Armistice Day

"Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it"

 (paraphrased quote from George Santayana)

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.  Every year this day commemorates the moment that hostilities on the Western Front officially ended with the signing of the Armistice. This year marks 98 years since that day.

At 11 o'clock, a two minute silence is observed in remembrance of those New Zealanders who died serving their country in World War One and all subsequent wars.

If you are interested in learning more about Armistice Day, Phillpa Werry has written an excellent book that explains what it is and why it matters.

Image: PhillipaWerry

The World Wars still inspire authors to write stories set in those times. Despite hardship, horror, sorrow and loss, people are still capable of courage, perseverance, kindness, bravery, sacrifice and generosity.

On display are several such novels. In Between shades of gray you will learn about a mother's love for her children and the care she shows to others despite the hardship of being in a Russian work camp. The girl in the blue coat is about a girl who becomes involved with the Resistance in Amsterdam. Stories of the First World War features the experiences of twelve young people during WW1.

You are welcome to issue these or search the catalogue for others.

New Books

Mustang Ride: The adventures of the Wilson sisters in the American West.

Image: PenguinRandom House

You Tube: Wilson Sisters

The art of not breathing: Death, devastation, disintegration, depths of the ocean, free-diving, secrets and a bad boy name Tad.

Reviewed by Publishers Weekly

Image: Usborne

Salt to the Sea: They come from different lands but each of them is hunted and haunted, by tragedy, lies.... and war.
Events like this are being lived out in our times, but this story is set in World War 2. Based on a true story, Ruta Sepetys writes about four young people who board the Wilhem Gustloff, a ship that promises safety and freedom. Listen to her introduce this book in the video below.

Image: Penguin Books

You Tube: Penguin Teen

Small great things: Ruth is a nurse in a hospital and experiences a patient who does not want an African-American person looking after her. It is a story about race relations in America. Listen to the interview with Jodi Picoult to hear more about her new book.

Image: Allen and Unwin

You Tube: Book View Now

Concentr8: A madness has taken hold, they are mad for Concentr8. 

Reviewed at GusLitWire

Image: Bloomsbury

Suffrage Day - September 19

Image: Flickr: Christchurch City Libraries CC by NC-SA 2.0 

The Kate Sheppard Memorial is in Oxford Street, Christchurch.  It is a beautiful depiction of these courageous and resilient women. It was unveiled on 19 September 1993 to commemorate 100 years since women in New Zealand were given the right to vote. White camellias have come to represent women's rights. They were given out to women who signed the petition and as a sign of support for the efforts being made by Kate Sheppard and others in the suffrage movement.

For more information about who the women are in the statues and what is inscribed on the memorial go to Kate Sheppard Memorial.

Roald Dahl Celebration

Image: Hardwick4 CC SA 4.0

Roald Dahl was born in Llandaff, Wales on 13 September 1913. This year he would have been 100 years old. He is well-known for children's books such as Matilda, the Twits, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Esio Trot, The Witches, James and the Giant Peach and many more. Many of his books have been made into films, the BFG being the most recent one.

You Tube: Disney Movie Trailers

Re-read some of his books, consider reading his autobiography Boy: Tales of a Childhood to learn more about Roald Dahl's life. Come along to the lunchtime Kahoot quiz and enter the competition.

Success at the Jimmy Carter Quiz

A team of Nga Tawa students were the runners up of the Jimmy Carter Quiz held by the Manawatu Lions Club this week. The quiz involved answering 35 questions and building an Apollo Lunar model. The Nga Tawa team was the fastest to construct the model, proving girls can do anything as good as their male counterparts.
Curious about why it is called the Jimmy Carter Quiz, the answer is on the yellow poster. Visit the library to view the great job the girls have made of the lunar model.

Well done Shannon, Victoria, Bridget, Tamaira, and Phoebe.

New books

When Michael met Mina

Image: PanMacMillan

A novel for anyone who wants to fight for love, and against injustice.

When Michael meets Mina, they are at a rally for refugees - standing on opposites sides. Mina fled Afghanistan with her mother via a refugee camp, a leaky boat and a detention centre. Michael's parents have founded a new political party called Aussie Values.

To learn more about this book, listen to Aprilus Maximus' review in following video.

You Tube: Blog Tour-When Michael met Mina

Glass Sword

Image: Hatchette Books

You Tube: Maximum Pop

In the video above, Victoria Aveyard tells you why you should read Glass Sword.

This novel is a sequel to Red Queen. Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat. Will she shatter under the weight of the lives that are the cost of rebellion? Or have treachery and betrayal hardened her forever? (Hatchette Books)

 The Moonlight Dreamers

Image: Walker Books

An unforgettable story of friendship, self-belief and love. Amber, Maali, Sky and Rose are not like everyone else and they don't want to be. Becoming friends gives them the courage to be themselves. (Walker Books)

Average rating is 4 1/2 stars at Good Reads. Go to Good Reads for reviews.

The Road to Winter

Image: Text Publishing

Since a deadly virus and the violence that followed wiped out his parents and most of his community, Finn has lived alone with only his loyal dog Rowdy for company. But Finn's isolation is shattered when a girl runs onto the beach. Rose is a Siley - an asylum seeker - and she has escaped from the dangerous gang known as Rampage. (Text Publishing)

This is an unforgettable novel about survival, honour, friendship and love. A 4 star rating at Good Reads.

Promise  

Image: PanMacMillan

When a new family moves in next door, it takes Anna just two days to realise something is very wrong. She can hear their five year old daughter Charlie crying, then sees injuries on the little girl which cannot be ignored. Anna reports the family to the police and social services but no one comes to Charlie's aid. So when Charlie comes to her door asking for help, the only thing Anna can think to do is take the girl and run. (PanMacMillan)

Read why others have rated this book 4 stars at Good Reads.

One Hundred and Four Horses by Mandy Retzlaff

One Hundred and Four Horses

You Tube: WilliamCollinsBooks

They were among many farmers in the country who were told they had to leave their properties behind, including their animals.

But Pat Retzlaff refused to leave their horses, taking the herd on the family’s travels to find safe haven. Word soon spread among other dispossessed farmers that the Retzlaffs were “saving” their own horses, and they were easily coaxed into taking more in. The herd soon grew to 104. (Radio NZ)

Issue your copy of this inspiring story.

Ana Hī - a waiata to support our Olympic athletes

You Tube: Ana Hī! - Ngā Taonga Mai Tawhiti

This song has been chosen as the official Te Reo Māori song to support our Olympic athletes at Rio. It ties in with the theme for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, 'ākina te reo - behind you all the way'. You will recognize at least one of the Māori sayings that you were taught to say when encouraging a team. See if you can pick it out. There are lots of others in the video you could learn as well.

Counting down to the 2016 Olympic Games

Source: You Tube - Rio 2016 Olympic Games: Trailer - BBC Sport

Are you looking forward to watching the 2016 Olympics?

Which animated animal is your favourite?

Next week a quiz to win a Rebel Sports voucher will be run during the Games. 

New books on the shelves

Horses who heal - Sue Spence

Image : PanMacMillan

The story of one woman's deep love for horses and the powerful life lessons they've taught her along the way. 

Max - Sarah Cohen-Scali

Image: TextPublishing

Meet Max - it's 1936, Bavaria, and he's still a foetus inside his blonde, blue-eyed mother. Utterly indoctrinated in the Nazi ideology, he will address you, tell you his story until 1945 - his destiny as an exceptional being, the prototype of the 'Lesbensborn' program, designed to produce the perfect specimens of the Aryan race to regenerate the Reich. When Max meets Lukas, a young Polish boy who resembles him but who rebels against the Nazi system, cracks start to appear in Max's convictions. (Back cover)

Paul Diamond provides an interesting review of this book in a radio interview at Radio New Zealand.

Out of the Ice - Ann Turner

Image: Simon&Schuster

When environmental scientist Laura Alvarado is sent to a remote Antarctic island to report on an abandoned whaling station, she begins to uncover more that she could ever imagine.

This novel rates very well on Good Reads click on the link to read reviews about this tense, eerie thriller. 

Love Song - Sophia Bennett

Image: ChickenHouse

Heading off on tour with the hottest band in the world, Nina's ready for tantrums, paparazzi and drama - but soon discovers there's more to The Point than just guitars and girls... (Back cover)

Sophia Bennett, the author talks a little about her novel in the following video.

Need any more convincing? Read an extract of the book here.

Rate your Date

The library committee has organised for you to take a chance on a blind date with a book. Choose your date from the selection on display and issue it to yourself. To go into the draw for the pamper pack (below) use the bookmark inside your 'date' to rate your reading experience. Write your name on the back of the bookmark and place it in the box in the library. Prize draw will be done on Monday 20th June.

Perfection, lies and love

Flawed

Celestine North lives a perfect life. She's a model daughter and sister, she's well-liked by her classmates and teachers, and she's dating the impossibly charming Art Crevan. But then Celestine encounters a situation in which she makes an instinctive decision. She breaks a rule and now faces life-changing repercussions. She could be imprisoned. She could be branded. She could be found FLAWED. (Back cover)

Cecelia Ahern talks about her book with Anthony Breznican at the L.A. Times Festival of Books in the following video.

You Tube: Book View Now

Dangerous Lies

Stella Gordon's life is a lie. She does not belong in Thunder Basin, Nebraska. As the star witness in a murder trial against a drug dealer, Stella is now in the Witness Protection Program. The small town locals can never know who she really is. Not even Chet Falconer, the one boy who makes her want to reveal her true self. She knows that telling the truth will only bring violence to this safe haven.

Despite how hard Stella tries to stay under the radar, danger is fast-approaching. (Source: Simon and Schuster)

You Tube: SimonandSchuster

For a preview of the book, read here

Angel Cake

Anya used to dream of moving to Britain to start a brand-new life. But as she sits in a school where nobody understands her, she dreams of Polish summer skies and the place where she once belonged. Then Anya meets bad boy Dan. He's no angel, but she's sure there's a sweeter side to him. And when things begin to fall apart, Anya realizes she's not alone - how can Dan be such bad news when being with him feels like heaven? (Back cover)

Read or listen to an extract of the book at CathyCassidy

New books on the shelves

Image: HarperCollins

Book 1 in the Soldier Girl series. Set in an alternate World War 2 where young women are called up to fight alongside men, this is the story of Rio Richlin and her sisters-in-arms as they go into battle against Hitler's forces. Read a review here and check out the book trailer below.

You Tube: Michael Grant

Head Over Heels

Image: HarperCollins

Harriet Manners knows almost every fact there is.

She knows duck-billed platypuses don’t have stomachs.

She knows that fourteen squirrels were once detained as spies.

She knows that both chess and snakes and ladders were invented in the same country.

And for once, Harriet knows exactly how her life should go. She’s got it ALL planned out. So her friends seem less than happy, Harriet is determined to Make Things Happen!

If only everyone else would stick to the script…

But is following the rules going to break hearts for GEEK GIRL? (Source: HarperCollins)

Good Reads reviews are raving about the fifth book in the Geek Girl series.

Twenty Questions for Gloria

Gloria is tired of her ordinary life. So when a mysterious boy bent on breaking the rules strolls into her classroom , Gloria is ready to fall under his spell. By the time she learns the truth about him, she is a long way from home... (Back cover)     This thriller will have you intrigued, read a review here.

Enemy Camp

Image: PenguinBooks

It's 1942, and Featherston becomes the location for a prisoner-of-war camp for Japanese soldiers. Ewen and his friends are given the impression that these enemies deserve to be treated harshly. On seeing the prisoners through a barbed wire fence, the boys only see people, not a dangerous and cruel enemy. However, tensions are rising.....

The story is based on an historical incident that resulted in the death of Japanese prisoners and one guard. It has been described as a dark moment in New Zealand's history. You can find out more by reading this article from the Dominion Post.

New Zealand Sign Language Week - Te wiki o te reo turi

New Zealand Sign Language Week is an opportunity for all New Zealanders to find out a bit more about New Zealand Sign Language, and get a chance to try it for themselves.

Try your ninja signing skills in this online game. It is challenging but worth a go.

Listen to the following video about Ren who expresses her frustration at the way others treat her because she is deaf. I am guilty of number four. I attended a community class to learn sign language and it was the first encounter I had to converse with a deaf person and I fell into this trap. I learnt a lot about my own ignorance. Have you seen or heard of any of the other ten?

You Tube: Eleven things you should about deaf people

Easter reading

The upcoming Easter break will offer opportunities to relax, reflect on the goodness and mercy of God, and finally have time to read! There are many new books to choose from, below are a few to tempt you.

Image: HarperCollins

Lee Westfall has a secret. She can sense the presence of gold in the world around her. Veins deep beneath the earth, pebbles in the river, nuggets dug up from the forest floor. The buzz of gold means warmth and life and home—until everything is ripped away by a man who wants to control her.

You Tube: Epic Reads

Velocity by Chris Wooding

Image:Scholastic

Described as Hunger Games on wheels. Cassica and Shiara live in a harsh outback settlement. Destination: nowhere. But they have a dream. To win the Widowmaker: an off-road rally through the deadly Badlands. It’s their ticket to fame and fortune. Or to the mortuary. 

The truth about Peacock Blue by Rosanne Hawke

Image:AllenandUnwin

The story of a girl who suffers religious persecution as a Christian in Pakistan. Accused of blasphemy, she is thrown into prison. Life in prison is unpleasant, where Aster experiences dangerous and inhumane conditions. Her fight for justice is taken up by her cousin who lives in Australia.

Currently there is a Pakastani woman, Asia Bibi, who is still in jail five years after also being accused of blasphemy. Although a work of fiction, The truth about Peacock Blue will still be thought provoking. 

Nga Tawa 125th Anniversary

The weekend was a trip down memory lane for past pupils of Nga Tawa, and a wonderful opportunity to hear their stories. The display in the library has photos of some of the changes it has experienced over the decades.

The Wanganui Chronicle has a video incorporating some aspects of the weekend. The athletics sports, slipping and bean bagging feature as well.

Go to Video link to view.

International Women's Day

International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

Music has been a vehicle for affirming women and their worth. You Don't Own Me sung by Lesley Gore and recorded in 1963 is a statement about respect and autonomy. These are reflected in the lyrics:

"I don't tell you what to say

I don't tell you what to do

So, just let me be myself

That's all I ask of you"

You Tube: JohanVilchez's channel

A more contemporary girl power song by Little Mix from 2013 is somewhat more provocative in style. The lyrics conveying a more militant theme:

"Sisters we are everywhere

Warriors, your country needs you

If you're ready ladies, better keep steady

Ready, aim, shoot

Don't need ammunition, on a mission

And we'll hit you with the truth

Divas, queens, we don't need no man, salute!"

You Tube: LittlemxVevo

Both songs are designed to inspire and encourage women to stand up for themselves and know their worth. Celebrate International Women's Day with your favourite girl power song.

If you want to go further you can take part in the Pledge for Parity

New books on the shelves

Above is a small selection of the new books that are available to issue.

Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon is one that may interest you.

It is the story of a girl who’s literally allergic to the outside world. When a new family moves in next door, she begins a complicated romance that challenges everything she’s ever known.

Listen to a young lady by the name of Riley Marie as she gives us her review of the story.

You Tube: Riley Marie

Seaweek: 27 February- 6 March 2016

 “Toiora te Moana – Toiora te Tangata – Healthy Seas, Healthy People”

This year's theme highlights our many connections with the sea and calls on Kiwis from all walks of life to celebrate Tangaroa’s realm, recognise the enormous contribution our beaches, seas and coasts make to our health and wellbeing, and do our bit to keep our coastline and seas healthy for all. We all contribute to taking care of our oceans. (from NZAAE)

There are many ways to enjoy the sea and coastland. Take the opportunity to add yourself  to any of the beach scenes on the display board opposite the library. Check out which staff members are there already.(circled in black)

The 2 minute video below is a creative way to highlight the issue of litter that ends up on our shores.

You Tube:Sustainable Coastlines

Citizen Scientist opportunity

The ‘Marine Metre Squared’ project, overseen by the NZ Marine Studies Centre, encourages schools, families, communities and iwi to get involved in collecting valuable data and monitoring their local seashore environment. Data entered into the MM2 website at www.mm2.net.nz is being used to help scientists improve coastal management.

Jump Crash and Fall

If you could be anywhere in a moment, where would you go? If you could change your appearance in a minute, what would you choose? If you discovered something wrong with this perfect world, what would you do? Action and danger fuel this near-future thriller in a fresh take on technology, identity and the lengths one girl will go to save her best friend. (Allen and Unwin)

Jump is the first book in the Twinmaker series and has been described as a fast paced, action thriller. No need to wait for the next books to be published, Crash and Fall are on the shelves if you enjoyed Jump.

For a review go to Uncertaintales

A Court of Thorns and Roses.

Image: Bloomsbury

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie who was in the form of a wolf, Feye discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. (Bloomsbury)

If you need more details then read this review or listen to Sarah Maas talk about her book in the video below.

You Tube: Bloomsbury Publishing

Safer Internet Day

Tuesday February 9 is Safer Internet Day, created to raise awareness of online safety issues and encourage the safe and responsible use of the Internet.

One way you can participate is to give compliments, and enjoy receiving them. Whether it is online or in person, spread a positive message and then let it be an integrated part of every day.

Check out the video that was created by a student of Auckland's Te Kura. According to NetSafe, Hayley came up with the idea of doing a social experiment to see how people would react to having both insults and compliments yelled at them on a busy Auckland street. It has had 127,352 views to date.

                                         You Tube: Hayley Smith