Month: May 2025

Book Reviews

Book Review: When Plague Strikes

Author: James Cross Giblin  Published: 1995 Genres: Diseases, Health, History, Medicine, Non-Fiction By: Alexandrina Star Rating: 5/5 ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆  Diseases have shaped history, and When Plague Strikes dives deep into three of the most impactful – The Black Death, smallpox and AIDS. With the more modern diseases, most of the information is about the United States of America, but does still include other countries, no-matter how small they are. … Continue reading Book Review: When Plague Strikes

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Library Displays

Māpuna Library’s Display: Pink Shirt Day 2025!

The most recent display in our library is in support of Pink Shirt Day 2025! Thank you to our wonderful group of student librarians who worked together to put this display up. #PinkShirtDayNZ #SpeakUp #StandTogether #STOPBullying #KōreroMai #KōreroAtu! #MauriTū #MauriOra Celebrated annually around the globe, Pink Shirt Day began in Canada in 2007 when two students took a stand against homophobic bullying, after a peer was … Continue reading Māpuna Library’s Display: Pink Shirt Day 2025!

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Library Displays

Māpuna Library’s Books Around the World 2025!

Our most recent display in the library was created to encourage students to explore the world with their next book. Each book was set in a different country or the author was from that country. #BooksAroundTheWorld #FindYourNextRead Thanks to our wonderful student librarians and Library Team who worked hard on designing the signage, flags and found books for this display. Thank you to one of … Continue reading Māpuna Library’s Books Around the World 2025!

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Book Reviews

Book Review: 1984

Author: George Orwell  Published: 1949 Genres: Classics, Dystopian, Sci-Fi By: Rosie Star Rating: 4/5 ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆  The author, George Orwell, has succeeded in creating a realistic, totalitarian future in which Winston Smith learns to rebel against ‘Big Brother’ (the government). 1984 is a horrifyingly relevant, dystopian, novel which is reminiscent of both our past and future. This book creates a feeling of paranoia in readers by masterfully immersing them … Continue reading Book Review: 1984

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Book Reviews

Book Review: Babel

Author: R.F. Kuang  Published: 2022 Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction By: Maya Star Rating: 5/5 ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Babel, or the Necessity of Violence, written by R.F. Kuang, was one of the best books I have ever read. The story takes place in the mid-1830s, primarily in Oxford, England. The main character, Robin Swift, was born in China and is raised in England to study at the Royal Institute of Translation … Continue reading Book Review: Babel

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Book Reviews

Book Review: The Hate U Give

Author: Angie Thomas  Published: 2017 Genres: Urban Fiction, YA By: Tessa Star Rating: 4.5/5 stars The Hate U Give is a YA novel that follows the story of Starr, who, while being driven home from a party, witnesses the murder of her childhood friend Khalil at the hands of a policeman. She is the only person who saw what happened, but speaking up could put her and her … Continue reading Book Review: The Hate U Give

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Book Reviews

Book Review: 1984

Author: George Orwell  Published: June 1949 Genres: Classic, Dystopia, Sci-Fi By: Danny George Orwell’s 1984 is a dystopian novel set in the totalitarian state of Oceania, where the government, known as “The Party,” exercises absolute control over every aspect of life. In 1984, the main character Winston Smith worked at the Ministry of Truth in the ruins of the British Revolution. His and everyone’s movements are monitored by the … Continue reading Book Review: 1984

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Book Reviews

Book Review: One Piece (Water 7 Arc)

Author: Eiichiro Oda  Published: April 17th, 2005 Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Manga, Shonen Manga By: Theo Star Rating: 5/5 stars I thoroughly enjoyed this manga, I have read the manga twice now and watched the anime once – so, I can say for sure that this story is one of my favourites. Although the Water 7 Arc is just one part of the entire manga, it is undoubtedly … Continue reading Book Review: One Piece (Water 7 Arc)

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