Posts

Showing posts from August, 2012

Entwined

Image
By: Heather Dixon Location: FIC DIX Genre: Fairy Tale I love a modern fairy tale, ever thankful to Princess Bride for hooking me in, which is concievable I guess. Romance, royalty, enchantment, charm, adventure- isnt  that what we all love, and I am weary of dystopia- it is dark and hopeless and fatalistic.  We have lots of new books at the moment about death and cancer and grief. Then we have all those blood sucking, fairae, fallen angel books.  Give me happy. Give me some romance, true love. Give me dashing suitors, beautiful gowns, dancing, magic and dancing anyday. This book is cross between Shrek, Grimm Brothers and Princess Bride- as you would wish it to be. Maybe this book also has a plot like this.. Buttercup : You mock my pain. Man in Black : Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something.  " A masterfully  woven tale of loss, intrigue, danger, magic, romance and relationships" -VOYA

Article 5

Image
By: Kristen Simmons Location: FIC SIM Genre: Dystopia The world is run by a " Federal Bureau of Reformation"  and it has strict statues of compliance about how people should live morally, these are almost a mix of the Chinese Cultural Revolution and Biblical law based around family culture. I wonder, dare I, that if in our ruleless world of anything goes, in our permissive free living state, that one day we might crave the guidelines that recaptures for our society a lifestyle that embraces traditional family, not for some reason of imposed purity, but rather we simply want to return to what family is, the security it gives and the safety of the boundaries it gives the kids we bring into it. This book is about imposed legalised sets of draconian rules, maybe they have been imposed because for generations the free loving world has contaminated itself, but imposition of rules never works, morality is not a law, it is a belief. In this story the Moral Militia impose strict

Endure

Image
By" Carrie Jones Location: FIC JON Series: Need Series Genre: Faeries This is the fourth and last in the Need series,  You can check it out on www.needpixies.com . I think in all our library this series wins the coolest cover award, especially if you line them all up, but that would never happen as they are always out on loan. Check out this YouTube Book Trailer for Endure .

Wooden Arms

Image
By: Sarah Johnson Location: PIC JOH This is a great story, a story of an emerging nation, a small Marae that has arms that embrace its whanau, a gathering point, a place of fun, warmth and laughter, but this building then goes on a journey as it continues to embrace all its colourful inhabitants, and as they move on, another user comes and feels the security this building gives. It ends up like our own nation, as the home for many, a rainbow of cultures, feeling the safety and history of the building whose wooden arms have nurtured the past and now the present. It is a story about a settlement, that grows into a town, then a city and reflects the nation, but always reflecting back to it origin, a gathering place of people to be together. Nau mai, haere mi.

Dare Me

Image
By: Megan Abbott Location: FIC ABB Genre: Coming of age, Lord of the Flies for chicks maybe! Sometimes I skim a book and go "nah", just cant relate to it,  this is one of those. It is dark, hopeless, valueless and really paints girls as stupid bimbo's that are incapable of doing what is honourable or right.  But I know that some of you will enjoy it.  A Goodreads reviewer describes it this way This is a thriller/murder mystery tucked into a more interesting story about what happens when a group of young girls falls under the spell of a charismatic leader, in this case, their new cheer leading coach. it is about competition and burgeoning sensuality and the long long memories of teenage girls . Another reviewer called Kari puts into words what I felt about this book Sad,ugly characters doing sad,ugly things to one another. This is supposed to be what is in the heart and mind of the all-American girl? I'm not buying that. This is how Addy sees herself: p. 258 &q

The Rise of Nine

Image
By: Pittacus Lore Location: FIC LOR Genre: Dystopian Survival  I love the idea of this series, the hunted, the hunting, the concept of survival of the cleverest, a select group fighting to survive to save... its good!! THEY know the charm is broken. THEY know we're all in danger now. THEY are determined to find us before WE find each other. WE must come together. WE are Lorien and Earth's only hope, and WE are prepared to sacrifice everything. POWER IN NUMBERS WILL SAVE US ALL. [close] The official book trailer for THE RISE OF NINE by Pittacus Lore, in stores 8/21/12! THEY know the charm is broken. THEY know we're all in danger now. THEY are determined to find us before WE find each other. WE must come together. WE are Lorien and Earth's only hope, and WE are prepared to sacrifice everything. POWER IN NUMBERS WILL SAVE US ALL. [close]

Insurgent

Image
By: Veronica Voth Location: FIC VOT Genre: dystopian-post-apocalyptic , I have a message for the Divergent. I am Divergent. This is not a negotiation. No, it is not. It is a warning. I understand. INSURGENT is the follow on from the debut hit book DIVERGENT. This book has themes to die for, it has a punchy protangontist in Tris, she is a leader, yet she is humble, she is strong, yet she in vunerable, she is human- but she s also Divergent.   One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love. Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And

Piri- Straight Up

Image
By: Piri Weepu  and Heather Kidd Location: 920 WEE Genre: Rugby I love rugby, I am a big fan, Crusaders, All Blacks an if I have too- the Chiefs. I watched the Rugby World Cup semi final in Ghana and the final in Capetown. I think it is deeply connected to my pride of being a New Zealander, the Haka, the Silver Fern, Saturday morning bare footed rugby played by our young wee men who are  six or seven but think they are the All Blacks and families gathering around the TV, drink ,chips and dip, kids in pj's all cheering on our team. Rugby optimises the kiwi spirit, roll your sleeves up, work hard, don't give up, togetherness and being proud of who you are. My first memory is out in the back paddock by the swamp, Dads transistor radio on full blast while we were fencing the paddock off, dodging the pukeko's. It was against Australia and we won, Dad was a happy man. Piri to me is a great representation of the All Blacks, he never gives up, he is determined, fun loving, he

The Long Earth

Image
By: Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter genre: Sci Fi Location: FIC PRA You just have to buy anything by Terry Pratchett, he is one of our generations greatest writers, his quirky world view leaves you chuckling, yet some of his themes really make you think. He is my sons favourite writer, and he has all his books, so I had better get him this one as well, because I love listening to my son laugh when he reads. Yet in saying that- this one "The Long Earth" might be more SciFi than cynical fantasy. It is not classic Pratchett, but it still penned by him, so it is a must have.   1916 : the Western Front. Private Percy Blakeney wakes up. He is lying on fresh spring grass. He can hear birdsong, and the wind in the leaves in the trees. Where has the mud, blood and blasted landscape of No Man's Land gone? 2015: Madison, Wisconsin. Cop Monica Jansson is exploring the burned-out home of a reclusive - some said mad, others dangerous - scientist - when she finds a curious

The Enemy

Image
By: Davide Cali and Serge Bloch Genre: War and peace Location PIC CAL a book about peace. I have had the distress of visiting war graves in France. It is sickening, 18 year old boys, raised by hopeful parents, investing in sons who will contribute to their home country, who will be kind, smart, inventive, play sport, marry and produce grandchildren. Instead at 18 they lie in foreign soil, potential dormant, grandchild's face unknown, wasted. At that moment walking down the lines and lines of white still crosses, while a church nearby echoed with the voices of children singing hymns to the silent- I became a pacifist. This book, is about peace, but it comes from the trenches, the real ones and the ones in the mind, it comes from futility, it comes from propaganda exposed as truth and at the end it comes as a realisation that all men are men,  who love and are loved,  who are thrust into a deceitful violence against their will and are made to murder each other only because the

First darling of the morning

Image
By: Thrity Umrigar Location: 920 UMR Genre: Autobiography I cant help myself, whenever I see a bio or autobiography of India, I melt and buy.  This book gives "Selected Memories of an Indian Childhood" and it highlights the conflict of heart between growing up in a previledged caste when you know and see comprehensive poverty at every corner. In a weird way I understand this, visiting countries and people you know and how they survive on so little with appreciation of the less they get, compared to myself and the negitivity I can have with the most I own. It is easy to be either halted by guilt, or motivated by it, but neither works. Creating change because of a guilt conscience is building on a false foundation- you do it for yourself and not for others. This story looks at these issues from within, a family, a culture a nation, it looks at them from a girl growing into a woman and how India shaped her and her world view. Umriga is the author of the novel " The sp

Unravelling

Image
By: Elizabeth Norris Location: FIC NOR Genre: Dystopia Thriller with a sci-fi twist. Leaving the beach, seveenteen -year old Janelle Tenner is hit head on by a pick-up truck. And killed . Then, someone is leaning over her, healing her stopped heart. But if she was brought back to life, it must be for a very good reason. That reason? Unless Janelle can stop it happening, the world is going to end in twenty three days. The COUNTDOWN has begun. 23:57:06  05  04  03 

I love Chocloate

Image
By: Davide Cali Illustrated: Evelyn Daviddi Location: PIC CAL I love chocolate, I think my favourite at the moment is called "Ghana peppermint". The chocolate is dark and the filling is gooey, sweet peppermint- oh so yum. When I was in Ghana I saw a cocoa pod, they are huge and then there is the sweet sticky seed pod- that is yummy, and then you crack that open and inside is little purple seeds- cocoa. In a chocolate crazed state I threw these into my mouth, onlookers surprised, I tasted..bitterness and hurriedly spat the contents of my mouth onto the African red dust. The raw material of chocolate is not nice- what it needs is cream!!! This picture book delights in chocolate, it celebrates its yummyness and it makes permissible what dietitians mock. WOW betide anyone that tells me now I can't eat lots of chocolate, I will quote this books to them " I like chocolate because it makes bad times better"  "I like chocolate because it makes my mouth happy&q

Never more

Image
By: James Patterson Location: FIC PAT Genre: Its own, well it has to be there are 8 of them now. I really am pleased this is the last Maximum Ride novel- because I have no more room on my shelf under PAT and they always get mixed up in the series order and my brain gets mixed  up as well, so now we have it, the final the R.I.P of Maximum Ride  - the 8th and final. It is Nevermore. ONE LAST CHANCE for Max, Fang and Dylan...before it all ends. Are you ready for the ultimate fight? Because this is it. One last incredible explosive adventure with an astonishing ending that no-one could see coming. The big question for you all- does Max and Fang get back together? Max fans, Team Fang... get reading and find out how Maximum Ride ends its ride and please, if you dont like the ending- dont blame me, it is not my fault....

Of Posedion

Image
By: Anna Banks Location: FIC BAN Genre: Fantasy This is the start of another new series and by the reviews, we are going to get all of them. It is a bit wierd though and it seems mermaids are the new "angels" of the paranormal romance genre. This book is also been called "cute" and most reviewers love its quirky humor. Galen is the prince of the Syrena, sent to land to find a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. Emma is on vacation at the beach. When she runs into Galen — literally, ouch! — both teens sense a connection. But it will take several encounters, including a deadly one with a shark, for Galen to be convinced of Emma's gifts. Now, if he can only convince Emma that she holds the key to his kingdom . . . Told from both Emma and Galen's points of view, here is a fish-out-of-water story that sparkles with intrigue, humor, and waves of romance

Caesar- The war dog.

Image
By: Stephen Dando Collins Location: FIC DAN Genre: War Today three more of our soldiers in Afghanistan were killed, blown apart by a roadside bomb. It has taken our death toll to 10. Our New Zealand forces are there as a provincial reconstruction team to rebuild the area of Bamyan. They are building roads, bridges and infrastructure, and they get killed by insurgents for trying to build a better Afghanistan. Three families today are grieving, they have paid a huge price, creating peace has caused pain, building bridges has shattered lives. This story is about a dog called Caesar, a sniffer dog whose job it is to locate hidden improvised explosive devices (IED), the sort that killed our people in Bamyan. On an operation Corporal Ben Fulton and Caesar are ambushed by the Taliban. Ben is seriously wounded and evacuated to hospital, but Caesar gets lost. Back in Australia , Ben does all he can to locate his friend and hero- Caesar- has he been captured, can he survive an Afghan winte

Skulduggery Pleasant; Kingdom of the Wicked.

Image
By: Derek Landy Location: FIC LAN Genre: Thriller Another scary book, that some of you will love and I wont! Sometimes I wonder why I actually buy these books, then I remember that some of you actually love skeletons with superpowers, killing people and ruling the world- well it is not called Kingdom of the Wicked for nothing. Dont come into my office blaming me you could not sleep!! Oh no, you chose this cold blooded thriller, you issued it and then you read it- if the magic in this book is like a disease to you and you become corrupted, dont blame me!!!

Pennies for Hitler

Image
By Jackie French Location: FIC FRE Genre: WWII This book is written as a companion to the bestselling -'Hitlers' Daughter' Slower paced but highly worthwhile historical fiction about a German boy with a hint of Jewish ancestry during World War II. What would it have been like to be smuggled out of Germany inside a suitcase, to leave one's parents and all one had known behind? It is realistic historical fiction without melodramatic action or adventure for entertainment's sake; it presents challenges that people were called to live through, and which, with great strength of character and edifying equanimity of soul, they did live through. There are many inspiring themes: courage and hope in the face of life-changing adversity; kindness in the face of hatred, and if hatred is contagious, kindness can be too; facing loss and suffering on the strength of love; relying on the goodness of strangers; friendship and the love of family... There's a glimpse of two qu

30,000 years of inventions

Image
By: Thomas J Craughwell Location: NF 609 CRA Genre: Coffee book!! This book is annoying, it made me, yes made me, look through it. I wasted nearly an hour of my day captured by this book. It stole me. Who invented the rubber band? What about the design of the square bottomed paper bag - now who thought of that? What is the story behind the pop up toaster...? In the last 60 years 200 million Frisbees have been sold..so  who invented the Frisbee and why- see you want to find this out. Then there is Velcro and the history of post it notes.... Yes this book is consuming, fascinating and a total time waster- but I dare anyone who reads this to not do well in there next quiz night! Also you will not find it at 609 CRA- it will be lying around the library somewhere, anywhere especially after Yr 13 study!

The interrogation of Ashala Wolf

Image
We have a load of new books just arrived in the library, good times. This book is the first in a series and it looks like a great read. By: Ambelin Kwaymullina Location: Fic KWA Genre: Dystopia Series: The Tribe There will come a day when a thousand Illegals descend on your detention centres. Boomers will breach the walls. Skychangers will send lightning to strike you all down from above, and Rumblers will open the earth to swallow you up from below ... And when that day comes, Justin Connor, think of me. Ashala Wolf has been captured by Chief Administrator Neville Rose, a man who is intent on destroying Ashala’s Tribe - the runaway illegals hiding in the Firstwood. Injured and vulnerable and with her Sleepwalker ability blocked, Ashala is forced to succumb to the machine that will pull secrets from her mind. And right beside her is Justin Connor, her betrayer, watching her every move. Will the Tribe survive the interrogation of Ashala Wolf?

Artemis Fowl and the Last Guardian

Image
By: Eoin Colfer Location: FIC COL Genre:Irish Criminal Mastermind who is better than James Bond- with Fairies ( well how else do you genre Artemis?) When my son was playing rep hockey for Waikato we used to travel a lot to different turfs. Ty is dyslexic and incredibly smart with amazing language and he really missed out when his mates and bookworm brother discussed the books they were reading. It was a hurdle to big for Ty. So I decided to redeem the time we sat in the car and got audio books. We had a big tournament in Napier- about four hours drive away and the whole way over we were transfixed by Artemis and his shenanigans. On that road trip I became a fan- and my son could talk about this book with all his mates and devise weapons of elfish destruction with them, and plot the sequel. Now we are up to the last installment and it is dedicated to " All the Fowl fans  who journeyed to the Lower Elements". I wonder if Ty plotted the end of Artemis, the Armageddon, the

The fall of the stone city

Image
By: Ismail Kadare Loctioan: FIC KAD Genre: WWII "A master storyteller" The winner of the Man Booker prize has written a new novel. I liked the look of this book as the story is crafted with strong themes and will be great for Connected Studies- especially for you guys who dont like big long books. It is written beautifully yet the story is powerfully intense. In September 1943, German soldiers advance on the ancient gates of Gjirokaster, Albania. It is the first step in a carefully planned invasion. But once at the mouth of the city, the troops are taken aback by a surprising act of rebellion that leaves the citizens fearful of a bloody counter-attack. Soon rumours circulate, in cafes, houses and alleyways, that the Nazi Colonel in command of the German Army was once a school acquaintance of a local dignitary, Doctor Gurameto. In the town square, Colonel von Schwabe greets his former classmate warmly; in return, Doctor Gurameto invites him to dinner. The ve

Struck

Image
By: Jennifer Bosworth Location: BOS FIC Genre: End of the world This book trailer is a bit spooky and for my Christchurch family maybe a bit realistic with the earthquake bits, but the story sounds interesting and I wonder if the Armageddon theme is going to rise in popularity, we also just have got thee book DoomRider by David Gatward  in the library.. maybe its a sign, an end of times sign.

A Monster Calls

Image
By: Patrick Ness and Siobhan Dowd. Location: FIC NES Genre: Loss and Love 'THIS IS STORY TELLING AS IT SHOULD BE- HARROWING, LYRICAL AND TRANSCENDENT" Meg Rosoff This heart breaker of a story, speaks of love, loss and hope, Siobhan Dowd had the idea for this book, but her premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself. The illustrations are deep, grave, and add power to the prose. This is not a EBook! The monster showed up after midnight. As they do. But it isn't the monster Conor's been expecting. He's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming... This monster is something different, though. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor. It wants the truth. You know I told you about those tissues in my office- you will need a box full of them! This is not

Mud, Sweat and Tears

Image
By: Bear Grylls Location: NF 920 GRY Genre: Well simply- Bear Grylls This is the story of Bear Grylls, and it has been made simpler and easier to read and now published as a junior edition, but is has not lost any of its intensity or minimised Bear Grylls story in anyway. This book answers its own question- HOW DID BEAR GRYLLS BECOME ONE OF THE WORLDS TOUGHEST ADVENTURERS? This book tell of the parachute accident that broke Bears back, it tell of his summit of Mt Everest only 18 months later, it reveals the story of his SAS life and then rides the waves of Man Vs Wild and all the adventures and insanity of that show. One of the stories I love about Man Vs Wild is the young lad who got lost in the bush in Wellington, he was eventually found safe and well, and he recalled he just followed Bear Grylls advice- follow the river down stream, eat, drink and stay warm. This book tells the stories of Bears earlier life, his roots, the early big missions that shaped him and the moments th

Survive

Image
By: Alex Morel Location: FIC MOR Genre: Survival I hate books that make me cry when I skim them. I get a pile to look at and decide what books we will purchase for the library, and then one comes and grabs you and holds you and makes you cry and this one did. I could either chuck it back in the box and send it back, or watch as you get the book issued and watch you weep as well. I decided on the later. We have tissues on the returns table. So why did it get me- well when you combine suicidal plans, true love, the outdoors and survival, and those things combine to make the girl who feels no hope- to go on living, it touches you. But then the true love part-- ouch, that bit is the tear jerker!!!

The Hobbit

Image
By: Tolkien Location: On my E-Reader Genre:-Tolkien On December 14th The Hobbit Movie will be screened on the big screens of the world. Our very own Sir Peter Jackson has done it again, and we are very proud of him- my family will all go to this movie- hopefully together. Before I was allowed to marry my husband, he pulled me aside and said " Babe- I cannot marry you until you have read The Hobbit" - of course what option did I have- no Hobbit- no wedding. Well that was a few years back, and now with my new E-Reader, a rainy weekend, and a movie coming out soon- I have dedicated this weekend to re-reading the book that secured my husband. I want to savour the plot, Smaug myself, Bilbo my weekend, and be dwarfed- so I know the story from the soul of the author before I see the reflection from the brillance of Jackson. Rain it on this weekend- cause EReader here I come! If you want to know more about the movie and this awesome poster go to http://www.movie-hobbit.com

Shadow Falls -Series

Image
By: C.C. Hunter Location: FIC HUN Genre:  Fantasy A new series- all at once, I bought one of these books and realised I had purchased number three in the series- so finally after a long wait- I can declare that we now have all three for you.  The series starts with Born at Midnight, where the protangonist finds herself shipped off to a camp for troubled teens called Shadow Falls.  But this is no ordinary camp... All the kids are supernatural. And from the moment high school student Kylie Galen enters this world of fairies, vampires, werewolves, and shapeshifters, she’s had one burning question: What am I? With her new powers, new friends, and two sexy paranormal boys vying for her attention, Kylie’s whole world is about to change.  The Shadow Falls series follows Kylie as she learns to control her powers, confront her heritage, and face her destiny. So once you have read the first one- come and find Awake at dawn and Taken at dusk.

Louis beside himself.

Image
By: Anna Fienberg Genre: Humour Location FIC FIE The night of PERIL and everything happened after that... Humour genre books kind of make me wince, I like humour crafted by words more than by plot- but I know some of you love this kind of genre, the dude who demeans himself and always ends up in situations  where he has to prove his incapability... That is Louis! Louis's best mates, Singo and Hassan, are into basketball and skateboarding, and his dad is into arm-wrestling. Dad wants to build Louis up with wrestling moves like the Walls of Jericho or the Five Star Frog Splash, but Louis is better at flexing words than flexing his muscles. This summer Louis is put to the test, starting with the Phenomenon of the broken mirror, leading to the Paralysing burglar incident, and finally the night when he comes face to face with Peril. It's a larger-than-life week when the friends hide a runaway girl named Cordelia in the backyard tent, Dad falls for Doreen, and Louis tries the

The Rise of Nine

Image
GUESS WHAT WE HAVE PRE-ORDERED!!!!!

Eleanor Roosevelt

Image
By: Kem Knapp Sawyer Location: NF 920 SAW Genre: Biography IT IS BETTER TO LIGHT A FIRE THAN CURSE THE DARKNESS. Yes the wise sayings of America's most famous first lady. I have this quote emblazoned on my office wall. This book published by DK has over 100 photos', artworks and great little sidebars with snippets of interesting facts and information. Eleanor was bought up in real privileged conditions, yet I was surprised as I read this, she had a childhood of pain and sadness as well. I often think that sad events in a child's life can take them two ways, to brokenness or to courage. For Eleanor- it was courage- she became a voice for the dispossessed, the poor, for woman and  for minorities. She spoke words many years ahead of her time because they came from a heart of justice. In many ways to me- she is one of America's greatest and surpasses her husband Franklin in mana and regard. This is a story of a great woman, one to whom I aspire and as I do what I

Borderline

Image
By: Allan Stratton Genre: Cultural Intrigue Location: FIC STR I am a fan of Allan Strattons, it came from reading his books about Chanda, especially Chanda's Secrets . Those of you who are readers of this blog will know I go to Africa and there I have a good friend called Hazel- her Mum died of HIV aids. Chanda's story is Hazels, so I could see it, smell it, feel it and Allan Stratton did a great job of portraying the reality of an African town, with the joys, perils, and culture that engulfs these places. So when this books came along- it was an easy purchase. Allan Stratton describes this book- this way: BORDERLNE is a coming-of-age mystery/thriller/suspense centered around a gutsy, funny, Muslim teen whose dad is accused of being part of an international terrorist plot. To save his family, Sami must risk everything to discover the truth about his father's secrets. It's a story about parents and children, family and friendship, identity, the courage to fight for

How to sell toothpaste

Image
By: Leonie Thorpe Genre: YF Family Drama Location: FIC THO As I read the blurb on the back of this book- it reminded me of one of my colleagues stories with her son, who is about to go to University and study- science. Just like the protangonist in this book, and like my colleagues son, they have cool Dads. How is it to be 17 and have a Dad who is cool in every way? Kinda steals your own limelight. Dad is an award-winning creative in an ad firm, with possibly his greater success being his ability to look younger - and way, way cooler - than his 17-year-old son .So in this story Dom decides to outwit, outclass and outcool his own Dad- my running a marketing campaign about toothpaste. How hard can it be?  Try getting creative over toothpaste!

The very hungry bear

Image
By: Nick Bland Location: PIC BLA Genre: Cute Picture book OK so I am a sucker for picture books. They are so smugly and snugly and make you smile and bring back the memories of flannelet pajama's and blankies and fires. Picture books introduce you to language, rhyme and silliness. They make you giggle and cry, they connect somehow. No-one is too old for picture books- that is why Grandparents read them to there grandchildren...its an excuse. So the Very Hungry Bear is one of these great stories, because the Very Cranky Bear is back, and just like my son, when he gets hungry- he gets grumpy. Then he discovers who is stealing his food- a polar bear, so do they become friends or does cranky bear eat the polar bear!!! Well at the moment I am reading this to anyone who steps into my office- so come on in- and I will read it to you, but no blankies I'm afraid.

Storm

Image
By: Brigid Kemmerer Location: FIC KEM Genre: Fantasy TAKE COVER THE STORM IS COMING : This new exciting series is now in our library- well at least the first one is: Four brothers, four powerful elements, and one girl caught in the middle. When Becca Chandler saves Chris Merrick from being beaten up in the school parking lot, she has no idea how dramatically this one action will change her life. Because Chris Merrick is no ordinary guy and neither are his three older brothers. The Merrick boys are Elementals. Hot. Powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death. And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca. With her life at stake, she doesn't know who to trust or whose secrets she should keep. Hunter, the mysterious new kid with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, might be the one boy Becca can put her faith in. But with two boys vying for her affections, and pressure rising all around her, will she find out in time who's hiding the most dangerous tr

Skulduggery Pleasant- The Faceless Ones and DarkDays

Image
By: Derek landy Genre: Pirates and vampires Location: FIC LAN Web: www.skulduggerypleasant.com This review is from http://www.goodreads.com/  which is my favourite place to see reviews on books. "The third and fourth bone-breaking, belly-busting adventure in the series that puts the "funny" back in, um, funny series. That didn't really work, did it? If you've read the previous Skulduggery books then you know what the Faceless Ones are -- and if you know what the Faceless Ones are, then you can probably take a wild guess that things in this book are going to get AWFULLY sticky for our skeletal hero and his young sidekick. If you haven't read the previous Skulduggery books then what are you doing reading this? Go and read them right now, so that you know what all that stuff in the previous paragraph was about. Done? Good. So now you're on tenterhooks too, desperately awaiting the answers to all your questions, and instead you're going to have to

On two feet and wings

Image
By: Abbas Kazerooni Genre: War and Refugees Location: NF 920 KAZ If you liked the book  like I did called  " In the sea there are crocodiles" you will love this story. This story has been catagorised as a nonfiction, where In the sea there are crocodiles was a true story that was retold and determined to be fiction because recall is a funny thing and can a child's retold story be factualised.  I am so pleased that Abbas story has been recognised for what it is- a true memory of running from horror, that a child has entrenched and recalled. 'On Two Feet and Wings' is the amazing story of a boy fleeing Tehran on his own during the Iran-Iraq War. It provides a powerful child's-eye view of political tumult, separation, survival, dreams and triumphs and is a moving memoir that chronicles extraordinary times. Based on a true story.

Between the lines

Image
By: Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer                        Location: FIC PIC                       Genre:  Modern Fairy stories with a bit of love and handsomeness. I was in Singapore airport awaiting the looooong flight back home to New Zealand with my good friend Alex. We were over movies on flights- you get that when you fly to the bottom of the earth, it takes a long time. Alex is a student at school and she is a real booky, this is an honourable compliment. So we decided to both buy a book and she chose this one- we were very excited because it was not out in New Zealand yet. Alex had not been a fan of Picoult so this was a risk, but it paid off, she loved this story and by the time we were landing in New Zealand, she had fully entrenched herself in the plot. It is now a treasured book- bought in foreign soil to remind her of a journey to India, that was life changing. There was even a handsome lad called Johnny... a fairytale prince, but he was only left to dream and for

The Olympic's - London, Opening Ceremonies and books.

Image
What a fantastic opening ceremony, and wasn't it cool that they included so much of Britain's literature, Shakespeare read by Kenneth Branagh, a surprise reading by JK Rowling, and Voldemort being scarred away by Mary Poppins's- lots of them. Then we had  James Bond and Alice in Wonderland, and Chariots of Fire. They did a jolly good job!!

Marked

Image
By: Denis Martin Location: FIC MAR Genre: Youth Fiction- Action Surviving this town is going to be murder. Cully thinks life in small-town Cooksville will be quiet. Then he meets Kat. Athletic. Stunning. Intriguing. But something is going on with Kat – Cully is sure of it. He knows he should stay out of it, but he can’t. Now Kat and Cully are caught in the middle of a deadly web. And it’s too late to hide from those who hunt them.