(14,429 pages read)

The Pretty Delicious Cafe

By Danielle Hawkins

4 stars

Another lovely, light read with just a hint of thriller to keep you on your toes.
When It All Went to Custard

By Danielle Hawkins

5 stars

A fantastic read, thoroughly enjoyed the slice of rural life in the Waikato.
The School Run

By Ali Lowe

4 stars

This was such a fun read with lots of twists and turns. Highly recommend and I'll be looking for more of her books.
Grandpa's Great Escape

By David Walliams

4 stars

Recommended to me by my 8-year-old. A bittersweet story. Nice contrast to the other Alzheimers story that I read a few days ago.
The Other Bridget

By Rachael Johns

5 stars

Highly enjoyable, lovely summer romance read. Another good one to chat to my mum about.
The Bridge

By Jane Higgins

3 stars

A good dystopian text. I can think of a few students who would enjoy this. Some really solid ethical questions in here as well.
Exit .45

By Ben Sanders

4 stars

A quick and twisty crime novel. Would recommend to a friend.
Odyssey

By Stephen Fry

5 stars

Final of the four Greek Myths books from Stephen Fry- this has been our bedtime book over the last few weeks. Absolutely love his writing.
Beats of the Pa'u

By Maria Samuela

4 stars

A thoughtful collection of short stories with elements of humour and sadness.
The Great New Zealand Robbery

By Scott Bainbridge

3 stars

Nice to have some non-fiction sprinkled in the reading challenge as well. Looked at this as a potential senior text for our non-fiction English course, but very dry. A cool picture of Auckland in the 50s and 60s.
Trust No One

By Paul Cleave

4 stars

Thought this was going to be a little like Shutter Island. It wasn't, but I wasn't disappointed. Good twists and turns, and a thoroughly unreliable narrator due to progressive Alzheimers.
Three Wee Bookshops at the End of the World

By Ruth Shaw

4 stars

Lovely sequel to the Bookseller at the End of the World, although I seem to have missed the middle book. Exactly the sort of thing my mum could read and we could chat about.
The Wild West Gang

By Joy Cowley

4 stars

Another holiday read with the kids. Love the trip down memory lane.
The Pirates' Mixed Up Voyage

By Margaret Mahy

4 stars

A perennial favourite from my childhood. Love having time over the holidays to read this with my kids.
State Highway One

By Sam Coley

5 stars

A stunning read. Got this out from the library after half-remembering it from a friend-of-a-friend's recommendation. Ending took my breath away. One of my favourites of the challenge, by far.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

By J.K. Rowling

3 stars

Another listen with the family on our Christmas roadtrip. Light relief, but will be pleased to get back to texts that aren't an encyclopedia!
Safe Marriage: A Return to Sanity

By Ettie Rout

3 stars

Saw this mentioned in A Penguin History of New Zealand, so thought I'd give it a crack. A fascinating look at early-20th century sexual health and the sorts of messages that were being pushed at home, in contrast to Rout's sound medical advice to soldiers.
How to Get Fired

By Evana Belich

2 stars

Not really to my taste, bit clever for me. Quite quirky.
Where Light Meets Water

By Susan Paterson

5 stars

Chose this book on the basis of the beautiful cover. Story was also fantastic, a different topic that I don't usually read about.
The Bookseller at the End of the World

By Ruth Shaw

4 stars

This was an unexpected read. Not as light as I was expecting, but a really interesting and thoughtful reflection on her life. Can't wait to read the next one.
Eddy, Eddy

By Kate De Goldi

5 stars

The perfect book to read at Christmas. Loosely mirrors A Christmas Carol very effectively. Loved this book.
The Penguin History of New Zealand

By Michael King

4 stars

Another book that has been languishing on my bookshelf for a number of years, so nice to have a reason to read it. Enjoyed the familiar and not-so-familiar aspects of NZ history and I'm sure this will help with quiz nights!
Quidditch Through the Ages

By J K Rowling

3 stars

On a family road trip so needed one that was family-friendly. Light and entertaining.
Beach Rivals

By Georgie Tilney

5 stars

A fantastic summer read which I'm immediately going to pass on to my mum. Light and fun.
Aroha

By Dr Hinemoa Elder

4 stars

Really liked listening to this, very different from my other books so far. Keen to use these in my classroom each week next year.
The Great Hippopotamus Hotel

By Alexander McCall Smith

5 stars

Number 25 in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. Loved it as much as the rest.
The Bookshop Detectives 1: Dead Girl Gone

By Gareth Ward and Louise Ward

5 stars

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Cosy setting, a good murder mystery, little bit of tension along with fun and quiry characters.
Shooting Stars

By Brian Falkner

3 stars

Good read for teens, with a genuinely shocking twist at the end.
Wildboy: An Epic Trek Around the Coast of New Zealand

By Brando Yelavich

3 stars

This was a real contrast to the Te Araroa book that I read earlier today. Interesting to compare two journeys at two very different stages of life. Really accessible for students to read as well.
Northbound: Four Seasons of Solitude on Te Araroa

By Naomi Arnold

4 stars

Many years ago I read 'A Walk in the Woods', and loved the description of thru-hiking, something that I would love to do myself one day. This book, set along Te Araroa, brings back the same pique of interest and yearning for adventure. Loved it.
A Different Kind of Power

By Jacinda Ardern

4 stars

I really enjoyed this book. The end section was especially interesting- looking at the tide of opinion towards the Labour Government changing 2022/2023, and her response to this.
The Library of Unfinished Business

By Patricia Bell

4 stars

Quirky and lots of fun.
The Bone Tree

By Airana Ngarewa

3 stars

I found this book harrowing. Difficult to get into because of the content, but worth sticking with. Really felt for the kids at the heart of the story.
Falling Into Rarohenga

By Steph Matuku

4 stars

Re-read for Year 9 English next year. An enjoyable story, great humour. Steph Matuku writes clever and original stories.
The Rosie Effect

By Graeme Simsion

5 stars

Highly enjoyable, knocked out in a day. Neurodiversity flows through our family, so it was nice to see a thoughtful and humourous take on it that wasn't at the expense of the main character.
Thundershock in Pummelo Station

By Pokemon

2 stars

Read this because my 7-year-old asked me to, and suggested it'd get my page count up. He did offer me two, but that's really too much Pokemon for one evening. Held my interest in so far as it helps with Pokemon conversations with him.
The Luminaries

By Eleanor Catton

5 stars

About the third time I've purchased this from a book fair, and finally opened it for this challenge. Holy mackerel, it is good! So good. Characters are fantastic and the story meanders between each of them in a constant flow.
The Mushroom Tapes

By Helen Garner, Chloe Hooper, Sarah Krasnostein

3 stars

An unusual listen for me, I don't usually get into True Crime. Selected this book after I saw it on a colleague's list and smashed it out during a day in the garden. Good listen.
The Anthropocene Reviewed

By John Green

5 stars

Very touching, thoughtful review of the human experience. Loved this so much, especially the chapter on Auld Lang Syne.
Slaughterhouse 5

By Kurt Vonnegut

4 stars

I don't know what I was expecting from Vonnegut, but this wasn't it. Unexpected, a bit difficult to stick with, but hard to put down as I kept going through it.
Bugs

By Whiti Hereaka

5 stars

Loved this, especially the ending.
A Cyclist's Guide to Crime and Croissants

By Ann Claire

3 stars

A bit slow to get into. Creative storyline, solid 'whodunnit' novel.
Hot Desk

By Laura Dickerman

4 stars

Wonderfully-formed characters and a cool glimpse into the world of publishing. Cleverly-written flashbacks as well. Loved the elements of 'show, not tell' done well.
From a Far and Lovely Country

By Alexander McCall Smith

4 stars

These books are so easy to sink into, and remind me of summer holidays at Port Jackson. A lovely story.
Troy

By Stephen Fry

5 stars

Absolutely love Stephen Fry's Greek Myths series, and this was a fantastic third volume. Can't wait to launch into Odyssey.
Mammy Banter: The Secret Life of an Uncool Mum

By Serena Terry

5 stars

A very funny, light-hearted look at being a mother in her mid-thirties trying to make sense of her own identity. I liked how it was relevant to parenthood in any country, although it's set in Derry. Fantastic book, very easy to pick up and read.

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Katikati College

42,498 pages read and 3,114 team points

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