From A Shadow Grave
Andi C. Buchanan
Wellington has an ‘urban legend’ of a teenager murdered in the Mt Victoria Tunnel. Cars honk their horns to show respect. But it turns out that Phyllis Symons was real. She was buried alive and this new book breathes life into the person behind the crime. Written with wit and sensitivity, this book lays out alternate endings for Symons’ life and will keep you reading until the end.
Legacy
Whiti Hereaka
If you like historical time-slip novels, you’ll love this story of a modern teenager who lives out his great-grandfather’s experiences in World War One. It gives a great insight into the way family stories are woven into our identities. It also gave me a new perspective on the Maori Battalion’s unique challenges and community spirit.
Little Fires Everywhere
Celeste Ng
A tale of two very different families set in the suburbia of Shaker Heights. If you like literary fiction that explores the lies people tell themselves, this is the book for you. It touches on race, socio-economic class, and gritty insights about real families. A really enjoyable, honest read.
Have you read any of these?