SECTIONS

Young adult

EntertainmentOctober 19

Insightful retelling of Shakespeare

Australian writer Jackie French takes Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and retells the story, partly through Juliet's eyes, partly through those of Rob, a boy actor whose big break is to come playing Juliet in 1592.
Insightful retelling of Shakespeare
Insightful retelling of Shakespeare
EntertainmentOctober 19

365 Days of Wonder

365 Days of Wonder has been published in tandem with the reissue of Wonder.
365 Days of Wonder
365 Days of Wonder
EntertainmentOctober 19

Moving story returns

If you missed this beautiful book in its 2012 version you're in luck, because in this 2014 edition there's a whole new chapter telling the story from Julian's point of view.
Moving story returns
Moving story returns
EntertainmentOctober 19

Fascinating tale of the future

Amy Ewing's novel The Jewel is the fascinating futuristic tale of Violet Lasting.
Fascinating tale of the future
Fascinating tale of the future
EntertainmentOctober 19

Nightmares!

Charlie Laird is exhausted. He hasn't had a good night's sleep for weeks because of the witch who visits his dreams.
Nightmares!
Nightmares!
EntertainmentSeptember 28

Malini: Through My Eyes

It is 2008 and in Sri Lanka civil war has been raging on and off since 1983.
Malini: Through My Eyes
Malini: Through My Eyes
EntertainmentSeptember 28

1914: Riding into War

This is the first book in a series on each year of WW1, by New Zealand author Susan Brocker.
1914: Riding into War
1914: Riding into War
EntertainmentSeptember 28

The House of Puzzles

This is the fifth book in the Billionaire series, featuring Gerald Wilkins as the world's youngest billionaire.
The House of Puzzles
The House of Puzzles
EntertainmentSeptember 28

Singing Home the Whale

New Zealand author Mandy Hager opens this book with the voice of the Chronicle, the now-old orca of the title, telling of his beginnings and the joy he found before he lost his innocence at the hands of the Hungry Ones - humans.
Singing Home the Whale
Singing Home the Whale
EntertainmentAugust 29

Thrilling read that exposes hypocrisy

Good writing can reveal our prejudices as being the shallow things they are. Really good writing does that and entertains the reader at the same time.
Thrilling read that exposes hypocrisy
Thrilling read that exposes hypocrisy
EntertainmentAugust 29

A book to be savoured page by page

Plot analysts and impatient readers beware. If you delve too deeply, or worse, cheat by turning to the final pages of We Were Liars, you will spoil for yourselves one of the best reads you are likely to find this year.
A book to be savoured page by page
A book to be savoured page by page
EntertainmentJuly 4

Teen's fight to protect haven for wildlife

Clover Jones is 15, lives with her mother in suburban Melbourne and doesn't quite fit in with her peer group.
Teen's fight to protect haven for wildlife
Teen's fight to protect haven for wildlife
EntertainmentJune 20

Tale of war and its aftermath

Predictably, this year is seeing a rash of new books with wartime themes and they don't come better than Jill Harris' novel, The Red Suitcase. 
Tale of war and its aftermath
Tale of war and its aftermath
EntertainmentJune 20

Some good research but predictable

World War 1 and the work of nurses is the theme of Poppy.
Some good research but predictable
Some good research but predictable
EntertainmentJune 20

Upbeat tribute to wonderful young woman

The night was ''out of the world spectacular'' was how Harriet Rowland blogged about the launch party for The Book of Hat. 
Upbeat tribute to wonderful young woman
Upbeat tribute to wonderful young woman
EntertainmentMay 28

Sympathetic account of the Stolen Generation

Jack is deaf, aged 6, and lives with his mum, older sister Janey, Great-gram and three great-aunts, Jess, Bette and Annie.
Sympathetic account of the Stolen Generation
Sympathetic account of the Stolen Generation
EntertainmentMay 23

Maori gods influence novel

Conrad Cooper's stepfather (Gaz) is a policeman, one who likes things around the house to be neat and tidy. To ensure Conrad assists with this, there is a list of things for him to do.
Maori gods influence novel
Maori gods influence novel
EntertainmentMay 23

Sophisticated fairytale

Catherynne Valente depicts an intrepid and inquiring time- and space- traveller for a heroine.
Sophisticated fairytale
Sophisticated fairytale
EntertainmentMay 23

Quest for self-discovery a hairy topic

Lucy Bee (Bennett, really, but there was another Lucy in her class and Lucy B. became Lucy Bee and stuck) is happy with her life until a nasty boy calls her a fuzzy-headed freak.
Quest for self-discovery a hairy topic
Quest for self-discovery a hairy topic
EntertainmentMay 23

Sherlock Holmes meets Indiana Jones in steampunk London

The Firebird Mystery might best be described as ''Sherlock Holmes meets Indiana Jones and tackles evil Professor M''.
Sherlock Holmes meets Indiana Jones in steampunk London
Sherlock Holmes meets Indiana Jones in steampunk London
EntertainmentMay 23

Bear Grylls writes new action-packed tale

The latest book in Bear Grylls' Mission Survival series takes 14-year-old Beck Granger on a trip to South Africa to make a video aimed at saving its rhinos from poachers.
Bear Grylls writes new action-packed tale
Bear Grylls writes new action-packed tale
EntertainmentApril 11

New series seems a winner

Jay is 13, lives in London and wants to be a rock star. He has made a start, forming a band with three of his mates but the drummer is rubbish.
New series seems a winner
New series seems a winner
EntertainmentApril 11

Tale of witches gripping and dark

''What are you trying to achieve?''
Tale of witches gripping and dark
Tale of witches gripping and dark
EntertainmentApril 11

Implausible, action-filled ride

Take a handful of Mission Impossible, add a pinch of Robin Hood, blend with your choice of hi-tech action movies and you should arrive at a close approximation of the plot of Urban Outlaws.
Implausible, action-filled ride
Implausible, action-filled ride
EntertainmentApril 11

Battle of good and evil in coming-of-age novel

Ben Silver is at home after school, shooting a stop-motion film on his old video camera.
Battle of good and evil in coming-of-age novel
Battle of good and evil in coming-of-age novel