When We Wake by Karen Healey

Sixteen-year-old Tegan is just like every other girl living in 2027—she's happiest when playing the guitar, she's falling in love for the first time, and she's joining her friends to protest the wrongs of the world: environmental collapse, social discrimination, and political injustice.

But on what should have been the best day of Tegan's life, she dies—and wakes up a hundred years later, locked in a government facility with no idea what happened.

The future isn't all she had hoped it would be, and when appalling secrets come to light, Tegan must make a choice: Does she keep her head down and survive, or fight for a better world?

Award-winning author Karen Healey has created a haunting, cautionary tale of an inspiring protagonist living in a not-so-distant future that could easily be our own.

This novel is a finalist in the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2014.  It’s a fast paced, gripping story.  I liked the view into a possible future e.g. where climate change is a reality and political and technological implications of this are portrayed.  Tegan is a strong character and it’s fascinating to see how she copes with the emotional and cultural shock of being thrust 100 years into the future as well as facing the challenge of the ‘appalling secrets that come to light’. 

Reviewed by Carolyn

'I Am' by Gem

Gem's poem reveals yet another take on 'I Am' and is beautifully worded.

I am an organic clock.

My machinery melts with the solemn, slumbering gaze

Of some fiery presence in the cold and futile

Wasteland of one freckled and flawed universe.

Making sounds eclipsed by the pining silence of

Nothing.

Shining, in the telescope vision

Of that uncertainty,

Of our creator.

Ticking, in a well-established

And worn out phase of

Clinching and clasping

Rusted and golden components

Which will one day,

Stop.

Teen Writing Competition

Are you planning to enter the Teen Writing Competition run by the Kapiti Children's Writers' Group? If so, your entry must be received by 5:30 pm on Wednesday 18 June. Entry forms are available from the teen section of Paraparaumu Library (see the teen notice board).  Use the theme of "I Can Do It' to write a short story of no more than 500 words. See full rules and conditions on the entry form. Your entry must be mailed or hand delivered to the secretary of the writers' group (address on the entry form). 

The winners of the competition will be announced at the next Wrappers meeting on July 4th and winning stories will be published here on the Wrap as well as read on local radio. 

'I Am' by Peter

Peter's 'I am' poem made us laugh. It's wonderfully lighthearted and squiggly!

I am an octopus, under the waves,
Squiggling everywhere for no reason,
and eating things
without a care in the world
because I am orange.

Sometimes other octopi come
and squiggle in my place.
If they are small, I eat them
and if they are big, I run 
and squiggle in a new place.

Maybe, someday, I will squiggle near you,
or maybe not.
I don't know,
I just squiggle
because I can. 

'I Am' Poetry

This month's Wrappers get together had a poetry focus. We read poetry, listened to poetry and wrote poetry. Everyone wrote a poem with one thing in common - the words 'I am'. Within five minutes a wonderful variety of poems were written and some are being shared on The Wrap. Here is Grace's 'I Am' poem:

I am here, am I not?

I was there, was I not?

I exist where I am, 

when I am,

and nothing can change that.

I am this, am I not?

I was that, was I not?

I am what I am,

as I am, 

and nothing you can do can change that.

I am me, am I not?

I was me, was I not?

I am me,

just me,

and that's all there is to it.  

The Fault in our Stars

Starts tomorrow at the movies!

Wrappers Meeting

The next get together of the WRAPPERS is this Friday, 6th June, from 5:30 - 7 pm. If you are a teen who likes to read and meet other teens join us at Paraparaumu Library on Friday.