Rachael King
Alllen & Unwin
Genre: YA Fiction

Recently dumped, heart-broken Ana struggles to put the past behind her on a post-graduation summer holiday. When a catastrophic earthquake hits, Ana and the other survivors emerge in a world they don't recognise, stumbling into a 14th century battle.

The students flee and Ana is chased off a cliff by one of the soldiers, Leon, who is badly injured in the fall. Sparks fly between Ana and Leon: to survive, they need to rely on each other and as their trust grows, so does romance.

Together they must endure a treacherous journey and find the legendary mystic everyone calls 'The Saint' who is said to have the power to send Ana home . . . until an unexpected twist changes everything.

This pukapuka is multi-award winning.

Tom. E. Moffat.
Independent
Genre: Middle

Invisible dog. Visible disaster. When Granddad’s latest invention—a high-tech flea collar—turns DaVinci invisible, chaos appears. Now sandwiches levitate, strangers shriek, and Finn and Sally are left chasing a dog they can’t even see.

But tracking an invisible hound is the easy part, because they’ve just sniffed out a scheme that could send the whole town to the dogs. Doggone Crazy is a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud caper packed with runaway inventions, blasts from the past, and turbocharged twists.

Kiri Lightfoot
Illustrated by Pippa Keel Situ
Allen & Unwin
Genre: Illustrated

Te Ngahere i te Rā: the forest by day. As the sun rises, which creatures come to life and greet the day? This beautiful picture book explores the busy world of the daytime creatures in Aotearoa New Zealand's bush. It includes many reo Māori phrases that we use to greet others. Kai pai te rā!

From the author and illustrator of the best-selling companion book Te Ngahere i te pō.

Elizabeth Knox
Allen & Unwin
Genre: YA Fiction

Vex is used to people being afraid of her power, the ability to persuade others to do what she wants. 
But when she arrives at a new school, it is packed with people who have the same power, and who might even like her.

There is her roommate Ronnie, a coolheaded high achiever; and Ronnie's friend Taye, who is recovering from a brain injury. There is witty, lordly Hannu, whose father happens to be a billionaire. And then there's Ari: troubled, blessed, honourable, terrifying Ari.

Vex is enchanted by her new friends when, five weeks into term one, they are kidnapped.

They find themselves chained in the basement of an abandoned factory, trying to figure out how to escape, all the while tormented by questions like: Why were they taken? Why do the kidnappers seem to hate Vex, and at the same time want to recruit her?

Can Vex and her friends save themselves? And if they do, will they ever feel safe again? What kind of reckoning will they face afterwards? And will Vex once again feel responsible for all the bad things that happened?

This pukapuka is multi-award winning.

Vasanti Unka
Bateman
Genre: Illustrated

A gorgeously whimsical interactive picture book that inspires kids to get outside and engage with nature. With simple, evocative wording and stunning watercolour illustrations, this book celebrates summer days, running through grass and singing with birds. Wild Summer is a joyous read that draws kids in and sends them out with a wanderlust for nature, encouraging mindfulness, gratitude and acceptance.

Graci Kim
Penguin NZ
Genre: YA Fiction

Fifteen-year-old Aria is about to start her second year of magical training at the Royal League of Dreamslingers. She and her bloom dragon, Rio, must pass the final exam to become fully fledged Fellows. But before training can begin, the king of Royal Hanguk gives Aria and the other novices a mission. They are to help the League reclaim the Touch of Death, a powerful ancient relic stolen from the kingdom — by Aria’s own mother.

But then Aria experiences a devastating loss and her dream of becoming a royalslinger evaporates. What now? One option is to join the freeslingers, a rogue faction, but Aria isn’t so sure about their methods. How far is Aria prepared to go to regain what she’s lost?

Sam Gibson
Allen & Unwin
Genre: Non-Fiction

Sam Gibson's best-selling debut, Sam The Trap Man, introduced us to a natural-born storyteller with a deep enthusiasm for the ngahere. Now, Sam takes us back to the bush with another round of cracking yarns and hard-case characters, as well as a guide to edible native plants and trees – perfect for inspiring the next generation of bushmen.

Whether it's tackling naked kiwi with lacrosse sticks, stumbling across giant red stags in Haast or trading venison for crayfish in Fiordland, Sam's the man to inspire not only your next outdoor adventure, but a lifelong love and respect for the ecosystem we're lucky enough to call home.

Hannah Tunnicliffe and Erica Harrison
Flying Eye Books
Genre: Graphic Novel

Detective Stanley has barely sat down for his breakfast pancakes when he receives an invitation he cannot refuse. The Art Museum has been raided on the opening day of the Bleat Mondrian show and Stan has been called to investigate. The most perplexing thing about the case: Nothing has been stolen! But now Stan finds himself in a tight spot even his powers of deduction could not detect. Can he get himself out of trouble and can he solve the mystery of the Art Museum?

Detective Stanley is a colorful and hilarious young graphic reader that is perfect to be enjoyed by emerging and reluctant readers by themselves, or reading along with a parent, carer or teacher.