Huia Short Stories 14

Reviewing a new collection of short stories from Huia leaves me very excited for more. I long for fiction texts (not YA) which will help my senior students open up to the big critical conversations about us here in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The stories in this selection are wonderfully surprising, thought provoking, honest sombre and funny, they hold their ground and speak with clear te ao Māori voices. Rooted in experiences of community, ancestry and life, the stories are proud and unapologetic. From tales about reconnecting, loss, discovery, anger, mystery, sorrow and living in a racist world, the collection contains powerfully observed detail and dry humour.

Characters are engaging, dialogue snaps along, the writing is emotionally complex and the range of settings is impressive from futuristic to contemporary. The stories include the internal thoughts of a bus driver, a party goer, a fireman, a Matariki night walker, debates about the concept of self, empathy and responsibility. This new collection offers readers many opportunities to reflect on ourselves and others.

Huia Short Stories 14 is a fantastic selection of fiction that I would recommend for those who want to experience contemporary writing that is relevant and robust, from writers whose work I hope we will read more of in years to come.

Doubly recommended for school libraries and teachers for their collection. The collection works as single stories or as part of a wider thematic unit of study or perspective.

Title: Huia Short Stories 14: Contemporary Māori fiction

Authors: many. These are the best short stories from the Pikihuia Awards for Maori writers 2021 as judged by Emma Espiner, Carol Hirschfeld, Vincent Olsen-Reeder and Maiki Sherman

Publisher: Huia Publishers

ISBN: 978-1-77550-660-7

RRP: $25

Format: paperback

Publication:

Age: From 13 up

Themes: Māori experience, connection, family, hope, reality, racism, life

Advisory warnings: none, these are stories from Māori writes in authentic contexts

Would this book work as a read aloud? Absolutely the book is perfect to read aloud.

The stories are relatable, dry humoured, sad, funny and full of life.

Is there a particular part of the country that it’s set in? the stories are from all around the motu

Reviewer: Rebecca Ball, English teacher, Rutherford College, Tamaki Makaurau

How are you recommending this book? Highly recommended.

Opening sentence: “There’s a buzz in the air’ (from the foreword by Eboni Waitere)

You can buy this book here