Book Corner

Who are you? 

Hello! My name is Charlie, I’m a Year 13 student and one of the Pasifika leaders at school.

When you’re not reading, what do you love doing? 

When I’m not reading I’m definitely learning lines for drama. I’m in two extracurricular plays at the moment and I love acting and performing on stage which comes from my very English-based subject background definitely not helped by my love of Shakespeare. If I’m not doing that then I’m probably either watching movies or asleep!

What’s a book you remember reading or having read to you when you were little? Describe why that book is memorable to you.

A book I remember from when I was little was A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. When I was in Year 4 my Dad used to read chapters of it to my sister and me. It allowed us to learn about science and the world from home. It started my love for reading and it showed me the value of reading as it is able to introduce you to different things and is accessible to everyone no matter what you are interested in. Furthermore, it showed me the power of storytelling and how books can bring people together and you are able to share memories through books.

What are some books you’ve enjoyed reading here at school?

I really enjoy English class, especially when you get to read books as part of the curriculum. I remember reading Macbeth when I was in Year 10 and it was my first exposure to Shakespeare. Being able to learn about human nature and the human experience through a play showed me the universality of human emotion. It caused me to go on to read more Shakespeare outside of class and I really enjoy the different stories that he tells that transcend time. This meant that when I did Coriolanus in Year 11, Othello in Year 12, and Hamlet in Year 13, I really enjoyed unpacking the stories and seeing the different societal expectations and codes of conduct across time. 

What do you love about our library?

I love all the different things the library has to offer. The endless amount of books including new releases and books on every subject imaginable. The librarians are also so helpful in helping you find whatever you need and creating resources with information for so many of my subjects.

What are you currently reading?

I am currently reading Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty – it’s a mystery novel about a mother who has disappeared and it delves into family dynamics, trust, alliances, relationships, and the human condition. It has been a really interesting read as I normally don’t read mysteries but decided to change that ever since I went to her Auckland Writers Festival talk last year. 

What’s your favourite book, and why?

My favourite book is The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien. I first read the book when the second movie came out in 2013. The world-building, the stories of adventure, and the complex relationships really engaged me as a reader. It is a book that is filled with magic and truly transported me to Middle Earth while I was reading it. I felt I could relate to Bilbo. He felt like a relatable main character and witnessing his character growth taught me lessons about change. The book was fun, and engaging. It was a representation to me of what literature was. 

Why do you think people should read?

Reading shows us different experiences and transports us to new and exciting places. It has given me a wider worldview and taught me about different cultures and lifestyles different to my own. Reading opens so many doors to different experiences. I think reading is an important part of life and its value in expanding our knowledge about anything is so important to make use of the resources afforded to us in the 21st century. 

Who are you?

Kia Ora I am Ngaawai Simpkins. I am a Year 13 at Rangitoto college. He uri whakaheke no Ngāti Rangiwewehi me Ngāpuhi. 

When you’re not reading, what do you love doing?

When I am not reading I love to do sports like volleyball, netball, rugby, and tag. I also love to do Kapa Haka at school. It is so fun and I get to build new connections with others.

What’s a book you remember reading or having read to you when you were little? Describe why that book is memorable to you. 

A book I remember from when I was little was The Rainbow Fish. I loved to read this book because of the shiny and bright scales and the message it told us.

What are some books you’ve enjoyed reading here at school? (either here or at a previous school)

I enjoyed reading The Outsiders in Year 10 because of the connection the characters had with one another. Though Minster Pip was a sad story I enjoyed it because it gave me a different perspective on the struggles of war and pain. I read this in my Year 12 creative English class.

What do you love about our library?

Our library has a really good environment where people can come together to do something that they love (reading). 

What’s a book you can recommend to others, and why? 

I recommend the Tom Gates book series to younger kids. The Tom Gates series was my favourite to read. I was given my first one Everything is Amazing in class as a prize and I loved it and started reading the series. 

What’s your favourite book, and why?

I love to read Māori short stories. I have read some about the Te Arawa region which is where I am from and enjoyed reading about the history behind places in that area. 

Why do you think people should read?

Reading helps you to gain more knowledge and explore your imagination. When I read it feels like I am in that moment. 

What book are you reading at the moment?

I am currently reading the book Where No Birds Sing. It’s full of short stories about paranormal activity.

Who are you? 

My name is Kate Gale and I have been a teacher at Rangitoto College for more years than any student in 2024 has been alive (plus a few more). I am a Social Scientist and spent many years teaching Geography, JSS, Tourism, and Sociology over in B Block but now live over in Careers where I am the Gateway teacher, helping Year 12 students who are thinking about moving into the world of work and I have been a member of the Dean Team for the past 10 years – a role which I love. 

When you’re not reading, what do you love doing?

A lot of my spare time is spent down at the beach, walking my dog, Indie – she is one of my most favourite things in the world (obviously along with my family – just in case they read this).  In the summer, I love to get out on the water and attempt to fish. I also love to cook and bake and enjoy spending time with family and friends.

What was on the family bookshelf growing up?

Growing up, my home was filled with books as mum was and still is an avid reader. My love of reading started from an early age; I was desperate to learn to read “all by myself” and was able to read independently before starting school. I have strong memories of bedtime stories where almost asleep, I would know if mum or dad tried to skip a page as I had memorised all of the words from my favourite stories. Visits to the local library were always exciting as myself and my sister would run and grab books to look through cuddled up on the beanbags in the kid’s section whilst mum spent ages choosing books to read. There was a limit to how many books you could take out at a time, so we always chose carefully. I would read anything but as I got a little bit older I particularly enjoyed tales of adventure and mystery and loved authors such as Lewis Carroll, Roald Dahl, and Enid Blyton and especially enjoyed the Malory Towers and Trebizon series which were based on boarding school adventures.

Do you remember reading/loving any books at school?

I had an amazing teacher at primary school called Mr Champion. He was so passionate and enthusiastic in the classroom and brought books alive as we read them together. I can remember him stomping around the classroom as the Bloodbottler and the Fleshlumpeater as he told us the story of the BFG. At secondary school, I remember we read Little Women and I loved Jo, the tomboy’s character as she was so bold and daring. I also remember reading The Diary of Anne Frank and finding it hard to get my head around the fact that this young girl, (of a similar age to me when I first read it) went through what she did during the war. 

What are you currently reading? 

I normally only read one book at a time, as I like to fully immerse myself in one story before moving into another one, but currently have three books on the go. I have nearly finished Robert Galbraith (J K Rowling’s pen name) The Running Grave, the latest in the Cormoran Strike series. Lone Wolf the latest adventure of Evan Smoak – Orphan X by Gregg Hurwitz, and The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman which is the fourth of the Thursday Murder Club books. 

What do you always recommend? 

When it comes to reading, read the book before you watch the movie. Letting the characters of books come alive in your imagination is just magical. And for those students who tell me they don’t like to read, I tell them that they just haven’t found the right book yet! Our amazing librarians will definitely be able to find a book for everyone to enjoy. They just need to find the right match. Also, spend as much time (preferably more) with your head in a book as you do with a phone in your hand. Put the phone down before bedtime and pick up a book to read every night.

What’s your favourite book? 

I am never any good at deciding on a favourite anything when I am asked, so this is a really hard question for me to answer. A favourite book is so difficult to choose as different books have been important to me at different times in my life. I absolutely loved reading the Anne of Green Gables book set. It was set back in the late 1800s and the orphan Anne grows up throughout the books and shows us that you can learn from your mistakes and become a really good person. As a teenager, I really enjoyed the Maeve Binchy books, set in Ireland. Light a Penny Candle is all about the importance of friendship and how it can help you get through difficult times. As an adult, I fell in love with the books by Rohinton Mistry, in particular, A Fine Balance which is set in India and revolves around friendship and the quest for hope and dignity in challenging circumstances. And finally, The Island by Victoria Hislop. This book centres around an island off Crete which was a leper colony in the early 20th century. It is all about love, resilience, and the human capacity for compassion and understanding. It’s about the power of community and secrets and forgiveness and acceptance – a truly beautiful book that made me laugh and cry.

What are some mottos you live by?

“Try to be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud” – Maya Angelou. It really is quite simple to make a positive difference to someone else with a few kind words, or taking the time to really listen. 

“Do the right thing even when no one is watching.”  This is all about having integrity and having good morals, even if there was no chance you would get caught. It is about being able to look at yourself in the mirror and not regret the choices you made.

“Manners cost nothing but mean everything.” This was instilled into me from an early age. Never underestimate the power of the words “please” and “thank you”. Good manners show we respect others and are considerate of their feelings.

Who are you?

Angela Derbyshire: English teacher, Year 11 Dean and mother of three daughters. I have been at Rangitoto College for two years as I was previously at Pinehurst School for about 11 years. Prior to that I was teaching at Long Bay for a year or so, and prior to that in England for several years. I first started teaching at Western Heights High School in Rotorua.

What’s your claim to fame?

I spend at least 40 hours a week as a volunteer firefighter up at the Silverdale Fire Station. This keeps me busy during nights and weekends, so I can get pretty tired at times. Although it can often be stressful and tiring, I get a lot of satisfaction from helping people who are generally suffering a traumatic experience. Not really a claim to fame, but something a little different to most people.

When you’re not reading, what do you love doing?

My husband and I spend a lot of time tramping throughout New Zealand. We only have a couple of the Great Walks left, but we actually prefer doing back country tramps, more remote tramps as there are less people. My favourite tramp has been the Hollyford – which is down between Te Anau and Milford: that was so beautiful. The hardest has been the Dusky Track, in the very remote Fiordland area:  that was really really hard.

What do you love about our library/working at Rangitoto College?

The staff are great – it’s a wonderful collegial environment to work in. I love the fact that there is something for everyone here – it doesn’t matter what your interests are, there are so many activities, clubs and sports to get involved in. It has so many opportunities for both staff and students.

What was on the family bookshelf growing up?

I have always been an avid reader and my bookshelf was always brimming over and filling my room. I had the whole series of The Famous Five and Secret Seven from Enid Blyton, as well as the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books as I loved the mysteries they all solved. I also evented horses through my teenage years, so there was lots of riding, show jumping, animal care, and veterinary books scattered throughout the house.

What are some mottos you live by?

Always try your best, and be honest with yourself and others. 

What do you always recommend?

There are some favourite books that I recommend to students depending on their age and ability. All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doer is such a beautifully written story. I also really like Hitler’s Canary by Sandi Toksvig and often recommend that to students too. 

What’s your favourite book?

My all-time favourite book however,  is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. The first 50 pages or so are a little confusing, but once you work out what’s happening, it’s such a brilliant story with interesting and engaging characters. I love the book so much that I haven’t been able to make myself watch the film version and to be honest, I’m not sure that I ever will.

What advice do you have for teenagers today?

Navigating the teenage years can be incredibly challenging. It’s a time filled with numerous difficulties, and you often have to confront them without prior experience or coping mechanisms. The first time you encounter a significant setback—whether it’s failing a test, experiencing heartbreak, missing out on a job, or not making the sports team you desperately wanted—can feel particularly overwhelming. In these moments, you have little to no defenses and may not know how to manage your emotions.

People often offer reassurances like, “You’ll be fine” or “It’ll be okay,” but in the moment, the pain and confusion can be intense. However, as time passes, you gain perspective and start to see these challenges as mere blips in the grand scheme of life. You begin to understand that such experiences are universal; everyone faces them at some point.

Overcoming these early obstacles helps build resilience. Each setback becomes a lesson in perseverance and a stepping stone toward personal growth. It’s important to remember that these struggles contribute to your development and that you are not alone in facing them.

Use the support network you have around you: friends, family, teachers, deans. You are not alone.

Who are you?   

I am Ryan Borthwick, and have been teaching in the Health and Physical Education department since 2020. I am a year 11 Dean and have been working with these young people since they started here in 2022.

What’s your claim to fame?

I have been a rugby referee since 2015 and have been fortunate enough to be part of numerous Premier Finals and have even made the odd appearance on TV.

When you’re not reading, what do you love doing? 

I am a huge sports fan. Watching sports is my number one thing to do! Unfortunately, my body has let me down and I only play golf now. Outside of Sport I have an awesome dog who takes up a lot of my time with play time and walks.

What do you love about our library/working at Rangitoto College?  

The school has provided me with awesome opportunities in teaching and it does the same for our kids. Given the size of our school there is always something out there for everyone.

What were you doing before this role? 

Before coming to Rangitoto College, I taught for 5 years at Manurewa High School and worked for the University of Auckland.

What was on the family bookshelf growing up? 

Unashambly, I had a lot of Goosebumps and Harry Potter books growing up!

What are you currently reading? 

A book I have recently finished that has changed my perception of life is Bou Meng written by Huy Vannak. It is the story of a survivor from the Khmer Rouge prison S-21. It is a harrowing story that serves as a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit even after Bou Meng had suffered atrocities that were committed during the time. This story truly puts life in perspective. It will urge you to confront what is right and wrong and learn from those mistakes. It has taught me to roll with adversity and find solutions instead of complaining! My reason for choosing this book is that my partner is Cambodian, so I wanted to understand the history of her people.

Where do you seek inspiration?

I am very goal driven. My inspiration comes from finding my purpose in what and WHY I do something.

What do you always recommend? 

Switching off from devices and enjoying the outdoors. You have to appreciate this beautiful place we call home!

Describe your perfect Saturday/Sunday?

This is simple, time spent outdoors! Whether it’s walks with my partner and dog or walking around the golf course.

Who would your ideal lunch companion(s) be, dead or alive? 

Whānau 🙂

What advice do you have for teenagers today?

Take the time to appreciate what you have now as you never know when it’ll be taken away.