Runnin' With the Devil : A Backstage Pass to the Wild Times, Loud Rock, and the Down and Dirty Truth Behind the Making of Van Halen by Joseph Noel; Layden Monk

$35.00 NZD

Category: Non-fiction: Y.A.

Searching For Charlie: In Pursuit of the Real Charles Upham VC & Bar by Tom Scott

$50.00 NZD

Category: Non-fiction: Y.A. | Reading Level: near fine

Captain Charles Hazlitt Upham is the only combat soldier ever to win the Victoria Cross twice. His acts of bravery in World War II meant he probably deserved six more. The mystery of how a reserved, modest, slightly built farm valuer from New Zealand, could be so ferocious and fearless in battle has int rigued and fascinated Tom Scott ever since he read about Charles Upham as a schoolboy. ‘Searching for Charlie’ is his epic quest to unravel the “real” Charles Upham. ...Show more

Van Halen Rising : How a Southern California Backyard Party Band Saved Heavy Metal by Greg Renoff

$30.00 NZD

Category: Non-fiction: Y.A.

The bestselling, vivid and energetic history of Van Halen's legendary early years featuring 230 original interviews -- including with former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony and power players like Pete Angelus, Marshall Berle, Donn Landee, Ted Templeman, and Neil Zlozower "Fascinating (even for non-VH fans) ... A book almost anthropological in its level of detail." -- Vulture "It's the tale of hardworking kids with nothing in common learning to fuse pop and heavy metal into a new sound that completely changed the music world. It also vividly shows that the personality clashes that would later destroy the band were there from Day One." -- Rolling Stone "A fascinating read." -- Pasadena Star News "The book is fantastic." -- Ted Templeman, Grammy-winning music producer for Van Halen and David Lee Roth "If you've got it bad, got it bad, got it bad for Van Halen, get Van Halen Rising." -- Martha Quinn, original MTV VJ, Sirius XM host After years of playing gigs everywhere from suburban backyards to dive bars, Van Halen -- led by frontman extraordinaire David Lee Roth and guitar virtuoso Eddie Van Halen -- had the songs, the swagger, and the talent to turn the rock world on its ear. The quartet's classic 1978 debut, Van Halen, sold more than a million copies within months of release and rocketed the band to the stratosphere of rock success. On tour, Van Halen's high-energy show wowed audiences and prompted headlining acts like Black Sabbath to concede that they'd been blown off the stage. By the year's end, Van Halen had established themselves as superstars and reinvigorated heavy metal in the process. Combining exhaustive research and original interviews, Van Halen Rising reveals the untold story of how these rock legends made the unlikely journey from Pasadena, California, to the worldwide stage. ...Show more

Here, There and Everywhere

$35.00 NZD

Category: Non-fiction: Y.A.

Geoff Emerick became an assistant engineer at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in 1962 at age fifteen, and was present as a new band called the Beatles recorded their first songs. He later worked with the Beatles as they recorded their singles ?She Loves You? and ?I Want to Hold Your Hand, ? the songs t hat would propel them to international superstardom. In 1964 he would witness the transformation of this young and playful group from Liverpool into professional, polished musicians as they put to tape classic songs such as ?Eight Days A Week? and ?I Feel Fine.? Then, in 1966, at age nineteen, Geoff Emerick became the Beatles? chief engineer, the man responsible for their distinctive sound as they recorded the classic album "Revolver," in which they pioneered innovative recording techniques that changed the course of rock history. Emerick would also engineer the monumental "Sgt. Pepper" and "Abbey Road" albums, considered by many the greatest rock recordings of all time. In "Here, There and Everywhere" he reveals the creative process of the band in the studio, and describes how he achieved the sounds on their most famous songs. Emerick also brings to light the personal dynamics of the band, from the relentless (and increasingly mean-spirited) competition between Lennon and McCartney to the infighting and frustration that eventually brought a bitter end to the greatest rock band the world has ever known. ...Show more

Me, According to the History of Art by Dick Frizzell

$65.00 NZD

Category: Non-fiction: Y.A.

Throughout his long career, New Zealand painter Dick Frizzell has often gone way out on a limb to see where it would take him. From his early Pop art influenced approach to his experiments with landscape and the contested area of appropriation, he's always been brave. Now, he takes on the history of art , starting right back at cave art to discover the key threads of Western art that sit in his DNA as a painter in the 21st century. The approach is essential Frizzell: bring everyone along for the ride. It's a fun romp, but despite the humour, it sits on a bedrock of serious scholarship and reverence for the painters of the past. And there's one thing that makes this book different from any other: all the reproductions of significant paintings, from Rubens and Tintoretto to Cezanne and Lichtenstein, are by Frizzell himself, heroically painted over a twelve-month period. Me, According to the History of Art is the art history education you've been missing. Painting tips included. ...Show more

Everest: The Remarkable Story of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay by Alexandra Stewart

$27.00 NZD

Category: Non-fiction: Y.A.

In the late morning of May 29th 1953, the sun was shining brightly on the roof of the world, a gentle breeze was blowing and two men were there to witness it for the first time ever ... Their names were Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay and the roof of the world was Everest. This is the breathtaking st ory of how two very different yet equally determined men battled frost-biting temperatures, tumbling ice rocks, powerful winds and death-defying ridges to climb the world's highest mountain. Join these two unlikely heroes on the most amazing of adventures and discover the impact of hundreds of men and women that helped Hillary and Tenzing achieve their goal. But triumphs can be marred with tragedy as not everyone who climbs Everest survives ... With a beautiful foreword by the greatest living explorer of our time, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, this brilliant book combines fresh and contemporary illustrations by Joe Todd-Stanton with Alexandra Stewart's captivating writing and publishes in time to celebrate the centenary of Edmund Hillary's birth. This unique narrative tells the story of how Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay made their mark on the world from birth right up to their final days and the impact they've had on Nepal today. ...Show more

The Big Little Book of Resilience by Matthew Johnstone

$25.00 NZD

Category: Non-fiction: Y.A.

Most of us set out quietly hoping for, and secretly expecting, to live a happy, successful and healthy life. But life doesn't always go to plan.The Big Little Book of Resilience is about developing flexibility, acceptance and self-compassion when those plans go awry. In this beautifully illustrated book , Matthew Johnstone guides the reader to an understanding of how resilience plays a key role in wellbeing. He offers an accessible roadmap to developing and maintaining resilience and how it can help you overcome and learn from difficult life events. ...Show more

When I Was Joe (#1) by Keren David

$20.00 NZD

Category: Non-fiction: Y.A. | Series: When I Was Joe

A superb and exciting debut teen novel exploring knife crime and witness protection by an outstanding new author

Antarctic Journeys by Philippa Werry

$28.00 NZD

Category: Non-fiction: Y.A. | Reading Level: very good

Antarctica is a fascinating place - it has no native inhabitants, and it's very remote, which means everyone who goes there - today or in the past - has a special reason for wanting to go. It's a place that children can only imagine, because they cannot go there. This book is about the journeys that ce ntre around Antarctica, using that theme to build up an overall picture of Antarctic history, geography, science and wildlife. The incredibly challenging and at times fatal early expeditions are described and reveal the immense courage and perseverance needed to map and explore the region. Image rich, using photographs, maps and paintings, it also draws on letters, diaries, newspaper and eye-witness reports from the days of early exploration, as well as later research and interviews. Other non-fiction features include biographies, maps, a timeline and glossary. ...Show more

Oh Boy: A Storybook of Epic NZ Men by Stuart Lipshaw

$45.00 NZD

Category: Non-fiction: Y.A.

There are many kinds of hero! OH BOY is a striking collection of true stories about amazing New Zealand men who busted stereotypes and broke through obstacles to follow their passion. Heroes can wear rugby boots or ballet shoes. They can go on adventures, build rockets, or save lives. They can change th e world with a shovel, a microscope or an idea. And YOU can become one of them! Just some of the amazing men whose stories are featured in this book are Billy T James, Bret McKenzie, Bruce McLaren, Edmund Hillary, Ernest Rutherford, Fred Hollows, Jemaine Clement, Jonah Lomu, Kelly Tarlton, Liam Malone, Neil Finn, Peter Jackson, Richie McCaw, Steven Adams, Taika Waititi, Willie Apiata, Witi Ihimaera - and many, many more. Find out all about how they rose to the challenge and overcame obstacles and stereotypes about what men can do! Their stories are accompanied by equally fabulous portraits specially created for the book by ten exceptional New Zealand-based illustrators- Ant Sang, Bob Kerr, Daron Parton, Elliot O'Donnell (aka Askew One), Fraser Williamson, Michel Mulipola, Neil Bond, Patrick McDonald, Toby Morris and Zak Waipara. A companion volume to the number-one bestseller GO GIRL, OH BOY is essential and inspirational reading for New Zealanders of all ages. And that includes you too, grown ups! ...Show more

Emmeline Pankhurst (First Names) by Haydn Kaye

$17.00 NZD

Category: Non-fiction: Y.A.

Emmeline fought a tough battle to win the vote for British women and inspired others around the world to do the samefind out why she hated school, how she had to take lessons in stone throwing, what she thought when her daughter spat at a policemanand an awful lot more besides.

Elon Musk (First Names) by Tracey Turner

$17.00 NZD

Category: Non-fiction: Y.A.

First Names is a series of fun, lively and highly illustrated biographies that introduces some truly amazing individuals who lived incredible lives, to an audience of young readers. And Elon Musk is definitely one to watch - he's a multi-billionaire, mega-brain entrepreneur who's building the world's bi ggest space rocket and some awesome electric cars too. And those are just a couple of Mr Musk's many projects. Find out what drove him to shovel gloop, how parties helped fund his college years and why he wants to move millions of people to Mars. Get to know Elon on first name terms! ...Show more