Cambridge High School Library 2024

Location:Magazines Genre: Adventure I love the New Zealand outdoors, the final frontier discovered in the world. It is remote, lush, varied, surf to sky in just hours. We have the best coast, the stunning mountains, lush bush, and the kiwi attitude of being in it and enjoying our land. If you dont believe me- take a re-look at Lord of the Rings. So because it is there- we go play in it- this magazine tells us where to play, what to take, and what we need to play with.  Check out this YouTube to see our country and read NZ Adventure Magazine to help you discover it for yourself.

By: Roald Dahl Location: FIC DAH Genre: Well it has to be just Dahl!! I know- this book is not new, but how can any library not have Danny the Champion of the World. In my view- it is Roald Dahls best story. When I was a kid at school our teacher read it to us, I remember our class begging him to keep reading, read more- and he did! A cold winters day in a rural school in Canterbury with a class load of kids huddled around the fire- listening all day to Danny, the pheasants, the pellets in the butt, revenge and the plotting- oh the plotting!! I reckon a stack of our students will see this new copy on the libray shelf and WANT to re-read the best story they ever listened to when they were snuggled up by the fire as a kid!

By: Laurel Corona Location: Fic Cor Genre: Historical Novel I bought this novel along with some others to enhance our "Arts" display this term.  This novel has it all, love, ambition, music. It is set in Venice, in a world famous music academy, and it is about the story of a priest and composer Vivaldi.  Two orphaned sisters are the centre piece,- one who marries into Venice wealth and the other who becomes a violin virtuoso. With music and love and two young sisters coming of age in 18th century Venice- the city, its beauty and passions all blend in intoxicating ways. Venice is truly the star of this book and if you have been there like I have, as you read the story you are back listening, looking, smelling and feeling. If you have not been to Venice- this book will take you there and make you show up in person one day! As you read it- why dont you put the CD of Four Seasons by Vivaldi on in the backround- just to make it al feel real!

By: Steve Gerrard Location: NF 920 GER Genre: Sport autobiography Steve Gerrard- one of the greatest footballers ever to have graced the pitch, Liverpool stalwart, English captain. His book tells his story, and it tells of his motivation. Wikipedia writes it this way T he autobiography ends with "I play for Jon-Paul." Gerrard's cousin, Jon-Paul Gilhooley, was killed in the 1989 Hillsborough Tragedy , when Gerrard was eight. Jon-Paul, who was 10 when he died, was the youngest of the 96 victims of the tragedy. [ It was difficult knowing one of your cousins had lost his life", Gerrard said. "Seeing his family's reaction drove me on to become the player I am today. Steve Gerrard to me, seems a good bloke, a family man, a true role model, loyal as he is talented. I think this story is one I will happily recommend to our boys at Cambridge High to help them to aspire to be good men and excellent sportsmen. In case you want to see what this man can do- he...

By: Richelle  Mead Location: GRA MEA Genre: Vampires So this is the graphic image of the novel, I always wonder if it is a good idea to portray books in another form. Is Narnia like you read it was, will The Hobbit   movie portray what is in your head? Yet sometimes it is great to read a story with pictures and not just words, it stimulates other ways of receiving a story. I guess that is why I am wanting to add to the Graphic Novel collection here in our library. Whether it is blood sucking vampires- where love and jealousy collide on the ski slopes like this Graphic Novel, or the life story of Nelson Mandela, or Macbeth, or Artemis Fowl and of course the ever popular Simpson's- Doh how could I forget them. We will have them for you to read- so your grasp of the world, literature and art is stimulated in other ways and different forms.

By: Deb Caletti Genre: Relationship Drama Location: FIC CAL I am doing all I can to placate all you Jodi Picoult fans and give you another author to hook into. I have discovered Deb Caletti and she fits the bill.  Her book- Honey, Baby, Sweetheart , was a national book award finalist and the reviews for Stay are striking. Publishers Weekly said it was gripping and layered- giving incite into ideas about love, power and who we forgive. Stay is about whether you continue a relationship that has control over you. Clara is in a relationship with the obsessive Christan, so she escapes from his control- but can she really escape, is she free, will the fear ever leave her?

This is my   500th blog posting - so  I thought to commemorate that  I would tell you my top ten books- books that have marked who I am and how I think and I make no apologies for my selections- they are in no order- they are too diverse to order from 1 to 10. The Gift of Asher Lev by Chaim Potok - this book is crafted, and no matter what culture you connect with, it challenges you how to hold onto your culture, yet be free from it. Chaim Potok is my favourite author. Complete Indian Cooking: 325 Deliciously Authentic Recipes for the Adventurous Cook By Mridula Baljekar - I use this book every week, I love Indian food and I love cooking it. The Bible - My guide to how I live my life. Golda Meir; My Life .- The first autobiography I ever read, I received this as a prize for topping my Year 13 Geography class. Pure inspiration. Long road to freedom ; Nelson Mandela-  even more inspiration, a great leader who fought for what he believed in , even tho...

By: Glenn Taylor Location:  FIC TAY Genre: Civil Rights Novel If you read my previous post, then this book is the next step. American Civil Rights. Our Ghanaian friends have settled forcibly in the USA, legally free, yet still in an land that orphans them, they are |African Americans, it is just that the America bit does not work for them. Set post WWII it is about a orphan called Loyal Ledford who serves in the war and when he comes home to Huntingdon, West Virginia, he starts a family with his pre-war girlfriend. He is a lost man- war does that to you. But he finds his calling at the Marrowbone Marble Company- the home of the civil rights movement. Here black and white live in harmony- while racial tensions bristle all around them and crack like electrical storms. This story is about love, faith and family, it is about people dreaming that all men are created equal, a powerful novel of love and war, righteousness and redemption, and the triumph of the human spirit...

by: Manu Herbstein Location: FIC HER Genre: Slavery Novel Today Ghana is on my heart, I have been there 4 times now and will go again in October. This book is about a slave called Ama, she is old and dying but with an amazing tale to tell, she is blind and cannot write her story, so she tells it to her son. It is a tale of violence, heartache, a story of hope and courage, determination and ultimately love. It is a story of Ghana, of its wonderful people, stolen and taken to a foreign land. How many of my Ghana friends have family in south USA- I often wonder that. What gifts and talents were stolen from one land in violent selfish greed and transported to another place.  I went with some of my Ghana friends to a slave castle on the Cape Coast, with us were young men and woman 15-16 years of age. As I stood with them at the 'door of no return" and in silence we gazed- I felt an overpowering sense of filth, that I was in some way connected to British slave trading and that t...

By: Cassandra Clare Location: With all the others, but you wont find them cause they are always out- CLA Genre: Fantasy YES - here it is NUMBER FIVE in the series! The first person who reads this and tells me what I wrote for it's location- can get it out first! Now there is a challenge! This trailer is a bit scary- what do you think?

By: Luca Caioli Genre: Football Location: NF 920  I love stories behind the story- what makes people be who they are, this is Ronaldo's inside story, a global superstar both on and off the pitch- it unveils the life of one of modern's football great players- who is driven by an unstoppable force to be the absoluetly the best he can be. And this YouTube clip will show his perfection...

By: 50 cent Location: FIC CEN Genre: A mostly true story of a former bully. So bro 50 cent wrote a book it his story of what went down probably gonna make you frown a bully, sad story, in New York town. A dude called Butterball did a bad thing beat up Maurice on a playground swing It kinda 50 Cent own story it not nice, rough,  it pretty gory he might be a better rapper then I his life though kinda make you cry he now redeemed as a bully boy read the love, spread the joy This tale of his needed to be told 50 cent man is being bold Come get the book in the library cause us librarians are so not scary.!

By: Mark Salzman Location: FIC SAL Genre: Music Novel " Quietly powerful- both absorbing and touching" The New York Times Book Review Our library is doing a display this term on "The Arts" and so I am purchasing some new novels to work with our display. This story is about Renne, potentially the greatest cellist who ever lived- a lot for a young 18 year old to live up to. But then his gift deserted him- the concert halls and fame became a thing of his past. When he gets involved in a murder trail he collides with a young 9 year old Korean boy- teaching him the gift of the Cello. But who gets taught and what does the teacher learn himself through the talent of this 9 year old boy?

By: The man himself- Lewis Hamilton Location: NF 920 Genre: Autobiography- Motor Sports The cover is as cool as the man- but maybe his pit crew need to learn to be a bit cooler as well. This is a great story of a young man who was born into working class England, but he had talent, passion and a family that believed in him. This story is inspirational, and it proves that with hard work, the right attitude, people cheering you on and a few good breaks- you can make it! In case you dont know what Lewis Hamilton is famous for and why we have his book- check out this YouTube clip.

By: David J Smith and Shelagh Armstrong Location: NF 304.2 SMI Genre: World Information  Imagine 100 people who live in a village - 9 would speak English, 25 have televisions and 13 cannot read. Maybe that is why I want so badly to send books to Ghana- to change stats like that. No books- no reading. But in our village of 100 there is plenty of food for everyone- enough to feed all easily- BUT only 34 people have enough to eat, 50 people are hungry some or part of the time because food is unreliable and 16 of our village are severely undernourished. Maybe I need to remember that as I tuck into my dinner, with the heater on, in my weatherproof house watching TV tonight- actually I will be in the cold playing hockey, but you get my drift. 76 people in my village will cook over a fire- they have no electricity, but 24 of us do so we will be OK. Why cant we share what we have!!!!! When I go to Africa and India and see these stats I get frustrated we have so much, and share ...

By: Phil Earle Location: FIC EAR Genre: Family Drama Losing love Fighting Guilt Seeking Hope SAVING DAISY..  . " For as long as I could remember it was always about the three of us. Me. Dad. And Mum's shadow. Daisy's mum is gone. Her dad refuses to talk about it. And as far as Daisy is concerned- it is all her fault. As her life starts to spiral out of control; panic leads to tragedy and Daisy's left alone. But sometimes the kindness of a  stranger can turn things around. A stranger who desperately wants to save Daisy. If she will only let herself be SAVED. " Compelling, empathetic and hopeful" Sunday Times "Life- affirming, redemptive and really rather good" Guardian.

By: M.Zachary.Sherman Location: EAS SHE Genre: Easyread- Skating novel Tony Hawk is a legend- he is up there with Ronaldo, McCaw, Kobe and Messi- it is just that he does kick flips and he landed the first ever 900. These novels are all about skating, grinding, popping ollies, big name sponsers and being a member of the mysterious 900 REVOLUTION TEAM! These are stories and good ones- but the YouTube clip is the real deal- Tony Hawks 900!

By: Martin Handford Location: Wherever you might find Wally- there the book is! Genre: Still looking for one. So one of our students who left school last year thought it humerous to circle all the Wally's or Waldo's if you are from Europe- in our books- first one made me smile- but by the time I had seen this in all three books- I was not! Because you all love Wally so much- we bought you some new books! Enjoy and keep Wally's whereabouts a secret!!

By: Lane Smith Location: PIC SMI This week my workmates Dad passed away- so this book is to remember him by. It is a lovely picture book  of a young boy who remembers his great grandfathers life through a topairy in the garden. The story is told twice- once through the boys words and then reinforced by the topairy images. It is about love, war, childhood, Paris, employment but most of all it is about remembering someone who we love and has given us a wonderful heritage.

By; Miranda Kenneally Location: FIC KEN Genre: Sport and love:) This book has great reviews and I love the take that the girl is the sporting hero and the guy is chasing her- and she is a Football player!!!  I love the twist and from the reviews so do many other readers! Check out this YouTube clip and you will see what I mean.

By: Amanda Ziller Location: NF 920 JOB Genre: Bio iMac, iPhone, iPad and iPod- the brain child of Apple and Steve Jobs. Who was the man that made technology slide into my pocket? This book is a short and simple story of the man who believed in simple. " That's been one of my mantras. Focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it's worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains." This is not the full blown best seller- it is though easily read and gives you a good insite into Apple and Jobs. 100 million iPods were sold in the first six months....85 million songs were sold on the iTunes Store in the first year, in one month -1 million iPads were sold- what mind created those kind of figures.. Steve Jobs- read his story!

By: Andy Briggs Location: FIC BRI Genre: Sci Fi What if there was a web site where you could download your very own super power. Mrs Kirkbride would order the answer to "I don't know"- she would like to be all knowing.  I would chose to be able to foretell the future- that way if I knew bad things were going to happen to people- I could change the circumstances and help them avoid evil. Mind you flight would be good- much fun, but teleporting would be easier- no turbulence!  This series of books called HERO.COM is about a bunch of kids that discover such a website, down load there superpowers and fight the evil that prevails- the only problem is there is also Villain.net. It will be no simple task to outwit, outpace and outplot the evil masterminds- even with your very own superpower.

DVD We have just purchased World War II in Colour - DVD. This is to help you enforce the learning you are doing in History, English with Connect Four, and your novel studies. Seeing the war in colour makes it so much more real- the faces are those of your great uncles, your great grandfathers, and your towns young men. Seeing images of the holocaust simply make it even more powerfully evil than the powerful evil it already was.  Here is a clip of D-Day to give you an idea of what this DVD does to war in colour. Please come and ask if you need this DVD to support your learning.

By: Rick Riordan Locationl; FIC RIO Genre: Fantasy This is the final, thrilling instalment of the Kane Chronicles Trilogy!!! Carter and Sadie Kane, descendants of the magical house of life, are in pretty big trouble. Apophis- the giant Snake of Chaos is still threatening to plunge the world into eternal darkness- now the Kanes must defeat Apophis himself- but the magic to defeat him has been lost for a millennia- will they find the shadow or will they be led to death in the forever underworlds...

By: Dipika Rai Location: Fic Rai Genre: Cultural Drama I confess- any novel about India that comes across my desk is automatically bought. Maybe it is because I have visited this colourful, chaotic, confusing yet simplistic land and I am enchanted by it. Maybe it is because as you drive around- it is like being on a movie set- just because you are there. Or maybe it is because there is a novel hiding in nearly everyone you me. In this story Mamte is born into a low caste family, and she is female in rural India set against a backdrop of poverty and prejudice. She is destined to be a man's property, arranged for  her by her father. Eventually Mamta escapes this destiny, but it is at a terrible cost. Maybe I will met her in July when I go over- if not her, another girl with a story like hers- waiting to be told.

The library gets the Rugby Weekly magazine, it has all the news, gossip and information on all things Rugby. I like it because most weeks it has a Crusader on the front cover!! The only bad thing with a magazine is that you cannot see the action and the Smashed em Bro's - so i will put a clip in to help! Get the magazine - read it in the library and be the informed rugby commentator at your place!!

By: Lorraine Zago Rosenthal Location: FIC ROS Genre: Love I started to skim this book, I can tell when a book hooks me becuase before I know it time has gone and I have read way past time to knock off work- Aleeza Rauf rated it A Goodreads reviewer wrote    This book isn't groundbreaking or phenomenal. instead, it's the kind of book that you read and sigh at the end of, emotionally exhausted. and then you find yourself thinking about it some days later and smile, feeling it's aftereffects as if you went through the main character's journey yourself. When an unexpected inheritance enables Ari to transfer to an elite  school, she makes a wealthy new friend, Leigh. Leigh introduces Ari to the glamorous side of New York—and to her gorgeous cousin, Blake. Ari doesn't think she stands a chance, but amazingly, Blake asks her out. As their romance heats up, they find themselves involved in an intense, consuming relationship. Ari's family worr...

By: Wendy McGuinness & Miriam White Location: NF 993 MCG Genre: History What happened in the year I was born?  Oh this is a goody- The National Library of NZ was formed and Air New Zealand was as well. So how old am I? You need to get this book out to find out. What happened in the year of birth for our Year 13's? New Zealand passed the Human Rights Bill. In 1997 our Year 9s year of birth - Jenny Shipley became the first woman Prime Minister of New Zealand- and for what it is worth - she was my primary school teacher! And for our French followers- in the year of my daughters birth- A J Hackett bungee jumped off the Eiffel tower. This is ones of those fun books you lose time in as you skim the pages of New Zealand History!

We have the book and you might have seen the movie- if not, check out this YouTube, because then you will want to read the book! But if you really really want to see the movie- we have that too:)

By: Will Hill Location: FIC HIL Genre: Vampire 91 days till zero hour that's 91 days to run 91 days to hide  or 91 days to pray for DEPARTMENT 19 to save you.... So I have not written much- don't need to, just check out the cover!!! And when you know it is about Dracula's stolen ashes and Vampires wanting revenge, you will either be too scared to read it, or have nightmares for a few days and fall asleep in class!! Your choice!

By: Katie Dale Location: FIC DAL Genre: Drama  One secret can change everything... They say if you like Jodi Picoult you will also be a fan of this book- that is a high recommendation and since I can never keep any our Jodi Picoult in the library it is good to have a few more authors like her in stock.  Also this book is about a girl whose Mum dies of Huntington's disease- and most people who have read it have really appreciated the insights it gives into how this disease impacts your life. Huntington's is hereditary, so if Mum had it, will Rosie as well? But what if Rose discovers that her Mum is not really her Mum- and perhaps there are other "past lies" that Rosie has to contend with as she deals with her Mums? death.

By: Rose Foster Location: FIC FOS Genre: Action If you want a cool cover- then this book has it- check out the face , it is coded! This is the start of a hot new series, get in first, you never know- it might turn into the next Hunger Games Kirra Hayward is an ordinary sixteen year old - smarter than most, but otherwise completely anonymous. When she solves an unusual decrypting puzzle on the Internet to fill in a moment of boredom at school, she has no idea of what she's letting herself in for. Kidnapped by a shadowy organisation of mercenaries known only as The Industry, Kirra soon discovers how valuable her code-breaking skills are. And when she stubbornly refuses to help them, they decide to break her ... by any means at their disposal. Compulsive and page-turning, The Industry is the first in a trilogy from talented debut author Rose Foster.

By: Nick Lake Genre: Drama-  based in Haiti- so also Cultural Perspective Location: FIC LAK  I watch a website called Goodreads- it does reviews on books- it helps me make good choices as to what to purchase for our collection. A reviewer said this about In Darkness Savannah (Books With Bite) rated it WOW! What a book! I have never read an introduction to a book that is so jaw dropping intense! I had no choice but to keep reading!! Fourteen-year-old Shorty is in trouble--bad trouble. One minute he's in the hospital recovering from a gunshot wound, and the next thing he knows, he's in the dark, buried alive in the rubble of the Haiti earthquake. Shorty's grown up the slums of Haiti, in appalling conditions of incredible violence, gangs, drugs, poverty, and oppression. But now he faces something even worse.. "In darkness, I count my blessings like Manman taught me. One, I am alive. Two: There is no two."

By: Sheila Hocken Location: NF 920 HOC Genre: Autobiography  I love dogs, ours especially, Rex!! This story is about a special dog- a chocolate lab. Sheila was descending into blindness at the age of 17. What gave her hope, love, happiness was her dog- Emma. This is their story and in case you want to know what a Chocolate Lab is like- check out this cute YouTube clip.. it is really cute- but NOT as cute as my dog- Rex!!!

Location: DVD FLY Genre: War This is a brilliant DVD and the library has just purchased it for our collection. If any of you are doing thematic studies on courage, friendship, war, fear- then this DVD is good for you. You can check it out for one week.

By: Oliver Bowden Location: FIC BOW Genre: Drama, History What do you get when you cross Machiavelli ( the end justifies the means) with Leonardo Da Vinci- the worlds most creative inventor- especially of war machinery... maybe an intelligent assassin with weapons of ancient mass destruction, fuelled by dreams of social equality and the destruction of the rich ruling families in Renaissance Italy. What a combo- it is like reading Bin Laden cross Steve Jobs set in artsy New York.

By: Hugh Fearnley- Whittingstall Location: NF 641 FEA Genre: Eating:) I love this programme, it is earthy, it reminds me of my own childhood- especially the foraging part. Living on a farm we would always go home from a afternoon of meandering, with something to eat. Turnips, ducks, trout, blackberries, elderberries, peas, corn, rabbits, walnuts, crab apples, mushrooms, .. the list just goes on and then Mum would convert our foraging into edible yummies. That is why I love River Cottage - it reminds me of Mums cooking!!! I am pleased we finally have added a River Coattge book into our collection- but if you cannot find it- check out my lunch box!!!

By:  Nicholas Sparks Location: FIC SPA Genre: Drama and looove We have added to the collection- we have The Vow , and now we have  The Lucky One . Nicholas Sparks has another huge best seller that has made a great movie.  This is a stunning tale about a man whose brushes with death lead him to love of his life. But can love, secrets, war, and the photograph ensure that his love story has a happy ending? Don't cheat by watching the movie- read the book- it is ALWAYS better!!

By: Halina Wagowska Location: NF 920 WAG Genre: True War Camp Stories I love the series "So who do you think you are" by the BBC. It tells stories of well known people as they search out their families unknown pasts. It has the fantastic combination of peoples stories, history and intrigue. I admit to being addicted to this show and have all the DVD's- the stories that preturb me the most are the war camp stories where our famous friends discover that members of their families have been interned in War or Prisoner camps- in Germany, Russia, Tasmania, and Europe. This book is also their stories and so I am going to take it home for my weekend read!

By: Julie Cross location; FIC CRO Genre: Love and Science Fiction because it has time travel!! This book has a great cover, kind of a cover that makes you buy a book- so what is it about!

By: James Dashn-er Location: FIC DAS Genre: Dystopia. We have the Maze Runner , we have the Scorch Trails and now we have the last in the series- Death Cure . You ever watch a football game or a rugby game and it is real close and then the TV stops or you HAVE to do something else and never see then ending.. well this book is the wrap up of the first two. What happens when the "trails" are over, what is WICKED planning to do next, what is the final cure for the "flare"....and.... will anyone survive the Death Cure. Don't miss the ending- it is really frustrating!!!

By: Lissa Price Location: FIC PRI Genre: Dystopia First this has a cool APP attached and we just had fun in the library office making the cover come alive with our Andriod and iPhone. Cool idea!!  First Callie lost her parents. The she lost her home. And, finally , she lost her body. But she will stop at nothing to get it back... This is about body renters- old people giving teenagers money to rent out there bodies so they can be young again.. But Callies renter wants her dead. Sound like a great plot, who would I be- the renter or the rented!!!

By: Michael Morpurgo Location: FIC MOR Genre: War War- I became a pacifist when I read a book called "Up the Blue" about a young kiwi man who fought in WWII in Africa and Italy. It was a true story, honest, gut wrenching and powerful. I decided I never wanted my sons to ever experience the horrors of war. Then I read Private Peaceful also by Morpurgo  over the summer- it is a stunning little book- just to reinforce my view of the powerlesness of war. Oxymoron maybe. Sure war stories make for a good read and Murpurgo is such a good writer and this is a book he has compiled from many sources. Don't get me wrong, this ANZAC day I thanked those young men that died to give me my freedom, I made my ANZAC biscuits from my Grandmothers recipe, I stood in respect at the War Memorial, but oh what lives were lost, so I can be free to explore my world. Thankful- yes, respectful- yes, but do I want my sons to go through that terror- never!

By: Teri Terry Genre: Dystopia Location: FIC TER Ok so I forget things, I sometimes forget you name when you come to the issue desk- but I have never been slated. Not like Kyla- the governemnt did it to her- erased her memory... Kyla’s memory has been erased, her personality wiped blank, her memories lost for ever. She’s been Slated. The government claims she was a terrorist, and that they are giving her a second chance - as long as she plays by their rules. But echoes of the past whisper in Kyla’s mind. Someone is lying to her, and nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust in her search for the truth?