Scroll down to see reviews submitted by YA readers:

Finding courage to pursue a passion, Siobhan Ellis

The Forever Horse
Stacy Gregg
Harper Collins Publishing
pub. 2020

 

 

 

February 9, 2021

“I am going to be the greatest artist in the world. That is my plan – and when I make my mind up, I do not fail.”

After reading a number of Stacy Gregg’s books, I had very high expectations for her latest standalone novel The Forever Horse. She did not fail to meet them. Like many Stacy Gregg novels, The Forever Horse cleverly intertwines past with the present with the creative use of a diary from the 1850s. Written for early teens, The Forever Horse is a novel about overcoming obstacles and exceeding extreme expectations that draws the reader into the tale within the first few sentences.  Read more

February, 2021 Melissa Scroll down to see reviews submitted by YA readers:

A mysterious love story, Sophie Whittaker

If Only
Adele Broadbent
OneTree House
pub. 2020

 

 

 

February 8, 2021

If Only is a novel about Kayla Ferris who is fifteen, has a best friend, laughs about boys and loves movies. But one day she breaks the rules. She lies, and that changes everything.

The book describes how Kayla reacts to problems with her friends and family which a lot of teenagers have to deal with and think about when they get older. It tells a story of how one night can change everything and how it can really open people’s eyes. As Kayla starts to befriend a boy who saves whales she starts to realise who her real friends are.  Read more

February, 2021 Melissa Scroll down to see reviews submitted by YA readers:

Complexity of family dynamics, Natalya Newman

Half My Life
Diana Noonan
OneTree House
pub. 2020

 

 

 

1 Feb, 2021

Katie Papahajis feels like a stranger in her own life. Her father left Greece at a young age to live in New Zealand and open a Greek fish & chip shop, yet speaks nothing of the time before New Zealand – and nothing of his family. Her mother is projecting happiness while trying and failing to keep their three-person-family from falling apart, and there always seems to be something lurking beneath that tranquil facade of normality. All the while Katie’s heart and mind have been suffering through doubt and uncertainty for so long – because, after all, if her own parents couldn’t emotionally love her, how could anyone else?  Read more

February, 2021 Melissa Scroll down to see reviews submitted by YA readers:

Learning the magic of the ocean, Sasha Maclean

Spearo
Mary-Anne Scott
OneTree House
pub. 2020

 

14 January, 2021

Spearo by Mary-anne Scott is an exciting spearfishing adventure about a boy who enters the wonderful world of spearfishing.

Imagine moving to New Zealand from Zimbabwe, after the death of your father. Imagine leaving behind everything you know to go to a strange country very far away where you know nobody.

This is what happens to Sean Phelps. He is lonely and homesick, until he meets Mason, a ‘mad keen spearo’ who introduces him to the wonderful world of spearfishing. As he learns about the magic of the ocean and spearfishing, Sean must get over his fear of sharks, assure his paranoid mother that he is in no real danger, and find money to buy dive gear.  Read more

January, 2021 Tanya Prince Scroll down to see reviews submitted by YA readers:

A beautiful story of empowerment, Natalya Newman

Make a Hard Fist
Tina Shaw
OneTree House
pub. 2018

 

 

 

22 December, 2020

Published in 2018, Tina Shaw’s second YA novel, Make a Hard Fist is a compelling narrative portraying the trauma and recovery of 16-year-old Lizzie Quinn. Although this book is YA fiction, it shows something that many people have had to live through. It strives to drive the point home that victims of trauma – in this case of mugging, stalkers, physical assault and attempted sexual assault – shouldn’t be expected to be grateful since ‘it could’ve been so much worse’. Shaw uses this book to tell the story of Lizzie Quinn, a teenage girl like any other.  Read more

December, 2020 Melissa Scroll down to see reviews submitted by YA readers: , ,

Relatable characters, Caitlyn Wickham

Enemy At The Gate
Philippa Werry
Scholastic
pub: 2008

 

 

 

15 December, 2020

“Being in quarantine sounds like being in prison,” I said, shivering. Lily nodded. “A bit like that. Except that the prison is your own home.”

Philippa Werry’s Enemy at the Gate describes a world where children are stuck at home for weeks on end, with an invisible enemy taking down those around them. The great unknown of what is to come causes panic throughout the country. It sounds familiar as we all remember the anxiety-inducing lockdown we experienced earlier this year. But we had the advantage of scientists from around the world developing a vaccine and researching the virus to find the information needed to effectively stop the spread.  Read more

December, 2020 Tanya Prince Scroll down to see reviews submitted by YA readers:

Magical ancestry, Eva Van Mierlo

Telesā
Lani Wendt Young
OneTree House
pub: 2011

 

01 December, 2020

Telesā: The Covenant Keeper by Lani Wendt Young is an inspiring romance about Pacific mythology, set in 20th century Samoa. It spins a thrilling tale about two young lovers, who both desperately want each other, yet they can never be together. My heart was torn in two for these young people over and over again, as they repeatedly turn their backs on each other. It’s a brilliant read for anyone who needs a good heartbreaking romance.

Telesā is the story of a young woman named Leila, who, against her father’s dying wishes,  goes to Samoa in search of her mother.  Read more

December, 2020 Tanya Prince Scroll down to see reviews submitted by YA readers:

When the unthinkable happens, Sasha Maclean

Neands
Dan Salmon
OneTree House
pub:  2020

 

27 November 2020

When meeting someone, we use first impressions to decide how we feel about them, at least until we know them better.  That is a pretty well recognised fact. But first impressions are rather important when choosing books, too. Even if we don’t admit it, we often choose a book with an interesting cover (although we try not to judge a book because of its cover.) The looks hook people in, but the blurb brings it home (literally, I always leave bookshops with a lot of books.)

Neands.  A picture of an apeish creature on the cover.  Read more

November, 2020 Tanya Prince Scroll down to see reviews submitted by YA readers:

A journey of self acceptance and love, Natalya Newman

Invisibly Breathing
Eileen Merriman
Penguin NZ
pub: 2019

 

16 November 2020

Eileen Merriman’s third YA novel, Invisibly Breathing follows the story of the social outcast, Felix Catalan, and the unknown new kid, Bailey Hunter, in a journey of self acceptance and love that could have the potential to create something neither boy could have imagined.

After an encounter with Bailey in first his Physics class and then when he joined the judo club, Felix finds himself being more and more drawn toward Bailey and he can’t seem to figure out why. Bailey catches himself watching Felix out of the corner of his eye when he thinks nobody is watching him.  Read more

November, 2020 Tanya Prince Scroll down to see reviews submitted by YA readers:

Looking closer at nature, Takoda Cross

The Nature Activity Book 
Written by Rachel Hayden and illustrated by Pippa Keel
Te Papa Press,
pub: 2020

 

10 November 2020

As I flick through the fresh thick pages of The Nature Activity Book, I know this is the book for me. This one-of-a-kind book published in August 2020 is a brand new book with a whopping 176 pages of 99 amazing ideas for activities. What are the activities you say? Well, I am glad you asked my dear reader!

There are a variety of activities; some are about using your senses, others get you to be more active and some even test your abilities on making different creations.  Read more

November, 2020 Tanya Prince Scroll down to see reviews submitted by YA readers: ,
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