Recomended Reads for Reading Level - Adult
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak – Book number 045287
A young girl steals books and shares them during Nazi Germany, finding hope amidst devastating loss and darkness.
The Bone People by Keri Hulme – Book number 055356
A mysterious woman connects with a troubled boy and his foster father, revealing hidden traumas and profound healing.
The Story of a New Zealand River by Jane Mander – Book number 055800
A woman’s struggle for independence unfolds against the harsh and beautiful backdrop of New Zealand’s remote frontier.
A Dagg at My Table by John Clarke – Book number 055847
A hilarious collection of satirical writings and parodies capturing the unique spirit and humor of New Zealand.
Cross Stitch (Outlander Series Bk1) by Diana Gabaldon – Book number 059807
A WWII nurse is transported to 18th-century Scotland, entangling herself in love, danger, and historical intrigue.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee – Book number 060045
A child’s view of racial injustice and moral growth in the American South during the 1930s.
All Blacks Don’t Cry by John Kirwan with Margie Thomson – Book number 061633
Rugby legend John Kirwan shares his courageous journey through depression and his path to hope and healing.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen – Book number 067782
Elizabeth Bennet navigates love, class, and misunderstandings in this beloved classic of wit and romance.
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin – Book number 072823
Noble families vie for power in a brutal, sprawling medieval fantasy world filled with betrayal, dragons, and intrigue.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley – Book number 074964
A chilling dystopian future of engineered society questions freedom, individuality, and the cost of stability.
Plumb by Maurice Gee – Book number 078900
A fiery clergyman’s downfall and complex legacy ripple through generations of his troubled New Zealand family.
All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr – Book number 087195
A blind French girl and a German boy struggle to survive and find humanity during World War II.
The Team That Changed Rugby Forever by Alex McKay – Book number 099136
The groundbreaking 1967 All Blacks tour reshaped the game and left a lasting impact on rugby history.
Pūrākau by Witi Ihimaera and Whiti Hereaka – Book number 126087
Māori myths are beautifully reimagined, breathing new life and meaning into traditional tales of gods and heroes.
Call Me Evie by J.P. Pomare – Book number 126137
A girl held captive in a remote town must piece together fractured memories to uncover a haunting truth.
Haben by Haben Girma – Book number 131097
The inspiring story of the first deafblind graduate of Harvard Law, challenging barriers with wit and resilience.
Auē by Becky Manawatu – Book number 133383
Two siblings navigate violence, grief, and hope in a raw, powerful story set in rural New Zealand.
Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason – Book number 137951
A sharp, tender novel about mental illness, family, and love, delivered with wit and brutal honesty.
Māori Made Easy by Scotty Morrison – Book number 138983
A friendly guide for beginners to learn and embrace everyday te reo Māori language and culture.
The Boy from Gorge River by Chris Long – Book number 140505
Growing up off-grid, Chris Long shares adventures, challenges, and lessons from New Zealand’s remotest settlement.
Jumping Sundays by Nick Bollinger – Book number 141108
A vibrant look at New Zealand’s counterculture movement, music, and social revolution of the 1960s and 1970s.
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver – Book number 141169
An Appalachian boy struggles through poverty, addiction, and hardship in this powerful reimagining of Dickens’ David Copperfield.
Straight Up by Ruby Tui – Book number 141194
Rugby star Ruby Tui shares her candid journey from a challenging childhood to world champion and inspirational figure.
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman – Book number 141288
Four retirees solve cold cases—and get tangled in a fresh murder—in this witty, charming mystery.
Always Italicise by Alice Te Punga Somerville – Book number 141594
Essays on identity, colonialism, and writing as a Māori scholar in a colonized literary landscape.
The Axeman’s Carnival by Catherine Chidgey – Book number 141608
A mischievous magpie narrates a darkly comic story of love, obsession, and fame in rural New Zealand.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus – Book number 141632
A brilliant chemist in 1960s America challenges gender norms by becoming an unexpected television star.
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty – Book number 141860
A missing mother and buried family secrets unravel in this twisty, emotionally rich domestic drama.
Pet by Catherine Chidgey – Book number 141952
A psychological thriller about manipulation, secrets, and obsession unfolding in a seemingly idyllic 1980s suburb.
The Country of the Blind by Andrew Leland – Book number 142046
A memoir about blindness, perception, and redefining independence as the author gradually loses his sight.
Everything is Beautiful and Everything Hurts by Josie Shapiro – Book number 142068
A young runner battles ambition, love, and loss in a poignant exploration of resilience and dreams.
The Doctor’s Wife by Fiona Sussman – Book number 142239
An illicit affair leads to tragedy and betrayal, revealing devastating secrets in a small New Zealand town.
Better Blood by Michael Bennett – Book number 142242
A gripping New Zealand thriller following a tenacious detective seeking justice for missing indigenous women.
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover – Book number 142375
A moving love story that explores the painful complexities of abusive relationships and difficult choices.
Water by John Boyne – Book number 142451
A woman escapes scandal by moving to a remote island, confronting solitude and her troubled past.
One of Those Mothers by Megan Nicol Reed – Book number 142560
A mother’s carefully constructed life unravels amid suspicion and secrets when tragedy strikes her close-knit community.
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez – Book number 142607
A sweeping magical realist saga tracing the rise and fall of the Buendía family in Macondo.
Evolving by Judy Bailey – Book number 142780
Beloved broadcaster Judy Bailey reflects on aging gracefully, staying healthy, and embracing life’s later chapters.
The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton – Book number 073732
An intricate tale of fortune, mystery, and fate unfolds during New Zealand’s 1860s gold rush.
Death of a Gossip by M.C. Beaton – Book number 080513
Amateur sleuth Hamish Macbeth solves a murder in a sleepy Scottish village full of hidden grudges.
The Seven Sisters: Maia’s Story by Lucinda Riley – Book number 131513
Maia D’Aplièse uncovers secrets of her birth and embarks on a journey across continents to find her roots.
Life as a Casketeer by Francis & Kaiora Tipene – Book number 136731
A heartfelt, humorous glimpse into Māori funeral traditions and the life of New Zealand’s favorite undertakers.
Raven Black by Ann Cleeves – Book number 136830
A chilling murder in a remote Shetland community unearths long-held secrets and simmering tensions.
A Promised Land by Barack Obama – Book number 139443
Former President Barack Obama reflects on his political rise, challenges, and the meaning of leadership.
Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton – Book number 141581
An activist gardening collective collides with corporate greed and conspiracy in a tense, brilliant ecological thriller.
The Lavender Garden by Lucinda Riley – Book number 141739
Two women, separated by decades, uncover family secrets spanning WWII and the French Resistance.
The Pain Tourist by Paul Cleave – Book number 141764
A dark thriller about obsession, survival, and the fine line between victim and monster.
Life, Loss, Love by Lorraine Downes – Book number 141914
Former Miss Universe Lorraine Downes shares her journey through fame, grief, and rediscovering meaning in life.
Becoming by Michelle Obama – Book number 128521
Michelle Obama’s inspiring journey from Chicago’s South Side to First Lady, filled with hope, resilience, and empowerment.