St Michael's Catholic School (Remuera)

22,776 pages read and 4,692 team points

Team members

Paige Reader

15,342 pts

(10,259 pages read)

After Dark

By Annette Lees

4 stars

Beautifully written essays about Aotearoa nights
That Librarian

By Amanda Jones

3 stars

Whilst what happened to Amanda is disgraceful and abhorrent, and I fully support her and stand against book banning, this book was poorly edited. At times parts were repeated and I found myself skipping through paragraphs and pages looking for new information and story. So glad this is not happening in Aotearoa in our library sector.
The Stars are a Million Glittering Worlds

By Gina Butson

3 stars

I really wanted to like this book. There are moments of brilliance - Gina’s writing is with rich vocabulary and descriptions. The characters are all difficult to like and the relationships shallow and unfulfilling. Having said that, I would read Gina’s next book
Moon Dog

By Jane Elson

4 stars

A mystery and adventure story about an unlikely friendship of Marcus and Delilah who both love dogs and uncover an underground puppy factory selling puppies to unsuspecting customers who think they’re buying from reputable owners. Jane did a lot of research about puppy and kitten farming which makes this story all the more clever.
The Pieces of Us

By Claire Alexander

4 stars

A three generational family of women who are all experiencing life changing events.
No, I Don’t Get Danger Money

By Lisette Reymer

5 stars

Ever wondered about how and who brings us the real life stories of war, famine and political unrest? Told by Lisette, who is one of these incredibly brave journalists who travels to dangerous places with a cameraman and finds out the stories and truth. Fascinating, raw and at times crazy, it had me riveted to the very end. One of my favourite lines about life in Ukraine “There is only so long you live in fear before you begin to live with fear’
The Last Living Cannibal

By Airana Ngarewa

5 stars

The title gives the wrong impression yet it is fitting. The story is told by Koko, an elder of the Parihaka turmoil and now in his 90s in 1940. Set on a pā with lovable characters with sass and mana.
The 113th Assistant Librarian

By Stuart Wilson

4 stars

A fun book set in a magical library where a young tween boy is ‘apprenticed’ to be the assistant librarian. This is not a normal library but one where there is death, book images that come alive and subterfuge. Great characters
Whānau

By Donovan te Ahunui Farnham and Rehua Wilson

5 stars

A treasure to have
Scandinavia

By Rick Steves

4 stars

Steve’s tips for travel in Europe are a great way to have a holiday avoiding tourist traps and crowds giving a more authentic experience. This is the second book of his that I have read and I look forward to using his knowledge on our next trip
The Songbirds of Florence

By Olivia Spooner

5 stars

Another great historical novel - this time based on the NZ contingent of women called Tuis that helped soldiers forget the travesties of war in Egypt and Italy in the 1940s. Based on a true story, Olivia has done some incredible research which again has made me look for more information.
The Girl from London

By Olivia Spooner

4 stars

I love when historical novels have an aspects that are based on true events. This left me wanting to know and set me on a journey to find more information
Michaela Mason’s Big List of Camp Worries

By Alexa Moses

4 stars

Who doesn’t have worries? Especially when you’re about to go on your first school camp. Michaela worries about everything all the time but can she overcome the fear of these in front of the kids in her class? I think this is a good book for children who do suffer from worrying. It’s not a fix-it story but an uplifting one.
The Pool

By Hannah Tunnicliffe

3 stars

A book about rich people doing awful things. Good read with predictable ending
Turtle Moon

By Hannah Gold

5 stars

I love Hannah Gold’s books. She writes about animals with a conservation theme in a gentle manner without scarring the readers. Her research and information at the back of the book is carefully curated to allow the reader to investigate using reliable and safe websites.
Carved in Blood

By Michael Bennett

3 stars

I feel this book has been written for an international audience as there are many paragraphs explaining nuances about our culture and everyday NZ life. I feel it was unnecessary and made the reading clunky. The story is predictable and set for another in the series. I can see this being made into a tv movie.
The Guest Cat

By Takashi Hiraide

4 stars
The Vanishing Place

By Zoë Rankin

5 stars

This book will sit with me for a long time much like Carl Nixon’s ‘The Tally Stick’. There’s something about reading about mystery in the remote NZ forest that intrigues me but also alarms me. Almost like it could be true. The forest scenes are written with such vividity that you feel the dampness and can smell the pungent earthy aromas. Told through the eyes of Effie, a brave woman telling her story of life with her family growing up in secrecy deep in Westland’s forest and the terrible consequences of beliefs.
The Story of a Heart

By Rachel Clarke

5 stars

A true story about a boy and a girl who share a heart. Written with compassion and humility, this details the extraordinarily sad but uplifting story of 9 year old Max whose heart is failing and 9 year old Keira who is killed in a car accident and how they become to share a heart. Using detailed interviews, transcripts and historical facts about transplant surgery, this story is beautifully told
The Sound of Whales

By Kerr Thomson

3 stars
The Way of Dog

By Zana Fraillon

5 stars

Beautifully written verse novel told by a dog’s perspective of the world. Heartwarming as well as heartbreaking. The imagery is stunning - ‘shoe-legs’ are people and ‘sky singers’ are birds, clever repetition and alliteration plus much more. The characters feel real and intentional not just secondary characters filling space. There is compassion, belonging and unlikely relationships. My best read so far!
The Girl with the Broken Wing

By Heather Dyer

3 stars
Culpability

By Bruce Holsinger

5 stars

What are the ethics of AI especially moral ethics? This book questions this. A family has an accident in a selfdrive autonomous car. Whose fault is it? The car’s, the driver’s or something else? This had me riveted until the last page.
The Girl who Speaks Bear

By Sophie Anderson

5 stars

A touching story about a young girl unsure of who she is and how she fits into the world sets off on a mystical exhilarating adventure with a bunch of unlikely allies. The characters are delightful and unique and the theme of friendship and belonging is strong and meaningful.
Cat Zen

By Mark Vette

4 stars

Mark Vette is well-known in the dog world but he also a soft spot for cats. This book is perfect those who want to get the best out of their cat - young or old. Mark has great tips about socialization, training, and choosing the perfect feline friend.
Good Things Come and Go

By Josie Shapiro

5 stars

Three high school friends meet after many years - two are together now. The past is opened up and secrets are revealed. A well written NZ novel
Flying Free

By Adrienne M Frater

3 stars

A compilation of short stories Aotearoa NZ flavored that have been inspired by events and activities that the author has experienced and used as a basis for her writing. A little dated now but I think they would have been a popular read for tamariki 10- 15 years ago. I certainly could relate to many of the stories
Skunk and Badger

By Amy Timberlake

5 stars

A much more sophisticated story than what I was expecting. The unlikely pairing of a skunk and a badger one of whom is set in his ways predictable and boring and the other charming and friendly. Gorgeous writing - loved this line especially “he chipped away at a muffin tray barnacled with batter..” . Exactly how our muffin trays are in our house!
Last One Out

By Jane Harper

5 stars

Jane Harper is the Queen of writing about Outback Australia with the nuances of small town communities. A great read
The Unlikely Doctor

By Dr Timoti Te Moke

4 stars

From a life of gangs, drugs and time in prison, Dr Timoti turned his life around to become a doctor in his mid-fifties
Best Day Hikes New Zealand

By Craig McLachlan

5 stars

Excellent information regarding many hikes around Aotearoa. Perfect inspiration for the next hike
Jason Mason and the Dastardly Master of Disguise

By Jason Gunn and Andrew Gunn

4 stars

This would really appeal to readers who love an adventure with good old fashioned gags thrown in
Omnibird

By Giselle Clarkson

5 stars

Fabulous book of bird facts packed with eye-catching illustrations and practical tips about how a bird lives it’s best life. Highly visual, hilarious and cleverly presented. Loved it!
Children of the Rush

By James Russell

5 stars

A great historical fiction story about the Otago gold rush which captured the attitudes of the time period. Full of goodies and baddies.
Three Days in June

By Anne Tyler

4 stars

A typical Anne Tyler plot cleverly written using her keen eye for family dynamics

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St Michael's Catholic School (Remuera)

22,776 pages read and 4,692 team points

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