A truly breathtaking collection of short stories, Pātea Boys by Airana Ngawera is an incredible glimpse into small-town Aotearoa New Zealand, sharing the essence of being an average kid in profound and heart-warming stories you can’t help but love. There is no dull moment, and the characters will keep you entertained from cover to cover.

From the bestselling author of The Bone Tree comes a lively and playful bilingual collection of stories about growing up in Pātea. Interlinked and full of recurring characters, these stories are about growing up in small-town Aotearoa – sneaking away during cross country or doing bombs while the lifeguard isn’t looking. The collection is designed to bridge a gap between children’s books in te reo and full-length literary works. With each story featured in both English and te reo Māori, it’s the perfect resource for those on their reo learning journeys as well as for readers who enjoyed The Bone Tree.

The first thing I need to note about Pātea Boys is the bilingual aspect of this book. Pātea Boys is incredible on its own, but the fact you can flip the book over and get Ngati Pātea is beyond awesome. The ability to read the English and Te Reo Māori versions make this a fantastic resource for everyone, but for Kiwi children especially. The chance to not only see representation of Māori characters in a positive light but to then get to read stories in te reo is so validating. As far as resources for language learning and New Zealand fiction, Pātea Boys and Ngati Pātea is a gem of a book.

On that note, the authenticity of kiwi voices and experiences is so pleasing to see. I love reading a lot of different books and perspectives, but seeing a slice of home will always give me a warm feeling of happiness and make me feel like we are represented in the world. The references to the Patea Maori Club hit Poi E are both hilarious and bittersweet, bringing a sense of nostalgia to the stories. The characters are so vivid and the narrative style so kiwi you cannot help but smile as you read the book.

Airana Ngawera is a powerhouse writer and to think this is only his second published work leaves me eagerly anticipating his next release. I highly encourage all New Zealanders to pick this up for a healthy dose of laidback New Zealand fiction, and for international readers wanting to get a sense of life in rural New Zealand this is the book for you. It isn’t showcasing all of it, of course, as New Zealand is a diverse nation and each town and city differs from the rest, but it gives you a glimpse of our world. Ka pai Airana Ngawera!