Goodness Gracious! Where did 2014 go???? A crazy busy Christmas break with some of us working on our final ILS paper (thank god!). Yay for coffee breaks, and recreational reading time!!!
BookTalk this term saw us being hosted at 'Hastings Public Library'. WOW! What an awesome place to be. I for one will definitely be going over to make use of the super space and just absorbing the amazing atmosphere. Thanks to Kristin & Mya for hosting us :-) p.s. the brownies were DEVINE!
Our BookTalk theme was to share what we had been reading over the summer break (well ... break for school librarians anyway).
Favourite Reads
Picture Books:
Press Here / Mix it Up by Herve Tullet
- Interactive books
- Adults & kids really get into them
Fifteen things not to do with a baby by Margaret McAllister
- Humorous
- GREAT READ-ALOUD
Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark by Ken Geist
- Re-telling of the 3 Little Pigs story
- Such a cool story!
Open Very Carefully by Nicola O'Byrne
- Interactive book
How to Train a Train by Jason Carter Eaton
- A-MA-ZING read
- Tongue-in-cheek realistic
Children's Fiction:
Pippi Longstockings illustrated by Lauren Child
- Modernised the story without loosing the integrity of the original
Spirit Animals : Tales of the Great Beasts by Brandon Mull & Others
- Stand-alone to the sereis
- How the Great Beasts came to be
- Year 5+
The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak
- Great read-aloud
- Check out the YouTube clip of him reading 'The Book With No Pictures' from Penguin Kids
Brotherhood of Thieves Bk1 The Wardens by Stuart Daly
- Fantasy / Thieves / Quest
- Awesome read
- Year 5+
Jessica Cole Model Spy Bk1 Code Red Lipstick by Sarah Sky
- Female James Bond
- Year 6+
Angela Nicely Bk1 by Alan MacDonald
- Author of 'Dirty Bertie' series
- Angela is Bertie's neighbour
- NOT a 'girly' book - despite the pink cover
-- She tries to be good and 'all things nice' but she is a little rascal
- 3 stories in each book. 4 chapters per story
YA Fiction:
The Walled City by Ryan Graudin
- Based on research of the Walled City in Kowloon, Hong Kong Island, before it was destroyed
- Not a historical story though
- Used the research as a guide to write the story, and does include a lot of factual information
- Done really well
When we Wake by Karen Healey
- Author is a Kiwi living in Aussie
- Dystopian
- Cryogenic theme
- Questioning if she is a person or owned by the government
- Environmntal / Climate change / Political issues
- Clever that it is set in Aussie with Imigration issues (it wouldn't have the same impact with an NZ setting)
- While we Run is the sequel, BUT you don't have to read it. It can be a stand-alone read
Pure trilogy by Julianna Baggott
- Very creepy dystopian
- Great read ... BUT very 'black'
- Senior read, not Junior school
Singing Home the Whale by Mandy Hager
- Kiwi Author
- Chapters alternate between the main character and the Orca whale
- Connections - man & beast
Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult
- Elephants
- Very interesting
- Very well written
Cooper Bartholomew is Dead by Rebecca James
- Suicide
- Each person has their own take on what happened
- Shows how different people have parts to play
The Secret Life of Luke Livingston by Charity Norman
- Kiwi Author
- Suicide
- Set in Britain
- Woman in a guys body
-- How do you tell your wife you want to be a woman?
- Deals with family and how well can you ever know someone
- Really good book
- Being officially launched Friday 6th March 2015
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
- Novel in Verse
- AWESOME read
- Reading poetry without realising you are reading poetry
- Rhythm of a basketball game
- Split into quarters like a basketball game
- Life teachings told through the game of basketball
- Sibling rivalry
- short read - good for reluctant readers
- So well done!
- Good text for NCEA Level 1
- Suitable for Year 7+
Unwind series by Neil Shusterman
- Premise is so creepy and disgusting
- Pro-lifers & Pro-choicers - come to a compromise
- So many layers to the story
- Amazing read
Reality Boy by A.S. King
- Defication (Poo!)
- Dysfunctional families
- As a 5-year-old the family were on a Reality Nanny show
- Very well done
-- Alternates between present day & flash-backs to the show
- Anger issues
- Coming of age
- Good text for NCEA Level 2
The 100 series by Kaas Morgan
- TV series based on the book
- Set in a Space Station which is failing
- Over 18-year-olds (100 of them!) get put on a shuttle back down to Earth
- Post-apocalyptic
- Earth plot-line is very basic
- Flash-backs of main characters
- Suitable for Year 7+
The F- It List by Julie Halpern
- Really good read
- Cancer (friend) / Death (father) themes
- Bucket list
- Better than 'Fault in Your Stars'
- Well written
- ** WARNING ** - Masturbation scene/paragraph in about the 3rd chapter
- Senior read, not Junior school
The Broken Hearted series by Amelia Kahaney
- Distopian
- Scared but Strong female character
- Really good read
- Book trailer is really good (from HarperTeen)
- Suitable read for Year 7+
Evil Librarian by Michelle Knudsen
- Hot Demon Librarian!!!
- Plucky Heroine
- Buffy if Buffy was a normal human
- Friendship / Relationships themes
- Nancy Drewish
The Martian by Andy Weir
- Best book read in ages!
- Humorous
- Main character is lost on Mars, during a Mission to Mars that was aborted
-- Is a Botanist & Engineer
-- Has to last for 4 years until the next mission is sent up
- MacGyver on Mars!!!
- Diary style
- 3 Points-of-view - Main character, Control center, Crew still on ship
- Boys will love it!
- Being made into a movie
- One of the funniest books to read
Adult Fiction:
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
- X-men meets Hunger Games
- Post-apocalyptic world
- Really well written / Beautifully written
- Very good characterisation
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
- Plot twist
- Get to the end and you want to start it all again as it's not the book you thought!
- Girls!!!
- Set in WWII in France
- WOOOO!!!!! (Lots of hand gesticulation!!!) 5*
Last to Die by Tess Geratsin
- Best book by far of hers
- Set in Africa
- Massacre / Only survivor / Set 7 years in the future
- Awesome read!
Other Tips and Hints
Check out Derek Landy talking about the title of his new book
Steph found it on his blog which he updates regularly with his trademark humour. Thanks Steph :-)
Book Trailers 4 Kids and YA - Desna Wallace, Kiwi Author
Blog for reviews and book trailers
Friday 6 March 2015
November 2014 : Term 4
Our final BookTalk for 2014 was held at 'Tandem Cafe' in Havelock North - one of the Bay Espresso cafe's in Hawkes Bay. A bit too breezy to sit outside as Summer wasn't really showing it's face, but they have a huge table inside for groups. The food is yummy, and the coffee is blimmin awesome!
Our end-of-year BookTalk theme was to share our BEST and WORST read(s) for the year. Hmmmmm which ones to choose!!!!!
Favourite Reads
Picture Books:
Meet the Parents by Peter Bently
Children's Fiction:
Monkey Boy by Donovan Bixley
- New Zealand author and illustrator
- Part comic, part novel, part fact
- Fan-Freaking-Tastic read
- Brilliant book for boys
- Year 6+
The Impossible Quest Bk1 by Kate Forsyth
YA Fiction:
Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick
- Involves suicide
The Whispering Skull Bk 2 by Jonathan Stroud
Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith
Silkworm by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling)
We Were Liars by E. Lockheart
Sunrise Bk3 by Mike Mullin
- Dystopian
- 2011 Top Teen Read, YALSA top fiction
- Ashfall Bk1, Ash in Winter Bk2
Adult Fiction:
The Discovery of Witches: All Souls trilogy by Deborah Harkness
Daughter of Smoke and Bone series by Laini Taylor
Chris Cleave crime & Thriller books
Paul Thomas crime books
Good Reads
Children's Fiction:
Paper Planes by Allayne L. Webster
- Set in Bosnia
- Main character is 11-years-old
- Good way to give children an idea of war from the perspective of another child
- Tween / 9-12 Years Old
Trouble in Time by Adele Broadbent
Interesting Reads
YA Fiction:
The Testing series by Joelle Charbonneau
- Dystopian
Worst Reads
YA Fiction:
Scrapplings by Amelia Smith
- eBook ex LibraryThing
- Dragons, Fantasy
- Disjointed. Timeline moves backwards and forwards but not in an easily read way
- Reads more as an Adult fantasy NOT a Tween/Teen
What Milo Sawby Virginia McGregor
Thirteen by Tom Hoyle (pen name)
- Boys really like it though and want the second book!!!
The Boy in the Book by Nathan Penlington
Adult Fiction:
The woman who stole my life by Maryanne Keys
Our end-of-year BookTalk theme was to share our BEST and WORST read(s) for the year. Hmmmmm which ones to choose!!!!!
Favourite Reads
Picture Books:
Meet the Parents by Peter Bently
Children's Fiction:
Monkey Boy by Donovan Bixley
- New Zealand author and illustrator
- Part comic, part novel, part fact
- Fan-Freaking-Tastic read
- Brilliant book for boys
- Year 6+
The Impossible Quest Bk1 by Kate Forsyth
YA Fiction:
Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick
- Involves suicide
The Whispering Skull Bk 2 by Jonathan Stroud
Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith
Silkworm by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling)
We Were Liars by E. Lockheart
Sunrise Bk3 by Mike Mullin
- Dystopian
- 2011 Top Teen Read, YALSA top fiction
- Ashfall Bk1, Ash in Winter Bk2
Adult Fiction:
The Discovery of Witches: All Souls trilogy by Deborah Harkness
Daughter of Smoke and Bone series by Laini Taylor
Chris Cleave crime & Thriller books
Paul Thomas crime books
Good Reads
Children's Fiction:
Paper Planes by Allayne L. Webster
- Set in Bosnia
- Main character is 11-years-old
- Good way to give children an idea of war from the perspective of another child
- Tween / 9-12 Years Old
Trouble in Time by Adele Broadbent
YA Fiction:
Pandora Jones Bk1 by Barry Johnsberg
- Dystopian
- Set in Australia
Pandora Jones Bk1 by Barry Johnsberg
- Dystopian
- Set in Australia
Interesting Reads
YA Fiction:
The Testing series by Joelle Charbonneau
- Dystopian
Worst Reads
YA Fiction:
Scrapplings by Amelia Smith
- eBook ex LibraryThing
- Dragons, Fantasy
- Disjointed. Timeline moves backwards and forwards but not in an easily read way
- Reads more as an Adult fantasy NOT a Tween/Teen
What Milo Sawby Virginia McGregor
Thirteen by Tom Hoyle (pen name)
- Boys really like it though and want the second book!!!
The Boy in the Book by Nathan Penlington
Adult Fiction:
The woman who stole my life by Maryanne Keys
August 2014 : Term 3
Term Three saw our BookTalk being held in Lindisfarne College's 'Graham Smith Library'. It was an awesome venue, and the boys using the library for themselves got to see a group of passionate librarians discussing one of their loves ... BOOKS! We did have to be a bit more careful of our noise levels here tho ;-) Thank you to Bev Harrison for hosting us :-)
The theme for this BookTalk was to share a book that we'd recommend as a class text or read-aloud, or one we'd recommend to staff (but not kids!!!). Of course we can't forget that we ALWAYS talk about our favourite reads as well - which often tend to be YA fiction ... probably because it rocks!!
Favourite Reads
Picture Books:
Meet the Parents by Peter Bently
The day Louis got eaten by J. Fardell
Children's Fiction:
Docter Noel Zone presents Danger is Everywhere by David O'Doherty
- Have to read in order because each chapter builds on the next
- Humorous
- Check out the YouTube clip of 'How to get rid of a Toothbrush Snake'
Trouble in Time by Adele Broadbent
- Suitable for 8-12-year-old boys
- About the gap between generations
- This is Adele's very first book she started writing back in 2002. Published in 2014
- Yay Adele!!!
YA Fiction:
Elinore & Park by Rainbow Rowell
- Great read for boys & girls
- Check out the book trailer on YouTube
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
- Fan Fiction is really good
Ashfall series by Mike Mullin
- Dystopian
Infinity Drake #1 Sons of Scarlatti by John McNally
- Awesome read!
- Suitable for Year 7+
- 'Crazy' mad-scientist
- Being shrunk to the size of a wasp to fight a bio-weapon terrorism attack (by wasps)
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
- Year 9 +
- Supernatural Dystopian
When Mr Dog Bites by Brian Conaghan
- Amazing book. Hilarious
- Main character has Tourette's
- Set in Scotland
Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith
- Horny, hungry 6-foot-tall preying mantis'
- Dystopian
- Main character has 'confused' feelings about homosexuality
- Year 10's are reading it and really enjoying it
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
- Year 7+. Possibly OK for Year 6
- Main character is a 12-year-old genius girl who is into diagnosing medical conditions.
- Mother is diagnosed with cancer but is killed in a car crash with her dad
- Beautifully told story
- Finding self. Loss.
Sand series by Hugh Howey
- Futuristic
- Sand-divers
- Looking for Denver the city
- Ending is very abrupt
Not a drop to drink by Mandy McGuiness
- Dystopian
- Not a typical romance story
If you could be mine by Sara Farizan
- 2 girls in Iran who are in love
- Many different forms of love
- Very topical
- Not always getting what you want
- For older students
Roomies by Sara Zarr
- American setting in University
- 2 girls becoming friends
- Told in 2-point perspective via the first-person, AND vie emails
- fluffy, girly, easy read
Tease by Amanda Maciel
- Year 9+
- Bullying from the bullies perspective
- Girl commits suicide & parents bring a lawsuit against the bullies
- 2 parts of the book - before the bullying, & during the lawsuit
Love and other foreign words by Erin McCahn
- Year 9+
- Main character looks at relationships differently
- Has to write an essay about what love is
The art of racing in the rain by Garth Stein
- Told from the dogs perspective
- Very emotive
Your fathers, Where are they, and the prophets, do they live forever? by Dave Eggers
- Suitable for Older Teen Boys
- Main character has kidnapped an astronaut & a whole lot of other people
- Holding them in a decommissioned military base
- Because ... He has LOTS of questions (the type that boys would ask!!)
- Reader is left at the end with questions of their own
I am Rebecca by Fleur Beal
- Like David Hill's 'Deadly Sky'
- About the characters doubts
- Choices she has to make
The Deadly Sky by David Hill
- Set in 1974 New Zealand and the Pacific Islands
When we wake by Karen Healy
While we Run by Karen Healy
- Better than 'When we Wake'
The Rig by Joe Ducie
- Set in an un-escapable prison in the middle of the ocean
- Amazingly Awesome read
- Year 7+
- NOTE: OK for Good Year 6 readers
More than this by Patrick Ness
Before I fall by Lauren Oliver
- What would you do if you only had 1 day to live?
Dark Satanic Mills by Marcus Sedgwick
- Good text for NCEA Level 2
- Graphic Novel
- Dystopian
- No longer protected from radiation
The Bunker Diary by Kevin Brooks
- "The worst book in the world because of the finish!!!"
- "Knock-your-socks-off ending"
- No happy ending!!!
The Hit by Melvin Burgess
Adult Fiction:
Silo series - Wool / Shirt / Dust by Hugh Howey
- Dystopian
Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Dark Matter by Michelle Paver
- Set in 1937
Great Read-Alouds
Picture Books:
Once upon a cool motorcycle dude by Kevin O'Malley
- Great for Year 3+
Boa's Bad Birthday by Jeannie Willis
There's a Lion in my Cornflakes by Michelle Robinson
Have you filled a bucket today? by Carol McCloud
- Feelings
- "A guide to daily happiness for kids"
Mo Willems books
- Great for Year 1 to 6
Baa Baa Smart Sheep by Mark Sommerset
- Smart Sheep! Stupid Turkey!!!
- Watch the YouTube book trailer
Children's Fiction:
Fake Mustache by Tom Angleberger
- Year 6 are loving it
- Humorous adventure story with twists at every turn
Do Not Push by Kyle Mewburn
- Great read-aloud for Year 3+
- Short. Humorous.
Trash by Andy Mulligan
- Year 6+
- Sophisticated themes
- Police brutality (2 scenes)
- Poverty. Determination. 3rd World living
The Enemy by Charles Higson
- Year 7/8 +
Baxter Basics by James Baxter
- Poetry
- Year 2/3+
YA Fiction:
...
Books for Staff
The Life and Art of Lynley Dodd by Finlay Macdonald
- Beautiful book
Other Tips and Hints
Check out Goodreads for their 'Read-Aloud' & 'Books-to-Movies' lists
The theme for this BookTalk was to share a book that we'd recommend as a class text or read-aloud, or one we'd recommend to staff (but not kids!!!). Of course we can't forget that we ALWAYS talk about our favourite reads as well - which often tend to be YA fiction ... probably because it rocks!!
Favourite Reads
Picture Books:
Meet the Parents by Peter Bently
The day Louis got eaten by J. Fardell
Children's Fiction:
Docter Noel Zone presents Danger is Everywhere by David O'Doherty
- Have to read in order because each chapter builds on the next
- Humorous
- Check out the YouTube clip of 'How to get rid of a Toothbrush Snake'
Trouble in Time by Adele Broadbent
- Suitable for 8-12-year-old boys
- About the gap between generations
- This is Adele's very first book she started writing back in 2002. Published in 2014
- Yay Adele!!!
YA Fiction:
Elinore & Park by Rainbow Rowell
- Great read for boys & girls
- Check out the book trailer on YouTube
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
- Fan Fiction is really good
Ashfall series by Mike Mullin
- Dystopian
Infinity Drake #1 Sons of Scarlatti by John McNally
- Awesome read!
- Suitable for Year 7+
- 'Crazy' mad-scientist
- Being shrunk to the size of a wasp to fight a bio-weapon terrorism attack (by wasps)
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
- Year 9 +
- Supernatural Dystopian
When Mr Dog Bites by Brian Conaghan
- Amazing book. Hilarious
- Main character has Tourette's
- Set in Scotland
Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith
- Horny, hungry 6-foot-tall preying mantis'
- Dystopian
- Main character has 'confused' feelings about homosexuality
- Year 10's are reading it and really enjoying it
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
- Year 7+. Possibly OK for Year 6
- Main character is a 12-year-old genius girl who is into diagnosing medical conditions.
- Mother is diagnosed with cancer but is killed in a car crash with her dad
- Beautifully told story
- Finding self. Loss.
Sand series by Hugh Howey
- Futuristic
- Sand-divers
- Looking for Denver the city
- Ending is very abrupt
Not a drop to drink by Mandy McGuiness
- Dystopian
- Not a typical romance story
If you could be mine by Sara Farizan
- 2 girls in Iran who are in love
- Many different forms of love
- Very topical
- Not always getting what you want
- For older students
Roomies by Sara Zarr
- American setting in University
- 2 girls becoming friends
- Told in 2-point perspective via the first-person, AND vie emails
- fluffy, girly, easy read
Tease by Amanda Maciel
- Year 9+
- Bullying from the bullies perspective
- Girl commits suicide & parents bring a lawsuit against the bullies
- 2 parts of the book - before the bullying, & during the lawsuit
Love and other foreign words by Erin McCahn
- Year 9+
- Main character looks at relationships differently
- Has to write an essay about what love is
The art of racing in the rain by Garth Stein
- Told from the dogs perspective
- Very emotive
Your fathers, Where are they, and the prophets, do they live forever? by Dave Eggers
- Suitable for Older Teen Boys
- Main character has kidnapped an astronaut & a whole lot of other people
- Holding them in a decommissioned military base
- Because ... He has LOTS of questions (the type that boys would ask!!)
- Reader is left at the end with questions of their own
I am Rebecca by Fleur Beal
- Like David Hill's 'Deadly Sky'
- About the characters doubts
- Choices she has to make
The Deadly Sky by David Hill
- Set in 1974 New Zealand and the Pacific Islands
When we wake by Karen Healy
While we Run by Karen Healy
- Better than 'When we Wake'
The Rig by Joe Ducie
- Set in an un-escapable prison in the middle of the ocean
- Amazingly Awesome read
- Year 7+
- NOTE: OK for Good Year 6 readers
More than this by Patrick Ness
Before I fall by Lauren Oliver
- What would you do if you only had 1 day to live?
Dark Satanic Mills by Marcus Sedgwick
- Good text for NCEA Level 2
- Graphic Novel
- Dystopian
- No longer protected from radiation
The Bunker Diary by Kevin Brooks
- "The worst book in the world because of the finish!!!"
- "Knock-your-socks-off ending"
- No happy ending!!!
The Hit by Melvin Burgess
Adult Fiction:
Silo series - Wool / Shirt / Dust by Hugh Howey
- Dystopian
Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Dark Matter by Michelle Paver
- Set in 1937
Great Read-Alouds
Picture Books:
Once upon a cool motorcycle dude by Kevin O'Malley
- Great for Year 3+
Boa's Bad Birthday by Jeannie Willis
There's a Lion in my Cornflakes by Michelle Robinson
Have you filled a bucket today? by Carol McCloud
- Feelings
- "A guide to daily happiness for kids"
Mo Willems books
- Great for Year 1 to 6
Baa Baa Smart Sheep by Mark Sommerset
- Smart Sheep! Stupid Turkey!!!
- Watch the YouTube book trailer
Children's Fiction:
Fake Mustache by Tom Angleberger
- Year 6 are loving it
- Humorous adventure story with twists at every turn
Do Not Push by Kyle Mewburn
- Great read-aloud for Year 3+
- Short. Humorous.
Trash by Andy Mulligan
- Year 6+
- Sophisticated themes
- Police brutality (2 scenes)
- Poverty. Determination. 3rd World living
The Enemy by Charles Higson
- Year 7/8 +
Baxter Basics by James Baxter
- Poetry
- Year 2/3+
YA Fiction:
...
Books for Staff
The Life and Art of Lynley Dodd by Finlay Macdonald
- Beautiful book
Other Tips and Hints
Check out Goodreads for their 'Read-Aloud' & 'Books-to-Movies' lists
Thursday 5 March 2015
June 2014 : Term 2
Our second BookTalk was held in the NBHS 'Memorial Library'. Heaps of space. No need to worry about the noise level so we could be as excited as we liked :-) And the nibbles and drinks were devine!
The theme for this BookTalk was to share a book we enjoyed that a student had recommended to us ... Oh yeah! And our favourite reads of course.
Favourite Reads
Picture Books:
The End by Jim Benton
Help! We need a title! by Herve Tullet
Back-to-front Bob by Belinda Ellis
- Good for use with Language, Vocabulary and Word Games
Black Dog by Levi Pinfold
This Old Ram by Errol McLeary
Children's Fiction:
Tale of a Tail by Margaret Mahy
Secret Seven series by Enid Blyton
Dorkius Maximus series by Tim Collins
Dragon Frontier by Dan Abnett
- Year 5+
- Dragons & The Wild West
Dragon Run by Patrick Matthews
- Year 5+
A long way gone by Ishmael Beah
- Year 7+
- Good as a READ-ALOUD at Upper Primary School level
- Child soldiers in Siera Leone
- True story
YA Fiction:
I hunt killers by Barry Lyga
Bugs by Whiti Hereaka
- Similar to 'Once were warriors' but gentler
- Very real
- Teenage relationships
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
- Dragons
Enders Game by Orson Scott Card
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff
Fault in our stars by John Green
The Darkest Minds trilogy by Alexandra Bracken
When we wake series by Karen Healey
- Political
- Religious
- Cryogenic
The Wall by William Sutcliffe
Loyal Creatures by Morris Gleitzman
- Light-horsemen in Aussie going to war
- Based on fact
- Fighting in the dessert
- Good book for boys
Life unexpected by Mal Peet
The Boy on the wooden box by Leon Leyson
- Based on a true story
- NOTE: Acceptable in upper primary school
- This was an incredible and moving read
Smart by Kim Slater
- Similar to 'Curious Incident of the dog in the nightime'
Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner
Blood & Fire Bk1 Halo / Bk2 Radicals by Frankie Rose
Adult Fiction:
Midnight Crossroads by Charlaine Harris
- New series by the author of Sookie Stackhouse / True Blood
I am Malala by Christina Lamb
- Non-Fiction
- The story of Malala Yousafzai, the girl who was shot by the Taliban and is the youngest Nobel Prize laureate
Display / Competition ideas
Take your book on holiday:
- Photos of your book's holiday while you are on holiday
Red a book lately?:
- Book display of only books with red covers
- Change it for different colour themes
-- 'I'm feeling blue today'
-- 'Spring into a new book' (yellow)
The theme for this BookTalk was to share a book we enjoyed that a student had recommended to us ... Oh yeah! And our favourite reads of course.
Favourite Reads
Picture Books:
The End by Jim Benton
Help! We need a title! by Herve Tullet
Back-to-front Bob by Belinda Ellis
- Good for use with Language, Vocabulary and Word Games
Black Dog by Levi Pinfold
This Old Ram by Errol McLeary
Children's Fiction:
Tale of a Tail by Margaret Mahy
Secret Seven series by Enid Blyton
Dorkius Maximus series by Tim Collins
Dragon Frontier by Dan Abnett
- Year 5+
- Dragons & The Wild West
Dragon Run by Patrick Matthews
- Year 5+
A long way gone by Ishmael Beah
- Year 7+
- Good as a READ-ALOUD at Upper Primary School level
- Child soldiers in Siera Leone
- True story
YA Fiction:
I hunt killers by Barry Lyga
Bugs by Whiti Hereaka
- Similar to 'Once were warriors' but gentler
- Very real
- Teenage relationships
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
- Dragons
Enders Game by Orson Scott Card
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff
Fault in our stars by John Green
The Darkest Minds trilogy by Alexandra Bracken
When we wake series by Karen Healey
- Political
- Religious
- Cryogenic
The Wall by William Sutcliffe
Loyal Creatures by Morris Gleitzman
- Light-horsemen in Aussie going to war
- Based on fact
- Fighting in the dessert
- Good book for boys
Life unexpected by Mal Peet
The Boy on the wooden box by Leon Leyson
- Based on a true story
- NOTE: Acceptable in upper primary school
- This was an incredible and moving read
Smart by Kim Slater
- Similar to 'Curious Incident of the dog in the nightime'
Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner
Blood & Fire Bk1 Halo / Bk2 Radicals by Frankie Rose
Adult Fiction:
Midnight Crossroads by Charlaine Harris
- New series by the author of Sookie Stackhouse / True Blood
I am Malala by Christina Lamb
- Non-Fiction
- The story of Malala Yousafzai, the girl who was shot by the Taliban and is the youngest Nobel Prize laureate
Display / Competition ideas
Take your book on holiday:
- Photos of your book's holiday while you are on holiday
Red a book lately?:
- Book display of only books with red covers
- Change it for different colour themes
-- 'I'm feeling blue today'
-- 'Spring into a new book' (yellow)
Wednesday 4 March 2015
March 2014 : Term 1
Our first BookTalk was held at 'Off The Track' in Havelock North. MmmmmMmmmm. Yummy food. Lovely venue, but I think a group of librarians was a bit too noisy for an inside meeting ;-) And we had to leave when they were ready to close up, which meant no lingering over our discussions. Oh well ... we live and learn!
The theme for our first BookTalk was to share our favourite reads of the past 12 months.
Favourite Reads
Picture Books:
Meet the Parents by Peter Bently
The day Louis got eaten by J. Fardell
- Predictive
- Fun read
Curly from Shirley : the Christchurch dog by Emma Pullar
- Based on the Christchurch earthquake
- All funds go to the Red Cross Earthquake Appeal
Children's Fiction:
Drovers Quest by Susan Brocker
- Set in 1866, Arthurs Pass
Infinity Ring Series by Various Authors
- Time travel quest style
- Have to fix 'breaks' in history that have altered the world today
Last Thirteen Series by James Phelan
When our Jack went to war by Sandy McKay
- Year 5/6+
The unbelievable top secret diary of Pig by Elmer Stamp
- 7-9 years
Tins by Alex Sherer
- Year 5/6+
- A GREAT READ-ALOUD
The terrible thing that happened to Barnaby Brocket by John Boyne
- Being different / quirky
- Being happy in yourself
- Year 5/6+
- A GREAT READ-ALOUD
Wonder by J. Palacio
- READ-ALOUD for Year 6+
YA Fiction:
Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas
Little Brother by Cory Doctrow
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Divergent series by Veronica Roth
Every Day by David Levithan
Burning Blue by Paul Griffin
- Characters are 'outsiders'
- Redemption theme
The Enemy series by Charlie Higson
The fault in our stars by John Green
Department 19 series by Will Hill
- Awesome
- Vampires
Wonder by J. Palacio
- A GREAT READ-ALOUD
Not-So-Favourite Reads
Children's Fiction:
Wings of Fire Bk1 Dranonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland
- Great concept but the story just didn't work
YA Fiction:
Ashes Bk3 Monsters by Ilsa J. Beck
- First two books were A-MA-ZING!!!
- Book 3 has the worst ending - aaaargh! And the story just didn't meet the standards of the first two.
The theme for our first BookTalk was to share our favourite reads of the past 12 months.
Favourite Reads
Picture Books:
Meet the Parents by Peter Bently
The day Louis got eaten by J. Fardell
- Predictive
- Fun read
Curly from Shirley : the Christchurch dog by Emma Pullar
- Based on the Christchurch earthquake
- All funds go to the Red Cross Earthquake Appeal
Children's Fiction:
Drovers Quest by Susan Brocker
- Set in 1866, Arthurs Pass
Infinity Ring Series by Various Authors
- Time travel quest style
- Have to fix 'breaks' in history that have altered the world today
Last Thirteen Series by James Phelan
When our Jack went to war by Sandy McKay
- Year 5/6
The unbelievable top secret diary of Pig by Elmer Stamp
- 7-9 years
Tins by Alex Sherer
- Year 5/6+
- A GREAT READ-ALOUD
The terrible thing that happened to Barnaby Brocket by John Boyne
- Being different / quirky
- Being happy in yourself
- Year 5/6+
- A GREAT READ-ALOUD
Wonder by J. Palacio
- READ-ALOUD for Year 6+
YA Fiction:
Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas
Little Brother by Cory Doctrow
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Divergent series by Veronica Roth
Every Day by David Levithan
Burning Blue by Paul Griffin
- Characters are 'outsiders'
- Redemption theme
The Enemy series by Charlie Higson
The fault in our stars by John Green
Department 19 series by Will Hill
- Awesome
- Vampires
Wonder by J. Palacio
- A GREAT READ-ALOUD
Not-So-Favourite Reads
Children's Fiction:
Wings of Fire Bk1 Dranonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland
- Great concept but the story just didn't work
YA Fiction:
Ashes Bk3 Monsters by Ilsa J. Beck
- First two books were A-MA-ZING!!!
- Book 3 has the worst ending - aaaargh! And the story just didn't meet the standards of the first two.
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