The Reckoning – Opinion Pieces

The Reckoning: We Know Where the Wild Things Are

How many children’s books have you read that tell stories of family violence and abuse? Today author, speaker and survivor of family violence, Tim Tipene, argues for more books that show the reality of life for far too many children…

Gender (im)balance in NZ children’s books

Elizabeth Heritage investigates representations of gender in New Zealand children’s book publishing by looking at the 2017 bestsellers and talking to local publishers. Are we doing the best by all genders, and why does it matter? The Observer recently commissioned…

The Reckoning: Disturbing Reading

Should children be exposed to books about slavery, racism and violence? Today Sisilia Eteuati, an Auckland writer, lawyer and mother, gives us her very good reasons for putting serious subject matter on her children’s bookshelves. On the eve of my…

The Reckoning: Wonderful Choices

Author, publisher, and full-time feminist Deb Potter on how books can open up wonderful choices for young people – or not. I have more than one t-shirt with the word feminist on it. Reading the word, people in lifts, supermarkets…

The Reckoning: Superstar needed, apply within

How do we raise the profile of New Zealand Children’s books? Donovan Bixley has been asking around, and he has an answer… of sorts. Whenever I’m at a children’s book event the question arises: how do we raise the profile…

The Reckoning: Appropriation vs Authenticity

When is it okay for creative people to draw on cultural traditions they’re not part of? Illustrator, writer and teacher Zak Waipara has some thoughts about cultural appropriation. When Neil Gaiman wrote in Stardust, ‘Without our stories we are incomplete,’…

The Reckoning: Shelving Creative Non-fiction

Non-fiction writer Maria Gill ponders the nature of a creative non-fiction story for children and how creative non-fiction stories are categorised. Toroa’s Journey, by Maria Gill and Gavin Mouldey, is released this week by Potton & Burton. Abel Tasman: Mapping…

The Reckoning: What the heck is Maori Literature?

In the fourth of our features in celebration of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, award-winning writer Steph Matuku battles clichés, stereotypes, and the voice of the internal critic, as she wonders if her work is ‘Māori enough.’ I’m a…

The Reckoning: Cross-cultural reading

In the current Anglo-Saxon book market, there is much that is the same. If one book is successful, there’s a flurry to find another one just like it. Sameness can make us all feel safe, but Julia Marshall from Gecko…

The Reckoning: To write… or to teach?

Novelist Anna Mackenzie reveals a few truths about teaching, teens and the failings of the school curriculum, and explains why teaching creative writing is so important to her. According to perceived wisdom, achievement at the highest level requires absolute focus…