CUZ by Liz van der Laarse (OneTree-House) 2018
CUZ is a fast-paced adventure story written for 10-14-year-olds. It tells the story of two cousins, Huia and River, who are shipwrecked on Fiordland’s coastline.
Huia has been brought up among whanau. Tikanga Maori is central to who she is. River not so. He’s embarrassed about his lack of understanding – and he’s defensive.
But to survive they must work together, using Huia’s traditional knowledge of trapping, hunting and gathering kai. As they struggle to find a way back, River becomes increasingly drawn to tikanga Maori and its place in his life.
CUZ has been warmly reviewed in Magpies, the NZ Book Council School Journal, the Sapling, Backcountry, kidsbooksnz and Goodreads. CUZ is a Storylines Notable NZ Children’s Book (Junior Fiction) 2019 and is available through independent booksellers.
Teachers’ notes for CUZ can be downloaded for no charge from the publisher’s website.
Also check out the author’s Facebook page.
Beyond the Rimu Grove by Patricia Fenton
In the summer of 1966, a young teacher is dispatched to Ngarimu Valley School as a Probationary Assistant. As her coming-of-age narrative evolves, the reader is immersed in a remote community where nothing is quite the way it seems and lives are poignantly and inextricably interwoven.
Available from bookshops and creative outlets throughout Northland, from the publisher (info[at]lit-links.nz), or by request from your local library (ISBN 978-0-473-46896-5). See more from Patricia at her website: lit-links.nz
The Voyage of the Ika Roa By Heather Whelan
In Voyage of the Ika Roa author Heather Whelan relates the story of how she and then husband, Tim, built a boat and sailed it from England to New Zealand. The couple had no boatbuilding or sailing experience, but they set to and built Ika Roa, a Wharram-designed catamaran.
The voyage began with a trip across the Bay of Biscay, to Spain and Portugal. The Atlantic crossing took the Ika Roa and her crew far from land for the first time. Heather relates her adventures in the Caribbean Islands, Venezuela and the Dutch Antilles before they reached the Panama Canal.
While cruising the Pacific, Heather became fascinated by Polynesian history and the islanders’ way of life. Friendships among the cruising community and with locals enriched the journey. Two years after leaving Falmouth in England, Ika Roa arrived in New Zealand after sailing more than 10,000 nautical miles.
The book is available from BigWords-Books website or from Heather at heatherwhelan2[at]gmail.com.
Fire by Anne McDonell
Flip has THREE major problems:
ONE – Jackson, a know-it-all who looks and dresses like a film star and bullies Flip.
TWO – You wouldn’t believe it but Flip’s mother invites Jackson to stay for the whole holidays.
THREE – Soon after Jackson moves in, a dangerous arsonist attacks a shop and homes in their street.
Can Flip and Jackson reach a compromise and work together to catch the culprit before someone is seriously hurt? A novel for 8 to 13-year-old children. Available from http://createbooks.co.nz/shop/.
The Tale of Prince by Bianca Staines
It’s a dog’s life but Prince couldn’t have asked for a better one. An unblemished pedigree, a loving family, weekly grooming and a bowl always full of delicious Auntie Cher’s Amazing Biscuits. What more could a handsome, aristocratic pooch want? But when a stray, flat-faced she-dog, Bennie, comes trudging through his territory, chewing his toys and stealing his beloved Humans’ hearts, his perfect life turns to mush. Prince wants it all back, just the way it was! Yet getting rid of the despicable Bennie seems harder than getting cat pee out of the carpet… Then, one night, Bennie disappears without a trace. Accused of murder by the Council of Pets, Prince will have to face the world outside his beautiful, white mansion. A world of usurped kingdoms, laughing demons, peculiar vets and fighting dogs until his journey to find Bennie will lead him to confront his most terrible foe yet and, on the way, find the wolf that lives inside every dog.
The Crazy Idea by Heather Whelan
Dylan would like to be a cat. One day, he wakes from his nap to find that he has grown fur! He finds a mouse to chase, a bird to follow and a tree to climb. But he also finds that the baby pulls his tail and the dog chases him around the house. Being a cat isn’t so much fun after all…
Heather was inspired to write this story after listening to a five-year-old recount eating cat food at news time in class one morning.
The Crazy Idea has gorgeous illustrations by Denise Whitmore.
Copies are available for $15 from Heather at heatherwhelan2[at]gmail.com.
Love at the End of the Road by Rae Roadley
Soon after returning to her hometown in Northland, New Zealand to work as a journalist, Rae meets farmer Rex Roadley through a rural dating service.
Rex’s beef and sheep farm at Batley, on the Kaipara Harbour, has been in his family for almost a century, however now the only evidence of the spot’s fascinating historic past is a magnificent two-storeyed villa standing alone on the point.
Neither Rae nor Rex are youngsters and their love affair, relationship and lives together go through many twists and turns.
Meanwhile Rae, a lifelong city dweller, learns to cope with mud, managing a large house and garden, the intricacies of farming, and the frustrations of life in the backblocks, while getting to know the locals and assorted animals – from wild kittens to wild bulls.
Rae’s charming story is beautifully written from the heart. Not only does she find love with Rex, but she finds out more about herself than she knew. Woven through her account are stories about the great house itself at Batley and the surrounding countryside. (First published by Penguin).
To get a hard copy, email: rae at farmside.co.nz
To get the ebook on Amazon: Click here.
Stone Wall Country by Catherine Ballard
This is the latest by Catherine Ballard and second in the series about dry stone walls in Northland, New Zealand.
It outlines the fascinating story of dry stone walls in the Bay of Islands and Kaikohe areas, the origin of the stones and the people who built with them.
Carefully researched, Stone Wall Country is based on historical records backed up by the recollections of living people who gave an overview of how the walls were built.
These districts have hundreds of kilometres of dry stone walls. They are a defining feature of the landscape and it is no coincidence that the topography is dominated by small volcanic cones. The walls have become as much a part of the landscape as the volcanic cones from which they originated
Contact:
Phone: 0274 467 236
Lost by Heather Whelan
It’s the 1860s and orphaned brothers Tom and Jim, together with their young sister Kate, are leaving England bound for Australia. Their plan is to join the gold rush and make their fortune. When Kate accidentally ends up on a ship bound for New Zealand the boys have to set off without her–and Kate has to fend for herself in a strange new country. Will the boys find gold? And will Kate ever see her brothers again?
Lost is available from Wheelers and from the author:
Contact heatherwhelan2[at}gmail.com
Price: $20+postage (generally $5 within NZ). (Can be delivered locally)
Magpie and the Morning Light by Anna Williams
Magpie and the Morning Light Is a fantasy tale about a selfish magpie who loves to steal anything bright and shiny that catches his eye. However, his thieving habit causes trouble in the forest, where he lives with all the other birds, and they decide to teach him a lesson. What do they do?
The story sends a strong message that selfishness won’t be tolerated in society and others will fight back. The illustrations are by a local Whangarei artist and are rich and colourful. Although this book is aimed at around 5-8-year-olds, even a very young child would enjoy the pictures.
Copies are available from the author and they sell for $20 each plus P&P. Email: annawilliams.writer@gmail.com
Northland Branch 