Today we feature some of our new arrivals into the Nayland College Library.

The Impossible Climb / Mark Synott

This book will not be for the faint-hearted. It will appeal to daredevils and those whose focus is extreme and the drive to achieve the impossible is what makes them tick. Imagine free solo climbing a 3000ft mountain with nothing to help you but a bag of chalk and a good pair of climbing shoes. If you fall, there is nothing to save you. You may have sweated, hidden your eyes and chewed nails watching this on National Geographic now you can read the book.

Here’s a wee blurb:

“The climbing community had long considered a "free solo" ascent of El Capitan an impossible feat so far beyond human limits that it was not worth thinking about. When Alex Honnold topped out at 9:28 am on June 3, 2017, having spent fewer than four hours on his historic ascent, the world gave a collective gasp. His friend Tommy Caldwell, who free climbed (with a rope) the nearby Dawn Wall in 2015, called Alex's ascent "the moon landing of free soloing." The New York Times described it as "one of the great athletic feats of any kind, ever." It was "almost unbearable to watch," writes Synnott.” –GoodReads

In the Hall with the Knife / Diana Peterfreund

This sounds like ‘fun’. For those of you who enjoy playing the game of Cluedo or maybe have seen the 1985 film “Clue”, a book has been written with the biggest mystery of all to solve – Whodunnit?

“When a killer storm strikes at Blackbrook Academy, an elite prep school nestled in the woods of Maine, a motley crew of students – including Beth “Peacock” Picach, Orchid McKee, Vaughn Green, Sam “Mustard” Maestor, Finn Plum, and Scarlett Mistry – are left stranded in the aristocratic Campus mansion with their headmaster. Hours later, his lifeless body is discovered in a pool of blood. With this group of students, nothing is as it seems, and everyone has a motive for murder.

Charlie Tangaroa and the Creature from the Sea / Tania Kelly Roxborogh

T K Roxborogh (Ngāti Porou and Ngāti Mutunga o Wharekauri) is an award-winning NZ author of more than thirty published works, both fiction and non-fiction. This is her latest book for young adults and is written with a uniquely Aotearoan flavour. The story incorporates a strong environmental message including Maori Gods, Mythology and Waiata. Charlie is a very likeable main character, and his adventure is unlike any story I have come across before as it contemporises Tāne, Tūmatauenga and Rūaumoko and brings them into a modern adventure story. This is what happens when the Gods are angry at the actions of the tangata and Charlie has to find the ability to straddle our two worlds and appease them.

Note to Self : The Secrets of Calm / Rebekah Ballagh

This book is a little gem. Packaged with wonderful illustrations and many great, simple ideas and techniques to help navigate emotional stress, anxiety, worry, guilt, and sadness. You feel better just picking it up and flicking through the pages at random.

Interesting fact: did you know that the author/illustrator is a Nayland College alumni?

As the creator of the hugely popular Instagram page, Journey To Wellness, qualified counsellor Rebekah Ballagh is all too aware of how hard this year has been for so many people. So she’s created a book, Note To Self, to help people learn to understand and work with their mental health better – Emma Clifton

And you can access the library catalogue here at any time to see what else is new and to be found and for links to Research and Academic databases.