St Dominic's Catholic College (Henderson)

165,387 pages read and 12,220 team points

Team members

Rosie G

21,495 pts

(17,832 pages read)

Paper cage

By Tom Baragwanath

4 stars

This is the first book I have read by a young NZ author. He addresses small town NZ issues while the protagonist helps the police solve the mystery of missing children. Set in the town of Masterton, the story is an exciting read with well developed characters. Definitely will read other books by this author
Guppies for tea

By Marika Cobbold

3 stars

3 1/2 really. Thought it was going to be a bit trite, but the story developed beautifully. Highlights age care concern and told sensitively.
The Quaker

By Liam McIlvaney

3 stars

I’m going for 3 1/2 stars again. As I read a lot of crime/forensic/detective literature I felt this one fell short of my usual although I can’t pinpoint why. Will probably read others by the author to see if my opinion changes.
The elegance of the hedgehog.

By Muriel Barbery

3 stars

What a confusing book to review. I went from thinking at times it was 1 star to at the last page 5 stars, so I have opted for 3 maybe 3 1/2. Why was it confusing? The underlying storyline of the brilliant minds of the concierge, the child and Japanese gentleman discovering each other was beautifully told for the point of view of the concierge and the child. However there were many extraneous passages that could easily have been omitted. Less is more. I skimmed the chapters that I felt were unnecessary, some just seemed a succession of long words. Overall I enjoyed the book. Would I seek another by this author? Highly unlikely.
Gathering Lies

By Meg O’Brien

4 stars

A gripping mystery. Unsure who was good and who was bad until near the end.
Gabriel’s Bay

By Catherine Robinson

4 stars

Picked up this book at a campsite where I swap books regularly on my summer holidays. Didn’t realise it was by an NZ author and set in a fictional town in NZ, that could be one of many beautiful spots on the coast. It was an enjoyable summer read, light but with some good threads running through it. I liked the way each chapter was from a different characters viewpoint and even the dog got the first and last chapters. Will definitely look for others by this author.
Pounamu Pounamu

By With Ihimaera

5 stars

I first read this book 50 years ago as a beginning teacher with a large proportion of Maori students in my class. The stories were enlightening and gave me an insight to a different world.. I enjoyed it then and have enjoyed it again as I wind down a long career working with wonderfully diverse students.
Just for the summer

By Fay Keenan

3 stars

A summer romance, a quick read on a summer holiday. Predictable but enjoyable.
The Mother’s Promise

By Sally Hepworth

5 stars

This book surprised me, as I was expecting chick lit but it is much more than that. The topic addresses a number of confronting topics, including rape and terminal cancer. The characters are woven together in a complex but easy to follow way. Most enjoyable.
Sara Donati

By Fire along the sky

4 stars

I enjoy books that inform and educate me. Although I haven’t read the others in the series, I found this in a book exchange and it looked intriguing. Dragged on a bit but I did enjoy it.
Michael Bennett

By Carved in blood

4 stars

I enjoyed this book a lot more than the last one in the series, although it left me wanting a sequel. I love to read stories set in NZ and using te reo.
Return to blood

By Michael Bennett

3 stars

A slow burn, as It took nearly half way through the book for the story to grip me. I am not sure why. I liked the NZ setting and the connections to Māori legends, gods and language . It may be because I haven’t read book 1 of this series yet, so starting at book 2 may have led to the irritation I felt at the beginning. I have reserved book 1 to listen to when it is available . The second half gripped me more as the storyline developed, leading to an exciting ending. I will read book 3.
The Gift

By Cecelia Ahern

5 stars

Very different with a supernatural aspect, twists and a sad ending. Although some people didn’t see it as that. A departure from the other Cecelia Ahern I have read as less predictable!
Bookshop Dogs

By Ruth Shaw

4 stars

A great sequel to the bookseller at the end of the earth with delightful stories about loved dogs.
The bookseller at the end of the world

By Ruth Shaw

4 stars

A delightful slice of NZ.
The Sirens

By Emilia Hart

5 stars

This was a very different book with a fantasy aspect and some great plot twists. I was captivated .
The Reunion

By Polly Phillips

3 stars

3 1/2 stars. A bit predictable and improbable. Still enjoyable. Written in the ‘Then and Now’ format , which requires careful concentration to keep track of events. May try another by this author.
Indelible

By Karin Slaughter

5 stars

A very exciting crime mystery. A tense hostage situation and a whodunnit! Story jumps to the backstories of main characters. I was kept guessing right til the end! That makes a great mystery! Number 4 in a series but all can be read independently.
The good sister

By Sally Hepworth

5 stars

I really enjoyed this book especially as their were neurodiverse adults as main characters. I worked with wonderful neurodiverse teens for many years and I felt this book really was true to reality and also inclusive not divisive. A great read!
Freckles

By Cecelia Ahern

4 stars

This was a lovely read, perfect for summer holidays. A slice of Irish life .
This Family Lies

By JM Cannon

5 stars

Most enjoyable. An exciting thriller that I couldn’t put down. Got to love summer holidays!
The Therapist.

By Helene Flood

5 stars

This may be the first book I’ve read by a Norwegian writer and set in Norway. The story gripped me from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down. Great plot twists and a believable storyline.
The 7 1/2 deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

By Stuart Turton

4 stars

A very unusual plot although I seem to have read a number of books recently, where the day is repeated, but there were a few twists in this one. I had a little trouble at times sorting out the characters but overall a very good mystery.
Where Rainbows End

By Cecilia Ahern

4 stars

I was gripped by this book in a frustrating way. It’s a great summer read, chick-lit, with a ‘will they or won’t they’ tension. I enjoyed the different style of writing, predominantly letters, emails and texts. I may look for others by this author for summer reading.
Transgressions

By Sarah Durant

2 stars

At times I thought the book was great and there was some good tension, however overall it was blah. Unsure whether I would read any others by this author.
Mrs Dalloway

By Virginia Woolf

3 stars

I read this book a long time ago and having read Olivia Lang’s book about the Ouse where Woolf drowned I thought I would re-read. Unfortunately ‘the stream of consciousness ‘ genre that Woolf helped to promote with her writing tends to bore me. I enjoyed many passages in the book but it didn’t grip me.
The Lost Girls

By JM Cannon

3 stars

3 1/2 stars. An enjoyable and gripping read with quite a twist. Would have been more except for some of the completely stupid decisions the protagonist made . Would still recommend it as a light summer mystery
The one that got away

By Jennifer Palgrave

5 stars

A great read from a New Zealand couple writing as Jennifer Palgrave. I love the NZ setting and the political angle. More please!
Where the river goes

By Jennifer Palgrave

5 stars

A great read. I love mysteries and being set in NZ with an environmental / politic sub thread made this book extra enjoyable!
To the river

By Olivia Lang

2 stars

Was disappointed as there were some good reviews of this book but for me it rambled too much . There were some interesting snippets of history but not enough to save the book.
The dirty dozen

By Lynda La Plante

4 stars

Was thrilled to find an old favourite author. Lynda La Plante writes the Jane Tenniston series among other crime novels. A great read.
Broken

By Karin Slaughter

5 stars

Another great crime novel in the Will Trent series.
Genesis

By Karin Slaughter

5 stars

Love a good crime novel. Karin Slaughter is a new discovery for me so I am lapping the books up!
Double Homicide

By Faye and Jonathon Kellerman

4 stars

Have enjoyed many books by the Kellermans individually so it was interesting to read a collaboration. Was actually 2 books in one!
Sally Hepworth

By The Soulmate

4 stars
Dolce Di love

By Sarah-Kate Lynch

4 stars

A delightful light read, made better by being set in Tuscany.
Beneath the surface

By John Hargrove

5 stars

I downloaded this book by accident! Wanted another book with the same title. But it was great. Having been to SeaWorld and seen the orcs show, it was wonderful to get an insight into the whole sad take of their lives in captivity. Highly recommend this book to enlighten you of the plight of performing animals although some parts are a tough read.
With our blessing

By Jo Spain

4 stars
Before I fall

By Lauren Oliver

3 stars

Was quite a good storyline but a little bit teen/chick lit for me.
A faint cold fear

By Karin Slaughter

5 stars

#3 in the series. Gripping!
Six Wicked reasons

By Jo Spain

4 stars
Girl forgotten

By Karin Slaughter

5 stars

Love this author and her crime novels!
Darling girls

By Sally Hepworth

4 stars
Once in a lifetime

By Cathy Kelly

4 stars
The one that got away

By Jennifer Palgrave

4 stars

This is the first book from an NZ duo. Combines crime with NZ politics. A great first nov.
Kisscut

By Karin Slaughter

5 stars

Great thriller but sensitive subject. Heartbreaking!

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St Dominic's Catholic College (Henderson)

165,387 pages read and 12,220 team points

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