Book Reviews

Book Review: Becoming Kareem – Growing Up on and Off the Court

Author: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar & Raymond Obstfeld    Published: 2017 Genres: Autobiography, Sports – Basketball, YA By: Alex Becoming Kareem is about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, his childhood as a black kid in the 50s and 60s and his struggles going to an all-white school and living in a black neighbourhood. Although this book is about a famous basketball player, this book also discusses society back in the darkest years of the USA. … Continue reading Book Review: Becoming Kareem – Growing Up on and Off the Court

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Book Reviews

Book Review: The Girls I’ve Been

Author: Tess Sharpe    Published: 2021 Genres: Action, Drama, Romance, YA By: Ashlin Nora’s mother is an extremely successful con artist and quickly making Nora her protégé. But what if Nora doesn’t want to lead that kind of life? Samantha, Katie, Haley, Ashley – these are the girls she has been, but Nora must decide who she is now. This book is a DEFINITE must-read. A strong female protagonist leads … Continue reading Book Review: The Girls I’ve Been

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Book Reviews

Book Review: The Girl Who Played Go

Author: Shan Sa    Published: 2001 Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, War By: Anh The story is set in Manchuria in the late 1930s, followed by a young Manchurian girl and a Japanese soldier who competes against her in a game of Go. Even though they are from two separate countries and have been through different obstacles in life, the passion for playing Go brings them together.  This book has a special place in my heart because of its interesting storyline. When I first read it, I couldn’t understand the plot because each … Continue reading Book Review: The Girl Who Played Go

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Book Reviews

Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars

Author: John Green    Published: 2012 Genres: Drama, Romance, YA By: Ashlin Here we have yet another devastating novel by John Green. In this story, Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters are two cancer victims that explore the value of life and appreciation they have for it together.  This is a very emotional, heart-felt book that had me in actual tears multiple times. The plot is well thought out, the events … Continue reading Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars

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Book Reviews

Book Review – It’s Trevor Noah: Born a Crime

Author: Trevor Noah    Published: 2019 Genres: Autobiography By: Bradley Trevor Noah is one of the most famous talk show hosts in the world, ‘It’s Trevor Noah: Born a Crime’ shares the story of his upbringing. Trevor Noah’s autobiography gives an insight into what the now, ‘The Daily Show’ Host and Comedian’s childhood was like. Growing up in a segregated South African neighbourhood, Trevor talks of his experiences that led … Continue reading Book Review – It’s Trevor Noah: Born a Crime

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Library Displays

Māpuna Library’s Display: Out on the Shelves!

The latest display in our library was to celebrate Pride Week in Schools! Out on the shelves is an online reading resource connecting rainbow young people with the stories that represent them.The 2021 Out on the Shelves campaign will be taking place from 14th-27th June. #OutOnTheShelves With some great flair from our Library Team and student librarians this rainbow display was made! We have a … Continue reading Māpuna Library’s Display: Out on the Shelves!

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Book Reviews

Book Review: Mockingjay

Author: Suzanne Collins    Published: 2010 Star Rating: 4/5 stars Genres: Dystopian, Sci-Fi, YA By: Joel The book Mockingjay is set in Panem, a science-fictional place in America post revolution. The country is split into 13 different districts, with one Capitol, which rules them all. After the destruction of District 12, where most of the books are set, the survivors from that district move into District 13, which was previously … Continue reading Book Review: Mockingjay

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Book Reviews

Book Review: The Book Thief

Author: Markus Zusak    Published: 2005 Genres: Historical fiction, Drama, YA, War fiction By: Den In this novel, we follow the lives of Liesel Meminger and her family in Germany during World War Two, trying to survive the war with a Jewish man called Max Vandenburg. It shows the hard life of the German people and the discrimination they had against Jewish people during the war. I found this novel … Continue reading Book Review: The Book Thief

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Library Displays

Māpuna Library’s Display: Samoan Language Week 2021!

Māpuna Library has done some awesome displays so far this year. This week we’ve been celebrating Samoan Language Week for 2021! With a combination of our non-fiction titles about Samoa, its culture and language and other Pasifika cultures, and fiction titles written by Samoan authors. As well as displaying some Samoan greetings. Manuia le vaiaso o le gagana Samoa! ~ Happy Samoan Language Week! Talofa … Continue reading Māpuna Library’s Display: Samoan Language Week 2021!

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Book Reviews

Book Review: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Author: Suzanne Collins    Published: 2020 Star Rating: 4/5 stars Genres: Dystopian, Sci-Fi, YA By: Flynn Coriolanus Snow’s origins are explored in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, a prequel to the Hunger Games trilogy. Lacking in finance and assets, the remaining Snow family must find a way to live without their previous luxuries in a post-rebellion Capitol. Hope falls into a young President Snow’s hands in the form of … Continue reading Book Review: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

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