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My New Zealand Story
Mission Girl: Paihia, c.1840
I choose to start my story at a distant time. A time before I knew it was possible to take the words from my mouth and draw them in marks on paper. My story begins on the day when my world changed forever. I was very young, but the memory of that day is as enduring as greenstone. I write it now so that when my mouth can no longer utter the words, the paper will keep them for my children's children ... With these words Atapo begins her story that leads from her capture and slavery as a young child through to her escape to the Mission House in the Bay of Islands as a 14-year-old. Here she learns the new ways and language that means she is present at the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Although born into an important family, Atapo's capture and slavery has meant she has lost her standing in her tribe, however, she hopes that the new skills she has acquired will mean she can return home with her head held high. Previously published as A New Song in the Land (My Story series).
201 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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About the author
Fleur Beale
47 books149 followersFleur Beale is the author of many award-winning books for children and young adults, best known for her novel I am not Esther which has been published worldwide.
Beale was one of six children of a dairy farmer Cedric Corney and of a teacher and author Estelle Corney (née Cook). She was born in Inglewood, Taranaki, New Zealand, on the farm where her father was born. Beale grew up in the town before attending Victoria University, Wellington and Christchurch Teachers' Training College, where she met her husband. Since 1985 she has taught at Melville High School in Hamilton, Waikato and in Wellington. Beale's first stories were written for the children's radio programme Grandpa's Place. Her first book was a small reader and picture book for young children and she started to write for teenagers in 1993. Her stories often involve troubled adolescents engaged in outdoor activities.
Beale was a finalist in the Aim Children's Book Awards (junior fiction) and her 1998 novel I am not Esther was shortlisted for the senior fiction section of the 1999 New Zealand Post Children's Awards. In 1999 she was awarded the Children's Writing Fellowship at Dunedin College of Education and quit teaching to write full time. Her 2001 novel Ambushed was a finalist for the Junior Fiction section of the 2002 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards. Her 2004 account of how an indigenous girl discovers how her education can save her tribal lands (My Story A New Song in the Land. The Writings of Atapo, Pahia, c.1840) received a Notable Book award in 2005 as did Walking Lightly.
Beale was one of six children of a dairy farmer Cedric Corney and of a teacher and author Estelle Corney (née Cook). She was born in Inglewood, Taranaki, New Zealand, on the farm where her father was born. Beale grew up in the town before attending Victoria University, Wellington and Christchurch Teachers' Training College, where she met her husband. Since 1985 she has taught at Melville High School in Hamilton, Waikato and in Wellington. Beale's first stories were written for the children's radio programme Grandpa's Place. Her first book was a small reader and picture book for young children and she started to write for teenagers in 1993. Her stories often involve troubled adolescents engaged in outdoor activities.
Beale was a finalist in the Aim Children's Book Awards (junior fiction) and her 1998 novel I am not Esther was shortlisted for the senior fiction section of the 1999 New Zealand Post Children's Awards. In 1999 she was awarded the Children's Writing Fellowship at Dunedin College of Education and quit teaching to write full time. Her 2001 novel Ambushed was a finalist for the Junior Fiction section of the 2002 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards. Her 2004 account of how an indigenous girl discovers how her education can save her tribal lands (My Story A New Song in the Land. The Writings of Atapo, Pahia, c.1840) received a Notable Book award in 2005 as did Walking Lightly.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 7, 2020
First published in 2004 in the 'My New Zealand Story' series, this reprint of Mission Girl is timely. As New Zealand teachers are tasked with teaching more New Zealand history, so books like this one aimed at senior primary and intermediate age children will become increasingly important.
As Buddy Mikaere said in his September 2003 Foreword: “Fleur Beale has the interests of this land and its people at heart and for that reason, Atapo's story is, indeed, our story.”
Whereas most books in this series are written in diary form and thus are able to recount the thoughts actions and emotions of the narrator, in this case Atapo is initially unable to read or write so she tells her story once she has mastered these skills. Thus the reader learns that Maori had no written language.
Atapo is a young girl at a very important time in New Zealand's history, 1839-40. Her life is affected by tribal warfare and the resulting slavery. However she is encouraged to escape and travels to the Mission Station where she learns Pakeha ways, learns about the Bible and medicine and household routines and skills.
Her interest in and aptitude for the English language cause her to stand out. The missionary and his wife make a real effort to assist Atapo in her endeavours. They also help her return to her people when she feels ready to reclaim her rightful position as a leader of her people, strengthened by her understanding of the white man's ways.
In the months she lives at the mission station Atapo comes to understand the roles of the missionaries, the traders and those white men who desire land, by fair means or foul. She follows the arguments for and against the need for a treaty between the two peoples, and her diary entries in early 1840 are particularly significant – she returns home with much to teach her iwi.
Reviewed by Chris Wright for Bookrapt.
As Buddy Mikaere said in his September 2003 Foreword: “Fleur Beale has the interests of this land and its people at heart and for that reason, Atapo's story is, indeed, our story.”
Whereas most books in this series are written in diary form and thus are able to recount the thoughts actions and emotions of the narrator, in this case Atapo is initially unable to read or write so she tells her story once she has mastered these skills. Thus the reader learns that Maori had no written language.
Atapo is a young girl at a very important time in New Zealand's history, 1839-40. Her life is affected by tribal warfare and the resulting slavery. However she is encouraged to escape and travels to the Mission Station where she learns Pakeha ways, learns about the Bible and medicine and household routines and skills.
Her interest in and aptitude for the English language cause her to stand out. The missionary and his wife make a real effort to assist Atapo in her endeavours. They also help her return to her people when she feels ready to reclaim her rightful position as a leader of her people, strengthened by her understanding of the white man's ways.
In the months she lives at the mission station Atapo comes to understand the roles of the missionaries, the traders and those white men who desire land, by fair means or foul. She follows the arguments for and against the need for a treaty between the two peoples, and her diary entries in early 1840 are particularly significant – she returns home with much to teach her iwi.
Reviewed by Chris Wright for Bookrapt.
March 7, 2020
review to follow
July 12, 2020
Another good book in this series of historical moments in New Zealand's history.
Left me thinking I need to read more.
Left me thinking I need to read more.
March 29, 2016
I decided to read the book because I really like Fleur Beale writing style and the 'My Story' series.
An interesting quote from the text was 'There are rough waters ahead of you, my child. The way is dark and perilous. You will need all the strength of your ancestors. "The rough waters have passed" I told her sprit. "Now the way is clear and calm." This quote appeals to me because it shows the hardship that the main character, Atapo has gone though after she ran away from her tribe. It also appealed to me as it relates to real life as everyone has tough moments in their life that they get over and conquer.
I really liked the book as it makes us think about the hardship that the Māori and the English faced with each other and the difference in their lives. It also shows how the Māori treated other tribes. The book itself had a good story structure and Fleur Beale did a really good job with writing in the eyes of a teenager.
Something that the book made me think deeply about is that how quickly things can change in life and how we have to accept it as is. It also shows that with all the rough times you have in your life, things will always get better, as it did for Atapo.
An interesting quote from the text was 'There are rough waters ahead of you, my child. The way is dark and perilous. You will need all the strength of your ancestors. "The rough waters have passed" I told her sprit. "Now the way is clear and calm." This quote appeals to me because it shows the hardship that the main character, Atapo has gone though after she ran away from her tribe. It also appealed to me as it relates to real life as everyone has tough moments in their life that they get over and conquer.
I really liked the book as it makes us think about the hardship that the Māori and the English faced with each other and the difference in their lives. It also shows how the Māori treated other tribes. The book itself had a good story structure and Fleur Beale did a really good job with writing in the eyes of a teenager.
Something that the book made me think deeply about is that how quickly things can change in life and how we have to accept it as is. It also shows that with all the rough times you have in your life, things will always get better, as it did for Atapo.
May 21, 2016
Actually 3.5 stars. I actually quite enjoyed this book. Glad I underestimated it so I actually liked it as stuff came around haha. Also the fact it's set in New Zealand, which is my country, so I know the places. It's such a surprise to have a book about my country, which no one really knows about or recognises. And the fact that it was about the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi was really cool, set back in 1840. Cool to read about the history of my country. I found it amusing how Just shows how different the two cultures were. Quite glad I read the book.
Read
November 12, 2012This entire series is a wonderful way to learn history or teach it to adolescents. I find today's generations seem to recall more when they learn through other people (pop songs, celebrity gossip, etc.), so what better way to teach history than through someone else's perspective? Yes, "authentic" diaries would be "better", but would the language really hold the modern student's attention? Did the diary writer know what WOULD be important in the context of history? Probably not.
October 22, 2012
I read this book when I was about eight years old, so my mind is a bit hazy about it. All I remember is that I loved this series of books based in different periods in New Zealand's history. They were really great at teaching kids about important events that helped shaped our country. This wasn't the best one I read, but I do remember being the most attracted to it because it was based in my area. Awesome series for kids.
July 20, 2015
it was terrible do not read this it is the worst in the world and i think the author needs to get a life
December 10, 2018
Nice YA historical from Fleur Beale. Interesting to New Zealanders and a disturbing read for YAs who think the past is all sweetness and light.
January 3, 2020
A historical fiction based in New Zealand (c. 1840) written as a diary of a young Maori girl. It captures the tone of that young girl coming into adulthood and the confusion between cultural norms quite well. I liked that it came across as not only historically authentic but also that it felt like I was reading an actual diary that dealt with the kind of daily things like fashion that would have would have proven of interest to her as an individual but don’t necessarily always move the plot along. It is very quick paced as the entries do not tend to be any longer than 2 pages. The book also includes recommended reading for those who want to know more about that time period in New Zealand.
March 21, 2020
This addition to the My New Zealand story is a good one for young readers. The protagonist is credible and Buddy Mikaere supports Fleur Beale's interpretation of Maori life and hopes around 1840. I wish this series had been around when I was young. It's great to see our history coming through in novels.
June 21, 2023
This book is amazing! It is emotional and has a good ending, before I read this book I had only heard about Maori living peacefully in NZ, I now know that was false this book is about how the Treaty Of Waitangi was formed and European countries invading NZ, Only trading their land for melee weapons
like guns and axes.
like guns and axes.
May 7, 2020
This was really good. It was very interesting to learn about what life might have been like back in the 1840s. Really enjoyed it.
August 18, 2021
Interesting Maori fiction with a mix of real events.
May 29, 2023
Great! Mission Girl is a historical fiction of New Zealand under a teenage Maori girl's perspective. When Atapō's tribe is defeated in a battle, she was captured and took as a slave. She later took refuge at a missionary station, she learned the ways of the Pākehā and Jesus. Atapō then discovers how education could save her tribe. When she learned enough, she went back to her ancestral land and saved them from getting tricked.
June 22, 2023
Mission Girl
This is an amazing book that really inspires me beacause Atapō leaves everyone and everything she knows to go to a forgein place with absolutely no idea what it will be like.
A quote that really talks to me is 'even though you are a prisoner, a slave you are the descandent of chiefs. Never forget it.' I chose to display this quote beacause although she is bound in the chains of a prisoner and being ripped of all regaliar she shows strength and power through those chains.
I would reccomend this for 9+ not because
This is an amazing book that really inspires me beacause Atapō leaves everyone and everything she knows to go to a forgein place with absolutely no idea what it will be like.
A quote that really talks to me is 'even though you are a prisoner, a slave you are the descandent of chiefs. Never forget it.' I chose to display this quote beacause although she is bound in the chains of a prisoner and being ripped of all regaliar she shows strength and power through those chains.
I would reccomend this for 9+ not because
June 28, 2023
She was a pick me.
April 22, 2020
...bit of a biased view. would have been nice to have a more balanced perception of how the europeans exploited the maori. treaty of waitangi was a pretty misleading document.
April 2, 2012
It is a good book. Does tend to get a tiny bit boring at times.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews