New! New! Non-Fiction books to enjoy!

Appo Hocton, New Zealand's first naturalised Chinese immigrant, arrived in Nelson in 1842. As a nine-year-old he had left China to become a cabin boy on English sailing ships. In his early 20s he jumped ship in Nelson he was employed as a housekeeper but eventually saved enough money to buy a bullock team and established a carting business.

Young Country is a book of poetry by twenty-first-century writer Kerry Hines alongside images by nineteenth-century photographer William Williams. The wry, plainspoken but haunting poems sit alongside evocative photographs of settlement: landscapes, streetscapes, skyscapes; the escapades of a trio of flatmates; portraits of family and friends; burnt bush and rising buildings.

If necessity is the mother of invention then Kiwi ingenuity is its father.

Fangirl

Fangirl

Cath and Wren are identical twins and until recently they did absolutely everything together.
Now they're off to university and Wren's decided she doesn't want to be one half of a pair anymore - she wants to dance, meet boys, go to parties and let loose.
It's not so easy for Cath.
She would rather bury herself in the fanfiction she writes where there's romance far more intense than anything she's experienced in real life.
Now Cath has to decide whether she's ready to open her heart to new people and new experiences, and she's realizing that there's more to learn about love than she ever thought possible...

Grimsdon

Grimsdon

Grimsdon is in ruins.
Three years ago a massive wave broke its barriers and the sea flooded this grand city.
Most were saved, some were lost - and some were left behind.
Isabella Charm and her best friend, Griffin, live with three other children in the top of an opulent mansion.
They've survived with the help of Griffin's brilliant inventions, Isabella's fighting skills and their vow to look after each other.
But what will happen when a newcomer arrives in his flying machine?

Writing Competitions

There are many opportunities for budding writers. Here are two...

Margaret Mahy Starlight Essay and Poetry Competition

• Light
• Stargazing
• Darkness

Students in Years 5-8 and 9-13 are invited to submit an essay of not more than 600 words or a poem of no more than 40 lines by Monday 10th August 2015 at 5pm.

Students are invited to choose one of three themes as follows:

Your prose or poetry can be imaginary, historical or scientifically based. Judges will be looking for knowledge of the southern stars and either good research or imaginative use of astronomy. Clearly expressed, grammatically correct English is expected.

For more info go to http://www.phys.canterbury.ac.nz/starlightfestival/poetry.shtml

The Elsie Locke Writing Prize 

The theme for the Elsie Locke Writing Prize competition for 2015 is:A story set in New Zealand around the time of the First World War.Events can be real or imagined, but the story should capture what it was like for people in New Zealand while others were serving overseas as soldiers, nurses, ambulance staff, or volunteers.

The story could be about what happened in schools or your local area at the time. It could be about a conscientious objector, attending a peace rally, farewelling troops, or creating a war memorial. Or it could be about anything else that happened in New Zealand because of the war.Entries close on Monday July 6th.

For more info go to: http://www.elsielocketrust.org.nz/

2015 Book Publishing Project

Do you write poems or stories? 

Are you an artist? 

Then here is your chance to be a part of a publishing project.

The Kapiti Children's Writers' Charitable Trust Inc., established to promote children's literature in Kapiti through community projects, is planning to publish a book of poems, stories and artwork by Kapiti children and we are presently seeking submissions.

• This project is open to Kapiti children, 8 to 13 years of age
• Poems and stories must be original and no more than 500 words
• Poems and stories must be set in the Kapiti area
• Artwork must be original, large and on A4 white paper
• Artwork must be made using black only, no colour
• Submissions close 20 March 2015
• There is a $5 fee for each submission
• Each successful submission will receive a copy of the published book in lieu of all other payments or royalties

For a Submission Form and the full list of Terms and Conditions

please contact

Pam Kessler, (04) 902 1806

pbkessler@paradise.net.nz

Secretary, Kapiti Children's Writers' Charitable Trust Inc.

This community project is supported by the Kapiti Coast District Libraries and the Friends of the Libraries

New on the shelves today!

Stella Saxby is the sole heir to Saxby Hall. But awful Aunt Alberta and her giant owl will stop at nothing to get it from her. Luckily Stella has a secret - and slightly spooky -weapon up her sleeve...

Features games for all major platforms, organized by game type with handy info on cost, download size and age suitability.

A girl wakes in a field of dead grass. A swirling yellow mist presses close around her, so close that it is more like a blanket than a fog. She has no memory of this place. No memories at all. Except her name - Mara.
If you have been bad and yet escaped punishment, the Messenger of Fear may come to you. He will offer you a game. Should you win the game, you will walk away, free. Should you lose the game, you may well break...
WARNING! Contains scenes of cruelty and some violence.
Here is the trailer....

Hello 2015!

It feels a little late to say Happy New Year but I'm saying it anyway. Welcome back to the OC Library blog - yes I did disappear for a while there - too many books to read over the holidays!
Here are 2 I really enjoyed....

If I Stay by Gayle Forman



Unwind by Neil Schusterman




Yes, we have both of these in the library - ask Sue!