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Sound and Touch

Library News for This Issue

As the cooler months settle in, there’s nothing quite like finding a warm spot, a hot drink, and a great book to enjoy. This June edition of Sound and Touch is filled with wonderful reading and listening inspiration, including many titles from the New Zealand Top 50 list and celebrated works from this year’s Ockham New Zealand Book Awards.

We hope this magazine helps you discover something new to enjoy over the winter season and reminds you of the incredible range of accessible New Zealand content available through the Blind Low Vision New Zealand Library.

Ockham Book award Winners available in Audio

We are proud to showcase award-winning New Zealand stories and voices from the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. Featured titles now available in our collection include;

Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction, All Her Lives by Ingrid Horrocks—Book Number 144303.

First Book award, E.H. McCormick Prize for General Non-Fiction A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardern—Book Number 143748.

First Book Award, for Illustrated Non-Fiction He Puāwai by P.J. Garnock-Jones—Book Number 144305.

The following award-winning titles are currently being produced in our studios.

General Non-Fiction, This Compulsion in Us by Tina Makereti

BookHub Award for Illustrated Non-Fiction, Mr Ward’s Map by Elizabeth Cox

Best First Book Hubert Church Prize for Fiction, Pastoral Care by John Prins.

Even more special, these titles have been recorded in our own studios by our professionally voice-trained narrators, bringing these exceptional New Zealand stories to life for Blind Low Vision library members. Below you will find a selection of Ockham Book Award titles currently available from the short and longlist, along with some still in production.

Short & Longlisted Ockham Award Nominees

  • Hoods Landing by Laura Vincent—Book number 144237
  • How to Paint a Nude by Sam Mahon—Book number 144338
  • The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey—Book number 143747
  • Northbound by Naomi Arnold—Book number 143777
  • The Hollows Boys by Peta Carey—Book number 144041
  • 1985 by Dominic Hoey—Book number 144292
  • Before the winter ends by Khadro Mohamed—Book number 144337
  • Empathy by Bryan Walpert—Book number 144313
  • The Last Living Cannibal by Airana Ngarewa—Book number 144144
  • Wonderland by Tracy Farr—Book number 144304
  • An Uncommon Land by Catherine Knight—Book number 144360
  • Everything But the Medicine by Lucy O’Hagan—Book number 144037
  • Hardship and hope by Rebecca Macfie—Book number 144340
  • Polkinghorne by Steve Braunias—Book number 143767
  • Ruth Dallas: A writer’s life by Diana Morrow—Book number 144341
  • The middle of nowhere by Rosemary Baird—Book number 143857
  • Groundwork by Michele Leggott and Catherine Field-Dodgson—Book number 143726
  • The collector by Andrew Mckay—Book number 144307
  • Star Gazers by Duncan Sarkies—in production
  • The Covid Response by Shaun Hendy—in production

Celebrating Matariki

With Matariki falling on the 10th of July this year, we would like to draw your attention to a book in our collection, Matariki: Te Whetū Tapu o te Tau by Rangi Matamua, read in te reo Māori by our Māori narrator Kayne Ngatokowha Peters. This book explores the history, traditions and meaning of Matariki, the Māori New Year. It is best found by book number 137303. Below is a list of recommended titles for children to help explore and celebrate this special time of reflection, remembrance, and renewal.

  • Matariki around the world: a cluster of stars—Book number 143728
  • The astromancer: the rising of Matariki by Witi Ihimaera—Book number 143682
  • Te Huihui o Matariki by Toni Rolleston-Cummins—Book number 74482-2008
  • Te kī taurangi a puanga by Kirsty Wadsworth—Book number 140455
  • The promise of Puanga by Kirsty Wadsworth—Book number 140453
  • The stolen stars of Matariki by Miriama Kamo—Book number 140445
  • In search of the stars by Jenny Davis—Book number 93377
  • Rangi and Papa by Sara Mitchell—Book number 139649
  • The seven kites of Matariki by Calico McClintock—Book number 92800
  • Daniel’s Matariki feast by Rebecca Beyer and Linley Wellington—Book number 138838
  • Matariki by Melanie Drewery—Book number 71602

Envoy & Braille Users

Envoy users, if you use Aurora Cloud Connect to download audio books onto your Envoy, you may need to uninstall and reinstall the app following a recent bug fix.

Braille users if you are requesting a title in Braille and want to keep it, well you can! Otherwise save yourself space and return it to BLVNZ and we will find a home for it.

Book reviews from audio producer Simon Lynch

The following book reviews have been written by book producer Simon Lynch and produced by Blind Low Vision NZ.

An Uncommon Land by Catherine Knight

Subtitled From an Ancestral Past of Enclosure Towards a Regenerative Future, Catherine Knight’s 2025 book is another fine addition to the canon of contemporary NZ literature giving thoughtful perspective to the history of colonisation in New Zealand. Narrated by Elisabeth Easther, Catherine Knight investigates the dispossession, colonisation and erosion of Māori customs and traditions, yet offers a pathway to a sustainable and fairer future. Central to the narrative is the term “commons”, or common land, referring to cultural and natural resources available to all members of a society. Well written and easy to digest, An Uncommon Land is an excellent 2025 non-fiction book providing insight, perspective and food for thought. Narrated in 7 hours, 20 minutes. Published 2025. Book number 144360.

He Puawai: A Natural History of New Zealand Flowers by Philip Garnock-Jones

Author Philip Garnock-Jones, botanist and internationally renowned expert on plant diversity, authored this stunning book showing off New Zealand flowers in full bloom. With over 100 studies and descriptions of native species from around 2,200 native flowers, He Puawai is an inspirational natural history of the native flowers of Aotearoa. Narrated by Paul Barrett, readers interested in flowers, gardens and NZ natural fauna, will revel in the vivid descriptions and depth of knowledge Philip Garnock-Jones brings to this fascinating subject. He Puawai has received high praise and won the Judith Binney Prize for Illustrated Non-Fiction at the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards in 2026. Narrated in 15 hours, 7 minutes. Published 2025. Book number 144305.

Book Club suggestions

Are you part of a book club? Dive into these top picks to spark meaningful discussions!

For Fiction Fans

1985 by Dominic Hoey

It’s 1985 and twelve-year-old Obi is on the cusp of teenage hood, after a childhood marked by poverty, dysfunctional family dynamics, (dis)organised crime and street violence. His father is delusional, his mother is dying, the Rainbow Warrior is bombed, and it’s time for Obi to grow up and get out of the arcade. When he and his best mate Al discover a map leading to unknown riches, Obi wonders if this windfall could be the thing that turns his family’s fortunes around. Instead, he’s thrown into a quest very different from the games he loves. 2026 Ockham Book Awards on the Longlist for Fiction. Read by Romy Hooper in 9 hours, 4 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144291.

For Non-Fiction Fans

A different kind of power by Jacinda Ardern

From the former prime minister of New Zealand, then the world’s youngest female head of government and just the second to give birth in office, comes a deeply personal memoir chronicling her extraordinary rise and offering inspiration to a new generation of leaders. What if we could redefine leadership? What if kindness came first? Jacinda Ardern grew up the daughter of a police officer in small-town New Zealand, but as the 40th Prime Minister of her country, she commanded global respect for her empathetic leadership that put people first. This is the remarkable story of how a Mormon girl plagued by self-doubt made political history and changed our assumptions of what a global leader can be. Winner of the 2026 Ockham book awards for best first book, General Non-Fiction. Read by Romy Hooper, Wendy Karstens and Cheryl Lawton in 14 hours, 14 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 143748.

Start the Journey: A Series to Keep You Reading over the winter months

The Elements Quartet by John Boyne is a powerful and deeply moving series exploring the complexities of modern life, family, identity, and human connection. Each novel stands alone while being linked through themes of trauma, resilience, and the emotional forces that shape us.

Written with warmth, honesty, and compassion, the series takes readers into the lives of unforgettable characters facing difficult choices and searching for understanding in a changing world. Rich in emotion and beautifully observed, these stories highlight both the fragility and strength of the human spirit.

If you enjoy thought-provoking contemporary fiction with compelling characters and emotional depth, the Elements series is well worth discovering.

Book 1 Water—Book number 142451

Book 2 Earth—Book number 143973

Book 3 Fire—Book number 143974

Book 4 Air—Book number 143975

Many thanks to our generous sponsors

We would like to express our appreciation to the following funders. These funders have helped to make print material accessible to people who are blind or have low vision and without their support, it would not be possible to meet the reading needs of library users.

We would like to thank the following funders for continuing to support the Alexa roll-out:

  • One Foundation
  • Room-Simmonds Charitable Trust
  • Pelorus Trust
  • Manchester Unity Welfare Trust
  • Reed Charitable Trust
  • Aotearoa Gaming Trust
  • Akarana Community Trust
  • Kiwi Gaming Foundation
  • Estate of Ernest Hyam Davis and Ted & Mollie Carr Endowment Trust
  • Trust House Foundation
  • New Zealand Community Trust

Also, we would like to thank the following funders for supporting the addition of talking books to the Blind Low Vision NZ Library:

  • Acorn Charitable Trust
  • Ray Watts Charitable Trust
  • Lake Memorial Charitable Trust
  • Grumitt Sisters Charitable Trust
  • Hugh Green Foundation
  • Room-Simmonds Charitable Trust

New DAISY audio

This issue contains DAISY audio books added to the collection since the last issue of Sound and Touch in March 2026.

Abbreviations

BLVNZ: Blind Low Vision New Zealand

CNIB: (formerly known as) Canadian National Institute for the Blind

NLS: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled Library of Congress

RNIB: Royal National Institute of Blind People

RNZFB: The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind.

VA: Vision Australia

Adult non-fiction

Authors (Biography)

The unlikely doctor: from gang life and prison to becoming a doctor at 56—the incredible story of Timoti Te Moke by Timoti Te Moke

Born into early love but later shaped by trauma, Timoti Te Moke endured abuse, state care, gangs and imprisonment from a young age. A moment of reflection in prison sparked a determination to change his life. After working as a paramedic and overcoming major setbacks, he went on to study medicine in his fifties and became a fully qualified doctor, offering a powerful story of resilience, transformation and justice. NZ Top 50. Adult content advised. Read by Paul Barrett 11 hours 9 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 143817.

Be Brave: The life of a Pacific Correspondent by Barbara Dreaver

Barbara Dreaver has covered the Pacific for over 30 years. During this time the vast ocean’s many island nations and territories have gone from being largely ignored by world leaders to the focus of big-power rivalry. And Dreaver has gone from a reporter struggling to get a job to one of the world’s leading Pacific correspondents. With warmth, humour and astonishing honesty, she takes you inside her gruelling, often crazy life as she and her TV team attempt to stay ahead of power plays, coups, resource grabs, criminal activity, and natural disasters across the world’s largest ocean. Read by Anne Speir in 10 hours, 10 minutes. Published 2026. RNZFB. Book number 144335.

Out of Africa by Karen Blixen

The author sets out in middle age to record the central experience of her life in which, with her husband, she went out to Kenya to manage a coffee plantation close to the Ngong Hills near Nairobi, and continued to do so for ten years after her divorce. The result is a poignant evocation of a vanishing land and its peoples, the destiny of whom seems almost to echo her own preoccupations. Read by Judy Franklin in 11 hours, 23 minutes. Published 1985. RNIB. Book number 144366.

Blindness and Vision Impairment (Biography)

Behind the shutters: memoir of childhood, disability, and resilience by Stephie Birkhead

Behind the Shutters is the powerful story of a disabled child growing up in institutional care during the 1960s, when families were encouraged to give up children like her “for their own good.” This is Stephie’s journey—not just of survival, but of learning to navigate a world that wasn’t made for her. Read by Christina Cie in 11 hours, 8 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 143903.

Blind man’s bluff: a memoir by James Tate Hill

At age sixteen, James Tate Hill was diagnosed with Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy, a condition that left him legally blind. When high-school friends stopped calling and a disability counselor advised him to aim for C’s in his classes, he tried to escape the stigma by pretending he could still see. In this unfailingly candid yet humourous memoir, Hill discloses the tricks he employed to pass for sighted, from displaying shelves of paperbacks he read on tape to arriving early on first dates so women would have to find him. Read by Paul Barrett in 6 hours, 37 minutes. Published 2021. RNZFB. Book number 139609.

Crime and the Law

The dead speak: My life in forensics by Thomas Coyle

In this empathetic and darkly funny memoir, Thomas Coyle—one of New Zealand’s most seasoned forensic investigators—pulls back the police tape and walks us straight into the crime scenes. With sharp detail, he reveals how the tiniest fragment of evidence can expose a suspect, prove a motive or confirm an identity. Sometimes, all at once. But crime scenes are only part of his story. The Dead Speak also plunges us into the world of disaster victim identification—a discipline where time, science and compassion collide. Where forensic experts are flung into a race against time to identify bodies in makeshift morgues as desperate families wait for news of their loved ones. Adult content advised. NZ Top 50. Read by Greg Hughes in 6 hours, 39 minutes. Published 2026. RNZFB. Book number 144328.

Health and Wellbeing

How will I ever get through this?: A practical guide to navigating life’s toughest times by Dr Lucy Hone

In How Will I Ever Get Through This? bestselling author and TED speaker Lucy Hone explores the often-overlooked grief of life changes such as divorce, illness, redundancy and estrangement. Drawing on personal experience, resilience research and the stories of others, she offers compassionate guidance and practical tools to help readers navigate loss, rebuild resilience and find hope for the future. NZ Top 50. Adult content advised. Read by Christina Cie in 9 hours, 8 minutes. Published 2026. RNZFB. Book number 144349.

Ara: a Māori guidebook of the mind by Dr Hinemoa Elder

Ara is a Māori word indicating a direction, a passage, a quest. Come on this vivid transformative journey through ngā rua a Hinengaro, the caves created by Hinengaro, Māori goddess of the mind. Follow this trail through the depths of 23 underground caves, each with its own specific purpose. Discover insights and clarity amid the chaos of life’s ever-changing path. Join Dr Hinemoa Elder as she brings this mind map to life with her own interpretation of the many gifts and lessons Hinengaro has waiting for us. NZ Top 50. Read by Anne Speir in 3 hours, 45 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 143959.

Māori Ora: Your guide to using traditional Māori knowledge to live a more intentional life by Hira Nathan

Engage with key aspects of mātauranga (knowledge)—manaakitanga (hospitality and kindness), kaitiakitanga (care and connection with the land), mauri (life force), rangatiratanga (self-determination), tikanga/kawa (customs and behaviour) and whanaungatanga (relationships). Mātauranga has a past, a present and a future, and throughout this pukapuka you will learn how to apply mātauranga every day to create your own stories of change and growth, with space to record your own unique reflections of the journey you wish to go on. Take as little as a few minutes to fill in each day or reflect more deeply and spend a little longer. Kei a koe te tikanga, it is up to you. Build a bridge between mātauranga and the modern challenges of today to cultivate wellbeing, and purpose and live a more complete, happy and harmonious life. NZ Top 50. Read by Madeleine Lynch in 2 hours, 8 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144100.

Middle East

Tomorrow is yesterday: Life, death, and the pursuit of peace in Israel/Palestine by Hussein Agha and Robert Malley

On October 7, 2023, Hamas fighters killed more than eleven hundred Israelis and took more than two hundred hostages, prompting an Israeli response that has in turn taken tens of thousands of lives and devastated the Gaza Strip. Why did this happen, and can anything be done to grant peace and justice to Israelis and Palestinians alike? In Tomorrow Is Yesterday, veteran negotiators Hussein Agha and Robert Malley offer a personal and bracing perspective on how the hopes of the Oslo Peace Process became the horrors of the present. Read by Kevin Keys in 9 hours, 24 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144040.

Daybreak in Gaza: Stories of Palestinian lives and culture edited by Mahmoud Muna and Matthew Teller

This is Gaza—a place of humanity and creativity, rich in culture and industry. A place now utterly devastated, its entire population displaced by a seemingly endless onslaught, its heritage destroyed. Daybreak in Gaza is a record of an extraordinary place and people, and of a culture preserved by the people themselves. Vignettes of artists, acrobats, doctors, students, shopkeepers and teachers offer stories of love, life, loss and survival. They display the wealth of Gaza’s cultural landscape and the breadth of its history. Read by Romy Hooper in 9 hours, 11 minutes. Published 2024. RNZFB. Book number 144039.

Musicians (Biography)

Chris Knox: Not given lightly by Craig Robertson

In the mid-1990s, the Village Voice described Chris Knox as “indie rock’s premier oddball singer songwriter” and, when Knox suffered a stroke a decade later, music icons such as Yo La Tengo, Bill Callahan, Neil Finn and Shayne Carter all showed up for concerts and a tribute album. Who is this epileptic, opinionated, shorts-and-jandals-wearing, endlessly creative musician and artist from New Zealand? This is his story. Read by Bruce Hopkins in 19 hours, 22 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144154.

Last rites by Ozzy Osbourne

At the age of 69, Ozzy Osbourne was on a triumphant farewell tour, playing to sold-out arenas and rave reviews all around the world. Then disaster. In a matter of just a few weeks, he went from being hospitalised with a finger infection to having to abandon his tour, and all public life, as he faced near-total paralysis from the neck down. “Last Rites” is the shocking, bitterly hilarious, never-before-told story of Osbourne’s descent into hell. Along the way, he reflects on his extraordinary life and career—including his turbulent marriage to wife Sharon, his regrets over Black Sabbath’s reunion, encounters with fellow hellraisers including Slash, Bon Scott, John Bonham and Keith Moon and the harrowing final moments he spent with Motorhead’s Lemmy Kilmister. NZ Top 50. Adult content advised. Read by Greg Hughes in 8 hours, 43 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144157.

Nature and Animals

He Puāwai: A natural history of New Zealand flowers by P.J. (Phil J.) Garnock-Jones

One hundred native flowers of Aotearoa revealed in extraordinary 3D photography. Aotearoa has at least 2,200 native species of flowering plants that have evolved in our unique conditions, and the vast majority of them grow nowhere else on earth. This has made New Zealand a natural laboratory for studies of flower biology and a vibrant wonderland of gardens and bush for Maori and Pakeha to enjoy. He Puawai is a natural history of New Zealand flowers, focusing on 100 native species to represent the full range of flower phenomena of Aotearoa from familiar iconic flowers of kowhai, manuka and pohutukawa to oddities like the water-pollinated flowers of eelgrass, bat-pollinated blossoms of kiekie, and the world’s smallest flowers, Wolffia. Winner of the 2026 Ockham Book Awards for Best First book, Illustrated Non-Fiction. Read by Paul Barrett in 15 hours, 7 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144305.

New Zealand History

The collector: Thomas Cheeseman and the making of the Auckland Museum by Andrew McKay

Arriving in Aotearoa New Zealand in 1853, Thomas Cheeseman developed a lifelong passion for collecting and studying the country’s natural history. As director of the Auckland Museum, he transformed it from a small collection into a leading scientific institution, while building connections with renowned scientists including Charles Darwin. This richly illustrated book celebrates Cheeseman’s remarkable legacy and the museum he helped create. On the longlist for the 2026 Ockham Book Awards for Illustrated Non-Fiction. Read by Madeleine Lynch in 11 hours, 41 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144307.

New Zealand Travel

Northbound: four seasons of solitude on Te Araroa by Naomi Arnold

Walking from Bluff to Cape Reinga, award-winning journalist Naomi Arnold goes in search of New Zealand. Walking from Bluff, at the bottom edge of the South Island, to Cape Reinga, at the top of the North Island, Along her multi-month journey, she speaks to people from all walks of life and discovers stories of people’s hopes, dreams, worries and fears. An upbeat, fascinating and inspiring picture of who we are as a nation. NZ Top 50. Read by Marguerite Vanderkolk in 7 hours, 56 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 143777.

NZ and Pacific Non-Fiction

Everything but the medicine: A doctor’s tale by Lucy O’Hagan

Wise, candid, brave and moving, this superbly written memoir by a New Zealand GP is reminiscent of the warm wisdom and humanity of the American physician and writer Atul Gawande. Over her long career Dr Lucy O’Hagan has developed deep insights into the profound but often complex relationship between patients and doctors. From working with people living on the margins and her own burnout to her efforts to better serve her Māori patients and the humour that’s sometimes needed to get through the day, she keeps her eye on one key question: What is it to be a good doctor in this place? NZ Top 50. Read by Sara Dakin in 8 hours, 54 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144037.

An indigenous ocean: Pacific essays by Damon Salesa

From the first Indigenous civilisations that flourished in Oceania to the colonial encounters of the nineteenth century, and on to the complex contemporary relationships between New Zealand and the Pacific, Salesa offers new perspectives on this vast ocean—its people, its cultures, its pasts and its future. Spanning a wide range of topics, from race and migration to Pacific studies and empire, these essays demonstrate Salesa’s remarkable scholarship. Ockham Book awards winner of General Non-Fiction 2024. Read by Owen Scott and Moana Mase in 23 hours, 53 minutes. Published 2023. RNZFB. Book number 142642.

Hardship and hope: Stories of resistance in the fight against poverty in Aotearoa by Rebecca Macfie

Yes, it is complicated. But behind the inequality, suffering and polarisation that afflicts Aotearoa we have the foundations upon which we can choose to build a country that puts whanau at the centre, and where all can thrive. Rebecca Macfie expertly weaves a narrative of resilience and challenge, expanding her Listener series with new insights into Aotearoa’s poverty crisis. Through immersive journalism, she offers a compelling look at the power of local initiatives in confronting entrenched inequalities. Her work underscores the urgent call for change, driven by the strength and determination found within the heart of affected communities. On the longlist for the 2026 Ockham Book Awards for General Non-Fiction. Read by Bruce Hopkins in 4 hours, 27 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144340.

Unsettled bliss: Whiteness in Aotearoa by Elizabeth Ann Cook

If you do not know the history of Aotearoa after the 1835 Declaration of Independence and Te Tiriti o Waitangi 1840, Unsettled Bliss offers a clear explanation of settler occupation, its impact on indigenous land in Aotearoa, and the lasting consequences. However, it goes beyond that. This book enables you to understand what drove people to act as they did, and what continues to shape our society today. Unsettled Bliss challenges you to reflect on your place in the society of Aotearoa. It pulls no punches. Read by Madeleine Lynch in 9 hours, 58 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144124.

Hastings: A boy’s own adventure: a memoir by Dick Frizzell

“If I’d been asked to vote on it. I would’ve said I’d landed at the centre of the universe. Standing on our corner of Sylvan Road and Victoria Street, with Te Mata Peak, the Tukituki River and the mad wilderness of Windsor Park to the back of me and the distinctly non-wilderness of Cornwall Park and the misty vista of the Ruahines in front of me, I was the master of all I could barely survey”. This charming memoir by one of New Zealand’s best-known painters is a love letter to his home town, Hastings, and the weirdly innocent world of the 1950s and early 1960s. Read by Owen Scott in 7 hours, 54 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144217.

Sportspeople (Biography)

Champions do extra by Brad Thorn

From his rural Otago upbringing to elite international sport, Brad Thorn built a 30-year, dual-code career defined by discipline, longevity and success at the highest level. Playing for teams including the All Blacks, Brisbane Broncos and Crusaders, he won numerous major titles across rugby league and rugby union. In this book, Thorn shares the lessons behind his achievements, centred on his guiding principle: “champions do extra.” Read by Greg Hughes in 6 hours, 41 minutes. Published 2026. RNZFB. Book number 144295.

Together we roared by Steve Williams and Evin Priest

Steve Williams, arguably the greatest caddie in golf history, teams up with renowned golf journalist Evin Priest to give his definitive account of his 12-year partnership with the legendary Tiger Woods, sharing personal, never-before-told moments of their friendship on and off the course. NZ Top 50. Read by Chris Abell in 9 hours, 7 minutes. Published 2025. Blackstone. Book number 144001.

Transport

John Britten: the man and his revolutionary motorcycles by Tim Hanna

John Britten has taken his place as a New Zealand hero since his tragically early death from cancer in 1995. He and his dedicated team in Christchurch designed and built the Britten V-twin motorcycle from scratch. For a time, this machine was probably the fastest four-stroke bike in the world. It could wheel stand at 150 miles per hour simply by opening up the throttle. After five years of research, Tim Hanna has finally been able to give due credit to the man and his achievements. The biography details Britten’s early life, the development of his vision, and the early prototype motorcycles, and then dives into the grueling cycle of hard work, set-backs, and failures before the Britten V-twin finally was able to beat the world’s best. Read by Bruce Hopkins in 24 hours. Published 2003. RNZFB. Book number 144270.

Burt Munro: Indian legend of speed by George Begg

This book tells the story of Southland speed legend Burt Munro, who pushed his heavily modified 1920 Indian Scout to extraordinary speeds at Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats, even into his seventies. Drawing on detailed research, it follows Munro’s annual journeys to the United States and his ingenious, hands-on engineering that helped him compete with the world’s best. Read by Joel Tobeck in 8 hours 47 minutes. Published 2002. RNZFB. Book number 144280.

Wars

New Zealand’s Vietnam War: A history of combat, commitment and controversy by Ian McGibbon

This authoritative history examines New Zealand’s military involvement in the Vietnam War, focusing on the operations, experiences and challenges faced by New Zealand forces in South Vietnam. It details their role within the wider Australian command structure, as well as logistics and combat conditions in a guerrilla war. The book also addresses key controversies, including friendly fire incidents, allegations of atrocities, veterans’ grievances and the impact of Agent Orange, alongside Māori participation in the conflict. Read by Bruce Hopkins in 25 hours, 9 minutes. Published 2010. RNZFB. Book number 144141.

Adult Fiction

Adventure Stories

Dead lions by Mick Herron

On Dickie’s phone, Lamb finds the last message he ever left, which hints that an old-time Moscow-style op is being run in the Intelligence Service’s back-yard. Once a spook, always a spook, and even being dead doesn’t mean you can’t uncover secrets. Dickie Bow might have tailed his last target, but Lamb and his crew of no-hopers are about to go live. Slough House series, book 2. Sequel to: Slow horses, 144126. Has sequel: Real tigers, in production. Read by Tim Roxborogh in 9 hours, 58 minutes. Published 2015. RNZFB. Book number 144139.

Crime

Hooked up by Fiona Sussman

When DS Ramesh Bandara is asked to head up a homicide investigation in a small New Zealand beachside town, he has no idea he’s stumbled onto something much bigger. With little to go on, the investigation is frustratingly slow to get off the ground, but it’s Bandara’s unconventional colleague, Hilary Stark, who spots similarities with a murder case she worked years before. Overnight, their suspect list expands to include the cast and crew from a controversial reality TV show, Hooked Up, that screened a decade earlier. Someone, it appears, has been holding onto a grudge for a very long time. But is Hilary’s hunch really on the money? This is New Zealand, after all … Bandara/Starkbook series, book 2. Sequel to: The doctor’s wife, 142239. Read by Romy Hooper in 9 hours, 51 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144067.

Legacy by Chris Hammer

Someone is targeting Martin Scarsden. They bomb his book launch and shoot up his hometown. Fleeing for his life, he learns that nowhere is safe, not even the outback. The killers are closing in, and it’s all he can do to survive. But who wants to kill him and why? Can he discover their deadly motives and turn the tables? In a dramatic finale, Martin finds his fate linked to the disgraced ex-wife of a football icon, a fugitive wanted for a decades-old murder, and two nineteenth-century explorers from a legendary expedition. Martin Scarsden’s most perilous, challenging and intriguing assignment yet. Adult content advised. Martin Scarsden series, book 4. Sequel to: Trust, 143963. Read by Tim Roxborogh in 11 hours, 35 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144068.

The business by Martina Cole

Imelda Dooley is scared. She’s pregnant and now she’s on her own. Her father, not a man to mess with, will see that somebody pays. So Imelda Dooley tells a lie that literally causes murders. When Mary Dooley’s husband is killed, she knows she must graft to keep the family afloat. And graft she does, becoming a name in her own right. But she still has to watch her daughter’s life spiral into a vicious cycle of drugs and prostitution. Caught up in the carnage are Mary’s grandchildren, Jordanna and Kenny. Jordanna isn’t yet three and she already knows far too much. All she can do is look after her baby brother, and try not to draw attention to herself. Adult content advised. Read by Annie Aldington in 15 hours, 44 minutes. Published 2008. VisAbility. Book number 143670.

Fantasy

Katabasis by R.F. Kuang

Grad student Alice Law has only ever had one goal: to become the brightest mind in the field of analytic magic. But the only person who can make her dream come true is dead and inconveniently in Hell. And Alice, along with her biggest rival Peter Murdoch, is going after him. But Hell is not as the philosophers claim, its rules are upside-down, and if she’s going to get out of there alive, she and Peter will have to work together. That’s if they can agree on anything. Will they triumph, or kill each other trying? NZ Top 50. Read by Morag Sims and Will Watt in 18 hours, 34 minutes. Published 2025. Blackstone. Book number 143993.

Alchemised by SenLinYu

Once a promising alchemist, Helena Marino is now a prisoner—of war and of her own mind. Her Resistance friends and allies have been brutally murdered, her abilities suppressed, and the world she knew destroyed. In the aftermath of a long war, Paladia’s new ruling class of corrupt guild families and depraved necromancers, whose vile undead creatures helped bring about their victory, holds Helena captive. According to Resistance records, she was a healer of little importance within their ranks. But Helena has inexplicable memory loss of the months leading up to her capture, making her enemies wonder: Is she truly as insignificant as she appears, or are her lost memories hiding some vital piece of the Resistance’s final gambit? NZ Top 50. Read by Catriona MacLeod in 34 hours, 39 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144062.

Fourth wing by Rebecca Yarros

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders. But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away … because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. NZ Top 50. Adult content advised. The Empyrean series, book 1. Has sequel: Iron flame, 143111. Read by Wendy Karstens in 23 hours, 10 minutes. Published 2023. RNZFB. Book number 143110.

Iron flame by Rebecca Yarros

Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College, Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky. Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is-unless she betrays the man she loves. NZ Top 50. Adult content advised. The Empyrean series, book 2. Sequel to: Fourth wing, 143110. Has sequel: Onyx storm, 143553. Read by Wendy Karstens in 31 hours, 54 minutes. Published 2023. RNZFB. Book number 143111.

Historical Novels

The last living cannibal by Airana Ngarewa

Muru is not revenge. Muru is about balance. You put your hands on one of theirs and they had every right to take from you and yours whatever they meant to take, short of a life. Aotearoa in the 1940s, and the Māori men of Taranaki will not join the Māori battalion because they have lost too much already. Koko is the oldest man in the village, a legend who has lived through the land wars and imprisonment in Dunedin. They whisper of him as the Last Living Cannibal. Koko dotes on his grandson Blackie, and when Blackie is beaten at school, Koko takes up the fight. But the ghosts of his past are never far away, and when they come calling, they come with muru in mind … Set in Taranaki during the 1940s. Read by Romy Hooper in 6 hours, 58 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144144.

The last love song by Lucinda Riley and Harry Whittaker

Sorcha O’Donovan longs for a life beyond the West Cork coast until she falls for troubled musician Con Daly. When Con finds fame in London with rock band The Fishermen, success soon brings secrets, danger, and heartbreak. Twenty years later, as the band prepares for a major reunion concert, Con has been missing for over a decade—and only Sorcha may hold the key to discovering the truth before tragedy strikes again. NZ Top 50. Adult content advised. Read by Catriona MacLeod in 12 hours. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144114.

The soldier’s daughter by Fiona McIntosh

Violet Nash grows up in the shadow of her father Charlie, a WWI hero haunted by his past. Seeking a fresh start, they move to Tasmania to build a whisky distillery, where Violet discovers a talent for blending spirits. But as WWII unfolds, Charlie is drawn back to Europe and the ghosts of his former life, forcing Violet to confront family secrets and fight for his legacy. NZ Top 50. Adult content advised. The Vineyards of War series, book 2. Has sequel: The champagne war, 144142. Read by Catriona MacLeod in 11 hours, 18 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144231.

The bell and the blade by Paullina Simons

Set in 1944 during WWII, a small Allied team and Belgian resistance fighters unite under Charlotte Fontaine to carry out a dangerous mission in occupied Europe. Hunted by a relentless German officer, the group—each with their own strengths, flaws and loyalties—must rely on trust and courage to survive and succeed as the war closes in around them. Adult content advised. Read by Wendy Karstens in 25 hours, 30 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144152.

Mystery And Detective Stories

The things that matter most by Gabbie Stroud

At St Margaret’s Primary School, overwhelmed staff are struggling to keep things together amid legal trouble, inspection pressures and an outspoken parent. New teacher Tyson, assistant principal Derek, office worker Bev and teacher Sally-Ann are all facing personal and professional challenges. Amid the chaos is student Lionel Merrick, bright, helpful and adored, but hiding a secret that could put him in danger if it goes unnoticed. Read by Kevin Keys in 9 hours, 8 minutes. Published 2023. RNZFB. Book number 143816.

Last one out by Jane Harper

He had been here, that was clear from the marks in the dust. And he had been alone. In a dying town, Ro Crowley waits for her son on the evening of his 21st birthday. But Sam never comes home. His footprints in the dust of three abandoned houses offer the only clue to his final movements. One set in. One set out. Five long years later, Ro returns to Carralon Ridge for the annual memorial of Sam’s disappearance. The skeletal community is now an echo of itself, having fractured under the pressure of the coal mine operating on its outskirts. But Ro still wants answers. Only a few people remain. If the truth is to be found in that town, does it lie among them? NZ Top 50. Read by Janice Finn in 11 hours, 44 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144106.

The widow by John Grisham

Simon Latch is a lawyer in rural Virginia, making just enough to pay his bills while his marriage slowly falls apart. Then, into his office walks Eleanor Barnett, an elderly widow in need of a new will. Apparently, her husband left her a small fortune, and no one knows about it. Once he hooks the richest client of his career, Simon works quietly to keep her wealth under the radar. But soon her story begins to crack. When she is hospitalized after a car accident, Simon realises that nothing is as it seems, and he finds himself on trial for a crime he swears he didn’t commit—murder. NZ Top 50. Read by Simon Prast in 12 hours, 14 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144095.

Gone before goodbye by Harlan Coben and Reese Witherspoon

Highly skilled combat surgeon Maggie McCabe is offered a secretive, high-stakes job treating an elite patient with mysterious needs. Drawn into a world of extreme wealth and strict secrecy, she agrees to provide care, but when the patient disappears, she is forced on the run. Now a fugitive, Maggie must uncover the truth to survive. NZ Top 50. Read by Sara Dakin in 11 hours, 51 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144120.

NZ and Pacific Novels

Good things come and go by Josie Shapiro

After the death of their young daughter, Penny Whittaker and Adam Riggs struggle to rebuild their lives, as Penny’s art stalls and Riggs battles addiction and the end of his skateboarding career. When Penny is offered a gallery exhibition in Auckland, she accepts, and the couple reconnects with old friend Jamie Flannery in the Coromandel. Their reunion brings comfort at first, but long-buried secrets soon resurface, forcing them to confront their past and each other. NZ Listener Top 50 Fiction. Adult content advised. Read by Anne Speir in 10 hours. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144147.

Seed by Elisabeth Easther

Four friends, two pregnancies and the mother of all awkward situations … Hillary and her partner are eager for a baby, their sex life dictated by the automated texts from their fertility agency, MotherWorld. Her best friend Maggie is a single mother living her best life, enjoying a healthy relationship with her ex, and a healthy appetite on the dating apps. With her youngest now at school, Shelley is returning to the office, hoping to prove her value at the gold-star advertising agency she works for. Meanwhile, midwife Virginia has made a career of helping other people have babies, but is suddenly yearning for one of her own. With no partner in sight, she cooks up an unhinged plan. NZ Listener Top 50 Fiction. Adult content advised. Read by the author in 11 hours, 29 minutes. Published 2026. RNZFB. Book number 144343.

How to paint a nude by Sam Mahon

Sam Mahon needs no introduction—Christchurch artist, activist, conservationist, writer, subversive who, using cow dung, sculpted Hon Nick Smith nude and squatting over a glass of water. This beautifully written book which he calls “a fiction”, is set within the real world of Canterbury art in the year of the earthquake, with real Canterbury people. It centres around a Belarus refugee who fled his country to find freedom. Sam and Gregor meet weekly to discuss art’s purpose, and critique Lukashenka from a distance, but there is a pervading enemy in the book which can best be described in the words of architect Peter Beaven, and by the end, Gregor departs, disillusioned. On the longlist for the 2026 Ockham Book Awards for Fiction. Adult content advised. Read by Cheryl Lawton in 6 hours, 48 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144338.

Empathy by Bryan Walpert

Marketing executive Alison Morris bets her reputation on a project to sell empathy in a perfume bottle. Her husband, Jim, is inspired to try a similar thing in a game he’s developing—sinking all their money into EmPath, where people progress by learning to understand one another without direct communication. All at once Alison’s fragrance develops dangerous effects and Jim’s game falters in the market, then the chemist working on the perfume project vanishes. His son, David, seems to be the only one looking for him. A widower with two children, David is a man of routine who just wants to get on with his life, but his love for his father takes him into a murky world where empathy can be bought and sold and can lead to murder. On the longlist for the 2026 Ockham Book Awards for Fiction. Read by Wendy Karstens in 10 hours, 12 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144313.

Before the winter ends by Khadro Mohamed

In the cold Wellington winter, Omar’s grades are slipping, his mum is unwell and his best friend is growing distant. Two decades earlier in Mogadishu, Asha and Yasser are falling in love and starting to build a life together while a burgeoning war threatens to take it away. Before the Winter Ends explores the relationship between mother and son across Aotearoa New Zealand, Somalia and Egypt as they search for understanding and try to bridge the distance between them. Khadro Mohamed’s debut novel is a stark portrayal of how the past illuminates the present and how grief shapes a family. On the longlist for the 2026 Ockham Book Awards for Fiction. Read by Cheryl Lawton in 6 hours, 13 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144337.

Wonderland by Tracy Farr

Set in 1912 Miramar, Wellington, Wonderland follows Dr Matti Loverock and her seven-year-old triplets growing up in a fading amusement park. Their lives are disrupted by the arrival of a mysterious grieving woman, drawing them into hidden tensions at Wonderland. In this alternate history, the story also reimagines Marie Curie finding refuge and discovery in Aotearoa. On the longlist for the 2026 Ockham Book Awards for Fiction. Adult content advised. Read by Catriona MacLeod in 8 hours, 13 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144304.

Amma by Saraid De Silva

Set across Singapore, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and London, Amma follows three generations of a family shaped by migration, secrecy and fractured relationships. From Josephina’s early life in 1950s Singapore to her children’s upheaval in New Zealand and a family reunion decades later in London, the story traces how misunderstanding and circumstance pull them apart and the love that may still bring them back together. Read by Catriona MacLeod in 6 hours, 24 minutes. Published 2024. RNZFB. Book number 144138.

Short Stories and Essays

All her lives: Nine stories by Ingrid Horrocks

All Her Lives by Ingrid Horrocks follows women across different eras whose lives are shaped by love, politics, motherhood and resistance. From early feminist influence to contemporary struggles, their stories explore identity, inheritance and change. Connected through time and experience, the novel reflects on how women endure, transform and redefine themselves across generations. On the longlist for the 2026 Ockham Book Awards for Fiction. Adult content advised. Read by Janice Finn in 8 hours, 19 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144303.

The Family

Hoods Landing by Laura Vincent

At Christmas in rural Auckland, the Gordon family gathers despite their differences and quiet tensions. Rita, the youngest at 50, is preparing to reveal her cancer diagnosis while reflecting on her past and the women around her community. As memories and present moments intertwine, the family confronts love, loss and the complicated bonds that hold them together. 2026 Ockham Book awards, short list for Fiction. Read by Cheryl Lawton in 8 hours, 16 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144237.

Flesh by David Szalay

Fifteen-year-old Istvan grows up isolated in Hungary and becomes entangled in a secret relationship that alters the course of his life. As he moves into adulthood, he rises through the military and into the world of extreme wealth and privilege in London. Driven by ambition, desire and emotional conflict, his success ultimately begins to threaten his sense of control and identity. NZ Top 50. Read by Kevin Keys in 8 hours, 19 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144166.

Thrillers

Autopsy by Patricia Daniels Cornwell

Forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta returns to Virginia as Chief Medical Examiner and is quickly drawn into a series of disturbing cases in a post-pandemic world of unrest. A suspicious death on railroad tracks near her home is followed by mysterious deaths in a secret space laboratory, forcing her into a high-stakes investigation. As a possible serial killer strikes again, Scarpetta faces growing danger closer to home than ever before. Kay Scarpetta series, book 25. Sequel to: Chaos, 134882. Has sequel: Livid, 143991. Read by Catriona MacLeod in 9 hours, 37 minutes. Published 2021. RNZFB. Book number 143967.

Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden

Debbie Mullen, the advice columnist behind Dear Debbie, has built her career helping other women navigate difficult marriages. But as her own life unravels, losing her job, worrying about her daughters, and suspecting her husband’s secrets, she decides to follow her own advice in a far more drastic way. No longer willing to stay calm and reasonable, Debbie turns to payback against those who have wronged her. Read by Sara Dakin in 8 hours, 44 minutes. Published 2026. RNZFB. Book number 144302.

The surrogate mother by Freida McFadden

Abby wants a baby more than anything. But after years of failed infertility treatments and adoptions that have fallen through, it seems like motherhood is not in her future. That is, until her personal assistant Monica makes a generous offer to serve as a surrogate. It’s an offer that will make all of Abby’s dreams come true. But soon, strange things start happening. And it turns out Monica isn’t who she says she is. The woman now carrying Abby’s child has an unspeakable secret. And she will stop at nothing to get what she wants. NZ Top 50. Read by Cheryl Lawton in 7 hours, 25 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 143972.

Nash Falls by David Baldacci

Walter Nash is a mild-mannered businessman whose life is upended when the FBI arrives on the day of his father’s funeral. Thrown into a dangerous world he’s never known, his family and security are shattered. Forced to seek justice and revenge, Nash must reinvent himself to survive and confront the darkness that has taken over his life. NZ Top 50. Adult content advised. Walter Nash series, book 1. Has sequel: Hope rises, in production. Read by Simon Prast in 12 hours, 9 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144145.

EBraille and Braille books

This issue contains EBraille and Physical Braille books in our collection. EBraille books have an EBraille number and Physical Braille books have a BR number. EBraille, can be embossed upon request or supplied in BRF format. If you are unsure, please contact us to enquire as to whether a particular title is available on the shelf or requires embossing. Braille books are contracted, single-spaced and double sided. If you are requesting a title in Braille and want to keep it, you can. Otherwise save yourself space and return it to BLVNZ and we will find a home for it.

Abbreviations:

UEB: Unified English Braille Code

EBraille: Electronic Braille books

BR: Braille

CNIB: (Formerly known as) Canadian National Institute for the Blind

NLS: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled Library of Congress

RNZFB: The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind

Adult non-fiction

Health and Wellbeing

Shining a light on blindness by BLVNZ and Nicholson Consulting

Shining a Light on Blindness is a report commissioned by Blind Low Vision NZ detailing the findings of a population level research project conducted in the Stats NZ integrated Data Infrastructure. The research sought to identify a blind and visually impaired population and describe that populations life outcomes across areas such as life expectancy, employment, income, and education. 2 v. of braille, contracted, single spaced, double sided, UEB. Published 2026. RNZFB. BR5469.

Maori Language and Literature

Māori at work by Scotty Morrison

A quick guide for those looking to learn and use te reo Māori at work. 10 v. of braille, contracted, single spaced, double sided, UEB. Published 2019. RNZFB. BR5470.

Women in Society

Wild girls: how the outdoors shaped the women who challenged a nation by Tiya Miles

This award-winning history explores how girls who found freedom and understanding in the natural world grew into women who reshaped America. Featuring figures such as Harriet Tubman, Louisa May Alcott, and Dolores Huerta, it highlights how outdoor spaces helped women develop resilience, independence and vision. Blending biography and history, the book shows how time in nature became a powerful force for resistance and change. 2 files, contracted, UEB. Published 2023. NLS. EBraille 144399.

Adult Fiction

Historical Novels

Into the wilderness by Sara Donati

December, 1792. Elizabeth Middleton, twenty-nine years old, unmarried and fiercely independent, leaves England for a remote mountain village in the wilderness of New York. She plans to establish a school for all the village children, regardless of their race, a plan that sets her at odds with slave traders, and her own father. Then Elizabeth finds herself fascinated by a white man dressed like a Native American, also known to the Mohawk people as Between-Two-Lives. Wilderness series, book 1. Has sequel: Dawn on a distant shore, 87459. 8 v. of braille, contracted, single spaced, double sided, UEB. Published 1998. NLS. BR5468.

Horror and Supernatural

The shining by Stephen King

Jack Torrance, the new winter caretaker of The Overlook Hotel, sees the hotel as an opportunity, a desperate way back from failure and despair. His wife sees it as a chance to preserve their family. Their five-year-old son Danny is blessed (or cursed) with a shining; a precognitive gift. He senses the evil coiled within the Overlook’s one hundred and ten empty rooms; an evil that is waiting just for them. The Shining series, book 1. Has sequel: Doctor Sleep, not yet in collection. 4 v. of braille, contracted, single spaced, double sided, UEB. Published 1977. NLS. BR5460.

Mystery And Detective Stories

Silks by Dick Francis

London barrister Geoffrey Mason, an amateur steeplechase rider, defends an acquaintance, professional jockey Steve Mitchell, against the charge that he murdered a competitor, Scot Barlow. One of Mason’s former clients muddies up the case with threats. Adult content advised. 3 files, contracted, UEB. Published 2008. NLS. EBraille 143731.

We solve murders by Richard Osman

Retired investigator Steve Wheeler enjoys a quiet life of routines and pub quizzes, while his daughter-in-law Amy works as a high-risk private security officer. When Amy’s assignment on a remote island turns deadly, she calls on Steve for help. Soon the pair are pulled into a global chase involving murder, money and a ruthless killer determined to catch them. NZ Top 50. We Solve Murders series, book 1. 5 files, contracted, UEB. Published 2024. RNZFB. EBraille 143692.

Burn by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

Detective Michael Bennett returns to New York after bringing down a dangerous crime lord and takes charge of a Harlem Outreach Squad. When a strange tip leads to a burned body in a condemned building, he is pulled into a disturbing case with no clear answers. As he investigates, Bennett uncovers a hidden criminal world far more dangerous than it first appears. Bestseller. 3 v. of braille, contracted, single spaced, double sided, UEB. Published 2014. CNIB. BR5454.

Second wind by Dick Francis

British television meteorologist Perry Stuart and a coworker find a sponsor to fund their lifelong dream of flying into the eye of a hurricane. They crash off Trox Island, where they wash ashore and encounter mysterious men in antiradiation suits, who harbour a dread conspiracy. Adult content advised. 2 files, contracted, UEB. Published 1999. NLS. EBraille 143732.

Romance

Funny story by Emily Henry

Daphne’s carefully planned life unravels when her fiancé Peter leaves her for his best friend, Petra, leaving her stranded in Waning Bay, Michigan. Needing a place to stay, she moves in with Miles, Petra’s ex, and the two form an unlikely friendship that slowly challenges everything Daphne thought she wanted. As summer unfolds, she begins to rethink love, belonging and what her future could look like. 5 files, contracted braille, UEB. Published 2024. NLS. EBraille 144267.

Book lovers by Emily Henry

Nora Stephens is a sharp, successful literary agent who doesn’t see herself as anyone’s heroine. When she joins her sister on a trip to Sunshine Falls, she keeps unexpectedly crossing paths with Charlie Lastra, a brooding editor she’s clashed with before. As the two are repeatedly thrown together, they begin to challenge each other’s carefully constructed stories—and reconsider what kind of love story they might actually belong in. 5 files, contracted, UEB. Published 2022. NLS. EBraille 144266.

The Family

We all live here by Jojo Moyes

Lila Kennedy is juggling a broken marriage, chaotic family life and a fading career when her estranged father suddenly returns after thirty-five years. As old wounds resurface, Lila discovers unexpected lessons about love, forgiveness and family. NZ Top 50. 6 files, contracted, UEB. Published 2025. RNZFB. EBraille 143691.

Thrillers

Strangers in time by David Baldacci

Orphaned Charlie Matters survives by stealing and later enlists to fight in WWII, while Molly Wakefield returns to a changed London after evacuation to discover her parents are missing. Their paths cross at a bookshop, where they find refuge with its owner, Ignatius Oliver. Together, they form an unlikely bond, but past secrets soon threaten their fragile sense of safety. NZ Top 50. 6 files, contracted, UEB. Published 2025. RNZFB. EBraille 143688.

Westerns

The quick and the dead by Louis L’Amour

Con Vallian encounters Duncan McKaskel and his family heading west and saves Duncan from outlaws. He soon finds himself guiding Duncan, Duncan’s beautiful wife, Susanna, and their son, Tom, across the prairie, and fighting off rustlers, Huron Indians, and a lion along the way. 2 v. of braille, contracted, single spaced, double sided, UEB or 9 v. of braille, uncontracted, double spaced, single sided, UEB. Published 1973. CNIB. BR5465.

Youth Collection

Adventure Stories

Rescue flight by Anh Do: illustrated by James Hart

Amber is in a race for the rare and endangered Rainbow Parrot. With Agent Ferris on her trail and bounty hunters at every turn, help comes from an unlikely quarter. Who is this mysterious Firefighter? Skydragon series, book 6. Sequel to: Wave breaker, 141600. Has sequel: Firestorm, 142457. Read by Matthew Curtis in 1 hour, 54 minutes. Published 2023. RNZFB. Book number 141601.

The third form at St Clare’s by Pamela Cox

The holidays are over and twins Pat and Isabel O’Sullivan are dying to get back to school. The big question on everybody’s lips is, who will be head girl? But a terrible accident and an hilarious school play show the true leaders in the third form, but they also show up the cheats and cowards. St Clare’s series, book 7. Sequel to: Fifth formers of St Clare’s, 67140. Has sequel: The sixth form at St Clare’s, 142370. Read by Donna Brookbanks and Romy Hooper in 4 hours, 20 minutes. Published 2016. RNZFB. Book number 142369.

Fun and games at Malory Towers by Pamela Cox

The new girl Millicent is at odds with June over school priorities: a music concert or tennis tournament. Both are insignificant when there is a thief on the loose. Malory Towers series, book 10. Sequel to: Winter term at Malory Towers, 142558. Has sequel: Secrets at Malory Towers, 143402. Read by Christine Hewton in 4 hours, 55 minutes. Published 2019. RNZFB. Book number 143401.

Five on a secret trail by Enid Blyton

Camping again! This time the gang of Five have pitched their tent near an old ruined cottage—which looks as though it’s been abandoned for years! When Anne hears strange noises at night—coming from the cottage—the others don’t believe her. Until they see the ghostly lights. All of a sudden camping doesn’t seem like quite such a good idea. Is the cottage really haunted, or is there another, just as sinister, explanation? Famous Five series, book 15. Sequel to: Five have plenty of fun, 134348. Has sequel: Five go to Billycock Hill, 67157. Read by Matthew Curtis in 3 hours, 49 minutes. Published 2019. RNZFB. Book number 134350.

Five on Finniston Farm by Enid Blyton

The Famous Five hunt for the lost dungeons of a ruined castle on Finniston Farm. The friends are determined to find them and whatever they hide, but they are not alone. Can the Famous Five get there first? Famous Five series, book 18. Sequel to: Five get into a fix, 134314. Has sequel: Five go to Demon’s Rocks, 141927. Read by Matthew Curtis in 3 hours, 56 minutes. Published 2019. RNZFB. Book number 134351.

Fantasy

Dreamslinger by Graci Kim

Fourteen-year-old Aria Loveridge is a dreamslinger, able to enter a magical realm in her sleep. Hiding her dangerous powers, she enters the Royal League’s deadly Trials to uncover the truth, but in the enchanted city of Royal Hanguk she discovers friendship, secrets and a past that could change everything. NZ Top 50. Slinger series, book 1. Read by Cheryl Lawton in 8 hours, 12 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 143783.

Silverborn: the mystery of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

When Morrigan Crow enters Nevermoor’s glamorous Silver District, she is swept into a dangerous murder mystery while battling unstable powers, dark secrets and growing threats that could change everything. Nevermoor series, book 4. Sequel to: Hollowpox: The hunt for Morrigan Crow, 136908. Read by Gemma Whelan in 18 hours, 12 minutes. Published 2025. Blackstone. Book number 144002.

Humour

Super weird! by Anh Do

Weir’s back and super weird! Dad’s training to become a firefighter, while Weir’s busy with Pet Day! Will FiDo and Blockhead freeze up or find fame? It won’t be easy … but it will be FUNNY! WeirDo series, book 4. Sequel to: Extra weird!, not yet in collection. Has sequel: Totally weird!, in production. Read by Greg Hughes in 25 minutes. Published 2015. RNZFB. Book number 141295.

Mr Gum and the goblins by Andy Stanton

Mr Gum and Billy William the Third are plotting on Goblin Mountain to unleash a stinking goblin army on Lamonic Bibber. To stop them, Friday O’Leary and Polly must face three impossible challenges. Their mission is to save the town from a very bad fate indeed. Mr Gum series, book 3. Sequel to: Mr Gum and the biscuit billionaire, 128780. Has sequel: Mr Gum and the power crystals, 128774. Read by Matthew Curtis in 1 hour, 37 minutes. Published 2014. RNZFB. Book number 143743.

Diary of a wimpy kid: Partypooper by Jeff Kinney

Greg Heffley’s birthday is full of unexpected surprises, and when his dream of owning a rare trading card is threatened by fierce competition, he’ll have to decide if getting what you wish for is really worth it. NZ Top 50. Diary of a wimpy kid series, book 20. Sequel to: Diary of a wimpy kid: hot mess, 143147. Read by Greg Hughes in 1 hour, 44 minutes. Published 2025. RNZFB. Book number 144113.

Contact Details

Postal Address

Library Blind Low Vision NZ

PO Box 104136

Lincoln Nth Post,

Auckland 0612

Physical Address:

Unit C

197 Universal Drive

Henderson

Auckland 0610

Phone: during working hours: 0800-24-33-33 (Toll free)

Email: library@blindlowvision.org.nz

Fax: 0800-24-33-34 (Toll free)

Library Newsline on the Telephone Information Service (TIS)

Whangarei 929-9099

Wellington 389-3858

Auckland 302-3344

Nelson 929-5033

Hamilton 834-2288

Christchurch 355-8381

Tauranga 929-6199

Timaru 688-6921

Napier-Hastings 835-9136

Oamaru 433-1026

Gisborne 929-1033

Dunedin 455-8833

Palmerston North 354-8316

Balclutha 418-3332

Wanganui 348-4403

Gore 203-3001

New Plymouth 929-3088

Invercargill 218-6470

All other areas: 0800-36-33-44 (Toll free)

Sound and Touch is available in print, Daisy Audio over Alexa, on Bookdrive, Envoy, Email, Braille or on TIS13. To change your format or cancel, please contact the library.

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