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Reviews




  • Library Serf, Reviews

    Best of 2011: Ada’s Pick

    16.12.11 | Permalink | Comment?

    Beyond the dark journey: short stories and poems by young refugees in New Zealand

    Eight young people from Burma, Aghanistan and the Sudan write about their journey to Aotearoa and coping with settling in. I especially liked the poetry and would like to share this verse with you:

    I packed my bags throwing
    My life into my suitcase
    Not knowing where I was going.
    Here I’m in windy wild Wellington.
    Cold
    Depressing
    Alone
    Quiet
    Isolated
    A neglected human ~ Sonia Azizi

    I was priviliged to meet the young authors and after reading this book it has given me a better understanding about our courageous refugee community. A great read.

    ~ Ada

    Read about the evolution of the book here.


  • Lauren, Reviews

    Best of 2011: Lauren’s Pick

    15.12.11 | Permalink | Comment?

    Love is the Higher Law, David Levithan

    “Three New York City teenagers struggle to come of age amid the chaos and aftermath of September 11. Peter’s, Claire’s, and Jasper’s lives weave together as they come to terms with a new reality. A welcome addition to any YA fiction collection where there are few examples on the topic.” (Library Journal)

    Love is the Higher Law showed another side of the events of 9/11 – what teens actually went through in NY, where they were when the planes hit the world trade centre and the events that followed.

    ~ Lauren


  • Library Serf, Reviews

    Best of 2011: Katie’s Other Pick

    14.12.11 | Permalink | Comment?

    Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

    If you loved the Vampire Academy series, then this is the book for you. Bloodlines is the first book in the spin-off series of the Vampire Academy series narrated by Sydney Sage, a teenage Alchemist, a human bound to protect other humans from vampires, whether they’re the comparatively normal Moroi or the pure-evil Strigoi vampires and who is in hot water with the other alchemists for helping Rose (the original narrator of the Vampire Academy series …). However Sydney is called back into service when Jill Dragomir, Queen Lissa Dragomir’s half-sister, is in danger of being killed and the best way to keep Jill safe is to put her in a human boarding school, with Sydney posing as her older sister, despite the objections of Keith, a slimy Alchemist with a personal vendetta against her.

    Despite not having the original Vampire Academy series, I enjoyed it. Full of suspense, danger, drama, vampires being murdered, a little forbidden love thrown in… and even ‘illegal drug operations’… Can’t wait to read The Golden Lily.

    ~ Katie


  • Library Serf, Reviews

    Best of 2011: Sarina’s Picks

    12.12.11 | Permalink | Comment?

    Half Brother, by Kenneth Oppel

    “On Ben’s thirteenth birthday, his parents introduce him to his new sibling: a hairy, swaddled baby chimp that will be raised as part of the family in an experiment run by Ben’s father, a behavioral psychologist. At first, Ben resists calling Zan his brother, but as he begins to communicate with Zan through sign language, he develops a true, loving connection with the little chimp, even as he realizes that his father views Zan as just a scientific specimen. What will happen to Zan when the experiment is over? … A moving, original novel that readers will want to ponder and discuss” (Booklist review)

    Also great:


  • Library Serf, Reviews

    Best of 2011: Nancy’s Pick

    09.12.11 | Permalink | Comment?

    Kill All Enemies, Melvin Burgess

    “This tells the story of three teens with troubled backgrounds, one the daughter of an alcoholic, one who has an abusive stepdad, and one who is at odds with his middle-class upbringing. Here’s a review from the Guardian.” (teen blog!)

    It’s a bit dark and gloomy but has really excellent inner monologues and the story is told very well from a variety of kids’ perspectives.

    ~ Nancy


  • Library Serf, Reviews

    Best of 2011: Pam’s Picks

    08.12.11 | Permalink | Comment?

    I’ll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan

    “Seventeen-year-old Sam’s and 10-year-old Riddle’s lives have never been normal. Because of their abusive father’s bad habit – stealing – they are always on the run. Sam stumbles into church wearing his cleanest dirty clothes on the day that Emily Bell sings ‘I’ll Be There’ by the Jackson Five. He can’t help but feel that she is singing directly to him, and the two make a connection that later will change both of their lives. Because of many coincidences, the two eventually meet again and the relationship blossoms, but not without some hindrances. Sam’s father commits a series of crimes, and he forces the boys to hit the road with him again. The brothers end up escaping their father’s grip and get separated, and readers will flip pages frantically to find out if they are reunited with one another and with Emily’s family. Sloan illustrates how we are all connected in big and small, positive and negative ways. Any reader who has ever questioned whether even the smallest gesture of kindness can make a difference will appreciate this book.” (School Library Journal)

    Also excellent:

    Island’s end by Padma Venkatraman

    In the sea there are crocodiles by Fabio Goda


  • Library Serf, Reviews

    Best of 2011: Katie’s Picks

    05.12.11 | Permalink | Comment?

    Annexed by Sharon Dogar

    This is a fictionised account of Anne Frank’s diary told from the perspective of 16 year old Peter Van Pels, whose family shares a home in hiding with the Franks. Peter struggles endlessly through the loss of his sweetheart, friends and his freedom until finally finding an unlikely soulmate and potential girlfriend in Anne Frank, a happy ending that you hope is possible but is never to be. In reading this story, you learn of Peter and Anne’s hopes and dreams they have for the future and grieve for the possibilties they and all other Jews were robbed of. Have tissues on hand when reading.

    ~ Katie

    Also really good:


  • Raewyn, Reviews

    Best of 2011: Raewyn’s Pick

    03.12.11 | Permalink | Comment?

    Daughter of smoke & bone by Laini Taylor

    This is a fantastic story about the eternal fight between seraphim and chimaera and the hope of change. Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorway, scorched there by winged strangers. In a dark and dusty shop in Prague, a sorcerer’s supply of teeth grows dangerously low and he sends his messenger through one of the marked doors to the other side of the world to collect more. There Karou meets and fights with a beautiful winged seraph before returning with the teeth she was sent to collect. Although she manages to escape, she cannot stop thinking about the angel and neither can he forget her! Karou = hope.

    ~ Raewyn


  • Julie, Library Serf, Reviews

    Best of 2011: Julie’s Picks

    01.12.11 | Permalink | Comment?

    2011 is nearly over, so we thought we’d ask some library staff what their favourite books of the year were. Here are the first reviews of an interesting, ecclectic bunch!

    Naked, Kevin Brooks

    London 1976, during the height of IRA bombings and the emergence of the punk scene, teenagers Lili and Curtis are living their dream by playing in their punk band called ‘Naked’.

    William Bonney, a Belfast boy joins the band as guitarist and Lili is immediately drawn to him. She finds herself caught up in his Irish past which inevitably follows him to London. This is a characteristically gripping novel from Kevin Brooks.

    Out of Shadows, Jason Wallace

    This is the story of Robert Jacklin a thirteen year old boy who arrives from England to Zimbabwe at the end of the civil war – Robert Mugabe has just taken over as president. Robert is sent to a very traditional boy’s boarding school where bullying is rife and he quickly learns that instead of remaining friends with one of the school’s few black students it is in his interests to be loyal to the white elite. Over his five years at the school he turns into a thug’s accessory and chooses to ignore his own morals.

    The story turns into a fast paced thriller as Robert’s mentor becomes more and more focused on achieving what he think is right.

    Author, Jason Wallace grew up in post revolutionary Zimbabwe so the portrayal of the boarding school and political climate is very real. While in many ways it left me feeling shocked it was a very powerful novel.

    ~ Julie


  • Library Serf, Reviews

    Some Reader Reviews

    19.10.11 | Permalink | Comment?

    We like getting reviews: if you’re interested in telling us what you think of something you’ve read, or listened to, or watched, here’s what to do. Here’s a collection of readers’ thoughts over the last wee while:

    Down the Rabbit Hole, by Peter Abrahams

    Down the Rabbit Hole is the tale of 13-year-old Ingrid Levin-Hill, an ordinary girl with a love of soccer, acting and Sherlock Holmes. She lives in desolate Echo Falls, where mystery is never far away. Ingrid begins investigating the death of a resident in Echo Falls, while trying to land the lead role in a local production of Alice and Wonderland. One thing leads to another, as Ingrid finds herself caught in a web of lies and secrets. She finds life in Echo Falls to become curiouser and curiouser; will she ever escape?

    ~ Review by E S

    The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

    This book is amazing … It is a sad story but I think it’s great for all readers. I’m 12 and the books do look big but you read them so fast. It’s got some bits that made me cry and other that stopped my heart from beating I loved this book and you will too.

    ~ Anonymous!

    The first book of the awesome Hunger Games triology, Katniss Everdeen steps up for her sister to the cold-hearted, merciless Hunger Games. It is truly a game of kill or be killed. Allies will be made, broken hearts, and a killer awaits… one who none can overthrow, in its own game of cat and mouse.

    ~ Review by Cameron


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