Scroll down to see reviews submitted by YA readers:

Thoughtful science fiction that turns things upside down, Kyra Johnson

The 716
Book 1 in The 716 series
S.J. Pratt
2022
Self-published

 

 

November 29, 2022

I was instantly captivated by The 716 upon reading the blurb. It is the first book in S.J. Pratt’s new series, set in the promising and futuristic world of Meliora. In this society, men are second-class citizens and are only permitted to do jobs like being a waiter or house-husband. The women, on the other hand, can do anything they want. The two main characters, Andy and Olivia, both want to become something not considered acceptable. Andy would love to pursue his engineering dream, but cannot do this because he has a blue Identifeye light – the male symbol.  Read more

November, 2022 Melissa Scroll down to see reviews submitted by YA readers: , , , ,

A thrilling near-future tale, Thora Moffat

Violet Black
Eileen Merriman
2021
Penguin Books

 

 

 

 

Violet Black is a thrilling fast-paced story about a teen who has gained some new powers after surviving a deadly disease.

Set in the near future this book is about Violet, a 17-year-old girl who is one of the few survivors of a usually fatal disease M-fever. When she wakes up in the hospital, she finds she has a psychic connection with Ethan Wright, another 17-year-old survivor of M-Fever. Although they try to keep this a secret, someone finds out and Violet gets taken to a facility overseas where she meets other teens who have also survived.  Read more

November, 2022 Melissa Scroll down to see reviews submitted by YA readers: , , , , ,

An empowering historical novel, Mia Hayes

The Calling
Fleur Beale
Penguin Books
2021

 

 

 

 

November 21, 2022

The Calling is a novel by New Zealand author Fleur Beale. Having read the I Am Not Esther series also by this author, The Calling attracted me as a reader. The book tells the story of young Molly searching for her calling. Will it be as easy as she expects?

The Calling takes place in late 19th century Aotearoa New Zealand, where 15-year-old Molly who struggles to find her life’s path after her dying mother wishes for her to become a nun. However, this is not the dream of her Methodist father, who wants her to marry, take care of her siblings and follow out household tasks.  Read more

November, 2022 Melissa Scroll down to see reviews submitted by YA readers: , , , ,

A vivid fantasy story about equality, Amelia Mackenzie

Winter of Fire
Sherryl Jordan
Scholastic
1992, republished 2019

 

 

 

 

November 21, 2022

In a world where the sun has vanished and the earth is shrouded in a dark smokey haze, the only source of warmth and light comes from the firestones. These special rocks are mined underground by ‘The Quelled,’ a category of people who are branded by the superior race ‘The Chosen.’

On her 16th birthday, Elsha, a rebellious Quelled girl, is selected to be the handmaid of the Firelord. The Firelord is the most powerful Chosen. He is worshipped by all other Chosen for his power to Divine, which means to sense where firestones are.  Read more

November, 2022 Melissa Scroll down to see reviews submitted by YA readers: ,

A heartfelt and poignant story, Nell Mace-David

The 10 PM Question
Kate De Goldi
Longacre Press
Published 2008

 

 

 

 

 

November 21, 2022

The 10 PM Question by Kate De Goldi is a profound book about the unsolvable problems of real life and finding courage in the face of adversity.

Twelve-year-old Frankie Parsons is an average boy. Or, he’d like to be anyway. It is kind of hard to be normal when your mother never leaves the house, but then again, that is Frankie’s normal. And on top of that, Frankie has questions. Questions like ‘are the smoke alarm batteries flat?,’ and ‘does the Fat Controller (Frankie’s cat) have worms, and does that mean he does too?’  Read more

November, 2022 Melissa Scroll down to see reviews submitted by YA readers: , , ,

A different sort of fantasy adventure, Trillion Lau

Journey Through the Cat Door
Belinda O’Keefe
Bateman Books
2022

 

 

 

 

November 9, 2022

Journey Through the Cat Door is a fantasy novel by Belinda O’Keefe. Unusually, the protagonist is a regular old house cat, until the day his owners install a cat door for him, which is a portal to different parts of the world. We follow him on his adventures as he explores a variety of new lands.

The story follows Enzo from a first-person point of view. He is super chill like a cat, for example when he encounters difficult situations, encountering treacherous rivers, vast deserts, or jungles with dangers creatures; he never starts freaking out.  Read more

November, 2022 Melissa Scroll down to see reviews submitted by YA readers: , , ,

An engaging mystery and suspenseful plot, Mia Hayes

Nothing More to Tell
Karen M. McManus
Penguin Books
2022

 

 

 

 

 

October 31, 2022

Nothing More to Tell is a standalone novel written by Karen M. McManus. Having read other books by this author, as soon as I saw Nothing More to Tell, I knew I had to read it. As a reader who tends to be attracted to fantasy and romance, this mystery and thriller completely engrossed me the entire time. This compelling story did not fail to live up to other novels written by McManus.

This story begins following on four years after the shocking murder of Brynn’s favourite teacher, Mr.  Read more

October, 2022 Melissa Scroll down to see reviews submitted by YA readers: , , ,

An adventurous story rich in symbolism and suspense, Kyra Johnson

Indigo Moon
Book I of the Eternity Loop series
Eileen Merriman
2022
Penguin Random House New Zealand

 

 

 

October 25, 2022

Indigo Moon is the first book in Merriman’s new series which follows the Black Spiral trilogy. Having read the first trilogy a couple of times, as soon as I saw Indigo Moon, I knew I must read it. This incredible story did not disappoint and met the expectations I didn’t even realise I had.

The story is told from two alternating points of view: Indigo Moon and Rigel Fletcher. Indigo is the 17-year-old daughter of the former VORTEX members (see Black Spiral trilogy) Harper Mehta and Bruno Hoffman.  Read more

October, 2022 Melissa Scroll down to see reviews submitted by YA readers: , , , , , ,

A mysterious story with creepy crawlies, Dani Bryers

Red Edge
Des Hunt
Scholastic
2020

 

 

October 21, 2022

Red Edge is a story about twelve-year-old Cassi and her friend Quin. Cassi and her dad Mike recently moved into a repaired house on the edge of Christchurch’s Red Zone. It’s quiet though. Just how Cassi likes it. She loves to run through the empty streets, letting off the tension that builds within her. Next door to Cassi’s new home is a seemingly abandoned house. She becomes suspicious about strange comings and goings at the broken-down house. When Cassi and Quin find a way into the garage, they think they know what is happening.  Read more

October, 2022 Melissa Scroll down to see reviews submitted by YA readers: , , , , , ,

A moving story about determination and change, Ruby Bartlett

The Whale Rider
Witi Ihimaera
Penguin NZ
First pub. 1987

 

 

 

October 21, 2022

“I suppose that if this story has a beginning it is with Kahu. After all, it was Kahu who was there at the end, and it was Kahu’s intervention which perhaps saved us all.”

Witi Ihimaera tells us the thrilling story of The Whale Rider. This adventure follows Kahu, a young girl wanting to do things a female wouldn’t normally do in Māori culture. She lives with her grandparents because her dad is always working and her mum died during childbirth.

Kahu is a determined young lady with a passion for adventure.  Read more

October, 2022 Melissa Scroll down to see reviews submitted by YA readers: , ,
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