Prize winners!!!

Thanks to everyone for blogging!!!
It was great to see the reviews posted, the reactions clicked and comments made on the various blogs. The blog will remain open so you are welcome to keep on posting.

Here is the list of our prize winners. Great work and keep it up!!!

Kate Fenton for being the first to blog and for the blog that received the most reactions clicked.

Patricia Webster for being this year's most prolific blogger.

Deborah Walsh for the blog with the maximum number of comments made to a posting.

Blog activity

"Well done everyone!!!There will be an eye on the blog till the end of term, so keep up the posting and win a prize for your endeavour".

When Zachary Beaver came to town by Kimberly Willis Holt

Published by Henry Holt, 1999. ISBN 0805061169.

Thirteen year old Toby and his friend Cal are intrigued when a trailer containing Zachary Beaver, the fattest boy in the world, is parked in their town. Set during the summer of 1971, this story explores the themes of obesity, friendship, and coming of age. While getting to know Zachary, the boys also have to cope with their own problems. Cal's older brother Wayne is fighting in Vietnam, Toby's mother has gone to Nashville for a singing contest and he is left at home with his father. As the summer progresses the boys learn more about themselves and the nature of friendship. A great book for boys aged 10 and up. National Book Award Winner 1999.

The bower bird by Ann Kelley

Published by Luath Press, 2007. ISBN 1906307326

This story is written in the first person by 12 year old Gussie, who isn't well enough to attend school because she requires a heart and lung transplant. Consequently she has plenty of time to observe and photograph the birds and other wildlife in the garden. She has so many things that she wants to do before she dies, including finding her ancestors and working out how to cope with her parents divorce. At no time do you feel that this is a sad story, Gussie is very philosophical about her failing health, and she is determined to live life every day. The writing is wonderfully descriptive, 'bumblebees heavy with nectar tumble drunkenly from towering echium, perfect tower-block cities for white butterflies, who fold and unfold their wings in an ecstasy of weakness.' A beautiful story, suitable for Year 8 and up. Category winner in the 2007 Costa Book awards, and sequel to 'The burying beetle'.

Teeth marks by Rose Moxham

Published by Allen & Unwin, 2007, ISBN 9781741147711
Set in a small town in Australia, this story begins in the middle, with 19 year old Nick having an accident on a bike that results in him spending time in an orthopedic ward trussed up in traction. Through flashbacks we see how he came to be here, the people he met along the way, and the decisions he took that lead to his accident. It is the story of a road trip through which Nick comes of age, a story about love, friendship, hope and consequences. A great read for teenagers, and will especially appeal to boys.

The hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle

Published by Oxford Children's Classics, ISBN 978019272004.

This version of the famous story featuring Sherlock Holmes and his faithful companion Dr Watson is complete and unabridged. It is a long time since I read this story but I found it as exciting and interesting as the first time I read it. The book is the size of a paperback but hard covered, and has 212 pages so it is not too off putting for junior readers. The story is a classic who done it, with Holmes and Watson racing against time to unravel the mystery of the fearsome phantom beast of the moors before Sir Henry Baskerville, the present owner of Baskerville Hall, is attacked and killed by it. The feeling of malevolence that permeates the story is bound to appeal to those children who enjoy horror stories.

World Shaker by Richard Harland

Published by Allen & Unwin, Crow's Nest, N.S.W., 2009. ISBN 978174175095

Sixteen year old Col has just been chosen by his grandfather to become the next Supreme Commander of the Worldshaker juggernaut, a mobile city that travels the world constantly. But his whole future changes when he meets Riff, a fourteen year old girl Filthy, who has escaped from below and who is set to lead a revolution against the tyrrany of the establishment of the upper decks. Set in an alternative history, World Shaker is an exciting and thought provoking story described by the author Richard Harland as 'steampunk' at its 'steampunkiest'. While it is a great adventure story it also explores the themes of social injustice and slavery. I will be recommending this book to students who love fantasy, steampunk, and thought provoking adventures.

Trish

The Hardy Boys The Ocean of Osyrin

It is a comic book, about an action adventure with lots of gadgets. It is based in the desert with the Hardy boys trying to find the stolen necklace. Being a comic style sometimes I found it hard to follow the sequence of the comic squares. It was a good book to read with an exciting, interesting and fun story line.
By Zana Yates-Walker

Authors' Choice. edited by Owen Marshall

Leading New Zealand writers, chosen by Owen Marshall, have chosen their favourite short stories in this collection published in 2001. The twenty-four stories are from well-known authors such as Barbara Anderson, C.K. Stead, Patricia Grace, Vincent O'Sullivan, Witi Ihimaera, Emily Perkins, Albert Wendt and the list of stars goes on.

At first I went to my favourite authors and was happy to find the stories were unfamiliar but as pithy and thought- provoking as ever. I also tried authors I didn't recognise, encouraged by each story being preceded by an explanation as to why the author chose the story for the collection. The reasons were as varied as the authors themselves, and I liked this insight into their thoughts.

I am a short story fan and thought it an interesting, varied collection. I would recommend Authors'Choice for high school English classes.

Stella Star

By Brigid Feehan Scholastic ISBN 1869436741

This was one of the last books left for me to read from my Natlib haul and it was with great trepidation and resignation that I finally picked it up to read, amazed at my self sacrifice and deligence to explore new material for the female students. A girly, woozy cover -Yick.

Well it wasn't too bad after all. Stella, at age 13, experiences changes and challenges over summer school holidays with family and friends. It was worth the read to find the section Brigid wrote re: Weird things about the Sutton parents. (Stellas neighbours) Particularly the description of Mrs Suttons lap. I found this delightfully funny and even laughed out loud!

I am sure young pre teen girls would enjoy this book and one I would recommend to them.

Oh yes - I got book 2 Maybe Stella in my bag too. OK, ok. I'll read it as well.

Incredible Inventions

Poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins. Harper Collins ISBN 0060872458
This book contains a range of poems each one about an invention, from straws to crayons to Velcro. All the poems are in chronological order of invention dates and at the end of the book they are all listed with information on creator and interesting facts about the item invented. Although I found some of the poems dull I did find the invention information rather interesting as did my 2 sons.

This book could be used as a catalyst to spark interest that could lead into an Inquiry unit within the class or library. Who invented the toothbrush, lightbulb or match? When? Where? Why? How?

Thunder Road by Ted Dawe

It seems I've been reading 'boys books' these holidays - first Exposure and now Thunder Road, and I have to say they've been great. Thunder Road is set in New Zealand and is about the very topical and controversial theme of street racing. The main characters are Trace, a country boy who finds himself in the Big Smoke, and Devon, a confident street-smart guy obsessed with fast cars. Trace is impressionable, and under the influence of his new mate Devon, gets sucked into the street racing world and its darker side of drugs and crime. The excitement of the strip turns dangerous and the story builds to a final, dramatic climax.

This is a very well-written realistic story with lots of street racing and criminal underworld details; an exciting and thought-provoking read for teens, especially boys. I think it could turn young people who find reading 'boring' onto reading with its fast-paced, current themes. I will definitely recommend it to students at my school.

Private Peaceful

World War I is a time in history which fascinates me. I've often looked at this book in the school library and mentally put it on my 'Must Read' list. I never got around to it until now. What a treat! 'Private Peaceful' by Michael Morpurgo tells the story of Thomas Peaceful, a private in the British Army. His story is written in flashbacks as he seeks to relive his life through one sleepless night. It isn't action packed or a riveting page turner, but it's so beautifully written it doesn't need to be. I finished with tears in my eyes, and that to me is the sign of a great book. I loved it!

Exposure by Mal Peet

I have often been told that Mal Peet is an excellent author but have not got around to reading any of his books. After reading Exposure I am a new fan. It is his third Paul Faustino novel with soccer as a main theme but the storyline does not relate to his previous novels Keeper or The Penalty. Set in South America. Otello is black and South America's top footballer, and Desmerelda is the beautiful, white pop-star daughter of a right-wing politician (note the Shakespeare's Othello reference). This story is full of excitement and drama; the celebrity couple lead an enviable life but struggle with the avaricious media. There is the politics of premier league football and the corruption within government and the police force, with the plight of homeless street children thrown in. This book reads like a quality TV drama. It is fast-paced and edgy, and has a very contemporary feel. Suitable for senior high school readers, Exposure will give teens an insight into the power of the media to create and destroy people, and the not-so-glamorous reality of celebrity. I loved it and I don't even like soccer. I am now keen to read Mal Peet's other work.

Sammy Keyes and the Psycho Kitty Queen

I picked up this book and cringed at both the title and cover. To be honest, I wasn't holding out much hope for this one, but you can't always judge a book by its cover, so I decided I would give it a fair try. 'Sammy Keyes and the Psycho Kitty Queen' is about a young girl, Sammy Keyes, and her friend Holly who discover several dead cats and have some encounters in a nearby wrestling school. I am assuming that they discover who is killing the cats and why, but I don't know for sure because I just couldn't finish it. I gave the book 100 + pages, but could not face the remaining 200 or so. This is very unlike me. Normally I would finish reading even the most inane of books, just to see how it turned out, and in the hope that somewhere along the line it improves. Perhaps the new year has brought around newer demands ...
Sammy Keyes is a feisty protagonist, and the book has been written in a very easy to read style, but it just isn't for me.

'Escape From Shadow Island' by Paul Adam

I started reading 'Escape From Shadow Island' by Paul Adam a couple of weeks ago, but other commitments stopped me from really getting into it until yesterday. The blurb reads extremely well. Very short, but you want to start reading straight away. The first chapter is equally addictive. It is basically about a young escapologist, Max Cassidy, whose father has been murdered and his mother has been imprisoned for it. When a mysterious visitor arrives in his dressing room after a show and hints that his father is still alive, Max does the inevitable - he looks for his father. Travelling back to South America with his guardian and on stage assistant, Max endeavours to discover the whereabouts of his father and what really happened.
Adam has constructed the novel extremely well and created a real page turner. He keeps a steady pace and some of the action is truly riveting, if a bit far fetched. It comes across though, as the first in a series of books and, after finishing it, I felt a little short changed and didn't have that sense of finality. There were just not enough of the loose ends tied up to make me rave about the book. Beginning great. Middle a real page turner. End frustrating.

On to the next one ...

reading @ the beach

Actually the last time I went to the beach it was to ride ponies not read.... any blogging I do will have to be about reading on the deck.... a nice place to sit on a bean bag and read - or maybe reading in the bush as we have some lovely mature bush and it's lovely to sit among the ferns and trees, read and listen to the stream on a hot day.

I have begun dipping into the box of books. My 10 year old son read Bud, not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis and enjoyed it initially though lost interest as he said the plot got hard to follow and understand.

My 7 year old daughter and I loved reading Sunday Chutney by Aaron Blabey. Simple text and really appealing distinctive illustrations.

Happy Reading everyone,
Kate