Thursday 20 August 2015

Weekly Reading Corner




Mele is reading The Wrong Boy by Suzy Zail

Dakota issued Evercrossed by Elizabeth Chandler & The Collector by Victoria Scott

Aki is obsessed with Telesa and is waiting for the second book. In the mean time she might check out Where We Once Belonged by another Samoan writer, Sia Figiel

Bobbi Grace just finished Scarlet Secrets by Lani Young and is waiting until next year for the sequel. She'll be reading  Storm & Stone by Joss Stirling next

Racheal is also reading Scarlet Secrets and is struggling to find time to read =(

Kim is reading The One by Kiera Cass

Lana is reading My Brother's Secret by Dan Smith as well as Torment by Lauren Kate

Lusia wanted a romance, so was recommended Whisky Beach by Nora Roberts

Next week we'll be welcoming Mr Tindling as the new host of book club- looking forward to it!

Tuesday 28 July 2015

Wednesday Catchup Corner


What we're reading at the moment...

Bobbi-Grace is reading Scarlet Lies, Racheal has I am Daniel Tahi and Aki is reading Telesa

'Asinate is reading the third book in a romance trilogy, The Next Always, Cherub is reading Wintergirls and Ms Wethey just started reading The Colour Purple.

Lana is reading Sophie's Legacy, a non-fiction work about a university student who was killed by her ex-boyfriend. Mele is reading The Miracle Stealer, about a boy and his family who don't get along and Christina is going to try The Vanishing Season on Ms Metcalfe's recommendation and see how it goes.

We had a chat about how we fit reading for pleasure into our day. Most people said they did homework first and then read, but some people scheduled time to read...

Bobbi-Grace- reads at 8.40pm for 20 mins. 
Racheal- 9pm-11pm
Lana- anytime she feels like it
Asinate- when she goes to bed, around 10, tries to limit herself
Aki- depends, sometimes after homework
Mele- averages three chapters a day after homework
Ms Metcalfe- after children go to bed, usually around 8
Ms Wethey- readsbefore sleeping, usually late night, but time varies



Wednesday 22 July 2015

Books Yay!



Welcome back to Term 3! We had a good discussion around teaching and learning, particularly what motivates students to work hard enthusiastically. Thanks guys for the interesting ideas.

We also discussed where we buy our books online- bookdepository and amazon are both popular.

This is what we're currently reading- 2 copies of Scarlet Lies were floating around the table.

Bobbi - Scarlet Lies by Lani Young
Lana - Torn by David Massey
Cherub - Bone Bearer by Lani Young
Asinate - The Last Boyfriend by Nora Roberts
Mele M - Telesa by Lani Young
Racheal - I am Daniel Tahi by Lani Young
Kim - Infernal Devices by Phillip Reeve
Ms Metcalfe - The Mage Winds by Mercedes Lackey
Aki - Selection stories by Keira Cass


Wednesday 8 July 2015

Holiday conferencing

Fangirl and Colquhoun fight crime.


I'm at the English teachers' conference at the moment, hearing from great authors and great teachers. Yesterday we were serenaded by Glen Colquhoun, a poet for whom I have a longtime affection (see pic above with me fangirling).

I enjoyed hearing from Bernard Beckett this morning. He is a teacher and author who spoke about many things, including his new book Lullaby coming out soon which sounded creepy but delicious. It reminded me of the ideas explored in The Adoration of Jenna Fox- what makes us us?

It's great to get recommendations for new books- here is a list of some (of the many) that I have suggested to Mr Moses our school librarian (love librarians!)

Keeper Mal Peet- literary sports trilogy
Long Shots underdog stories
Wild Boy- boy walked around NZ Coast line
Pretty Deadly Joe Schreiber
Boys Don’t Cry Malorie Blackman


Wednesday 24 June 2015

Sworn Series OMG



Short summary of this book
Title of the book: Sworn
Author: Emma Knight
Genre: Science fiction & fantasy
Main character Rachel Wood moved from Pennsylvania to Westchester in New York  because her father was transferred for his job. Rachel started a new school with her two sibling, after a while Rachel was asked for a date with a guy she had a crushed on. His name is Rob and was a popular boy because he was the leader of the school football team. Next day Rob acted weird around Rachel which makes her feel overwhelmed. One day on her home she met Benji a loner who never hangs with other kids. However he offered her a ride and together they went to the amusement park. Rachel started falling for him as he saves her life. After what happens at the amusement park Rachel started wondering why benji is different from everyone else, and why he is cold whenever she touch him. However whenever she asked for who he was he’ll replied “You wouldn't understand if I tell you.”
And one night she was invited to a party so she went with her friend Emily from her new school and Rob appeared and asked her to dance with him. However she got a message from Benji to come outside, while she was outside with Benji, Rob came with his boys and found Rachel with hugging Benji. Rob and his boys have no idea who Benji was asked who he was. He replied “I’m Rachel’s boyfriend!”     “HEART DROPPED LOL

Update:

I read the second book of the Sworn series and it is absolutely amazing and stunning! 

Okay in the second book she found out he was a vampire, well she didn't believe him at first however about halfway through the book Benji gave her a thing like a medallion I think to make her believe he is a vampire. After he told her he was a vampire she was shocked  and stormed off. After that she never heard anything from Benji. And in her school students were talking who was this guy Benji. Rachel however kept the secret from anyone else except her diary where she write everything in and lock it with a heart locker, with the key always around her neck. However her secret was discovered as she forgets to lock her diary one night and her mom went through her personal diary one morning as they were searching where she is. Her parents discovered everything she had been hiding from them and everything about her and Benji. Of course the parents called the police where to find Benji and Rachel. As the police pulled outside the castle Rachel and Benji came outside and something happens and the police have an opens fire. Apparently one of the shots had shots Rachel which leaves Benji no choice but to hopefully turn her into a vampire.....I can't wait for the next book, I'm in love with this book LOL.
             
Hopefully Rachel will be turned into a vampire!!! And I can't wait for book three to be on e-books!

Tuesday 23 June 2015

All the students, independent, throw your hands up in the air!



Today at book club we are talking about our licenses and books. Lana is reading Sworn which is on E  book. She started today and won’t stop as the book is really relatable to us girls, especially with teenagers hanging around with the wrong crowd, just to be cool and known. Really rebellious character named RACHEL!


Kim is reading ‘All The Bright Places’ written by Jennifer Niven.


Asinate is reading ‘ The Last Boyfriend' written by Nora Roberts


Lonise is reading 'Blue Spring Ride'


Racheal is reading the second bit of Telesa ‘When Water Burns’  - Lani Wendt Young


We are now talking about book title and how off it can be , but the book is nothing racey as the cover.


Talking about future jobs, majority of us don’t know what we want to do. Lonise wants to be a Vet and Nate wants to do Hospitality but she’s taking all sciences this year! hahahh LOL

Talking about Holidays - Kim- hanging out with Bae , Bobbi-Grace - Sleep in , do work and watch programs Aki- Gateway course , Nate - Going to Wellington to have a holiday with her cousin, Racheal - Relax and do assessments and catch up with my programs and EAT EAT EAT! Lonise- Relax, Lana- First week of the holiday going to a program at AUT and going to go Cook Island.

(Thanks Racheal for recording the bookclub notes in my absence today- Ms M)

Thursday 18 June 2015

Senior Fiction- where to next?





So senior fiction is a thing. It's that bridge between young adult and adult novels- how can you tell what is appropriate to read for a teen?

Here's a column that is specifically focussed on adult books for teens- check it out.

Here's a shelf on goodreads- this is made up of reader recommendations.


Tuesday 16 June 2015

Challenge Books



We've decided that bookclub is getting a bit boring, so we've decided to all choose a book that is out of our comfort zone, a book that we would never normally read.

For most people it was horror, or non-fiction. For me it is a wartime book (I don't read sad things). We perused Stephen King novels..... BOO!

We'll let you know how it goes.

We've also asked for some new books to be purchased for the library- the new Lani Young series Scarlet Lies, as well as some Joss Stirling books- Storm and Stone and Finding Sky.

Wednesday 3 June 2015

Weekly Wednesday Party



Lana- is reading City of Glass. "Boring at first but when you get to the action, that's the best part. When they start understanding the truth of the mysteries it's the best."

Animated discussion around Lani Wendt Young novels.

Tupac, Nathaniel and Joseph came for a visit but were really just taking the mickey.

Kim is reading Withering Tights by Louise Rennison.

Aki is reading a novel from The Selection series.

Asinate is reading The Last Boyfriend it's all good.

Ms Metcalfe is attempting to start a Heinlein novel The Cat Who Walks Through Walls

We had a discussion around exams and how we can get ready and State of Origin.


Breaking up with books



Today's bookclub devolved into a discussion of how noone has any time to read. Best line today goes to Racheal- "Need to take a break, fell in love with exams. But we'll get back with them on Tuesday. Ask out our books again."

Chelsea is getting Fool Moon by Jim Butcher- urban fantasy

Aki is reading The Selection stories, enjoying them.

Asinate is reading Nora Roberts, looking forward to the next one in the series when Ms Metcalfe return is next week.

Lana is still reading Mortal Instruments

Telesa is still popular- Racheal is reading When Water Burns





Tuesday 26 May 2015

How to talk about books you haven't read- repost



I love a site called brain pickings-slightly intellectual and fond of literature.

here's a post about NOT reading books, populated with many references to authors and their views of reading.

Thursday 21 May 2015

Favourite author tweeted us!


We all love the Telesa series (staff included) here at Tamaki College. Hopefully we can arrange a visit!

Tuesday 19 May 2015

The Stranger- Review by Nicola Wells

Inline images 1



I devoured this book in a single afternoon, desperate to find out not who the stranger was, but the truth behind a secret that he revealed to protagonist Adam Price in the first few pages of the book.

The stranger visits a few people throughout the book, always revealing a truth about them to loved ones before walking away and leaving them stunned. These visits do eventually link to one another, but the story always returns to Adam and his slowly imploding family. Where is his wife Corrine? Why did she leave? What is the huge secret she can't possibly discuss?

The characters are compelling and the book is so fast paced that there's no time to put it down! 5 stars from me :) Now to find time to read another...

Wednesday Popcorn Party





Bobbiegrace is reading Seeking Crystal by Joss Stirling. She's read her other ones but not this one.

Kim recommends Misty Falls, and is reading The Jane Austen Book Club. It's very meh.

Lana is reading The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold, who wrote The Lovely Bones.

'Asinate is reading The Last Boyfriend by Nora Roberts- just starting, so no opinion yet.

Racheael, Cherub and Bobbigrace asking Lani Wednt Young to visit us!

Racheal is reading Telesa for the first time. She's never read it, she's nervous. According to Bobbigrace, even though is cover is a bit sexy it follows traditional Samoan values. I've ordered the series from bookdepository.com (Ms Metcalfe)

Cherub is reading When Water Burns, the second in the Telesa series.

Aki is getting The Selection Stories by Kiera Cass.

Ms Metcalfe issued The Realm of Possibility by David Levithan.

We had a discussion about how we find the time to read and study at the same time. No conclusive answers provided, but we did decide that reading is equally important.

Sunday 17 May 2015

Speak by Lauri Halse Anderson- Review by Ms Emery



SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson


SPEAK is about a 13 year old girl who loses the ability to talk to others after she experiences a traumatic event. Her friends abandon her, she is shunned by the rest of the school, and her parents don't seem to notice her at all. So she seeks solace in her Art class and finds ways to hide from everybody, including herself. The story is told from Melinda's point of view, so as a reader, we can hear the thoughts that she cannot say out loud. 

It is easy to feel sympathetic towards Melinda because she is a typical girl, struggling to do well at school. It's a quirky, funny, sometimes sad novel about what it's like to be judged and feel like the outcast, while dealing with identity, acceptance and finding inner strength. This is a 'can't put down until it's finished' book. You'll recognise characters in this novel, from your own school experiences, and one of them might even be you.

- Ms Christine Emery

Dust Girl- review by Ms Metcalfe



Dust Girl is an urban fantasy novel, set in the 1930s American Dust Bowl. The Dust Bowl was a huge human-made ecological disaster, caused by poor crop management and lack of soil conservation. Basically, the once productive fields of Kansas, Oklahoma and other states turned to dust and the topsoil blew away.

In this setting we have Callie, living in a hotel with her (crazy) mother, waiting for the father she has never met to return. The dust storms are killing her and her mother won't leave...until she unleashes her magic.

Would recomend this, I read it in one day. I look forward to reading the next two in the series.

Check out the author's site here.

Friday 15 May 2015

Wednesday Book Party




So there's the roll call of what we're all reading....

Ms Metcalfe- reading Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham- memoir. Suitable for senior students.

Kim- true beleiver by Nicholas Sparks. This "Sparked" a discussion about romance stories and his novels in general. (see what I did there?)

Lana- The Mortal Instruments: City of Glass. Such a popular series.

Aki- Parallel- "What if you woke up to a new life everyday?"

Irene- The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. This has been recommended so many times, and apparently the movie is also very good.

We had a highly successful bakesale last week, raising more than enough to pay for our trip to the Auckland Writers and Readers Festival next Thursday. Thanks to everyone at school who supported us and to everyone (especially parents and grandparents) who provided the superlative baking to sell.

We'll be reporting back after our trip! We're booked in to see...


Grace Taylor, amazing spoken word poet- check out this interview

Anthony Horowitz- writer of the well-known Alex Rider series and now Sherlock Holmes novel Moriarty. Check out his site here.


Laurie Halse Anderson, writer of The Impossible Knife of Memory. Check out her site here.



Morris Gleitzman- written soooooo many books for children and young adults. His site is here.


Auckland Writers and Readers Festival

We had a great time at the festival, hearing from Morris Gleitzman, Anthony Horowitz, Grace Talyor and Laurie Halse Anderson. We purchased a bunch of books, so reviews will be coming soon. I read Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson the day I bought it- what an amazing book.

Check out our photos below...

Racheal and Bobbiegrace enjoying the show

Dakota, Chelsea, Issak and Lana

Lana, Cherub, Raheal, Grace Tayloe, Bobbigrace, Isaak, Chelsea and Dakota throwing shapes.





Tuesday 28 April 2015

Shortbread Wednesday



We had two staff come today- nice to see you Mr Sharma and Staff Cairns!

Staff Cairns- Usally reads a lot about property investing and consumer rights as well as autobiography- Richie McCaw, Willia Apaiata. The Bryce Courtney series- The Power of One, The Potato factory etc. He might look at getting some non-fiction.

Kim- is reading a Sailor Moon manga series- she missed one and is now confused. She recommends the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz.

Bobbigrace is no longer reading The Colour Purple.  She was finding the language a bit off putting, so will get Everlasting instead.

Lana is reading City of Glass.

Cherub is going to get Telesa out as well as reading The Lovely Bones for English (as is Lana)

Mr Sharma has some light reading-text books. He might read 1984 by Orwell as he likes some dystopian fiction.

Ms Metcalfe is hoping to read Not That Kind Of Girl by Lena Dunham, but needs to fight clear of her school work.

We had a discussion around the difference between fiction and literary fiction.


Sunday 26 April 2015

Where She Went- Review by Clearissa Thompson


This book ‘Where she went” is about two young people, Adam and Mia, finally seeing each other again after three years of separation. Adam has a band named ‘Shooting Stars’ and his new album ‘Collateral Damage’ has hit the top charts. Adam started playing and writing songs when Mia left him alone. Mia on the other hand is a cellist whose been playing very well ever since she lost her family in a car crash.

Adam spent those three years wondering where she went and why she left? When they spend one whole night together Adam is tempted to ask her by many things Mia says and does. After Adam has popped the question Mia tells him her point of view. Adam then breaks up with his current girlfriend Bryn. Bryn has always been mad at Mia (or ghost girl, Bryn calls her) ever since her and Adam first started dating  because Bryn has never got the best of Adam. In the end, Adam and Mia end up being together again but they don’t tell anyone besides the band.

I think this book speaks a lot of a broken heart.I liked some parts, like the funny ones. I think Adam should’ve just gotten over her because it’s been 3 years straight with no signs. Adam really has a bad temper and always negative but then it is partly Mia’s fault why he’s like that. He did love her a lot and I think he still does, he always has. Mia is not so good herself. Leaving him just like that wasn’t the right thing. She should’ve told him or said something instead of silence, leaving him to wonder. After 3 years is way too long. Somehow I thought that Bryn was only in it for the money and fame.

Overall, ‘Where she went’ wasn’t the worst book I’ve read, neither the worst. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t good too. It’s just OK. Rate: 5

-Clearissa Thompson

Wednesday 22 April 2015

Why hello, Wednesday!



Why hello! Fancy seeing you here. Check out our anonymous readers at bookclub today...









We're planning a cake stall to fund our excursion to the writer's festival. Much excitement!

Sunday 19 April 2015

32 Books that will (apparently) change your life



I'm a big fan of buzzfeed for many reasons.
  1. It fills in time when I want to pracrastinate
  2. It is entirely made of lists that are easy to read/digest/forget
  3. There are heaps of book-related posts.

I have read 5 of them. Obviously my life needs to be changed more. Have a look at the list and choose one to read this term.


Me Talk Pretty One Day

#17 Me Talk Pretty One Day 

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

#4 The Curious Incident of The Dog In The Night-Time
Beloved

#12 Beloved
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

#13 The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

#20 The Fault In Our Stars 











Friday 17 April 2015

Holiday books

Books I have read these holidays.

A bunch, including these below...


The Road- bleak as hell, post-apocalyptic road trip
Will Grayson Will Grayson- John Green YA romance
Station Eleven- post apocalyptic (sense a theme here?)
Howl's Moving Castle- YA fantasy
The 10 PM Question- I have read this a few times, I might ask for a set to teach
Obsession In Death- futuristic murder mystery, 40th in this series (seriously, 40. I have read all of these.)

Books I have yet to read but hope to...


Your best book so far?


Thursday 16 April 2015

Tuesday 14 April 2015

Lani Wendt Young



Lani Wendt Young is the author of the Telesa series of books, as well as a prolific blogger. Check out her blog here


The first in a new series called Scarlet Lies has just come out- here's the blurb:

"Lies are beautiful – when the truth hurts. 
Sixteen years ago, Scarlet’s family sent her away in disgrace. She’s been back once – with disastrous consequences. Now, her little sister is getting married and Scarlet's headed home once more. Will this be the reunion she's always longed for? Or will the lies of her childhood entangle her once more in their beautiful embrace? 
She has a nightmarish fear of flying and she’s escorting her sister’s wedding dress through three different time zones. He’s the tall, dark and handsome stranger that gets in her way… What happens when Scarlet has to go home to be bridesmaid to her least favorite little sister, (who loves to remind everyone she’s a former beauty Queen EVERY OTHER MINUTE?) Can she survive three weeks of tropical heat and mosquitos, droves of busybody relatives all wanting to tell her WHY she’s still single as she endures the wedding from hell? Six hundred guests, three wedding dresses, twenty-four cake tiers, fifteen bridesmaids, a mother on a mission to makeover her daughter who ‘lacks ambition,’ and ONE deliciously divine man who alternately renders her speechless then drives her to outrage - all add up to a recipe for disaster. Or does it? 
More than 'just a romance', this poignant story about the tangled connections between mothers, daughters and sisters - speaks with compelling insight and humor, of inherited trauma, desire and deception, and the power and stubbornness of love. 
Scarlet Lies is the first in a three book series. The second book, 'Scarlet Secrets' will release April 30th, followed by the thrilling conclusion to the saga, 'Scarlet Redemption', May 30th."
That all the books are coming out this year is very exciting.

Monday 13 April 2015

Boys books

Is there a difference between books for boys and girls? Or are books just books?

Heaps has been written about this.

Here's a list of popular "books for boys" on goodreads: check it out below, click on the link.



Here's a comprehensive list of 140 YA (young adult) books compiled by The Readventurer

And a recommendation- Matthew Reilly books- particulalry Hovercar racer and The Scarecrow series