Blog Archives

Obituary – Jack Lasenby

Posted on November 29, 2019 by NZ Books

Jack Lasenby: 1931–2019 Barbara Larson It’s sad when our old people leave us. Losing the charming, astute, irascible, ferociously uncompromising, funny and gifted children’s writer Jack Lasenby makes this especially so. Jack Millen Lasenby was born in the small Waikato…

Tagged with: Barbara Larson, Issue 128, Jack Lasenby, Summer 2019
Posted in Obituaries

Truths both bald and stretched, Eirlys Hunter

Posted on May 28, 2017 by NZ Books

The Diamond Horse Stacy Gregg HarperCollins, $25.00, ISBN 9780008124397 Grandad’s Wheelies Jack Lasenby Penguin Random House, $17.00, ISBN 9780143507338 Rona Chris Szekely Huia, $15.00, ISBN 9781775501985 The Impossible Boy Leonie Agnew Penguin Random House, $20.00, ISBN 9780143309062 Reading fiction allows…

Tagged with: Chris Szekely, Eirlys Hunter, HarperCollins, Huia, Issue 118, Jack Lasenby, Leonie Agnew, Penguin Random House, Stacy Gregg, Winter 2017
Posted in Children, Literature, Review

Obituary — Margaret Mahy

Posted on December 1, 2012 by NZ Books

Margaret Mahy 1936-2012 The three most intelligent people I’ve known: Margaret Mahy, Ted Rye, Maurice Duggan, all storytellers, all dead. In them, the torrents of intellect and imagination came together like the staff of Hermes with its twining snakes Knowledge…

Tagged with: Issue 100, Jack Lasenby, Margaret Mahy, Summer 2012
Posted in Obituaries

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

No holds barred, Joan de Hamel

Posted on September 1, 2010 by NZ Books

Too Many Secrets Adele Broadbent HarperCollins, $19.99, ISBN 9781869508562 Smiling Jack Ken Catran HarperCollins, $22.99, ISBN 9781 869508128 The Haystack Jack Lasenby HarperCollins, $19.99, ISBN 9781869508524 Into the Wilderness Mandy Hager Random House, $19.99, ISBN 9781869793296 Adele Broadbent is an…

Tagged with: Adele Broadbent, HarperCollins, Issue 91, Jack Lasenby, Joan de Hamel, Ken Catran, Mandy Hager, Random House
Posted in Children, Literature, Review, Young adults

Debuts and returns, Linda Burgess

Posted on June 1, 2009 by NZ Books

Enemy at the Gate Philippa Werry Scholastic New Zealand, $17.99 ISBN 9781869438135 Old Drumble Jack Lasenby HarperCollins, $16.99, ISBN 978169506742 Chicken Feathers Joy Cowley and David Elliot (illus) Puffin Books, $17.95, ISBN 9780143303909 Five (and a bit) Days in the…

Tagged with: David Elliot, HarperCollins, Issue 86, Jack Lasenby, Joy Cowley, Linda Burgess, Michelle Kelly, Philippa Werry, Puffin Books, Random Books, Rebecca Cundy, Scholastic New Zealand, Val Bird, Winter 2009
Posted in Children, Literature, Review

Ways of being in the world, Eirlys Hunter

Posted on June 1, 2007 by NZ Books

When Mum Went Funny Jack Lasenby Longacre Press, $16.99, ISBN 1877361534 The Whizbanger That Emmental Built Reuben Schwarz Puffin, $17.95, ISBN 0143318381 Chute Thru Janice Marriott Mallinson Rendel, $17.00, ISBN 0958262632 Thor’s Tale: Endurance & Adventure in the Southern Ocean …

Tagged with: Barbara Else, Eirlys Hunter, HarperCollins, Issue 78, Jack Lasenby, Janice Marriott, Longacre Press, Mallinson Rendel, Philip Webb, Puffin, Random House, Reuben Schwarz, Winter 2007
Posted in Children, Fiction, Literature, Review

Children’s fiction Wilderness tips, Kathryn Walls

Posted on September 1, 2006 by NZ Books

The Tears of Harry Wakatipu Jack Lasenby Longacre Press, $18.99, ISBN 1877361437 Stories about individuals surviving in the wilderness have a long history. The Old Testament represents the wilderness as the place of escape from the oppression and corruption of…

Tagged with: Issue 75, Jack Lasenby, Kathryn Walls, Longacre Press, Spring 2006
Posted in Children, Fiction, Literature, Review

Surviving, Joan de Hamel

Posted on June 1, 2005 by NZ Books

Walking Lightly Fleur Beale, illustrations by Michaela Sangl Mallinson Rendel, $16.95, ISBN 0908783906 My Story: A New Song in the Land – The Writings of Atapo, Paihia, c 1840 Fleur Beale Scholastic, $16.99, ISBN 1869436113 Robert Moran – Private Ken…

Tagged with: Fleur Beale, Issue 68, Jack Lasenby, Joan de Hamel, June 2005, Ken Catran, Longacre, Lothian, Mallinson Rendel, Michaela Sangl, Scholastic, Shirley Corlett
Posted in Children, Fiction, Literature, Review, Young adults

Previously unthought ways, Stephanie Johnson

Posted on June 1, 2005 by NZ Books

These Lives I Have Buried Lindsay Rabbitt Four Winds Press, $14.95, IBSN 0958251452 What Makes A Teacher? Jack Lasenby Four Winds Press, $14.95, IBSN 0958251444 Ghost Who Writes Martin Edmond Four Winds Press, $14.95, IBSN 0958251436 A directive for enjoying…

Tagged with: Four Winds Press, Issue 67, Jack Lasenby, Lindsay Rabbitt, Martin Edmond, Spring 2004, Stephanie Johnson
Posted in Essays, Non-fiction, Review