Nau mai, Haere mai to the 2022 school year. As we traverse another year of change and face unprecedented challenges, there is some escapism to be found in a good book.

There are no shortages of writers with great stories to tell nor writers and photographers who have researched a topic and encapsulated all their information within a book. Have I mentioned the power of a good book yet?! The power of words and images cannot be underestimated. Whether you are seeking the truth or to lose yourself in a story, a book could be the answer.

Witherward / Hannah Mathewson

“Six of Crows” meets “The Prestige” – Goodreads

This is the first book of a historical fantasy story set in both Victorian London and a parallel London known as Witherward. Witherward, reached via portals, is a magical London; divided into 6 rival factions of Changelings, Wraiths and so on, that have been co-existing in an uneasy truce. The main character, Ilsa, has been brought up in a London Orphanage, which she fled and picked pockets to survive, and now makes her living as a Magician’s assistant – using her own very real magical skills. Without revealing what happens, she is dragged through one of the portals and arrives in Witherward. Where she discovers that she is the long-lost, presumed dead – daughter of the Changeling faction’s ruling family and she is vital to this alternate London. This also explains her magical abilities. Her brother, the leader of the Changelings, has gone missing… and Ilsa needs to step up and solve mysteries, find her brother, and avert a Civil War. Bit of a change in lifestyle then. This is the first novel written by this author and it looks like she has created an action-packed fantasy mystery, with lots of great characters and a bit of a page-turner.

Efren divided / Ernesto Cisneros

Here is a story, set in America, of a Mexican immigrant family. They work long, hard hours in order to achieve the better life for their children that they left Mexico for. One day, whilst Efren’s Mother is applying for a new job, there is an immigration raid, and as she is undocumented, she is taken and deported back to Mexico. Efren’s father must work even harder now, in order to find money to have a chance to reunite his family. Efren must take on the responsibility of looking after the household and his younger siblings. Themes are of equity, human rights, oppression, injustice, fear, resilience, and bravery. And of hope. A story told from the perspective of a family torn apart, that live a life of constant fear of discovery and living life on the perimeter of what most Americans take for granted.

There are good characters along the way – a teacher, a taxi driver and school friends – that keep the story rolling along. Do expect to maybe cry a little.

Down the bay / Philip Simpson

What a beautiful book. Published by Nelson company, Potton & Burton. A detailed description of our own National Park that attracts tourists and travellers from all over the world and contains one of NZ’s great walks, the Abel Tasman track. Learn about the formation of the Park, the land itself, the archaeology, the climate, the bush and wetlands, the fauna, the fungi, the moana and coastline. Find the history of the placenames and learn about the tangata whenua who lived and passed through there via the middens, the adzes and other historical remains. There is a chapter of the conservation efforts of Project Janszoon. Gorgeous photographs as well.

Man down / James Goodhand

What does it mean to be a man? “A man stands. A man fights. A man bleeds”. “Words are weak, and fists do the talking”. Was this ever true? This is the story of Will Parks, an unlikely hero, someone who would rather walk away from a fight, who is at his best in the classroom, not the gym. Then life changes, Will begins to feel he is being followed and then he starts to receive weird tipoffs that challenge and alter his responses. Then the big tipoff - about something that is going to happen – some sort of future tragedy - that he has the power to avert if he acts. He must search and find the courage now to be vulnerable, to have feelings and to care in a teenage world of peer pressure and toxic masculinity. So – what does it mean to be a man? “Sometimes to step up, you have to man down.”

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