LAUREN KEENAN

World of Words – BOOK CLUB

PERFORMANCES

Lauren Keenan (Te Ātiawa), a self-confessed history nerd, crafts spellbinding historical fiction that bridges generations. Known for her acclaimed middle-grade novels Rimu: The Tree of Time and Amorangi and Millie’s Trip Through Time, a finalist in the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults and winner of the New Zealand Booklovers Award, Keenan is celebrated for bringing history vividly to life. Her debut novel The Space Between transports readers to colonial Taranaki in 1860, a time marked by the New Zealand Wars. Through the intertwined lives of Frances, an English settler battling hardship, and Matāria, a Māori woman shunned for marrying a Pākehā man, Keenan offers a rich tapestry of drama, romance, and cultural tension. With dual perspectives, this evocative tale explores identity, belonging, and the power of resilience against a backdrop of rising conflict.  The Space Between is this year’s World of Words Book Club pick! Grab your copy, get reading, and join the conversation!

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