Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits of Aotearoa writers, and guests. This week: Dahlia Malaeulu, publisher at the award-winning Mila’s Books, and author of Mataali’i, which is finalist for the BookHub Picture Book Award at the 2025 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.
The book I wish I’d written
Kapaemahu by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson; illustrated by Daniel Sousa. It is stunning, culturally rich and shares a sacred part of Pasifika history with dignity and mana.
Everyone should read
A New Dawn by Emeli Sione for its powerful truth-telling and healing around the Dawn Raids. Also Reconnect: Tokelau Tā Tatau by Jack Kirifi, a rare and moving glimpse into the lost art of Tokelauan tattooing.
The book I want to be buried with
Mase’s Room, Isaia Says and Lagi Spies, the picture books I wrote for my sons and my mum.
The most underrated book
Pasifika Navigators: Pasifika Student Poetry Collection is award-winning (ASLA DANZ Poetry Winner 2025) proof that our tamaiti are powerful storytellers with voices the world needs to hear.
Best food memory from a book
Backyard photoshoot with niu (coconut) in Niue for Hunt for Niu Tupu by Inangaro Vakaafi. Hands down the yummiest book research we have ever done.
Fiction or nonfiction
Love the magic of fiction but I am a nonfiction girly. I live for truth, reflection and real stories that teach and transform.
The book that haunts me
Kū’ē Petitions: A Mau Loa Aku Nō is a powerful reminder of Native Hawaiian resistance and how colonisation echoes across all our Pasifika stories.
The book that made me cry
Dear Uso by Mani Malaeulu, a brave young adult fiction book that powerfully explores family challenges, suicide and mental health among our tama Pasifika. It is raw, honest and deeply needed in the world today.
The book that made me laugh
A forthcoming title, Hiva and Heartbeats by Selina Alesana Alefosio is a hilarious and heartfelt 90s throwback with cousin chaos and diaspora realness. Took me straight back to my Islander youth years growing up here in Aotearoa.
The book character I identify with most
Fetū from Mataali’i. Inspired by loved ones and guided by ancestors, she learns she is more than enough, capable of anything and destined to lead her village.
Best thing about reading
It helps us connect, explore, talanoa and understand. Stories remind us we are not alone and that our cultures, experiences and voices matter.
Best place to read
The Pacific Islands, any and all of them!
What I’m reading right now
I Love My Island by Moemoana Safa’ato’a Schwenke to students at Vakabuli Primary School in Lautoka, Fiji! … It is such a joy seeing our Mila’s Books stories reach tamaiti around the world.
Mataali’i by Dahlia Malaeulu, illustrated by Darci Solia ($28, Mila’s Books) is available to purchase through Unity Books.
