Books

Melanie O'Loughlin of Unity Books reviews The Topeka School by Ben Lerner, which is published by Granta. "Adam Gordon, a senior in the class of 97, explores the events that lead up to a terrible act… Audio

Ralph McAllister reviews Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. Published by Pan Macmillan. Audio

Jonathan West reviews Pākehā Settlements in a Māori World by Ian Smith, which is published by Bridget Williams Books. Audio

Quentin Johnson reviews Somewhere Becoming Rain by Clive James, which is published by Pan Macmillan. "An appreciation of the poet Philip Larkin by James, a longtime admirer, written in his… Audio

It's been ten years since chef and food writer Catherine Bell co-founded the Garden to Table Trust, teaching children to grow, cook and share food. Since then, 23,000 children, in years three to six… Audio, Gallery

Stella Chrysostomou of VOLUME Books reviews Deeplight by Frances Hardinge, which is published by Pan Macmillan. "Dive into the world of scavenger pirates, deep-sea mythologies, powerful gods and a… Audio

Drongo. Its Australiasian slang you don't hear much these days. A drongo: an idiot, a no-hoper. The name apparently derives from an Australian racehorse in the 1920's who showed much promise but never… Audio

Elisabeth Easther reviews The Toll by Neal Shusterman, which is published by Walker Books. Audio

Bronwyn Wylie-Gibb of University Book Shop, Dunedin, reviews Wearing Paper Dresses by Anne Brinsden, which is published by Pan Macmillan Australia. "Compelling, clever writing; vivid characters and a… Audio

Louise O'Brien, from quarterly review periodical New Zealand Review of Books Pukapuka Aotearoa, reviews Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir. This book is published by Macmillan. Audio

Carole Beu of the Women's Bookshop reviews Bruny by Heather Rose, which is published by Allen & Unwin. Audio

David Hill reviews Zealandia, the valley that changed a nation by Jim Lynch. Published by Kotare Publications. Audio

The Wonky Donkey has been on the bookshelves of Kiwis and Aussies since it was released in 2009 but then last year it became famous around the world, after a video of a grandmother reading it to her… Video, Audio

Tilly Lloyd from Unity Books reviews Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo, published by Penguin Books and Booker Prize joint winner 2019. "Joyfully polyphonic and sparklingly contemporary, Girl… Audio

Ralph McAllister reviews The Testaments by Margaret Atwood, which is published by Penguin Random House. Booker Prize joint winner 2019. Audio

Jack McDonald reviews Whitiki! Whiti! Whiti! E!: Maori in the First World War by Monty Soutar. This book is published by Macmillan. Audio