The Girl Who Came Out Of The Woods

BY: Emily Barr
Location: FIC BAR
Genre: Contemporary, Coming of Age, Thriller

I'd encourage you to read The Girl Who Came out of the Woods, both for its loveable heroine and the vibrancy of its Indian setting

A commune hidden from the world. A terrible accident. A lifetime of secrets to uncover. The new YA thriller from Emily Barr.

I've been trapped here for days. What if I die here? I decided to write down my story so that one day, when I'm discovered, they will know who I was and why I was here.

Arty has always lived in the Clearing, a small settlement in the forests of south India. But their happy life, hidden from the rest of the world, is shattered by a terrible accident. For the first time in her sixteen years, Arty must leave the only place she's ever known, into the outside world she's been taught to fear.

Her only goal is to get help from a woman called Tania, who used to live in the forest, and the Uncle she knows is out there, somewhere. As she embarks on the terrifying journey, pursued by an enemy she can't fathom, Arty soon realises that not everyone is to be trusted. She's looking for answers, but what she'll learn from Tania and Uncle Matthew is a shocking truth about her past.

Everything is changing too fast for this girl who came out of the woods, and is she running into a trap...? 

Wrinkles

By: Julie Pugeat
Location: PIC JR
Genre: I'm going to be a Nana G again any day now!

This book is simply beautiful, it is a picture book of amazing photos of our older generation and it explains to kids the beauty, power, wisdom and gentleness of wrinkles.
It honors the journeys of the elderly, it is truly a beautiful book.
 Im getting a few of those wrinkles myself now and any day , I will have another grandson to let trace them with his beautiful little hands. This book is in honour of him, come on little man, come and see us!!!!

"A lyrical, poignant ode to wrinkles and the stories they tell, by the world renowned photographer and public artist JRThis first-ever picture book by internationally acclaimed artist-photographer JR allows young readers to consider the lives and stories of the older people around them"

  

Poet X

By: Elizabeth Acevedo
Location: FIC ACE
Genre: Poetry, identity, coming of age.

Lock down Read Two:
I loved this book, it was powerful, punchy and very readable. It is so nice to have time to read, I think as librarians we often don't get that time, the reviews I out on here are what I glean from other reviewees and it my way of getting to know our collection, but to have space and time to actually read, is a beautiful thing.

This book is stunning, I read it in one hit. Some parts of this book resonated with me strongly as I too tried to find my way as a young woman from a strong Christian backround. I loved the culture threads, I loved the poetry, I loved the sibling connection and I loved the relationship narrative.
Most of all I loved the sass of a young woman who was prepared to fight and stand for all she believed about herself and her world, her fists, her mouth and her  inner strength are what stands out for me, as she stands up for herself. And what girl doesn't need a strong loyal mate to journey with her, if only more did.
Great one sitting read, that made me tear up, made me want girls to be resilient and made me proud that we have writers that give adolescent  woman voice!

Becoming

By: Michelle Obama
Location: NF 920
Genre: Best First Lady Ever
(maybe Eleanor Roosevelt too)

This was my first lock down read. I had been meaning to read this ever since it came into the library but others had snaffled it, so when the lock-down was announced I got in first!
What a great story of a humble woman who is driven to be the best she can be and was given the support she needed by parents who selflessly nurtured their kids.
It is a story of  a normal family, in a normal city doing normal life. It is a story of working in and around the cultural contexts of birth and place and busting out of those to become extraordinary.
This story in our context would be of a young Pacific Islander growing up in South Auckland, going to Onehunga High and then studying Law at Auckland University and then becoming a national female figure of huge importance.
What strikes me is the depth of drive, intelligence, the security of identity forged in the arms of whanau and  utter determination to use all she has to be useful to all she knows.
Tomorrow on TV is the doco that goes with this book, Im going to watch it because I feel the need for another dose of inspiration and some hope that their are  some leaders in the USA who deserve  our attention and our respect.
Great read, great role model, and inspiring as a woman, a mum, a leader and a human being who just wants to make her world a better, kinder, and equitable place.