A story of determination, patience and friendship, Amelia Mackenzie

Just Keep Going
Donna Blaber
Light House Media Group
2022

 

 

 

 

 

August 15, 2022

Filled with drama and action, Just Keep Going is a thrilling story about a brave, young girl with a strong will to succeed, adapting to life in a new country without her Mum. This story also includes a persistent dolphin, a magical stone, marine pollution and new friendships.

Becky and her Mum move from the U.K. to New Zealand. Becky flies to New Zealand by herself and stays at her Dad’s while her Mum stays back to try to sell their house.  Read more

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

Strong characters following the light, Luie Townsend

Spark Hunter
Sonya Wilson
The Cuba Press
Pub. 2021

 

 

 

 

August 2, 2022

‘You be careful out there, Nissa girl,’ he said. ‘People far more forest-savvy than you have gotten themselves lost in Fiordland. Some of them for good.’

As soon as I had finished the first chapter of Spark Hunter by Sonya Wilson I knew that this was going to be a good book.

It starts off with Nissa being taken deer hunting with her dad and family friends. However, instead of killing the stag, she scares it away so that it can’t be killed. When her family goes to leave the Fiordland forest they are in, she spots a light, and tries to follow it.  Read more

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

A heartfelt story about young love, Sana Sharma

Invisibly Breathing
Eileen Merriman
Penguin
2019

 

 

 

 

 

July 26, 2022

Invisibly Breathing by Eileen Merriman is a loving book about unconventional love and bullying.

The story begins with Felix taking a thousand steps on the way to school in Lower Hutt. He’s thinking about his favourite number when bullies stop him in his path and ruin his count, making him late for school. There he meets Bailey, a boy who gets mocked for having a stutter as he tries to answer a math question, simple – in Felix’s eyes.

Felix Catalan is a sixteen-year-old boy who is socially awkward and known as ‘freak-out Felix’ or ‘crazy Catalan’ due to his anxiety attacks at school.  Read more

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

A quirky and fun story with creative language, Amelia Mackenzie

The Spaghetti Giraffe
Sarah Johnson
Flat Bed Press
2017

 

 

 

 

 

June 22, 2022

The Spaghetti Giraffe is an entertaining and easy to read book filled with fun, creative and quirky characters.

The Spaghetti Giraffe himself is a curious and kind animal; the only one bold enough to venture out of the safety of the Under-Cooker World.

He is created by Mina Cucina’s clumsiness as she drops the spaghetti pot, YET AGAIN! Mina, who lives at the tip top of Meringue Hill at the head of BonBon Valley is a bright and wonderful person, but a terrible cook.  Read more

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

A fun and adventurous story with ice-cream, Amber Storer

Elastic Island Adventures: Flip Flop Bay
Karen McMillan
Duckling Publishing
2022

 

 

 

May 27, 2022

Elastic Island Adventures: Flip Flop Bay by Karen McMillan is a story about four kids named Kiri, Jed, Emma, and Ethan. 

They have discovered Elastic Island, which helps them do tests which in turn help the destinations they get sent to.

This time they have to help Flip Flop Bay, which is in serious trouble, and with Captain Crook always trying to steal Blong, what risks will he take? And will the children be able to save the island?

The story unfolds when the children are wanting to try out a flying school, but on their way they meet some complications pushing them back.  Read more

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

A story about identity and acceptance, Natalya Newman

Wynter’s Thief
Sherryl Jordan
OneTree House
2019

 

 

 

 

 

May 2, 2022

Wynter’s Thief by Sherryl Jordan, first published in 2019, follows two young people who strive to find freedom in a world where being different is dangerous. This novel explores how easily society can isolate a person based on one aspect of their identity. Though Wynter’s Thief is a medieval fantasy book, this theme is still widely relevant in the modern world.

This book paints a picture of a much simpler way of living, where everyone provides for themselves and their families and works to build a kinder life.  Read more

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

A short read about real-life problems, Katarina Stretton

Just End It
Donna Blaber
Light House
Pub. 2020

 

 

 

 

April 19, 2022

It was all the rock’s fault. It was all going well until the last day of the summer holidays when Jessie wandered along the beach at whale bay, the day when she found that cursed rock.

Donna Blaber’s Just End It is a well-written book about a young girl called Jessie Brown who finds an obsidian stone on the beach. It is a great read for people who enjoy books where most of the main character’s problems are solved.

Jessie is an ordinary 12 year old girl.  Read more

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

A supernatural Fiordland adventure, Nell Mace-David


Spark Hunter
Sonya Wilson
The Cuba Press
Pub. 2021

 

 

 

December 03, 2021

“You be careful out there, Nissa girl,” he said. “People far more forest-savvy than you have gotten themselves lost in Fiordland. Some of them for good.”

Nissa Marshall was five when she first saw them. At the time, she was too young to understand what she was seeing. A strange, pulsating, light in the middle of the forest. She called them fairies, not knowing what they really were, of course. Nobody believed her. Not her parents, even though her dad still thinks that there’s moose in Fiordland.  Read more

December, 2021 Tanya Prince Scroll down to see reviews submitted by YA readers: , , , , , , ,
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