Blog Archives

Responsible writing

Posted on September 11, 2018 by NZ Books

Writer Fleur Beale considers what’s difficult and desirable in books for YA readers. The answer to the question of what responsibility writers may or may not have to their teenage readers in essence for me is to write a damn…

Tagged with: Fleur Beale, Issue 123, Spring 2018
Posted in Comment

Almost too true, Aleksia Drain

Posted on September 11, 2018 by NZ Books

Lyla Fleur Beale Allen and Unwin, $19.00, ISBN 9781760113780 Lyla is a book written in raw truth. The story begins in a world of homework and the normal everyday life of a young schoolgirl named Lyla. She attends Avonside Girls’…

Tagged with: Aleksia Drain, Allen and Unwin, Fleur Beale, Issue 123, Spring 2018
Posted in Literature, Review, Young adults

The challenge of being, Tatjana Schaefer

Posted on August 31, 2016 by NZ Books

The Falconer’s Daughter N K Ashworth RSVP, $25.00 ISBN 9780987658760 Being Magdalene Fleur Beale Random House, $20.00 ISBN 9781775537670 It almost goes without saying that novels for the young adult or teen reader are about the quest for personal identity.…

Tagged with: Fleur Beale, Issue 115, N K Ashworth, Random House, RSVP, Spring 2016, Tatjana Schaefer
Posted in Literature, Review, Young adults

Dark places, Margie Michael

Posted on March 11, 2015 by NZ Books

The Children’s Pond Tina Shaw Pointer Press, $30.00, ISBN 9780473274023 The Faceless Vanda Symon Penguin Books, $30.00, ISBN 9780143567202 I am Rebecca Fleur Beale Random House, $20.00, ISBN 9781775535492 These books form a disparate collection apparently linked only by the…

Tagged with: Autumn 2015, Fleur Beale, Issue 109, Margie Michael, Penguin Books, Pointer Press, Random House, Tina Shaw, Vanda Symon
Posted in Fiction, Literature, Review

A lot to live up to, Caoilinn Hughes

Posted on December 5, 2013 by NZ Books

When Our Jack Went to War Sandy McKay Longacre, $20.00, ISBN 9781775533092 Brave Company David Hill Puffin, $20.00, ISBN 9780143307570 Speed Freak Fleur Beale Random House, $20.00, ISBN 9781775534709 When Our Jack Went to War is “a fictional story based…

Tagged with: Caoilinn Hughes, David Hill, Fleur Beale, Issue 104, Longacre Press, Puffin, Random House, Sandy McKay, Summer 2013
Posted in Children, Literature, Review, Young adults

Myth making, Angelina Sbroma

Posted on September 1, 2012 by NZ Books

The Enchanted Flute James Norcliffe Longacre, $20.00, ISBN 9781869799267 Heart of Danger Fleur Beale Random House, $20.00, ISBN 9781869795436 In The Enchanted Flute, James Norcliffe (author of the celebrated Loblolly Boy series) makes classical myth the source and…

Tagged with: Angelina Sbroma, Fleur Beale, Issue 99, James Norcliffe, Longacre, Random House, Spring 2012
Posted in Literature, Review, Young adults

Grappling with the world, Jill Holt

Posted on June 1, 2012 by NZ Books

Dirt Bomb Fleur Beale Random House, $19.95, ISBN 9781869795467 The Bridge Jane Higgins The Text Publishing Company, $26.00, ISBN 9781921758331 Calling the Gods Jack Lasenby HarperCollins, $24.99, ISBN 9781869509484 These three novels shortlisted for the senior fiction…

Tagged with: Fleur Beale, HarperCollins, Issue 98, Jack Lasenby, Jane Higgins, Jill Holt, Random House, Text Publishing, Winter 2012
Posted in Literature, Review, Young adults

Thoughtful thrills, Jill Holt

Posted on September 1, 2011 by NZ Books

Fierce September Fleur Beale Random House, $19.99, ISBN 9781869793289 Guardian of the Dead Karen Healey Allen & Unwin, $19.99, ISBN 9781741758801 Resurrection Mandy Hager Random House, $19.99, ISBN 9781869795221 When do young people have the chance to engage in…

Tagged with: Allen & Unwin, Fleur Beale, Issue 95, Jill Holt, Karen Healey, Mandy Hager, Random House, Spring 2011
Posted in Literature, Review, Young adults

Back in Gloriavale, Susan Pearce

Posted on December 1, 2009 by NZ Books

Sins of the Fathers: The Long Shadow of a Religious Cult Fleur Beale Longacre Press, $29.99, ISBN 9781877460302 At 27 Philip Cooper left the conservative Christian community ruled by his bullying, monomaniacal father, Neville Cooper. He left behind his wife…

Tagged with: Fleur Beale, Issue 88, Longacre Press, Summer 2009, Susan Pearce
Posted in Memoir, Non-fiction, Review

Brave new worlds, Joan de Hamel

Posted on June 1, 2009 by NZ Books

The Tomorrow Code Brian Falkner Walker Books, $19.99, ISBN 781921150340 Juno of Taris Fleur Beale Random House, $18.99, ISBN 781869419882 About Griffen’s Heart Tina Shaw Longacre Press, $19.99, ISBN 87746015 Chronicles of Stone: Scorched Bone Vincent Ford Scholastic New Zealand,…

Tagged with: Brian Falkner, Fleur Beale, Issue 86, Joan de Hamel, Longacre Press, Random House, Scholastic New Zealand, Tina Shaw, Vincent Ford, Walker Books, Winter 2009
Posted in Children, Literature, Review