Otago Boys' High School

66,329 pages read and 4,814 team points

Team members

Rach C

9,531 pts

(8,009 pages read)

Te Tiro Hou - report of the Qualifications Framework Inquiry

By PPTA

4 stars

Not a book - a report written in 1996 by a sub committee of the PPTA in response to the changes coming in with NCEA - I read it as part of trying to find my feet around current curric and assessment changes. Provides a really interesting (to my nerdy self anyways) history of school qualifications in Aotearoa, as well as drawing conclusions around assessment that are still relevant now.
Kārearea

By Māmari Stephens

5 stars

I didn't realise till I read the book I had read some of these 'conversations' before in various online forums - collected together they form a thought provoking reminder about bias, equity and being true to yourself.
Visible learning

By John Hattie

5 stars

An oldie but a goodie as I ease myself back into thinking about school. Was a good reminder around some of the smoke and mirrors in teaching and how the impact of many little things can have a bigger overall picture. Mostly a gentle reminder that relationships do matter, as do high expectations. Need to kick on to the sequel
The book thief

By Markus Zusak

5 stars

Beautifully written in a haphazard sort of way, with odd snippets inserted into the story. Heart breaking and uplifting, even in dark times there are pockets of hope and kindness. And possibly more important, small pockets of rebellion and the lasting impact they can have.
Bridge of Clay

By Markus Zusak

5 stars

It was hard to rate this book - it made me so angry. Even just thinking about it again makes me angry - which is possibly an indication it was a most excellent book, even if it is awful. The general story follows a family struggling to deal with the aftermath of their mothers illness and death from cancer and how differently people respond to grief.
Navigating the stars

By Witi Ihimaera

5 stars

It took me a long time to read this book, I'd read something, put it down and stair at the wall for a while, then ponder it, ask some people some questions, and then come back to it. The very first chapter had me questioning my own pakeha background - how many things do I accept as true because that is how they have always been - and then the following pages unravelled some ideas and stories and most usefully unpacked how some stories are lost in translation as the intent of the words isn't always there when they are put into another language, as well as broadening my understanding of Te Reo Māori and Te ao Māori.
Babel

By R F Kuang

5 stars

Needs more stars. The best book I have read in a long time, and one to put on the reread over and over pile :) The story follows 'Robin Swift', an 'orphan' from Canton as he is taken to England and educated with the explicit intent of using his back ground language knowledge to undermine the country where he is from. A fascinating take on colonisation and knowledge - just read it
The Women

By Kristin Hannah

4 stars

An excellent book that let me down with a sentimental ending. Earlier in the year I read Anzac girls and this was an excellent pair. The book follows Frankie from her life of privilege through 2 tours of Vietnam and then the difficult transition back to life in the USA where public opinion had turned against the war, and there was no help for nurses as 'there were no women in Vietnam'.
Uprising - walking the Southern Alps of New Zealand

By Nic Low

5 stars

Read on a recommendation as an introduction to aspect of Kai Tahu history, this was an engaging read written in a distinctly Aotearoa/Te Ao Māori way. It often felt like the author was simply having a chat, while also unpacking some heavy history and attitudes. As some-one striving to be the best ally I can be, and who has been to several of the places in the book while being none the wiser about pre European histories of places, it was a beautiful read.
All our shimmering skies

By Trent Dalton

4 stars

This is a brutal book. All the reviews talked about the story telling, which was magnificent, but skipped over the brutal violence. There was the bombs dropping on Darwin blowing people to bits, casual racism that fit with the time, domestic and sexual violence just embedded in the story, within the hopelessness of poverty. So while I did enjoy the story, and the writing is stunning, I can't shake the raw edge in the book.
The light eaters

By Zoe Schlanger

5 stars

Read this on a recommendation and LOVED it. While also questioning so many things. For a while I have been pondering the idea of life - indigenous knowledges are often different to my 'western' Science idea of MRS GREN defining what is alive and what is not. This book raises a previously discounted idea of plant intelligence - and with it a question of what is intelligence - as well as evolutionary biology and relationships between speices, while still being (mostly) accessible with the language used. Highly recommend
Murtagh

By Christopher Paolini

5 stars

Following on from the inheritance series, the book follows the fate of Eragon's half brother Murtagh as he tries to find freedom from his past and win redemption. More than anything is was a reminder that sometimes you need some help for the big jobs, and I'm not sure I want to wait for the rumoured sequel which is still a year or two away :(
Inheritance

By Christopher Paolini

4 stars

The last book of the inheritance series. Unexpected allies and hope for the future in the last book - and as expected the evil King is defeated. I was not anticipating Eragon's final decision, which gave the series an unfinished feeling in some ways, I wondered what else could have been. Which is not always a bad thing
Brinsingr

By Christopher Paolini

4 stars

The third of the 4 book series has a lot more action than the second with battles, magic and political events. My favourite section is with the elven smith, another well written female character doing 'mens' work and how she find work arounds to overcome an oath she made - there is always a way forward. It can be a little bit tricky to keep up with all the perspectives and goings on, but a fab read none the less
Potiki

By Patricia Grace

5 stars

Patricia Grace didn't really feature in my reading lists when I grew up, and I wish she had. My first introduction was the short stories 'Butterflies'. Potiki is a challenging read because it made me question so many little assumptions I hold. It made me think of the song big yellow taxi (pave paradise to put a parking lot) , while also deepening my understanding on ties to the land. Read it.
Eldest

By Christopher Paolini

4 stars

The second of the Dragon Riders series, this book has a lot more world building. The book also splits into various perspectives, Eragons, his cousin Roran, and the leader of the vardan, Nusuada (always nice to see a strong female lead in a fantasy book!). drags at times with some of the history but it all builds into a book you get lost in.
Eragon

By Christopher Paolini

5 stars

Dragons and Elves, dwarfs and shades, and a fabulous old school tale of good and evil and making hard choices for those you love. Love the strength of the female eleven character Arya
The Whale Rider

By Witi Ihimaera

5 stars

Written from the perspective of Uncle Rawiri, this book follows Kahu as she grows up in the shadow of her 'Paka' searching for a male to take over the iwi leadership role.

17 - 0 - 1

Add pages read

Otago Boys' High School

66,329 pages read and 4,814 team points

Team members

Maria Z

Rach C

Athrawes

Helen W

Kelly K

Tim Hyslop

EM

Kate H

JI

Quentin

Richard

GB

JZani

Mr Thomas

A Ward

HH

NicoleB

Rach C

Te Tiro Hou - report of the Qualifications Framework Inquiry

Kārearea

Visible learning

The book thief

Bridge of Clay

Navigating the stars

Babel

The Women

Uprising - walking the Southern Alps of New Zealand

All our shimmering skies

The light eaters

Murtagh

Inheritance

Brinsingr

Potiki

Eldest

Eragon

The Whale Rider

Otago Boys' High School

66,329 pages read and 4,814 team points

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