Wellington High School and Com Ed Centre

98,433 pages read and 4,879 team points

Team members

Angela Pelham

15,608 pts

(11,527 pages read)

The Winter Garden

By Alexandra bell

4 stars
Ten Acceptable Acts of Arson (and other very short stories)

By Jack Remiel Cottrell

4 stars

My first encounter with 'flash fiction' and I really enjoyed it. This is a collection of NZ prose and short stories all under 300 words (the shortest I clocked was 27 words, aka shorter than this review). Punchy, thought-provoking, blunt, sometimes challenging, and always genre-bending. Some of my personal favourites were: Work and Income gothic; An abridged taxonomy of little known ghosts: A - L; A week in the life -part III, and; the titular Ten acceptable acts of arson. P.S. There's some gems in here that I'm sure English teachers could use to practice close reading.
Always Italicise: how to write while colonised

By Alice Te Punga Somerville

5 stars
the joy of saying no

By Natalie Lue

3 stars

A good reminder at the start of the year to have a boundary check-in. Some good ideas and principles, but I found the writing to be a bit messy (endless long run-on sentences, incorrect grammar, etc). Recommend by Mum!
Pageboy

By Elliot Page

3 stars

A memoir by Elliot Page. "There are an infinite number of ways to be queer and trans, and my story speaks to only one." I struggled with the non-linear narrative/ time jumps/ confusing back-and-forth, but it feels difficult to critique as this is how Page wanted his life story to be told. An interesting insight (and cruel reminder) of the impact of the Hollywood industry on young people, on queer/ trans people, and on people who don't 'fit in.'
Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion

By Bushra Rehman

3 stars

A coming-of-age story following Razia Mirza, a first generation Pakistani-American growing up in Queens, New York in the 80s. A snapshot of the immigrant experience, and the importance of family and community. The pacing felt quite mis-matched, with most of the action happening in the denouement to the point it felt like a different book by then. Nonetheless, it was an interesting glimpse into Pakistani culture and growing up in NYC in the 80s.
How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water

By Angie Cruz

4 stars

Follows the voice of Cara Romero, an immigrant in New York from the Dominica Republic who lost her job in the Great Recession. Over 12 sessions of government-sponsored job counseling, she tells her life story. This particularly resonated with me since I am working in pathways/ careers at the moment. The narrative is told in the first person, nearly the entire book is essentially Cara's monologue. I found this an unusual but also gripping literary device that I absolutely enjoyed. Cara is funny, witty, vulnerable, loving, and amazingly resilient. The novel explores gentrification, work vs survival, the immigrant experience, family, love, and loss.
Lessons in Chemistry

By Bonnie Garmus

5 stars

Set in 1960s America, Elizabeth Zott is a chemist/ TV host. Strong themes of personal agency, community building between women, and the meaning of family, set against the backdrop of the broader second-wave feminism movement. This book was charming, emotional, thoughtful, complex, sometimes very sad, and ultimately very inspiring. The characters and their relationships were incredibly and thoughtfully developed - I LOVED THIS BOOK.
Workhorse

By Caroline Palmer

4 stars

A darkly funny novel exploring the life of Clo as she rises the ranks at a high-end NYC magazine in the 2000s. Similar vibes to The Devil Wears Prada and Saltburn - an exploration of class and luxury, with sinister undertones.
The Luminaries

By Eleanor Catton

3 stars

Set in New Zealand during the 1860s Gold Rush. I have been intending to read this book for years and just hadn't gotten around to it (it's chunky!). I love a historical fiction, and I enjoyed Catton's writing style and intricate characters. However, some of the narrative points were confusing and underdeveloped, and despite being a large plot point I never quite wrapped my head around the celestial cycles. Nevertheless, I am very glad that I did read this book as it's a staple in NZ fiction.
Katherine Mansfield's Short Stories

By Katherine Mansfield

4 stars

Have been slowly making my way through this collection of short stories over the summer - I adore Mansfield's rich and nuanced slice-of-life narratives and characters, and her stories are NZ classics.
We Never Asked for Wings

By Vanessa Diffenbaugh

4 stars

A story about family and mistakes and regret and love. Single mothers are the biggest superheros in the world, in my eyes.
Tenderfoot

By Toni Jordan

4 stars

Set in 1970s Australia, and told from the POV of a young girl who is both incredibly clever and painfully naive. This novel was a tender and emotional coming-of-age, set against the backdrop of Greyhound racing and families driven by gambling. So many themes to explore, the writing was brilliant, and characters were beautifully nuanced. I loved this book!
The Academy

By Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham

2 stars

If Pretty Little Liars, Mean Girls, and The Clique were all mashed up and shoved into 2025. Was this a good book? Objectively, no. Did I enjoy it anyway? Yes. It was an easy read reminiscent of every other high school drama novel there is.
The Spire in the Woods

By Tony Lunedi

3 stars

A dark and mysterious slow-burn horror, told from the POV of an unreliable (and very unlikable) narrator. Ghost stories, spooky woods, and some supernatural elements are the backdrop to what turns out to be the true horror - the real world.
Light from Uncommon Stars

By Ryka Aoki

1 stars

This was a very confusing novel. It felt like 5 different novels spread across 3 different genres that didn't mesh or feel cohesive. I stuck with it because I enjoyed 2 of the storylines, and because there's something about summer that makes you more inclined to stick with a mediocre book.
The Bear and the Nightingale

By Katherine Arden

2 stars

A fantasy set in Russia in the 14th century. Heavily inspired by Russian folklore and fairytale. I love the high-concept idea, but the plot/characters/writing were all a bit disjointed.
More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop

By Satoshi Yagisawa (translated by Eric Ozawa)

4 stars

Read this book not knowing it was a sequel (oops), but it works as a standalone. Quiet, cozy, and quaint. A short slice-of-life that I tore through in one sitting.
Black Silk and Sympathy

By Deborah Challinor

4 stars

Historical fiction set in 1860s Sydeny. It's clear that a lot of research went into this book (and I loved the 18 page authors note where she could 'info-dump' on this research!). Interesting to read about historic funeral practices and cultural mindsets surrounding death and grief.
The Bones Beneath My Skin

By TJ Klune

3 stars

A supernatural road trip sci-fi fantasy. Big themes of what it means to be human, the universe, are we alone, and government corruption. Despite these, I found it a quick and easy read. Feels closer to YA (other than one weirdly graphic/explicit and out of place scene...). I don't often say this, but the plot felt better suited to a movie.
She Who Became The Sun

By Shelley Parker-Chan

4 stars

An epic historical fantasy set in 14th century China. Set during the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty and the Red Turban Rebellions, our main character Zhu will do anything to avoid her destiny of "nothingness." She takes up her fallen brothers identity and will do anything to keep herself alive. Explores themes of greatness, destiny, ambition to whatever cost, and gender/sexuality identity. So close to a 5 ☆ read for me (and I can see why it received the accolades it did), but I'm not the biggest fan of war-driven stories. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed this book!
The Binding

By Bridget Collins

5 stars

Loved this book! A historic fantasy deeply exploring themes of memory and secrets. Emmett Farmer finds himself working for a Bookbinder as her apprentice. I enjoyed the magical, Gothic, lyrical writing style.
If We Were Villians

By M. L. Rio

5 stars

Similar (ish) to A Secret History, but for theatre kids/ Shakespeare lovers! Dark academia vibes. Loved it!
The Rabbits

By Sophie Overett

4 stars

Strong writing and strong characters. Set in Brisbane. Explores themes of grief and loss, family, relationships and connections, and loneliness.
Good Material

By Dolly Alderton

2 stars

A slice-of-life book following the aftermath of a break-up. I found the main character unrelatable and unlikable but I did enjoy the writing style. The final chapter from Jen's POV was my favourite.
Weyward

By Emilia Hart

4 stars

A multi-POV multi-timeline story following three strong, resilient women (Altha, 1619; Violet, 1942; and Kate, 2019). Finished in one day!
Birnam Wood

By Eleanor Catton

4 stars

An NZ activist mystery eco-thriller set in the South Island. Slow to start, but gripping at the end.
The Rehearsal

By Eleanor Catton

4 stars

A reread for me - just as jarring and interesting (i.e. confusing in a good way) as the first read.
The Axeman's Carnival

By Catherine Chidgey

5 stars

Set in rural NZ, told from the perspective of Tama, a magpie. A beautiful but sometimes challenging read - check the content note before jumping in!
The Mermaid Chronicles

By Megan Dunn

4 stars

NZ non-fiction. The history of mermaids, mythology, and stories. Made me want to give my Mum a hug.
Things I Learned At Art School

By Megan Dunn

3 stars

NZ non-fiction. Part essay, part memoir, part creative writing. Beautifully written and a reflection on life, art, relationships, coming-of-age, and memory.
when I open the shop

By romesh dissanayake

4 stars

A beautiful book about love and grief. A great Pōneke story!
Carmilla

By J. Sheridan Le Fanu

5 stars

A vampire novel that came before Dracula! Interesting atmosphere and ahead of its time.

24 - 0 - 1

Add pages read

Wellington High School and Com Ed Centre

98,433 pages read and 4,879 team points

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

52

53

54

55

56

57

58

59

60

61

62

63

64

65

66

67

68

69

70

71

72

73

74

75

76

77

78