Tamahere Model Country School

76,400 pages read and 11,582 team points

Team members

Laura G

11,909 pts

(10,576 pages read)

The Proving Ground

By Michael Connelly

5 stars
Darby, Love

By Darby Hudson

5 stars

Alive things his mum said to him before she died: *Darby, love, if you think about it, walking a dog on a very long leash is really just flying a ground-kite. *Darby, love, I can't talk right now; I'm late for an appointment. I've always lived in my own time zone. And no, they're not expecting me. It's a surprise appointment.
The House of Cross

By James Patterson

4 stars

Another decent Alex Cross thriller. Find it a bit odd how the voice changes for Alex's character but it doesn't affect the flow (and some readers may not even notice this).
Impossible Creatures

By Katherine Rundell

4 stars

A child's fantasy with an intriguing ending. I liked the idea of the sphinx's tooth allowing the main character to understand all languages (but to have to put it in his mouth?!).
Away With The Penguins

By Hazel Prior

4 stars

Initially dry, unlikeable characters, but as the story unfolds you grow to appreciate their history, along with the environmental message contained within.
Ultra-Processed People

By Chris van Tulleken

4 stars

I had to concentrate hard when reading this book! A lot of scientific jargon and I didn't like the research on the rats. But very interesting to learn about UPF.
The Spanish Daughter

By Soraya Lane

4 stars

A light read, similar to The Seven Sisters series.
Hidden Daughters

By Patricia Gibney

3 stars

Well-written but a hard slog for me, keeping up with the characters and predicting details in advance.
The Peacock and the Sparrow

By I.S. Berry

3 stars

An OK spy novel that went over my head, at times.
Book of the Dead

By Patricia Cornwell

3 stars

A hard read - trying to pick up where I left this series years ago. Didn't enjoy the storyline, the change in main character's personalities or the present tense it was written in.
The Last Secret Agent

By Pippa Latour with Jude Dobson

4 stars

An amazing story about a brave (gross understatement) woman who became a special operations agent around the time of WWII.
Alex Cross Must Die

By James Patterson

4 stars

All of James Patterson's Alex Cross novels are great, this one slightly less so than others. The title was misleading; Alex Cross wasn't the target. I found the storyline re Jenna's friend unnecessary.
Bury Your Dead

By Louise Penny

4 stars

Louise is such a talented writer, interweaving storylines, building on the complexity of her characters and using humour, often unexpectedly. I confess to sometimes getting lost amongst the political and historical elements of her books, but they are always page-turners and this was no exception.
Heart The Lover

By Lily King

3 stars

This book has received heaps of positive reviews online but it was a bit meh for me. Slow in momentum.
The Secret Life of Luke Livingstone

By Charity Norman

4 stars

No surprises but a solid read.
The Hoise In The Cerulean Sea

By TJ Klune

4 stars

A feel-good story about some magically quirky kids and almost-as-quirky adults.
Table For One

By Emma Gannon

3 stars

Willow rekindles her relationship with herself. An OK read.
The Sunbaker

By P.A. Thomas

4 stars

I warmed up to this murder mystery, thanks to the development of the key characters. Would be interested to read the next in the series.
Matchmaking for Psychopaths

By Tasha Coryell

3 stars

The plot had promise but failed to deliver - another average read.
The Magician of Tiger Castle

By Louis Sachar

3 stars

Am not too sure what the point of the book was. It picked up partway then plummeted to a boring end.
Her Last Walk Home

By Patricia Gibney

5 stars

An enjoyable thriller! Book 14 of a series - read in order.
The Serviceberry: An Economy of Gifts and Abundance

By Robin Wall Kimmerer

4 stars
Sunrise on the Reaping

By Suzanne Collins

5 stars

Loved this prequel of The Hunger Games. It gave insight as to how Haymitch Abernathy ended up in his future state. Only thing I'd take out are all of the songs/poetry.
The Weeping Girl

By Hakan Nesser

4 stars

Slow, at first, but built momentum. I felt myself drawn more into the book as it progressed. A little predictable. One of a series, so best to read the books in order.
Triple Cross

By James Patterson

4 stars

You can't beat a good Alex Cross thriller. Love the reliable family unit at the core of these books.
Picture Imperfect

By Jacqueline Wilson

3 stars

A very average, ho-hum read with unlikeable characters.
The Wasp Trap

By Mark Edwards

2 stars

It felt like this book was being sold to me as an incredibly satisfying thriller, which it was not. Clunky, clumsy dialogue and no surprises.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

By Sangu Mandanna

3 stars

Recommended to me by a librarian as a 'cosy fantasy', it felt like the characters lacked depth and I wasn't invested in them. Preferred the Spellshop series.
Northbound: 4 Seasons of Solitude on Te Araroa

By Naomi Arnold

5 stars

I really enjoyed Naomi's writing style and loved following on with the trials and tribulations she faced while walking the trail.
Cult

By Camilla Lackberg & Henrik Fexeus

1 stars

DNF
The Vanishing Place

By Zoe Rankin

4 stars

I was totally sold on this book until the last few chapters. Just an ok end but otherwise a great read.

8 - 0 - 1

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Tamahere Model Country School

76,400 pages read and 11,582 team points

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