Raroa Library
  • Home
  • RaroaLibraryBlog
  • Audio Books
  • Books
    • Displays
    • Magazines >
      • Starling
    • Contact Us
  • Inquiry
    • Data Bases
    • How to evaluate a website
  • Copyright & Creative Commons
  • Events
  • For Teachers

Sea - The Huntress #1

9/6/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
The first in the fantasy trilogy The Huntress by Sarah Driver, Sea is a swashbuckling fantasy adventure that is gritty and dark and not one for the landlubber.
Mouse, about to turn 13 sails on The Huntress with her Grandma captain and helps look after her little brother Sparrow. As well as being recklessly brave Mouse is able to understand the beast chatter that all animals communicate with. The first creatures we meet are attacking terrodyls, intent on sinking their ship and letting the sharks eat their remains - huge, flying, vicious monsters that sound horrifying "killdeathdiepaindrownstrikedeathscuttlekill". (Reminded me of Patrick Ness's croc's noise "flesh...feast...tooth" in The Knife of Never Letting Go).
Mouse and Sparrow's dad has gone missing but has left some mysterious clues for Mouse to follow - herein begins a dangerous quest with battles and intrigue, a nasty traitor and more monsters, a wise cracking crow and two more books in the trilogy after this one.
Recommended, especially for lovers of His Dark Materials, The Chronicles of Darkness and The Lie Tree.
Thank you to Hardie Grant for this review copy.
0 Comments

Winter by Marissa Meyer

13/12/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
I don't often get to read whole series of books - too many books, too little time - and the need as a school librarian to have a wide knowledge of a range of genres and many authors. So when I do want to read a series from beginning to end it's because I just can't help myself - it's too good not to, even though I feel a little guilty for spending the time. 
The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer is one of those compulsive series. All the books focus on a clever retelling of a classic fairy tale; Cinder (Cinderella), Scarlet (Red Riding Hood), Cress (Rapunzel) and finally Winter (Snow White) but are also a continuation of the same wonderful fast paced, futuristic fantasy adventure. There are some really nasty villains and extremely lovable heroes, both female and male - as all good fairy tales should have, all set in a strangely familiar but weird Earth and Moon world.
I now have post 'end of series' despair - that odd phenomena you get when you can't stop reading because you have to know how it all ends, and then it ends (no spoilers, not telling you anything) and you want to be back in that world, living it still. Sigh!
My other favourite series are Chaos Walking, The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness, Travis Delaney Investigates and of course, Harry Potter.
0 Comments

Raroa Book Club review

29/10/2015

0 Comments

 
0 Comments

Girl Online by Zoe Sugg

31/8/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
This book has had a lot of dirt slung at it, for all sorts of reasons; suggestions that blogger Zoe Sugg had help writing the book, and then derision that it had the highest first week sales for a debut author, despite not being anything akin to good literature. Ultimately, I'm sure none of that will matter to it's target audience - teenage girls, especially the one's at Raroa who have been pestering me to buy this book ever since it came out.
And there's much to like about Girl Online, even from a not teenage girl perspective. It's main character 16 year old Penny Porter is interesting and not afraid to be herself. She has a normal amount of teenage self doubt but not the inclination to wallow in it, which makes her very likeable. Her family are fun, functional and loving and her best friend in the world is the stylish boy next door who is gay. She falls in love when on a trip with her family to New York and her blogging life online causes complications.
This is a sweet story, which is great for Intermediate - enough romance and drama to entertain and some modern lessons to be learned about how we behave online.
0 Comments

The Apple Tart of Hope by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald

28/9/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. I loved this lyrically written story - from beginning to end. Emotional and uplifting in the best possible way, this is one of those books that makes it hard to read another because you don't want to leave it behind and move on.
'Oscar, where have you GONE?' I shouted. 'Oscar, where are you NOW?' I begged. 'Why did you go without saying goodbye?' I pleaded. 'Oscar come back,' I whispered. A story of friendship and loyalty, magic and faith, apple tarts and love - I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Please read it.
0 Comments

State of Grace by Hilary Badger

24/9/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
In a new twist on the popular dystopian genre, State of Grace begins with a group of teenagers living in a utopian world, a world they were created in one year ago. Like being in paradise they have no worries, play and relax all day long, worshiping one god known as Dot. Everything is 'dotly'. Almost everything - until Wren starts remembering things she could not possibly know and strange things start to happen in their garden wonderland.
This is a clever and creepy story, an interesting look at faith and free will, with some great character development and an exciting conclusion. To say more would be to give too much away - well worth reading to find out for yourself.
Thank you to publisher Hardie Grant Egmont for the advanced copy.
0 Comments

Tessa Masterson Will Go To Prom

12/12/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
This is a story ultimately about friendship and loyalty, but also about prejudice and intolerance. And how hard it can be to be different from the majority. Tessa and Lucas have been best friends forever and when Lucas decides he's going to ask the person he cares most about in the world to their prom he is shocked and hurt by Tessa's response. What follows is a roller coaster ride, a story with plenty of humour and heart. I loved this book - thank you Zoe for recommending it and making sure we now have it in our library.
0 Comments

Speed Freak by Fleur Beale

24/9/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
If you liked Slide the Corner (and have used it to hook in some of those boys who are convinced that reading really is boring and not something they would really want to do) then you'll be pleased that Fleur Beale has produced another classic NZ winner. 
Archie is 15 and a really good kart driver - good enough to maybe win the chance to race in Europe. But things are not always that easy - there's the competition, some who have seemingly limitless funds to buy all the right gear and mechanical help, as well as having to deal with his dad's new girlfriend and her son. She hates karting. Not to mention schoolwork, keeping fit, getting sponsorship, staying in touch with his own girlfriend . . . . 
A highly recommended read for Intermediate students - boys and girls.  Plenty of action, well constructed believable characters and a really Kiwi story.
0 Comments

Guest Blog - Shine by Kate Maryon

18/9/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Tiffs sparkling world comes crashing down when her mum commits a crime and is sent to jail.

She has to be sent to live with her  family who lives in the dullest place on earth and without her mum everything starts to loses it shine. But once she makes new friends her shine starts to came back.

“This is a story if you like reading about losing
family then building it back again.’ - Luci, aged 11


Click on the book cover to watch the author read from her book.


0 Comments

Guest Blog - Drift House

17/9/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Hey there people,
I'm reading this amazing book called Drift House and wanted to announce to you all why it’s an amazing book. Drift House is about three children who are brothers and sister named Charles, Murray and Susan. They go to live with their uncle Farley, on drift house and are in need of some mermaid help to get away from the great drain. But anyway that’s enough about the story line - you'll just have to read it your self. 
Drift House is the first book of two and is amazing - it has the future, the past and the present in it. I enjoyed reading it so much, I think you should all to. Plus it's around about 500 pages long so if you hate finishing books this is a great read. But if you hate reading then this book is still a good one because although it's a bit slow at the start it’s so good it won't take you long at all to finish it. So thank you for listening to my long boring speech thing and READ! Clare Tebbs




0 Comments
<<Previous
    web site hit counter

    Archives

    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    May 2019
    August 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    June 2011

    Categories

    All
    2013 Top 10 Reads
    Ads
    Alex Collins
    Aliens
    A Monster Calls
    Ancient Greece
    Andy Mulligan
    Animation
    Antipodes Islands
    AnyQuestions
    Authors
    A Very Hungry Caterpillar
    Barack Obama
    Batman
    Bears
    Being Awesome
    Birds
    Black Holes
    Blackout Poetry
    Blogs
    Book Ads
    Book Buddies
    Book Character Dress Ups
    Book Characters
    Book Club
    Book Dominoes
    Book Lovers
    Book Marks
    Book Month
    Book Obsession
    Book Review
    Book Review
    Book Reviews
    Books
    Book Selection Tool
    Book Series
    #BooksNotBullets
    Books Thrillers
    Books Thrillers
    Books - Thrillers
    Book Trailer
    Book Truck
    Book Trust
    Book Week
    Brian Falkner
    Bubble Wrap Boy
    Camping
    Captain Underpants
    Carrots
    Catching Fire
    Catchy Songs
    Change To Learn
    Character Study
    Charlie Higson
    Cherub Campus
    Children's Books
    Choosing A Book
    Choosing Books Website
    Christmas
    Christopher Paolini
    City Mission Books
    City Of Bones
    Colour Search Engine
    Computer Games
    Conservation
    Copyright
    Correlation
    C S Lewis
    Cultural Diversity
    Curiosity
    Cute Baby Animals
    Dancing
    Dartmouth Dance Ensemble
    Data
    Data Bases
    Dave Pilkey
    David Hill
    Derek Landy
    Dewey
    Dewey Decimal System
    Diary Of A Wimpy Kid
    Dictionary Of Numbers
    Digital Magazine
    Digital Tools
    Divergent
    DIY.org
    DKfindout
    Dogs
    Downstage Play
    Drift House
    Dr Seuss
    Dr Who
    Duck Death & The Tulip
    Dumb Ways To Die
    Dystopian Novels
    E Books
    E-books
    Echidna
    Education 21st Century
    Elections 2017
    Elfyourself
    Eli Pariser
    Ella West
    End Of Year
    Eoin Colfer
    Eric Carle
    Eric Hill
    Fantasy Series
    Farewell
    Feeding Fish
    First Day Of School
    First Lines
    Fish
    Flash Mob
    Football
    Football Players
    Free To Use Images
    Full Moon
    Fun Videos
    Galaroa
    Games For The Library
    Gaming In The Library
    Gangnam Style
    Gay Issues
    Good Series
    Google
    Google Image Search
    Google Maps
    Grant Snider
    Graphic Novels
    Green Eggs & Ham
    Halloween
    Harlem Shake
    Harry Potter
    Hau Tonga
    Hetty Feather Series
    Hilary Badger
    History Tool
    Holes Louis Sachar
    Holiday Reading
    Hunger Games
    Hurricanes SuperRugby Final
    Illustrators
    Information
    Inquiry
    Inspirational
    Interesting Website
    International Book Giving Day
    It Technology
    Jacqueline Wilson
    Jane Goodall
    J F Kennedy
    John Green
    Joy Cowley
    Joy Of Books
    Junior Fiction
    Kate De Goldi
    Kate DiCamillo
    Katherine Mansfield
    Keep Calm And Carry On
    Kevin Brooks
    Kids' Lit Quiz
    Kiwi Kids News
    Knitting
    Knitting In The Library
    Learning 21st Century
    Learn To Change
    Lego
    Leon Davidson
    LIANZA YA Fiction Winner
    Librarians
    Libraries
    Library Petition
    Library Promotion
    Library Report
    Library Shift
    Lit Quiz
    Lorde
    Lunchtime Lit Quiz
    Maker Space
    @MalalaFund
    Malala Yousafzai
    Mal Peet
    Many Answers
    Margaret Mahy
    Maritime Disasters
    Martians
    Maths And Art
    Maurice Sendak
    Michael Grant
    Michelle Paver
    Middle School Series
    Million Dollar Mouse Fund
    Minecraft
    Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children
    Moby Dick Big Read
    Mockingjay
    Molly And Fox
    Mosaics
    Most Read Books
    Movies
    Movies From Books
    National Library
    Neal Shusterman
    Neil Gaiman
    Nelson Mandela
    News
    News Online
    New Zealand Content
    Nobel Peace Prize
    Nz Authors
    Nz Birds Online
    NZ History
    Nz Poetry
    Nz Post Book Awards
    Oliver Jeffers
    Olympics
    Online Filter Bubbles
    Oreo Super Bowl Ad 2013
    Orientation
    Overdue Fines
    Paranormal Romance
    Party Policy
    Patrick Ness
    Percy Jackson
    Pets
    Phil Earle
    Philip Pullman
    Physics
    Pictur Books
    Pi Day
    Pindex
    Planes
    Play About Death
    Poetry
    President Obama
    Public Libraries
    Puggle
    Queen's Diamond Jubilee
    Quotes
    Rap
    Raroa Library
    Raroa Teams
    Reading
    Reading Dogs
    Reading For Pleasure
    Reading Role Model
    Reading Role Models
    Reading Super Heroes
    Reluctant Readers
    Researching
    Returning Books
    Rick Riordan
    Roald Dahl Day
    Robert Muchamore
    Room 19
    Rube Goldberg
    Rugby
    Safety
    Sarah Moore Fitzgerald
    Scale Of The Universe.
    School Athletics
    School Libraries
    School Visits
    Scrabble
    Searching
    Search Tools
    Selection Series
    Series
    Sesame Street
    Sexuality
    Shackleton Bear
    Shakespeare
    Shine By Kate Maryon
    Simon's Cat
    Sinking Ship
    Skulduggery Pleasant
    SLANZA
    SlowMoLabatory
    Snow
    Social Media
    Solar Eclipse
    Song Of The Lonely Mountain
    Spca
    Speed Reading
    Spine Poetry
    Sputnik
    Squirrels
    Stacy Gregg
    Stamps
    Star Wars
    State Of Grace
    Storylines Family Day
    Storytelling
    Stray
    Student Librarians
    Suffrage
    Summer Reading
    Super Bowl Oreo Ad
    Superpowers
    Symbaloo
    Tagxedo
    Teachers
    Teaching
    TED Video - Questions
    Teen Reads
    Telephone
    Terry Deary
    Terry Pratchett
    Tessa Masterson
    The Book Thief
    The Changeover
    The English Language
    The Giver
    The Hobbit
    The Hunger Games
    The Internet
    The Maze Runner
    The Simpsons
    The Spooks Apprentice
    The Sport Of Reading
    The Universe
    Thinking
    Tirohia Mai
    Top 10 Reads Of The Year
    Transgender Issues
    Trash
    TV Shows
    Twilight
    Twinmaker:Jump
    Using Your Imagination
    Utopian Futures
    Valerie Adams
    Van Gogh
    Videos
    Votes For Women
    Wahine Disaster
    WCL
    Website Reading Tool
    Website Tools
    Welcome
    Wellington Moon
    What Should I Read Next?
    Wiki New Zealand
    Wonders
    Words
    World Statistics
    Writing
    Writing Website
    Ya Books
    Yarn Bombing
    Youtube Time Machine

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.