Mt Roskill Grammar

154,309 pages read and 3,755 team points

Team members

Claire

17,013 pts

(14,879 pages read)

Aue

By Becky Manawatu

4 stars

I struggled with this book but was determined to finish it.
Can't Spell Treason Without Tea

By Rebecca Thorne

4 stars

Another cozy fantasy book great for escaping from this world! Magic, dragons, books and tea - what more do you want?
Midwinter Murder

By Agatha Christie

4 stars

A collection of short stories with Agatha's well-known detective solving murders and mysteries.
The Teller of Small Fortunes

By Julie Leong

4 stars

A beautiful cozy book about a lone traveller meeting strangers who become friends and consequently gaining the strength to confront what she is running from.
Circe

By Madelilne Miller

5 stars

I wish I could write as beautifully as Madeline Miller, but then I guess I would be an author rather than a librarian! A wonderful story which kept me captivated.
Clap When You Land

By Elizabeth Acevedo

4 stars

A verse novel created around the flight AA587 which crashed in Queens, New York flying to the Dominican Republic, this is a story of two girls who both idolize their Papi and learn that he was on the flight with no survivors. One lives in New York, the other in the Dominican Republic and they don't know their Papi has a secret life and hence they don't know about each other.
Brigands & Breadknives

By Travis Baldree

4 stars

The third book in the cozy fantasy series. This is Fern's tale and she swears a lot! A fun adventure
When the Cranes Fly South

By Lisa Ridzen

5 stars

This book resonated with me so much - my heart ached and my eyes leaked and it is such sad story told in a beautiful way.
Water Moon

By Samantha Sotto Yambao

4 stars

4.5 stars! This is a weird, quirky cozy book covering just about every genre. I really loved it and hope that they make it into an anime film - it would be perfect.
Refugee The Graphic Novel

By Alan Gratz

4 stars

A graphic retelling of his novel of the same name - a great book.
The Echo of Old Books

By Barbara Davis

4 stars

An enjoyable book with good characters - a predictable plot, but a slightly different way of getting there (although the books were more like letters)
Fahrenheit 451

By Ray Bradbury

4 stars

I'm not sure if I liked this book or not, but I know it is one that I'll think about, and it is a valuable book. It's scary to think it was written in 1953, and yet so much is still relevant. We might not be at the stage of burning all books, but there are people who are choosing not to read books and instead staring mindlessly at screens.
The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning

By Margareta Magnusson

3 stars

This is a charming book about decluttering, but told alongside anecdotes about the author's life. A cute read.
Glasgow Boys

By Margaret McDonald

4 stars

A coming of age story about 2 boys who meet in foster care, fall out and then reconnect - beautifully written
The Poet X

By Elizabeth Acevedo

4 stars

A great verse novel book about slam poetry, growing up, religion and finding your voice. At first the use of Spanish annoyed me, but once I realised that the meaning of the words is given within the next few lines, I started to enjoy and appreciate the use of a second language - probably similar to the mother not understanding English. Clever on so many levels and beautifully written.
The Academy

By Elin Hilderbrand & Shelby Cunningham

3 stars

This is a great book if you want a mindless read which doesn't really require you to think too much. Too many characters to care about, too predictable and teachers don't necessarily come out in the best light - but then I guess that's why we're here in NZ rather than a private academy in USA!
History is All You Left Me

By Adam Silvera

3 stars

This is such a teenage queer romance book which I think some of my librarians will love. It was an OK read.
Where In All The World

By Vanessa Croft

3 stars

What a beautiful cover. I so wanted to like this book, but felt it was such a slog to get through. It's NZ historical fiction - victorian times, so I was excited to learn about this period of time. The descriptions of NZ & Africa were great, but I didn't click with the characters and honestly felt like there were too many descriptions and they sometimes took over the story! It did show just how far women have come though.
Atomic Habits

By James Clear

5 stars

This is such a good self-help book. It's easy to understand, breaks it down into manageable pieces, is relevant, adaptable to help everyone and simple
The Story Collector

By Evie Woods

3 stars

This is a perfectly pleasant read. Evie Woods has some great story ideas, but there's just something missing from the book that stops it from being an incredible book.
Don't Believe Everything You Think

By Joseph Nguyen

3 stars

I didn't find this book particularly helpful, but it maybe that I've read so many self-help books that the work has all been done. Also I don't suffer from anxiety and tend to be a positive thinker. However, I think this book could be quite good for teenagers as it's quite easy to read.
1985

By Dominic Hoey

4 stars
The Phone Box at the Edge of the World

By Laura Imai Messina

5 stars

This is a powerful and beautiful book which is heartbreaking and heartwarming. It is based on a true place where there is a phone where people can talk to their dead relatives - their voices just go into the wind. It's a book about grief and resilience and moving forward and is based on, and dedicated to, those lost to the Japanese tsunami on 11 March 2011.
All Fours

By Miranda July

1 stars

I did not like this book and after reading half of it I gave up.
A Curse for True Love

By Stephanie Garber

5 stars

The third and final book in the series - I loved all of them. A YA fantasy romance.
I want to die but I want to eat tteokbokki

By baek sehee

4 stars

This is very easy to read and is an honest view of someone living with mild depression. It's an interesting insight into how other people's brains work.
Boleyn Traitor

By Philippa Gregory

4 stars

It's been a few years since I read Philippa Gregory, and I'd forgotten how much I enjoy her writing. This is about Jane Boleyn - the sister-in-law to Anne Boleyn (married to George, Anne's brother) who was Henry VIII's 2nd wife. Jane served 5 queens and this is a view of how life might have been at that time.
Beyond the Wand

By Tom Felton

4 stars

I did this as an audiobook. It is read by Tom and discusses him becoming an actor both before Harry Potter, and then throughout the 9 years of Harry Potter magic. and beyond Tom ends up discussing his mental health issues - all with his trademark humour. A very interesting read.
The Ballad of Never After

By Stephanie Garber

5 stars

The second in the Once Upon A Broken Heart series and it's as good as the first. A YA fantasy world
Beneath Our Feet

By Jack Hartley

4 stars

Set in Christchurch in February 2011, this is the story of Alfie & Dani. Alfie has a broken heart - and he manages to have a heart transplant from someone who died in the quake. Dani's cancer has returned and it's terminal - she wants to live before she dies. This YA book is about the few months they have together and the world they create for themselves in order to tick off Dani's bucket list.
My Friends

By Fredrik Backman

5 stars

I like Fredrik's style of writing, and this is a beautiful book. It made me laugh out loud and then wipe away tears of sadness. A wonderful tale of friendship and how people are different, but the same.
Project Hail Mary

By Andy Weir

5 stars

This book was part audio & part physical book. I discovered Part 1 free on Spotify and because I'd heard such good things about the audio book I started reading it. I loved it, but didn't think Part 2 was available, so I went to purchase the book! However, Part 2 is available on Spotify. Listen to it if you can.
Tell us a story out of your own mouth

By Mona Williams

4 stars

This is one of the free books we won through a social media challenge. The book showcases one of the Read NZ Ambassadors
If You don't get your head out of a book, my girl, you'll end up on Queer Street

By Renee

3 stars

This is one of the free books we received from winning a social media post on this challenge, showcasing Read NZ Ambassadors
Te Tukanga Ako

By Te Kahu Rollesotn

4 stars

This is one of 3 mini books we won from this challenge showcasing Read NZ Ambassadors.
Love Stories

By Trent Dalton

4 stars

I saw Trent at the Auckland Writers Festival in May and he spoke about this book, so I wanted to read it. Having listened to him, I can hear him in the way he writes. This is a beautiful book, written at the end of Covid, where he sat at a table on a corner in Brisbane and just asked people about their love stories. The book really is as simple as that, and it's lovely.
Clytemnestra

By Costanza Casati

5 stars

A historical novel about Clytemnestra - the notorious Spartan Queen, but was she as bad as they make out? I loved this story - it was recommended to me by Serene and I will recommend it to others.
The Book of Longings

By Sue Monk Kidd

5 stars

A fictional story about the wife of Jesus and about the women of that time.
Delirious

By Damien Wilkins

4 stars

This is a well written book about life - a realistic type tale. But I think I've read too many of them recently so I wasn't in the mood for this one. Plus the two main characters are getting older and move to a retirement home, only to hate it, so maybe I saw this as being a bit of a realistic future for me! It is a very easy read.
Night

By Elie Wiesel

5 stars

This is a harrowing account of Elie's early life in Hungary and then from when the Germans arrived to when the Germans surrended. It's an incredible tale but brutal. Everyone needs to read this.
Run Rebel

By Manjeet Mann

5 stars

Wow - I could not put this book down. Verse Novels really know how to deal with tough subjects and this is a book which is incredible. As a librarian who deals with students, it's made me realise that sometimes them just being at school is worth celebrating, and I hope that I provide a safe space for all.
You've Reached Sam

By Dustin Thao

4 stars

This is a cute romance book despite the fact he has died and she can't let go. It's well written and really does deal with the grief of losing not only Sam, but also Julie distancing herself from their friends. It would be lovely to be able to say a final. proper goodbye in such circumstances.
How to Talk to Your Succulent

By Zoe Persico

4 stars

A cute graphic novel about feelings, grief and emotions. Aimed at 8-12 year olds, but think older kids would love it too.
1177BC A graphic history of the year civilization collapsed

By Eric H Cline

4 stars

This was an interesting graphic novel - I know nothing about this historical era, so it was a great introduction
What Have I Done?

By Ben Elton

4 stars

I'm English and loved Ben Elton, The Young Ones and Blackadder whilst growing up, so I found this a really interesting book. He's older than me and has made me realise how unaware I was of Thatcher and the power of the media. Ben is very kind about almost everyone, even those who don't deserve it. Some of the people come across as real idiots, whilst other (much bigger stars) are so much nicer - but I guess that says something about people thinking they are greater than they are.
Noise

By Kathleen Raymundo

5 stars

Thought I'd read a quick graphic novel - pick me up on a Friday afternoon. Didn't expect it to be so emotional!
I Who Have Never Known Men

By Jacqueline Harpman

4 stars

I think this is going to be the type of book which I will think about in the years to come.
Good Things Come and Go

By Josie Shapiro

5 stars

Another beautiful book by Josie Shapiro - set in the Coromandel, it's about love, friendship, grief and taking risks.

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Mt Roskill Grammar

154,309 pages read and 3,755 team points

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