Mana of the Pacific: Wisdom from across Oceania. A beautifully produced collection of inspirational proverbs compiled by Apisalome Movono and Regina Scheyvens

Mana of the Pacific : Wisdom from across Oceania

Compiled by Apisalome Movono and Regina Scheyvens

ISBN 9781988550329

Potton & Burton

Mana of the Pacific is a special book, one that would sit gracefully on any coffee table.

It is full of proverbs sharing traditional values and practices. The voice of ancestors carries through the pages of shared beliefs and wisdom. Each is beautifully photographed with images of people, places and nature at its best. Pages are glossy and brightly coloured. Each double-page spread has its own proverb alongside a fitting photograph.

The proverbs are divided into themes such as kinship and culture, leadership, diligence and more.

Different cultures share their words of wisdom. Below are two of my favourites.

From Fiji

Solesolevaki sa itakele ni duavata.

Solidarity is the cornerstone of unity.

Meaning:

Unity is firmly established when people work together to achieve common goals.

From Papua New Guinea

A soa siahuapo norovoe la hoho ma’a.

You cannot drink the same water twice from a river because the current that has passed will never pass again.

Meaning

Enjoy and utilise every moment of your life because opportunities might only present themselves one time.

This is a thoughtful collection to be read and shared by all ages. A most worthy book for school libraries, to share thoughts from different Oceanic cultures.

A Definitely Different Summer by Elizabeth Pulford. Based on a real shipwreck, the author brings us a top new novel for young readers. A definitely good read.

A Definitely Different Summer

By Elizabeth Pulford

ISBN 978198853893

Bateman Books

It is the summer holidays and Kathleen, AKA Cricket, has no choice but to go with her parents and stay on uninhabited Jacob’s Island. Her mother is there to write, and her father is there to study birds and insects, which leaves Cricket spending most of the time alone. Her fears of being bored change when strange things begin to happen.

Cricket’s interest in how the island got its name leads her on a journey of discovery about a shipwreck in 1881. The story is based on a real shipwreck off the coast of Invercargill where 131 people lost their lives. As the story weaves in and out, more information comes forth and Cricket is able to piece together certain events.

I loved this story for many reasons. Cricket is likeable, honest and funny. Her curiosity is what makes the story. When faced with having a classmate join her, her ability to learn from mistakes and make changes, comes across authentically. Another reason, is the mystery and the spooky happenings, in the wild, isolated landscape.

Shipwrecks are fascinating. When we think about them most people’s first thoughts are about the famous ship, Titanic. We think about why and how ships are wrecked, and about lives lost, and survivors too. This is why it was so is interesting to read about one off the shore of New Zealand.

This is a great read for readers nine and up who love a good story, with good mystery, and a little bit of spookiness. Or maybe a lot more spookiness!

Pax by Sara Pennypacker @sarapennypacker and the sequel Pax : Journey Home. Heartwarming story about a boy, a fox and their very special bond. Storytelling at its best.

Pax

by Sara Pennypacker

ISBN 9780008158286

Twelve-year-old Peter, finds a lonely, orphaned baby fox. His father suggests the kit should be left to die but Peter rescues it, cares for it and the two become inseparable, best friends. Peter’s father enlists in the military so Peter has to live with his grandfather. On the way to grandfather’s house, Peter is forced to return Pax to the wild. They are separated and Peter is heartbroken. His guilt at leaving his fox eats away at him. He misses Pax so much, that in utter desperation, he packs his bag and runs away, determined to find his companion. Pax also misses Peter and sets out on own journey too.

The story of Peter and Pax is beautifully written. The language and style often made me stop and reread the sentences or paragraphs just to soak in the language and imagery. The story of loss, grief, separation, guilt and loneliness is often sad, but it is also hopeful.

Peter’s pain is palpable and the story is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. I loved Peter’s vulnerability, but also his determination to be reunited with Pax. Told in alternate points of view chapters, this is just such a wonderful story to read.

Pax : Journey home

ISBN 9780008470289

Oh my goodness, what a sequel. Peter has suffered even more loss after his father was killed in the war. I can feel Peter’s heart breaking with every sentence. Now orphaned, he is determined to be strong and not let anyone, or anything, get close to him, for fear of losing anyone else. In his young life, he has suffered one loss after another, so he builds walls all around himself but the reality is, people need other people. Leaving Viola, the old woman who has been caring for him, Peter sets out to start a new life and joins the Water Warriors, a group of people trying to fix the land after the damage from the war. In a parallel storyline Pax now has his own family but needs help when one of the young kits gets very sick.

So begins the journey to be reunited.

Trust and love are big themes here. Pax and Pax: Journey home are both very special books to treasure, and to read again and again. I loved both books and Peter and Pax will stay with me for a long time. Oh yeah, tissues may be needed! Quality writing and storytelling at its best. Great to read alone, great for a class read aloud, and perfect to share as a family read.

What about Will by Ellen Hopkins. Strong, thoughtful verse novel for middle grade readers. How far would you go to protect your brother? @EllenHopkinsLit

What about Will

By Ellen Hopkins

ISBN 9780593108642

Penguin Random House

Ellen Hopkins name is synonymous with verse novels. Her ability to take you inside the thoughts of her characters is well known and well respected. Writing mostly for the young adult audience, her latest book What about Will is aimed at the younger, middle grade readers.

Trace Reynolds is 12 and the younger brother of 17 year old Will. They were tight once. Good friends as well as brothers but after Will suffers a brain injury at a football game, everything changes. Will becomes angry, depressed and antisocial. Their mother has not long since left the family and now Trace sees Will slipping away from him too. Things begin to disappear and Will mixes with a new group of teens, and they are not the best people to be around.

Throughout the novel we feel Trace’s pain. He is caring and kind and and worries about Will. He misses his mother who he hasn’t seen in months. We feel his confusion as he becomes conflicted with trying to find out what is wrong with Will or waiting to see if Will will come right. He covers for his brother, trying to protect him but only he can decide, if it is the right thing to do. But Will doesn’t come right and things begin to spiral out of control.

This novel, in verse form, deals with many issues. Family breakdown, little league, trust, betrayal, brothers, head injuries, drug addiction. It’s all in here and woven together thoughtfully, with careful consideration to the reality of Trace and Will’s lives. Their characters and their situations offer an insight to what many families are going through. The things that happen here, happen in real life.

Friendship is a theme running through the book and one that highlights the importance of having someone who listen when you need them.

Highly recommend this book. A good solid story, authentic characters and great writing.