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Te Matapihi Ki Te Ao Nui

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Reading, Wellington, and whatever else – teenblog@wcl.govt.nz

Month: July 2014

FOR SCIENCE!

Science: it’s not just a subject at school. It’s what makes the world what it is. The books below explore stories using experimental sciences we’re perhaps less familiar with right now, but could perhaps plausibly be present in the near future. Cryogenic freezing, internet implants, DNA harvesting – see for yourself whether you think it could happen (or just accept it and go OOH COOL! SCIENCE!)

Book cover courtesy of SyndeticsWhen We Wake, Karen Healey

Sixteen year-old Tegan has been cryogenically frozen, but her jump to the future was not planned, and she wakes up 100 years past her former present-time of 2027. She discovers she is the first unknowing government test subject to be frozen and successfully revived. Tegan’s not so sure about the benefits of her unique situation, and things get even more complicated when she discovers appalling secrets about her new world. Tegan faces a choice: keep her head down and live her second chance at life, or help fight for a better future.

When We Wake is the first in a series (the sequel is called While We Run) and it is a finalist in the LIANZA Children’s Book Awards 2014!

Book cover courtesy of SyndeticsFeed, M.T. Anderson

Titus and his friends thought this trip was going to be just like any other trip to the moon. That is, a chance to party hard over spring break. But that was until the hacker got into their brain-implanted internet feeds and caused them all to malfunction, sending Titus and his friends into hospital with an eerie nothingness in their heads. It is especially strange in contrast to the 24/7 bombardment of consumer customised broadcasts and advertisements which normally stream directly into their brains. And then Titus meets beautiful and brainy Violet, who is determined to fight the omnipresent feed before it destroys everyone.

Book cover courtesy of SyndeticsOrigin, Jessica Khoury

Pia has spent her whole life so far in a secret laboratory in the Amazon rainforest, raised by a team of scientists as the first of a new immortal race of people. But on the night of her 17th birthday, Pia finds a way to escape, and she leaves the compound for the first time. Outside, she meets a village boy named Eio, and together they race against time to find the deadly truth about Pia’s origin.

Book cover courtesy of SyndeticsThe Adoration of Jenna Fox, Mary E. Pearson

In the near future, 17 year old Jenna Fox has just woken up from a coma caused by a terrible accident a year ago. At least, that’s what they tell her, but what happened before that? Jenna doesn’t remember her life, and what she does remember she can’t even be sure is real. Jenna must seek out the truth of her mysterious past and learn to live with the implications it may have for her future.

Book cover courtesy of SyndeticsThe House of the Scorpion, Nancy Farmer

“Matteo Alacran was not born; he was harvested with the DNA from El Patron, lord of a country called Opium. Can a boy who was bred to guarantee another’s survival find his own purpose in life? And can he ever be free?” (Goodreads)

Ko Koe tonu a runga!

Anana! Tēnā koe Lizzie,  ko koe te toa o Rāmere.  Kua oti pai te pakiwaitara!

Ka mutu pea

Ka mihi mātou o ‘Te Matapihi Ki te Ao Nui’, arā, ko mātou o ngā wharepukapuka o Poneke ki a koutou ngā kaituhituhi o te motu nei.  He pai ngā ariā katoa katoa.

A te Rāhina ka whakapāhotia ngā ingoa o ngā whakaihuwaka matua o te Māwhai Tuhituhi.

Tau Kē Nei – Te Toa o te Rā

Tēnei te mihi ki a Rongomai, ka pai koe, Ko koe te toa o te Rāpare!
Ākuanei ka tuku imera ki a koe e Rongomai .

Te rā whakamutunga o Māwhai Tuhituhi

Kia ora anō koutou mā

Ko tēnei te rā whakamutunga o Māwhai Tuhituhi. Ki a koutou ngā kaituhituhi kei te mihi, kei te mihi.

Me pēhea te whakakapi i te pakiwaitara nei?

He whakataetae te Māwhai Tuhituhi. Kua oti kē ngā whiti e rima, kei a koe te ariā o te whiti whakamutunga. Āpiti atu tō tuhituhi ki te pakiwaitara ia rā, mō ngā rā 21-25 o Hūrae.

Mēnā ka hiahia koe ki te uru ki te whakataetae haere ki te whārangi o te māwhai tuhituhi, pāngia te pikitia “māwhai tuhi” ki runga rā , āpiti tō tuhi ki te wahanga tuhi ki raro nei rānei.

Ka whiriwhirihia kotahi te whiti ia rā hei wini i te taonga o te rā, ki te wikitoria i te taonga nunui pea, ā, ki te hono ki te pakiwaitara mo te whiti o te rā.

Karawhiua!!! Tuku mai tāu tuhituhi, māu te whiti tuarima pea?

Ānei te pakiwaitara ……

Kua horoia ngā rīhi, ka paoho mai te pouaka whakaata, “I tēnei wā ka huri ki ngā matapae huarere mō āpōpō, tērā te whakatūpato a Te Ratonga Tirorangi, he āwhā, he hau āwhiwhio …” Kātahi ka weto te pouaka whakaata! Ka weto ngā raiti o te whare! Kua pō uriuri.

Ngaro hirea ana nga tangi o te ao. Matapiko ana te hau awhiowhio i waho, ka tau. PAKO! Keko ana te tiro a Pita i te aro pena o te hitawe. Ka taka te mahana o te whare, kui ana te hau o roto. Pakaru ana tana hamuti i te kitenga o te atarangi a tana Kuia.

E kui, kaua koe e whakapupuni atu i ngā kokonga o te whare, i whakaaro au ko koe tētahi tangata kōhuru, tata au ki te tioro. Ka kata pai te kuia, ānei te rama e Makere, tērā pea mēnā ka kite koe i tētahi tangata kōhuru, karanga mai, mā tāua ia e whakarau!

I roto i te matapihi i kitea i tetahi tangata kohuru pera ki nga korero ta kui, “E KUI, E KUI, HAERE MAI!!” I ohorere te tangata engari i haere tonu ki roto i te matapihi ki te tikina i ahau engari ara a kui e patua ana i te tane me tona peke, ka tangohia ia i tona huna kanohi a ka ki ia “Nau tenei whare?” ka whaka utu a kui “ae haere atu kaore koe ka noho ki konei inaeanei!!” ka tiro te tane ki ahau,a, ka patai ia ” He aha tou ingoa e tama?” Kaore ahau ka taea te whakautu, kaore toku waha ka whakae moku ki te whakaputa toku ingoa ki tenei tane.

“Makere, tiki i taku waea pukoro, waea atu ki te pirihimana. Māku teēnei tangata e wepua… INAIANEI HAERE!”
Ka oma atu a Makere. Ka hikoi taumaha mai tēnei tangata nui, weriweri ki ahau….”Auē e tama, me pēhea koe e taieritanga i ahau”
Ka hikina ia i ahau ma taku korokoro…”HA HA HAAAAA, KUA ROA TE WA I TATARI AHAU MO TENEI WA TONU. KUA MATE KATOA TOKU WHANAU, ATU I A KOE….PITA!
“K – Ko wai koe, p-pehea koe mohio a-ai I ahau?’’ te pakaru haere o toku reo
“E Pita, ko koe taku tama, ko au….to Papa!”
“PITA PITA, KARE TE WAEA E KA ANA, KARE TONA HIKO….”

…….ka aha ināianei?

Te toa o te rā – Rāapa

Tēnei te mihi ki a Tohu Ana-Te-Rangi, ka pai koe, i whai koe i te kōrero i mua tata atu. Ka taka pai ngā whakaaro i a koutou ngā kaituhi!

Anō te pai!

Kua riro i a HAPINA te paraihe angitu a te kaiwhakawā, he rawe tāu tuhituhi īnanahi.
Ākuanei ka tuku imera ki a koe e Hapina .

Māwhai Tuhituhi – Rāpare

Kia ora anō koutou mā

Ka haere te paki ki wīwī, ka haere te paki ki wāwā, heoi ko te urupounamu, ka haere te paki ki hea i tēnei rā

He whakataetae te Māwhai Tuhituhi. Kua oti kē ngā whiti e whā, kei a koe te ariā o te whiti tuarima. Āpiti atu tō tuhituhi ki te pakiwaitara ia rā, mō ngā rā 21-25 o Hūrae.

Mēnā ka hiahia koe ki te uru ki te whakataetae haere ki te whārangi o te māwhai tuhituhi, pāngia te pikitia “māwhai tuhi” ki runga rā , āpiti tō tuhi ki te wahanga tuhi ki raro nei rānei.

Ka whiriwhirihia kotahi te whiti ia rā hei wini i te taonga o te rā, ki te wikitoria i te taonga nunui pea, ā, ki te hono ki te pakiwaitara mo te whiti o te rā.

Karawhiua!!! Tuku mai tāu tuhituhi, māu te whiti tuarima pea?

Ānei te pakiwaitara ……

Kua horoia ngā rīhi, ka paoho mai te pouaka whakaata, “I tēnei wā ka huri ki ngā matapae huarere mō āpōpō, tērā te whakatūpato a Te Ratonga Tirorangi, he āwhā, he hau āwhiwhio …” Kātahi ka weto te pouaka whakaata! Ka weto ngā raiti o te whare! Kua pō uriuri.

Ngaro hirea ana nga tangi o te ao. Matapiko ana te hau awhiowhio i waho, ka tau. PAKO! Keko ana te tiro a Pita i te aro pena o te hitawe. Ka taka te mahana o te whare, kui ana te hau o roto. Pakaru ana tana hamuti i te kitenga o te atarangi a tana Kuia.

E kui, kaua koe e whakapupuni atu i ngā kokonga o te whare, i whakaaro au ko koe tētahi tangata kōhuru, tata au ki te tioro. Ka kata pai te kuia, ānei te rama e Makere, tērā pea mēnā ka kite koe i tētahi tangata kōhuru, karanga mai, mā tāua ia e whakarau!

I roto i te matapihi i kitea i tetahi tangata kohuru pera ki nga korero ta kui, “E KUI, E KUI, HAERE MAI!!” I ohorere te tangata engari i haere tonu ki roto i te matapihi ki te tikina i ahau engari ara a kui e patua ana i te tane me tona peke, ka tangohia ia i tona huna kanohi a ka ki ia “Nau tenei whare?” ka whaka utu a kui “ae haere atu kaore koe ka noho ki konei inaeanei!!” ka tiro te tane ki ahau,a, ka patai ia ” He aha tou ingoa e tama?” Kaore ahau ka taea te whakautu, kaore toku waha ka whakae moku ki te whakaputa toku ingoa ki tenei tane.

…….ka aha ināianei?

Ka mau te wehi!!

Tēnei te mihi ki ngā toa o ngā rā e rua .

I te Rāhina ko Pihitahi te toa, i te Rātū ko Kere te toa.

Nga mihi ki a kōrua!

Māwhai Tuhituhi – te toa o te rā nei

Kia ora koutou mā

I te tuatahi tēnei te mihi ki a Kere, Ko koe te toa i tēnei rā. Tino pai te haere o te pakiwaitara! Ka tuku imera ki a koe ākuanei.

He whakataetae te Māwhai Tuhituhi. Kua oti kē ngā whiti e toru, kei a koe te whiti tuawhā. Āpiti atu tō tuhituhi ki te pakiwaitara ia rā, mō ngā rā 21-25 o Hūrae.

Mēnā ka hiahia koe ki te uru ki te whakataetae haere ki te whārangi o te māwhai tuhituhi, pāngia te pikitia “māwhai tuhi” ki runga rā , āpiti tō tuhi ki te wahanga tuhi ki raro nei rānei.

Ka whiriwhirihia kotahi te whiti ia rā hei wini i te taonga o te rā, ki te wikitoria i te taonga nunui pea, ā, ki te hono ki te pakiwaitara mo te whiti o te rā.

Ki a koutou katoa ….karawhuia!!! Tuku mai tō tuhituhi, mahau te whiti tuawhā pea?

Ānei te tīmatanga o te pakiwaitara……

Kua horoia ngā rīhi, ka paoho mai te pouaka whakaata, “I tēnei wā ka huri ki ngā matapae huarere mō āpōpō, tērā te whakatūpato a Te Ratonga Tirorangi, he āwhā, he hau āwhiwhio …” Kātahi ka weto te pouaka whakaata! Ka weto ngā raiti o te whare! Kua pō uriuri.

Ngaro hirea ana nga tangi o te ao. Matapiko ana te hau awhiowhio i waho, ka tau. PAKO! Keko ana te tiro a Pita i te aro pena o te hitawe. Ka taka te mahana o te whare, kui ana te hau o roto. Pakaru ana tana hamuti i te kitenga o te atarangi a tana Kuia.

E kui, kaua koe e whakapupuni atu i ngā kokonga o te whare, i whakaaro au ko koe tētahi tangata kōhuru, tata au ki te tioro. Ka kata pai te kuia, ānei te rama e Makere, tērā pea mēnā ka kite koe i tētahi tangata kōhuru, karanga mai, mā tāua ia e whakarau!

…….ka aha nāianei?

 

 

Mahou shoujo Part 2

Since mahou shoujo is a whole subgenre of anime and manga I thought I had better tell you about our super collection of manga and anime that we have in our libraries! Did you even know we had them in the collection? I’ve chosen a few “magical girl” themed anime and manga for you all to check out that you may or may not be familiar with already.

(In case you didn’t know, manga are comics you read and anime are cartoons you watch.)

Book cover courtesy of SyndeticsPretty Guardian Sailor Moon (manga)

If you grew up in the 90s like me, you’d probably be pretty familiar with Sailor Moon. Usagi Tsukino (Serena) is a regular girl, until she discovers she is sailor senshi Sailor Moon. Together with the other sailor scouts, handsome Tuxedo Mask and two mystical beings that appear to be sentient stuffed cats, Sailor Moon must stop the evil Queen Beryl from taking over the world.

Book cover courtesy of SyndeticsCardcaptor Sakura (manga)

This is one of my absolute favourites! Ten year old Sakura accidentally releases a magical set of cards called the Clow Cards, and is enlisted by the guardian of the cards to capture them again. Each card has a special ability and some cards require some serious puzzle-solving to capture. It is written and illustrated by popular manga group Clamp, and it has absolutely beautiful illustrations throughout.

My-Z-HiMe (anime)

This story takes place in the distant future on the planet Earl, colonized by immigrants from Earth centuries ago. Certain girls and women aspire to be Meister Otomes – bodyguards, attendants and warriors that serve the royalty of various kingdoms. Arika Yumemiya has come to Windbloom Kingdom in search of her mother, a former Otome. Arika enrols at Garderobe Academy to train to be an Otome herself, but she must beware those who desire to use the old technologies of the Otome for destructive powers.

Book cover courtesy of SyndeticsAlice 19th (manga)

Alice Seno is a 15-year-old girl, constantly living in the shadow of her seemingly perfect older sister Mayura. One day Alice rescues a white rabbit from the road, but it is no ordinary rabbit. It reveals its true form and informs Alice she is destined to be a Lotis Master – someone who uses the power of words and communication to enter the Inner Heart of others. Alice soon discovers this is a powerful ability which must be used carefully when she accidentally makes her older sister disappear. Using the power of the Lotis Runes, Alice must get Mayura back.

Book cover courtesy of SyndeticsFull Moon o Sagashite (manga)

Twelve-year-old Mitsuki Koyama loves singing and dreams of becoming a pop star. Unfortunately, a malignant tumor in her throat prevents her from pursuing her passion. However, her life turns around when two surprisingly fun-loving harbingers of death appear to grant Mitsuki a temporary reprieve from her illness and give her singing career a magical push start. (library catalogue)

Māwhai tuhituhi – Rātū

Ata mārie taiohi mā

Inanahi rā i puta te whārangi ipurangi mō te Māwhai tuhituhi, tā koutou pakiwaitara tuhituhi ā-ipurangi.  Kua oti kē ngā whiti e rua, kei a koe te whiti tuatoru.   Āpiti atu ō tuhituhi ki te pakiwaitara ia rā, mō ngā rā 21-25 o Hūrae.

Mēnā ka hiahia koe ki te uru ki te whakataetae haere ki te whārangi o te māwhai tuhituhi, pāngia te pikitia “māwhai tuhi” ki runga rā,  āpiti tō tuhi ki te wahanga tuhi ki raro nei rānei.

Ka whiriwhirihia kotahi te whiti ia rā hei wini i te taonga o te rā, ki te wikitoria i te taonga nunui pea, ā, ki te hono ki te pakiwaitara mo te whiti o te rā.

Tukuna mai ō whiti – kia tuhi!

Ānei ngā whiti e rua…

Kua horoia ngā rīhi, ka paoho mai te pouaka whakaata, “I tēnei wā ka huri ki ngā matapae huarere mō āpōpō, tērā te whakatūpato a Te Ratonga Tirorangi, he āwhā, he hau āwhiwhio …” Kātahi ka weto te pouaka whakaata! Ka weto ngā raiti o te whare! Kua pō uriuri.

Ngaro hirea ana nga tangi o te ao. Matapiko ana te hau awhiowhio i waho, ka tau. PAKO! Keko ana te tiro a Pita i te aro pena o te hitawe. Ka taka te mahana o te whare, kui ana te hau o roto. Pakaru ana tana hamuti i te kitenga o te atarangi a tana Kuia.

……… ka aha nāianei?

 

Nik’s Picks: Young Avengers

Book cover courtesy of SyndeticsOh, Young Avengers. I love you. Let me count the ways. This is a relatively new title from Marvel, documenting the, well, Young Avengers. A group of teenagers fighting super villains while dealing with typical adolescent angst might seem like a tired concept, but the great writers on this title make it so much more than that. The line-up includes Miss America, a mysterious supe who is so strong she can kick holes into other dimensions, “Kid” Loki, a teen version of the villain from the Marvel Universe, who isn’t exactly the most trustworthy member of the team (for obvious reasons), the Wiccan, son of the Scarlet Witch, and many more besides. One of the things I love about this title is that the line-up changes every couple of issues, which keeps things fairly fresh while staying true to the original spirit of the series.

Book cover courtesy of SyndeticsThe Young Avengers also have to cope with other problems, outside the usual teenage angst. They struggle with getting acceptance from the ‘real’ Avengers, ethical dilemmas and the changing roster of the team. Not all of their problems are easily solved by applications of their powers and they have to deal with the consequences. Another notable feature is the diversity of the team: Miss America is Hispanic, the Patriot is African American and there are several members of the team who are gay or bisexual. In fact, this series has won two GLAAD awards for its sensitive portrayal of their struggles. Although this may not be the most unique feature of these guys, since at least two of the teens are aliens and one is the reincarnation of a Norse deity.

Despite all these various problems, there’s plenty of light hearted moments; Loki’s tricks are often centered around his disinclination to pay for his food when he’s in diners. The team genuinely care about each other, despite their many clashes. But the series never feels like an after-school special. It’s well written, it’s funny, it’s action packed, and for a “cape” comic, it’s extremely believable. Even if you’re not a comic reader, this series is definitely worth picking up.

Here’s Volume 1: Sidekicks.

Nau Mai ki te Māwhai Tuhituhi!

Mōrenā koutou katoa! Hei te ata nei kei te whakatūwhera mātou i te whārangi ipurangi mō te Māwhai tuhituhi, tā koutou pakiwaitara tuhituhi ā-ipurangi.

Kua oti kē i te kaituhi rongonui haere nei a Paora Tibble te whiti tuatahi te tuhituhi, ā, māu e whakamutua – āpiti atu ō tuhituhi ki te pakiwaitara ia rā, hei te 21-25 o Hūrae. Āpiti tō tuhi hei te wahanga tuhi ki raro nei, uru ki te whārangi o te māwhai tuhituhi hei te patohia i te pikitia “māwhai tuhi” ki raro nei ki tetukuna i tō tuhi ki a mātou.

Ka whiriwhirihia kotahi te whiti ia rā hei wini i te taonga mo te rā, ki te wikitoria i te taonga nunui pea, ā, ki te hono ki te pakiwaitara mo te whiti o te rā.

Tukuna mai ō whiti – kia tuhi!

 

Ānei te whiti tuatahi… me aha inaianei?

Kua horoia ngā rīhi, ka paoho mai te pouaka whakaata,

“I tēnei wā ka huri ki ngā matapae huarere mō āpōpō, tērā te whakatūpato a Te Ratonga Tirorangi, he āwhā, he hau āwhiwhio …”

Kātahi ka weto te pouaka whakaata! Ka weto ngā raiti o te whare! Kua pō uriuri.

Māwhai Tuhituhi online Te Reo writing competition for Te Wiki O Te Reo Māori

Hei whakanui i Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori 2014, kei te mahi pakiwaitara tuhituhi ā-ipurangi Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui, ā, ka taea e koe e tō kura rānei ētahi taonga te wini.

Kua oti kē i te kaituhi rongonui haere nei a Paora Tibble te whiti tuatahi te tuhituhi, ā, māu e āpiti atu ō tuhituhi ki te pakiwaitara ia rā, hei te 21-25 o Hūrae.

Ka whiriwhirihia kotahi te whiti ia rā (tae atu ki te 200 kupu), mai i ia reanga, ka mutu hoki ngā pakiwaitara hei te ahiahi o te Paraire te 25 o Hūrae.

Ko ngā Reanga: (Kura) Tau 1-8, me te Tau 9-13

Ko ngā taonga ia rā he pēke whare pukapuka, he kāri koha, he haki pukapuka hoki.

Ko ngā taonga mā ngā toa tuhituhi kotahi iPapa mō ia reanga, ā, he haki e $250 hei hoko pukapuka mō ngā kura o ngā toa tuhituhi.

Ko te kura hoki he tokomaha rawa ana kaituhi ka wini hoki i te haki pukapuka e $250!

Kia whai wāhi koe ki te wini, tūhono mai ā-ipurangi ka tuhituhi mai rā: wcl.govt.nz/mawhaituhi

 

To celebrate Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori 2014, Wellington City Libraries are weaving an online story, with the chance for you and your school to win some cool prizes.

Well-known author, Paora Tibble, has written the first paragraph but we need you to continue the story each day, from 21-25 July.

A paragraph (up to 200 words) will be selected, daily, from each age group, and the stories will finish on Friday afternoon, 25 July.

Age Groups are: (School) Year 1-8, and Year 9-13

Daily prizes include library bags, concession cards and book vouchers.

The prizes for overall winners include an iPad for each age group winner, plus $250 of book vouchers for the winners’ schools.

The school with the most contributors will also win $250 of book vouchers!

For your chance to win, join us online and weave your story: wcl.govt.nz/mawhaituhi

New Fiction

nullThe year of the rat, Clare Furniss (305 pages)
The world can tip at any moment…a fact that fifteen-year-old Pearl is all too aware of when her mom dies after giving birth to her baby sister, Rose. Rose, who looks exactly like a baby rat, all pink, wrinkled, and writhing. This little Rat has destroyed everything, even ruined the wonderful relationship that Pearl had with her stepfather, the Rat’s biological father.Mom, though…Mom’s dead but she can’t seem to leave. She keeps visiting Pearl. Smoking, cursing, guiding. Told across the year following her mother’s death, Pearl’s story is full of bittersweet humor and heartbreaking honesty about how you deal with grief that cuts you to the bone, as she tries not only to come to terms with losing her mother, but also the fact that her sister—The Rat—is a constant reminder of why her mom is no longer around. (Goodreads)

First lines: The traffic light glows red through the rainy windscreen, blurred, clear, blurred again, as the wipers swish to and fro. Below it, in front of us, is the hearse. I try not to look at it.

Book cover courtesy of SyndeticsTorn away, Jennifer Brown (276 pages) Born and raised in the Midwest, Jersey Cameron knows all about tornadoes. Or so she thinks. When her town is devastated by a twister, Jersey survives — but loses her mother, her young sister, and her home. As she struggles to overcome her grief, she’s sent to live with her only surviving relatives: first her biological father, then her estranged grandparents. In an unfamiliar place, Jersey faces a reality she’s never considered before — one in which her mother wasn’t perfect, and neither were her grandparents, but they all loved her just the same. Together, they create a new definition of family. And that’s something no tornado can touch. (Goodreads)

First lines: Marin wanted to teach me the East Coast Swing. It was pretty much her only goal in life. She was constantly pulling on my arms or standing in front of the TV, her hands on her square little hips, sparkle nail polish glinting and ratty rose-colored tutu quivering.

Book cover courtesy of SyndeticsAfter the end, Amy Plum (322 pages)World War III has left the world ravaged by nuclear radiation. A lucky few escaped to the Alaskan wilderness. They’ve survived for the last thirty years by living off the land, being one with nature, and hiding from whoever else might still be out there. At least, this is what Juneau has been told her entire life.
When Juneau returns from a hunting trip to discover that everyone in her clan has vanished, she sets off to find them. Leaving the boundaries of their land for the very first time, she learns something horrifying: There never was a war. Cities were never destroyed. The world is intact. Everything was a lie. Now Juneau is adrift in a modern-day world she never knew existed. But while she’s trying to find a way to rescue her friends and family, someone else is looking for her. Someone who knows the extraordinary truth about the secrets of her past. (Goodreads)

First lines: I crouch low to the ground, pressing my back to the ancient spruce tree, and raise my crossbow in one hand. Keeping my eye on the precious shard of mirror embedded in my weapon, I inch it out from behind the tree. In the reflection, I spot something moving behind a cedar across the snowy clearing.

Book cover courtesy of SyndeticsTake me on, Katie McGarry (455 pages)Champion kickboxer Haley swore she’d never set foot in the ring again after one tragic night. But then the guy she can’t stop thinking about accepts a mixed martial arts fight in her honor. Suddenly, Haley has to train West Young. All attitude, West is everything Haley promised herself she’d stay away from. Yet he won’t last five seconds in the ring without her help. West is keeping a big secret from Haley. About who he really is. But helping her-fighting for her-is a shot at redemption. Especially since it’s his fault his family is falling apart. He can’t change the past, but maybe he can change Haley’s future. Hayley and West have agreed to keep their relationship strictly in the ring. But as an unexpected bond forms between them and attraction mocks their best intentions, they’ll face their darkest fears and discover love is worth fighting for. (Goodreads)

First lines: A door squeaks open at the far end of the barren hallway and the clicking of high heels echoes off the row of mteal post-office boxes. I attempt to appear causual as I flip through the mail. All of it leftovers from our previous life: my brother’s mixed martial arts magazine, an American Girl doll catalog for my sister, another seed and gardening catalog for my mother. Collection notices for my father.

Book cover courtesy of SyndeticsDangerous creatures, Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (327 pages)Ridley Duchannes will be the first to tell you that she’s a bad girl. She’s Dark. She’s a Siren. You can never trust her, or even yourself when she’s around. Lucky for her, Wesley “Link” Lincoln can never seem to remember that; quarter Incubus or not, his heart is Mortal when it comes to Ridley. When Link heads to New York City to start a music career, Ridley goes along for the ride-and she has her own reasons. As if leaving small-town Gatlin for the big city, trying to form a band, and surviving life with a partially reformed Siren isn’t hard enough already, Link soon learns he has a price on his head that no Caster or Mortal can ever pay. (Goodreads)

First lines: There are only two kinds of Mortals in the backwater town of Gatlin, South Carolina-the stupid and the stuck. At least, that’s what they sat. As if there are any kinds of Mortals anywhere else. Please. Luckily, there’s only one kind of Siren no matter where you go in this world or the Otherworld.

Book cover courtesy of SyndeticsMoon at Nine, Deborah Ellis (214 pages)Fifteen-year-old Farrin has many secrets. Although she goes to a school for gifted girls in Tehran, as the daughter of an aristocratic mother and wealthy father, Farrin must keep a low profile. It is 1988; ever since the Shah was overthrown, the deeply conservative and religious government controls every facet of life in Iran. If the Revolutionary Guard finds out about her mother’s Bring Back the Shah activities, her family could be thrown in jail, or worse.
The day she meets Sadira, Farrin’s life changes forever. Sadira is funny, wise, and outgoing; the two girls become inseparable. But as their friendship deepens into romance, the relationship takes a dangerous turn. It is against the law to be gay in Iran; the punishment is death. Despite their efforts to keep their love secret, the girls are discovered and arrested. Separated from Sadira, Farrin can only pray as she awaits execution. Will her family find a way to save them both? (Goodreads)

First lines: Ancient demons roam an ancient land. They dwell in the valleys of lurk in the mountains. They hide among the grains of sand and sleep beside the scorpions. They watch the humans go on about their insignificant business 0 shopping in the markets, heeding the call to prayer, taking care of their children. The humans are busy. The demons go unnoticed.

Book cover courtesy of SyndeticsThe other side of nowhere, Steve Johnson (209 pages)When Johnno and his friends survive the freak storm that rips apart their yacht, they’re just glad to be alive. That is, until reality hits: they’ve washed up on an uninhabited island with few supplies, no phone and no way to get home. The situation becomes even more desperate when the four teenagers discover they are not alone on the island. There’s a hideout where men with guns are covering up a dark secret that they will protect at any cost. With nowhere to run, Johnno and his friends are forced into a dangerous game with the criminals as they fight to save one of their own. (Goodreads)

First lines: “Matty?” I puffed. “You still alive back there?” I could see him out of the corner of my eye, his head down and tongue lolling out of the side of his mouth. “Course I am,” he wheezed back, “Doing better than you.”

Book cover courtesy of SyndeticsThe Minnow, Diana Sweeny (263 pages)Tom survived a devastating flood that claimed the lives of her sister and parents. Now she lives with Bill in his old shed by the lake. But it’s time to move out—Tom is pregnant with Bill’s baby. Jonah lets her move in with him. Mrs Peck gives her the Fishmaster Super Series tackle box. Nana is full of gentle good advice and useful sayings. And in her longing for what is lost, Tom talks to fish: Oscar the carp in the pet shop, little Sarah catfish who might be her sister, an unhelpful turtle in a tank at the maternity ward. And the minnow. (Goodreads)

First lines: “I think Bill is in love with Mrs. Peck,” I confide to an undersized blue swimmer crab that has become all tangled up in my line. The little crab doesn’t appear to be the slightest bit interested, so I finish pulling it free and toss it over the side of Bill’s dinghy.

Book cover courtesy of SyndeticsZero Hour, Will Hill (700 pages)When Jamie Carpenter’s mother is kidnapped by strange creatures, he finds himself dragged into Department 19, the government’s most secret agency.
Fortunately for Jamie, Department 19 can provide the tools he needs to find his mother, and to kill the vampires who want him dead. But unfortunately for everyone, something much older is stirring, something even Department 19 can’t stand up against…(Goodreads)

First lines: Eight black-clad Operators made their way silently over the lip of the canyon, spacing themselves evenly out along the length of the ridge. They bristled with weaponry, although not the kind they were used to carrying; they wore no stakes on their belts, no ultraviolet grenades or beam guns, no T-Bones.

Book cover courtesy of SyndeticsShadows, Paula Weston (387 pages)It’s almost a year since Gaby Winters was in the car crash that killed her twin brother, Jude. Her body has healed in the sunshine of Pandanus Beach, but her grief is raw and constant. It doesn’t help that every night in her dreams she kills demons and other hell-spawn.
And then Rafa comes to town. Not only does he look exactly like the guy who’s been appearing in Gaby’s dreams—he claims a history with her brother that makes no sense. Gaby is forced to accept that what she thought she knew about herself and her life is only a shadow of the truth—and that the truth is more likely to be found in the shadows of her nightmares. Who is Rafa? Who are the Rephaim? And most importantly, who can she trust?(Goodreads)

First lines: I’m running along the boardwalk, wind and sand stinging my arms. It’s after work and I have the track to myself. A handful of surfers are battling the choppy waves, and the Williamsons are walking on the beach like they do every morning in their matching sports gear and orthopedic shoes. Their silver heads are bowed against the wind, but they’re still holding hands. It makes me feel emptier than usual.

Book cover courtesy of SyndeticsMy brother’s keeper, Tom and Tony Bradman (106 pages) Alfie signs up for the army aged just 15, carried away by patriotic fervour at the start of the Great War. But life in the trenches is very far from his dreams of glory. It’s hard, and cold, and it’s boring. Alfie is desperate to see some action. But when he volunteers for a raid on the German trenches, against the advice of his comrades, Alfie begins to understand what war means, and to see the value of the lives that are being thrown away on the Western Front every day…(Goodreads)

First lines: Alfie Barnes peered into the darkness shrouding no-man’s land and wished he were taller. Like the rest of the men in his section he was in position on the trench’s fire-step, but he could only just get his head up to the level of the sandbagged parapet.

Speed Freak winner!

Book cover courtesy of SyndeticsAnd the winner of our Speed Freak competition is Gemma! Congratulations! We’ll be in touch shortly to organise where you would like to collect your prize from.

We still have one book to give away, I guess we’ll have to find another method of giving it away… Stay tuned!

New Zealand International Film Festival 2014 Trailer Tuesday

The Wellington NZIFF programme launched a couple of weeks ago and there are so many to choose from – nearly 150 films are in the programme so it is absolutely chocka. Having given it some thought, I’ve picked out some I think will be hits! Check out my list and let me know what you’re excited for in the comments!

The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet (3D)

From the director of Amelie comes a tale of a prodigious young inventor of completely zany and fascinating products. His perpetual motion machine comes to the attention of the Smithsonian institute and they invite T.S. to Washington, unaware he is just 10 years old. Determined to respond to the invitation, T.S. sets out alone one night on a cross-country adventure to collect his reward for his brilliance.

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

The newest film from Studio Ghibli (The Wind Rises) and eight years in the making, Princess Kaguya is a retelling of a traditional Japanese folk tale. A humble bamboo-cutter stumbles upon a tiny princess-like doll hidden in a bamboo shoot. He takes it home, and he and his wife are shocked when the doll turns into a wailing baby. When gifts of gold and silks continue to appear, the bamboo-cutter and his wife decide to abandon their humble lifestyle to raise the girl as a proper princess.

We Are The Best!

We Are The Best! is the story of 3 young misfits growing up in Stockholm, Sweden in the 1980s. Klara and Bobo are 13-year-old rebels looking for a cause. Despite having no particular musical talents, they channel their efforts into forming an all-girl punk band and enlist their shy, guitar-playing classmate Hedvig to join them. The story is based on a graphic novel by the director’s wife Coco Moodysson and fully embodies the DIY spirit of the punk movement.

Patema Inverted

Another exciting anime film, Patema Inverted is the story of young and inquisitive Patema who lives in a post-disaster underground world. While exploring one day she falls into a deep pit, but mysteriously finds herself falling upward to the Earth’s surface. However it is an upside-down surface – surface dwellers live by the opposite gravity to Patema. She is helped by a surface boy called Age, who explains that in his world “inverted” people like Patema are considered unholy sinners and she soon finds herself being pursued by secret police. Together Age and Patema must uncover the dark conspiracy lurking behind their inverted worlds.

Particle Fever

This is a documentary about the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland and the first proton-smashing experiments conducted there. It also follows closely the thrilling search for the Higgs boson, the particle that gives mass to other particles. It is a fascinating insight into the world of physics and discovering our own universe and looks to be extremely exciting!

The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness

This documentary follows Hayao Miyazaki and visits Studio Ghibli, which in itself looks like a Miyazaki movie. Miyazaki is working on his allegedly final film The Wind Rises, working by hand in a cluttered workspace filled with old technologies. Meanwhile, Ghibli’s other maestro Takahata Isao is working on Princess Kaguya (see above) across town in a completely different working environment. Ghibli producer and co-founder Suzuki Toshio shuttles between the two, managing their differing approaches with love and appreciation for the different challenges each film faces.

Nik’s picks : Best of the Bard (retold) edition

Shakespeare is taught in most college classes these days; whether you think this is a bad or good thing depends on you! I’m a fan, but I get tired of the same-old same-old productions and books. So here are a few of my favourite Shakespeare related books, websites and DVDs, to make your experience of the great man that much more interesting. I think this post is going to get a lot of flack from English teachers and Shakespeare purists everywhere, but I’m of the opinion that stuff like this should be enjoyable and accessible. I’m sure the Bard would have wanted it that way.

Book cover courtesy of SyndeticsTo be or not to be: a chooseable path adventure, by Ryan North, Shakespeare, and you!

This is unquestionably one of my favourite things to come into the YA collection in a while. I have fond memories of choose-your-own adventure books from my childhood, even though I always ended up dying! That’s an option in this book but the great thing is, you can always start again. Especially if you start out as Hamlet Senior…well, that’s not a spoiler. After all, I think the statue of limitations on spoiler warnings runs out after 415 years. Anyway, you can start the game as the aforementioned (deceased) King of Denmark, Ophelia or Hamlet himself. After that, it’s up to you. It’s written more like a YA novel than in prose, and the possible endings get pretty wacky. Added to this are the amazing illustrators; there are too many to namecheck all of them but Kate Beaton (Hark! A Vagrant), Randall Munroe (XKCD) and Faith Erin Hicks (Friends with Boys, Nothing Possibly can go wrong) all contribute. What I find particularly awesome is that this book is the result of a kickstarter campaign: crowd funding for the win! A necessary disclaimer: I wouldn’t recommend using this to write your NCEA essays.

Book cover courtesy of SyndeticsHamlet: a novel, John Marsden

This book takes a rather more serious look at Hamlet. It keeps fairly close to the original story, but manages to convey the inner emotions of those entangled in the story. Retellings of Hamlet are by far the most popular among YA writers, but I think this one’s the best. The language is fresh and the pace makes the looming disaster all the more tragic. It also doesn’t try to force a happy ending on the characters, which I’ve always find a bit jarring, especially in books that aim to be taken seriously.

Book cover courtesy of SyndeticsLady Macbeth’s daughter, Lisa Klein

In the text of Macbeth, it is revealed that lady Macbeth has been pregnant before; but this is only mentioned once, and Macbeth’s lack of children plays a central role in the plot of the play. In this novel, Lisa Klein imagines what the life of such a child – a daughter, who is cast out by Macbeth – would be like. The historic Lady Macbeth also had a son, by her first husband, but is Lady Macbeth and Albia, her lost daughter, who tell the story in alternating chapters. The writer says she set out to give “an entirely new perspective on the events of Shakespeare’s play, using a protagonist who is outside the main action but crucial to its unfolding.” She more than succeeds, and manages to incorporate historical facts into the narrative fairly seamlessly, which keeps the book from seeming too fanciful.

Book cover courtesy of SyndeticsThe most excellent and lamentable tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare and illustrated by Gareth Hinds

This is the only book included in this blog post which takes its text entirely from the play, although it’s somewhat abridged. What sets it apart from the other graphic adaptations is its attention to detail; the artist, in his postscript, has taken actual features from Verona and uses them in backgrounds in his lavish illustrations. He does admit that he’s moved various places around for aesthetic purposes, but it doesn’t really affect the sense of a real Renaissance city. Gareth Hinds also tries to “fix” parts of the text that are often portrayed incorrectly in the staging.

Shakespeare retold DVD series

There are plenty of “pure” adaptaions out there but sometimes it can be a struggle to get through all that prose. These modern adaptations are a whole lot of fun. They feature some of the best actors England has to offer having a great time chewing the scenery and taking a break from having to memorise 16th century lines. Again, I wouldn’t recommend using these to help write your essay, but I’m a big believer in enjoying Shakespeare because it’s fun, rather than because you have to study it in class. My favourites are Taming of the Shrew and A Midsummer night’s dream.

10 things I hate about you

I remember when this film first came out, which, given that this was 15 years ago, is going to date me a bit. I didn’t realise that this was based off Taming of the Shrew until a while later though! It’s considered a classic, and for good reason. Even though the fashion is slightly dated, the movie still holds up: Heath Ledger, in his break-out role, has great chemistry with Julia Stiles, who’s equally impressive as Kat. It’s full of quotable dialogue and great acting, and conveys what it’s like to be young, cynical and in love in college. Well, as far as I can remember, anyway.

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are dead

This is a classic adaptation of an extraordinary play. It concerns the lives of Rosencrantz & Guildenstern, two fairly minor characters in Hamlet. There are chunks of the actual play, but for the most part it’s in modern language. It deals with fate, the nature of theatre and performance, and various philosophical problems. It might sound a bit dry, but it’s extremely funny and features some of the best actors working today.