Storm catchers – Tim Bowler

Posted on September 2nd, 2010 in Action aplenty by Maree

A storm is breaking, and it’s going to change everything….

“She was simply crying. Crying as the rain drove into her face, crying as the gate opened before her. Crying as he took her away.”

Tap.Tap.Tap. Fin has gone to check out Billy’s new computer, and leaves his brother and sister, Sam and Ella, at home. Little does he know that something devastating is about to take place. In the middle of this coastal storm, Ella has been stolen away by a mysterious kidnapper at night. The Parnell family is shocked-and is being torn apart by Ella’s kidnapping. The kidnapper is showing no sign of relenting, giving any information on Ella’s state, and saying what he really wants. Until one day, he reveals his plans, and tells the Parnell family what he wants with Ella. On the other hand, Sam has been frequently running towards the old Pengrig lighthouse to catch the Storm. Sam has been talking to himself. When asked, he simply replies, “It’s a secret.” As time goes on, the Parnell family is forced to unravel their past, full of their deepest, darkest secrets. Maybe getting Ella back wasn’t as easy as they thought.
Wikipedia

The day after forever – Erin Skiffington

Posted on September 1st, 2010 in 3 hanky reads, Love and other adventures, Private lives by Maree

The Day After Forever is an emotional story centering around four teenagers who discover and demonstrate the true meaning of friendship. It illustrates the agony surrounding horrific events and how friendship will always stand strong against the circumstances.

Jeff has leukemia. The whole purpose of organising the holiday down to Lake Tarawera was so he could spent the last moments of his life in the same place where his parents died. Yet he cannot help but fall for Courtney – who is shy, pretty, yet secretive. No matter how her friends try to help, she shies away – sheltering her secret from them as best as possible.

Eddie is confident, handsome – a regular “babe magnet”; and he is also attracted to Courtney, and concerned about her. he is also the one who knows about Jeff’s plight and the seriousness of it.

Toni is loud, outgoing… and she knows it. She also knows that if it weren’t for her, Eddie would be floating in the clouds somwhere.

As events unfold, Jeff drifts further towards the end of the line, and time begins to run out.

Goal (movie)

Posted on August 31st, 2010 in Good sports, movies by Maree

The day after forever – Erin Skiffington

Posted on August 31st, 2010 in 3 hanky reads, Private lives by Maree

Four friends. One summer.

Courtney is pretty, quiet, troubled. Mysterious too. Her friends want to help, but she’s not talking.

Jeff feels protective of Courtney and wants to get close to her. But Jeff has a secret too.

Eddie, the Ed-man, is confident, good-looking. He’s also drawn to Courtney. And he’s th only one who knows Jeff’s secret.

Then there’s Toni. She’s loud, mouthy and she knows it. She also knows the Ed-man needs her to keep his feet on the ground.

A debut novel from a 14-year-old writer – funny, yet poignant, and capturing the true meaning of friendship.

Fishpond

Vampires suck (movie)

Posted on August 31st, 2010 in Side-splitters by Maree

Horrible Harriet – Leigh Hobbs

Posted on August 26th, 2010 in Picture Books by Maree

Horrible Harriet is one in a million.

And maybe that’s one too many.

Horrible Harriet lives in a nest in the roof of the school.

All the other children are scared of her.

But when Athol Egghead arrives in a hot-air balloon, she finds her first friend.

Allen & Unwin

To kill a mockingbird – Harper Lee

Posted on August 23rd, 2010 in Criminal intent, Out of the past, Private lives by Maree

“Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”

A lawyer’s advice to his children as he defends the real mockingbird of Harper Lee’s classic novel—a black man charged with the rape of a white girl.
Through the young eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee explores with rich humor and unswerving honesty the irrationality of adult attitudes toward race and class in the Deep South of the 1930s.
The conscience of a town steeped in prejudice, violence, and hypocrisy is pricked by the stamina and quiet heroism of one man’s struggle for justice—but the weight of history will only tolerate so much.

Amazon
okusoft

Checkmate – Malorie Blackman

Posted on August 23rd, 2010 in Action aplenty, Love and other adventures by Maree

Can the future ever erase the past? Rose has a Cross mother and a Nought father in a society where the pale-skinned Noughts are treated as inferiors and those with dual heritage face a life-long battle against deep-rooted prejudices. Sephy, her mother, has told Rose virtually nothing about her father, but as Rose grows into a young adult, she unexpectedly discovers the truth about her parentage and becomes determined to find out more, to honour both sides of her heritage. But her father’s family has a complicated history – one tied up with the fight for equality for the Nought population. And as Rose takes her first steps away from Sephy and into this world, she finds herself drawn inexorably into more and more danger. Suddenly it’s a game of very high stakes that can only have one winner…

Amazon

Scottish Book Trust

The long walk – Kerry Greenwood

Posted on August 23rd, 2010 in Out of the past by Maree

Isa’s father is working on the construction of the Great Ocean Road and has not been in contact with his family for some time.
Isa’s mother works hard as a cleaner, struggling with ill health and providing for her four children.
Even though only 12 years old, Isa is already an accomplished seamstress and takes in mending and sewing work to help support her family.
Her 10-year-old brother Johnno has a paper run and collects and sells bottles and 5-year-old Rosie is in charge of collecting eggs from their chickens to sell at the local store.
The whole family, but particularly Isa, take care of 3-year-old Billy.

australian-literature
Fantastic Fiction

Young, loaded and fabulous – Kate Kingsley

Posted on August 23rd, 2010 in Chick Lit by Maree

London socialites Alice Rochester and Natalya Abbot are glamorous, sexy, spoilt and only sixteen.

When they’re not at their prestigious private school, St. Cecilias, just outside London (where they rub shoulders with the children of Europe’s elite),

they can be found partying in London’s private members clubs or jetting off to the most sophisticated European cities.

Alice and Tally have ruled, undisputed, at the top of St. Cecilias’ social hierarchy since their arrival at the school three years ago.

But now trouble is brewing; friendships with boys are getting complicated and sparking jealousies between the girls,

and, to make matters worse, a thoroughly unwelcome American girl has just arrived.

Fantastic Fiction

3.bp

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