Katikati College

101,361 pages read and 5,892 team points

Team members

Wellyphant1

55,624 pts

(32,682 pages read)

Sophie's Heart

By Samantha Franklin

5 stars

The very best for last. Written by a very dear friend as a way to give Sophie a life beyond her time on Earth; I cannot recommend this book enough. Much love always Sophie.
The Call

By Gavin Strawhan

3 stars

A dark and challenging read, took me a couple of goes to get through it. Context is gang fighting within 501s.
The 78-Storey Treehouse

By Andy Griffiths

4 stars

A farcical and long standoff between Terry and Andy that entertained me right through a rainy Friday afternoon.
The 65-Storey Treehouse

By Andy Griffiths

4 stars

Love this series. Always chaos with Andy and Terry! The idea of a wheelie-bin time machine is also novel- easy to tip!
The Nature of Ash

By Mandy Hager

4 stars

I really enjoyed this book. Well thought-out with clear and familiar settings in a really unsettled political environment.
She's A Killer

By Kirsten McDougall

2 stars

DNF as motivation is flagging and this one is a little bleak. Might try it again in the winter- fits the mood.
The Bookshop Detectives 2: Tea and Cake and Death

By Gareth and Louise Ward

5 stars

I am really enjoying this series. Lots of bright and rich characters. Set up perfectly for a third book in the dying embers of this story, too.
Helper and Helper

By Joy Cowley

3 stars

Vivid setting in this book. The animal relationships reminded me a little of Brer Rabbit or Wind in the Willows.
Hicksville

By Dylan Horrocks

3 stars

One of the joys of the Reading Challenge- moving outside my usual comfort zone. This is venerated by the comic book community, but I was just interested in the inner workings of the comic book world.
Mophead: How Your Difference Makes A Difference

By Selina Tusitala Marsh

4 stars

An inspiring story for young people to love themselves for who they are.
The Auditions

By Stacy Gregg

3 stars

Different kind of topic for me, not usually into the horsey reading. Really enjoyed this, though.
The Hate U Give

By Angie Thomas

5 stars

A re-read for teaching. Such a strong story, absolutely heartbreaking at times.
Wawata: Moon Dreaming

By Dr. Hinemoa Elder

3 stars

This was an interesting book to read through and understand different phases of the moon on our lives. Very different perspective to my own upbringing.
The Case of the Dreaming Dragon

By Patrice Lawrence

2 stars

Bit difficult to get into but nice to have the time with the kids.
How to Be A Pirate

By Cressida Cowell

4 stars

A firm family favourite. Was asked this morning why I was listening to it without my kids- suitable for all ages!
Which Way to the Future

By Cressida Cowell

5 stars

As a family, we enjoy anything that Cressida Cowell writes. This has been a great bedtime read for the last few weeks.
Nine Girls

By Stacy Gregg

4 stars

Read as a potential Year 9 text. I really enjoyed this book- rich storytelling set at the foot of Taupiri Maunga and Waikato Awa.
Under Italian Skies

By Nicky Pellegrino

3 stars

I found that the structure took a little getting used to, but Pellegrino's Italian settings are always rich and whimsical.
Buttons McGinty: Book 1

By Rhys Darby

3 stars

Absolute madness from Rhys Darby, loads of fun. Includes a poignant comparison between Bigfoot and his Nan's feet.
Roar, Squeak, Purr

By Paula Green (Ed.)

3 stars

A really fun collection of NZ animal poems- some gems in there!
The 130-Storey Treehouse

By Andy Griffiths

4 stars

The Treehouse books are fun and perfectly suited to get the boys and I through a day in the classroom tidying up and sorting out.
Helen and the Go-Go Ninjas

By Ant Sang and Michael Bennett

2 stars

Not really my kind of book, quite a lot of gratuitous violence and not enough romance!
The Little Yellow Digger Treasury

By Betty and Alan Gilderdale

5 stars

Love these books. Alan Gilderdale's illustrations are fantastic.
The Haunting

By Margaret Mahy

4 stars

A great supernatural thriller, fantastic to listen to as an audiobook.
The Three Little Lambs

By Sher Foley

3 stars

A cool kiwi twist on the Three Little Pigs tale.
Two Little Pirates

By Ruth Paul

4 stars

A funny read that strikes close to my heart, having two sons.
Frankenstein

By Mary Shelley

5 stars

A re-read before L3 English. Such a good book, excited to teach it this term!
Educated

By Tara Westover

5 stars

Highly recommend. A re-read in preparation to teach this for Year 11/12 mixed class.
Our Violent Ends

By Chloe Gong

4 stars

An excellent sequel to These Violent Delights. Strong characters and storyline, and a fresh take on the star-crossed lovers theme.
Here Be Dragons

By David Somerset

3 stars

I love old maps, just like Jenny. I would love to have found one stating "Here Be Dragons" in my library!
Quaky Cat Helps Out

By Diana Noonan and Gavin Bishop

3 stars

Lovely stories set in post-quake Christchurch
Grandma McGarvey Takes a Dive

By Jenny Hessell

4 stars

A perennial favourite- these books always used to be popular with the Playcentre crowd.
On the Right Path

By David Hill

3 stars

A funny story about siblings, perfect for this time of the holidays!
Tiny Pieces of Us

By Nicky Pellegrino

3 stars

A really touching story about the nature of organ donation and aftermath.
Awesome Aotearoa: Margaret Mahy's History of New Zealand

By Margaret Mahy

3 stars

This was a really lively and entertaining look at NZ History for a late-primary audience. Good to have read King's History as well for comparison.
Patu

By Gavin Bishop

4 stars

This is a fascinating book. The images are exquisite and this is a must-have for any primary or intermediate school library.
The Good Mistress

By Anne Tiernan

2 stars

Not really my cup of tea, but really well-developed characters and a good holiday read.
Is it Bedtime Yet?

By Emily Writes and Friends

4 stars

Fair few belly laughs from this book. Very happy holiday reading while the rain pours outside.
Gabriel's Bay

By Catherine Robertson

4 stars

A really enjoyable look at a small-town oceanside village. I especially liked the author's note at the beginning, "Gabriel's Bay is an amalgam of several small New Zealand towns, so wherever you think it is, you'll be correct."
Room on the Broom

By Julia Donaldson

4 stars

Love Julia Donaldson books- so much fun and wit.
Black Snake

By Carole Wilkinson

4 stars

A really interesting late primary/early secondary text about Ned Kelly and the Kelly Gang. Son loved it as he saw links to the Black Sheep podcast from RNZ.
P.S. Come to Italy

By Nicky Pellegrino

4 stars

This was an immersive story, which really made me feel as if I was in Southern Italy. Highly enjoyable.
Coast Watcher

By David Hill

4 stars

A well-written account of the Solomon Islands during WWII. Hill writes tension well.
Battle Royal

By Lucy Parker

5 stars

Thoroughly enjoyable. It was like the romance-novel equivalent of watching Amaury Guichon videos with a hint of Bake Off. So much fun.
Truthmaker

By Tony Chapelle

3 stars

Chapelle has continued the story from The Severed Land well and has done a good job of continuing to develop Gee's characters.
This Land: The Fall of Tāne, Book Two

By Mark Abnett

3 stars

A good, quick read. Bit old for my kids but I could see College students enjoying it. I really liked the material at the end explaining the different cultural considerations that went into creating this text, and the influence of mana whenua.
The Pool

By Hannah Tunnicliffe

2 stars

This story dragged for me a little. I probably should have cut my losses but I did have my curiosity piqued in the end. For me, the ensemble cast was unwieldy and there were additional characters that seemed to be attached without a lot of depth given to them.
A Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons

By Cressida Cowell

4 stars

Another funny and thrilling story in the How to Train Your Dragon series. Much better than the film! I love Camicazi- full of vim and courage.
How to Twist a Dragon's Tail

By Cressida Cowell

4 stars

Lovely listen on the way back from camping.
How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse

By Cressida Cowell

5 stars

This is our favourite series as a family- clever and funny with heaps of twists and turns.
Cassie Clark: Outlaw

By Brian Falkner

3 stars

A solid effort at a YA thriller novel. I do enjoy Falkner's writing.
Buttons McGinty: Book 3

By Rhys Darby

3 stars

The intergalactic adventure continues! Highly enjoyable, absolutely bonkers.
Out of This World

By Dominique Ford

3 stars

An enjoyable local fantasy. Clearly hits the YA target market.
Buttons McGinty: Book 2

By Rhys Darby

4 stars

Read on the recommendation of my 9-year-old nephew. Surprisingly good! The humour stands up well and his illustrations fit the tone of the book perfectly.
The Little Yellow Digger Finds Treasure

By Peter Gilderdale and Fifi Colston

3 stars

Another classic from the Little Yellow Digger Files.
The Gobbledegook Book

By Joy Cowley

4 stars

So much fun!
Kiss My Glass

By Catherine Robertson

3 stars

Such a fun and light summer read.
Badjelly the Witch

By Spike Milligan

3 stars

As my son said, "Man, this just gets crazier and crazier!"
Sharing a Shell

By Julia Donaldson

4 stars

This was such a favourite with my kids
Maori Myths and Legends for Young New Zealanders

By Narrator Don Selwyn

3 stars

A cool listen.
You're So Vine

By Catherine Robertson

4 stars

Another really fun read set in the same world as Corkscrew You. I really like the tag-team narrators for these.
Corkscrew You

By Catherine Robertson

5 stars

A really fun romance, without too much of the brooding thing. Happy to have another couple of books in this series to move on to.
Footrot Flats: The Dog Strips

By Murray Ball

4 stars

This is a massive collection of Footrot Flats, with stories and notes by Murray Ball. It was really interesting to read the background behind so many of the characters in Footrot Flats, and special to be able to discuss this with my Dad.
Stuck in the Muck

By Brett Avison

4 stars

Oscar and Bryn are at it again, with a whole host of vehicles to save Milky!
Tulip and Doug

By Emma Wood, Carla Martell

4 stars

A touching story, but I think they missed the opportunity to call the stone 'Sharon'.
The Little Yellow Digger Goes to School

By Betty and Alan Gilderdale

4 stars

Another classic digger story.
The Little Yellow Digger Saves the Whale

By Betty and Alan Gilderdale

4 stars

Lovely illustrations in this book.
A Bigger Digger

By Brett Avison

3 stars

Perfect for my son, also an Oscar.
The Little Yellow Digger Stories

By Betty and Alan Gilderdale

4 stars

Love this book- happy days with my kids.
Flick the Little Fire Engine

By Jamie Lawrence

3 stars

A perennial favourite for my kids.
Wonderful Me!

By Margaret Mahy

3 stars

A happy book. I really enjoy Margaret Mahy's magical creatures.
Faraway Girl

By Fleur Beale

3 stars

Improbable, but attractive for a YA audience. Had a few too many plot holes to make me want to read it with my class, but the way in which the time travel worked was novel.
The Gavin Bishop Treasury

By Gavin Bishop

4 stars

This is a really cool collection of old and original tales. A fun read.
The Margaret Mahy Treasury

By Margaret Mahy

4 stars

Love Margaret Mahy, such a funny author.
The Hairy Maclary Treasury

By Lynley Dodd

4 stars

Haven't ever read the whole treasury before. A very cool collection.
Ara: A Māori guidebook of the mind

By Dr Hinemoa Elder

4 stars

This is a great audiobook. I really enjoyed her warm reading.
The Library of the Unwritten

By A.J. Hackwith

5 stars

Really fun fantasy quest through different death realms.
Kawai: For Such A Time As This

By Monty Soutar

2 stars

My first DNF. Well-written and a spectacular story, but I just couldn't stomach the brutality.
Waiora

By Hone Kouka

3 stars

A quick read with a heavy context.
Where Underpants Come From

By Joe Bennett

5 stars

This is a really fascinating read that has been lurking on my shelf for a few years and I immediately passed it on to my husband. An interesting trip from The Warehouse to the cotton fields of northwestern China.
Needs Adult Supervision

By Emily Writes

5 stars

A laugh-out-loud look at motherhood. I'm pleased that we're far enough out from the pandemic to be reading this book. Highly recommend!
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

101,361 pages read and 5,892 team points

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