A meaningful and inspiring read, Iris Moffat

Kia Kaha: A Storybook of Māori Who Changed the World
Stacey Morrison and Jeremy Sherlock
Penguin
2021

 

 

 

January 16, 2023

Kia Kaha: A Storybook of Māori Who Changed the World, by Stacey Morrison and Jeremy Sherlock, is by far one of my favourite books.  

Each page tells a meaningful, true story about some carefully chosen Māori who stood up and cared about what was right. Along with each story, there is a beautiful illustration that shows the person’s personality. Most of these stories have been forgotten, deleted from our history.  Kia Kaha shows that standing up for what’s right may have consequences, such as losing your job, being arrested, or being forgotten.  Read more

January, 2023 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: , ,

An inspiring story of struggle and courage, Iris Jones

Impossible: My Story (Young Reader’s Edition)
Stan Walker
HarperCollins
Pub. 2020 (new edition 2022)

 

 

 

 

 

August 8, 2022

I was really excited when I got to choose this book because I love Stan Walker’s songs. When thinking about the title of the book, I imagined it was about Stan’s life or something he didn’t think he could achieve. My guess was kind of right – it was his life’s journey so far and some of his struggles and difficulties he had to figure out by himself.

His story begins in childhood, growing up in Tauranga and Australia.  Read more

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

A fun and descriptive adventure story, Iris Moffat

Awatea and the Kawa Gang
Fraser Smith
2019
Huia

 

 

 

 

 

June 17, 2022

Awatea and the Kawa Gang by Fraser Smith is a fun, adventurous story. Awatea goes to visit his Nan and Pop in Mangokuri. He and his friend Tredget make a tree hut, and Awa is determined to sleep there. He’s a daring, bold boy, and with his faithful sidekick, Carrot the Parrot, they can get through anything.

Then mysterious tyre tracks appear, leading to the beach. Holes have been cut and messily strung back together on the paddock fences. Will the Kawa gang find out what is going on?  Read more

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

A story that hooks in the reader from the first page, Jessica Dowling

Impossible: My Story (Young Reader’s Edition)
Stan Walker
HarperCollins
Pub. 2020 (new edition 2022)

 

 

 

 

May 26, 2022

I absolutely loved this book.

Most autobiographies I find hard to read, but this one, Impossible: My Story by Stan Walker, was the best. Horrible things happened in Stan’s childhood, but it was great to read how he got through it all. I think it was amazing of Stan to talk about his childhood. It shows courage.

I love how this book is all about Stan’s journey and what he did. I loved how his family was based a lot in the story and how he embraces his culture.  Read more

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

Giving a deeper meaning to the songs, Brianna Hellyer

Impossible: My Story (Young Reader’s Edition)
Stan Walker
HarperCollins
Pub. 2020 (new edition 2022)

 

 

 

 

May 23, 2022

Impossible by Stan Walker is truly a story of courage, and having the strength to keep on going. That may sound cheesy, but it’s true.

Stan writes about the hard times in his life; the ups and downs, and the challenges he faced throughout his childhood. I can’t find enough words to describe how amazing this book was.

What I love most about Impossible, is that Stan isn’t ashamed to show his emotions; he shows them openly, and isn’t scared to hide anything.  Read more

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

A deep and detailed story of pain and success, Brooke Gearey

Impossible: My Story (Young Reader’s Edition)
Stan Walker
HarperCollins
Pub. 2020 (new edition 2022)

 

 

 

May 17, 2022

“Our kitchen cupboards never have enough in them. My chances in life are not pointing in the direction of any hope at all. But I am the impossible made possible.”

The book Impossible by Stan Walker will definitely give you goosebumps. This story is about Stan, a famous New Zealand singer who won Australian Idol. But not a lot of people have understood how Stan’s past stretched him to be his absolute best. This story goes back to his past and of course looks to his future, while explaining how he got to where he is today.  Read more

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

A moving and honest story of sadness and success, Finley Rowe

Impossible: My Story (Young Reader’s Edition)
Stan Walker
HarperCollins
Pub. 2020 (new edition 2022)

 

 

 

May 6, 2022

Stan Walker is one of Aotearoa’s best singers, but nothing has ever come easy for him. His autobiography tells an amazing rags-to-riches story, in which he describes some sadness and trauma, but also happy and fun times with his family.

His childhood was filled with violence and drugs – things that no child should have to experience. His parents had been in jail multiple times and he would often run away to his grandparents’ house. But in this book I am amazed at his forgiveness towards his family.  Read more

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

An engrossing adventure through time and whānau, Ruby Bartlett

Amorangi and Millie’s Trip Through Time
Lauren Keenan
2022
Huia Publishers

 

 

 

May 2, 2022

“I wish I could travel back through time”, Mum said, reaching to touch the pounamu she wore around her neck.” POP – she was gone with a flash of light leaving behind her pounamu necklace and a very big mystery!

Lauren Keenan takes us on an amazing time travelling journey in her book Amorangi and Millie’s Trip Through Time. The story follows siblings, brother Amorangi and younger sister Millie as they frantically travel back through time working their way down the branches on their family tree.  Read more

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

An inspiring environmental tale, Nell Mace-David

Viola Vincent Reporting: Troubled Water
Anna Kenna
Tiromoana Publishing
Pub. 2020

 

 

 

 

 

“So, when the awa is sick like this one is, so are we… We have a saying, ‘Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au – I am the river and the river is me’.”

In Troubled Waters by Anna Kenna, budding journalist Caitlin is excited about spending what she thinks is going to be a peaceful summer at her grandfather’s bach. But it seems that stories follow her wherever she goes. When she first gets a bad virus, she thinks it is just a stomach bug.  Read more

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