One long summer / Sean Thomas

Would this book make a great read-a-loud book? I believe it might. This is the story of Matt’s journey from the uncertainty of youth to his emerging confidence as a young man. Written by local Nelson author, Sean Thomas, for a young person he met as part of Big Brother, Big Sister as a memento of their time together. A goal of the author is to provide a narrative for adults and youth to explore challenges many young people face. Key messages include You are strong when people around you feel safe and It’s not okay to let your emotions become someone else’s problem. Here’s a hot tip but I’m going to make you work a little for it. The Author has very generously made the online version of this book available to Nayland College readers. If you go to the Library website (link at bottom of this article) search for this book. Double click on the result and you will find the login details you need to access it. Thank you Sean for this very generous gift. We also have the book in the Library. For some more information: https://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/123904457/dying-mentor-leaves-special-gift-for-his-young-mentee

The promised Neverland / Kaiu Shirai

After a bit of student canvassing to find out what new Manga titles they would be interested in, this one came up. So, we now have the first three Volumes of what seems to be another multi-volume series! Manga are Japanese serialised fantastical stories drawn in quite stylised ways, that read right to left and are much beloved in Japan and the rest of the planet now. Also available to watch in animated versions online - which is how many of the students find their next new Manga series. They are popular reads as students are familiar with the storylines. This series will appeal to those who like a bit of horror with their fantasy.

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You / Jason Reynolds and Ibram X Kendi

A book about Race. A reimagining (remix) of Dr Ibram X Kendi’s National Book Award winning “Stamped from the beginning”. This book, writtenby Jason Reynolds – another award-winning author of books - for Young Adults - cleverly makes history readable as he exposes uncomfortable truths about the construct of power via race. He details the history of racist ideas in America hoping to inspire an antiracist future. It is also written to counter history as traditionally written and taught which has a strong bias to one race only and to present a different perspective and truth. There is power in truth but with just one narrator, the truth can become twisted and a cruel tool used to dominate and keep another down.

“Shines a light on the many insidious forms of racist ideas - and on ways readers can identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their daily lives” – Edi Campbell, Social Justice Books.

Whisper & Weapon/ Lynette Noni

This dualogy (two book story) is written by one of Australia’s top Young Adult authors. The first book, Whisper, won the Australian 2019 Gold Inky Award and is highly rated by teenage readers. As is it’s sequel Weapon.

Apparently, the least you know about this story before you read it, the better. Which does make this difficult to write! It has been described as Stranger Things meets X-Men meets Divergent meets Miss Peregrine’s home for Peculiar Children. If that helps. So some weird sci-fi, dystopian mystery with superpowers?

• Awesome Plot • Great characters • Suspense • Action

Yes, it is set in Sydney, Yes it is an edge of your seat, action packed, can’t put down kind of story – does this help? Maybe just get out the books and read the story.

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