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

Tag: NZ Post Book Awards 2014

Speed Freak giveaway!

We have TWO copies of Speed Freak by Fleur Beale to give away! Speed Freak was a finalist in the Young Adult category of the NZ Post Children’s (and YA) Book Awards (the winners have only just been announced – check them out here) and it has been highly praised by many readers, critics and otherwise. Tierney Reardon says “it is exactly the sort of book you might expect from award-winning author Fleur Beale; captivating, honest, and completely unique.”

Book cover courtesy of SyndeticsFifteen-year-old Archie Barrington is a top kart driver, aiming to win the Challenge series and its ultimate prize of racing in Europe. He loves the speed, the roar of the engine, the tactics and the thrill of racing to the limits. Craig is his main rival, and there’s also Silver, who drives likes she’s got a demon inside. Archie knows he’ll need all his skill and focus to win. But sometimes, too, you need plain old luck. Can Archie overcome the odds and win? (library catalogue)

All YOU need to do to be in the draw to win is to comment on this post and tell us what your favourite Fleur Beale book is and why! You must enter before 5pm on Friday 11th July to be in the draw – that’s two weeks from today! If you win, you must also be able to collect your prize from your choice of one of our Wellington City Libraries branches.

We must also say a HUGE thank you to Random House NZ for providing us with these books to give away to you!

NZ Post Children’s (and YA) Book Award WINNERS!

Well that crept up on us – the winners of the NZ Post Children’s Book Awards have just been announced! The overall winner of the Margaret Mahy Book of the year prize went to The Boring Book by Vasanti Unka! The Boring Book also won its category of Best Picture Book.

Book cover courtesy of SyndeticsThe winner of the young adult category was Mortal Fire by Elizabeth Knox! I know we have a number of Elizabeth Knox fans among our readers – hurrah!

“Mortal Fire is an incredibly well-written and engaging book. The story is like a jigsaw that slowly slots together and leaves the reader satisfied but haunted by the events and the characters. It is a book that operates on a supernatural, fantastical level, while still containing the core young adult material about finding out who you are,” says Barbara Else.

The other winners were Dunger by Joy Cowley (Junior Fiction), The Beginner’s Guide to Hunting and Fishing in New Zealand by Paul Adamson (Non-fiction), A Necklace of Souls by R L Stedman (Best Debut) and The Three Bears…Sort Of by Yvonne Morrison and Donovan Bixley (Children’s Choice). We have all of the winners in our collection – click on the links above to reserve them!