Better Than Weird by
In this stand-alone sequel to The Mealworm Diaries, Aaron is anxiously waiting for his father to return for the first time since Aaron's mother's death eight years earlier. Aaron works hard with a counselor at school, but he still has problems getting along with and understanding other kids, and he's worried that his dad will think he's weird. As well as having to confront Tufan, the class bully, Aaron must find ways to cope with the fact that his dad now has a pregnant wife and his beloved Gran needs surgery. In the end, his greatest strength is not his intelligence or his sense of humor, but the openness and warmth of his heart.
Crossing to Freedom by
Eleven-year-old Solomon is a fugitive slave on a dangerous journey north to Canada, and to freedom. His young life has seen many losses: his mother was sold in a slave auction when he was a baby; his father escaped from the plantation and hasn't been seen in five years; and now his grandfather, who has been injured during the last leg of their journey to freedom, and is forced to stay behind.Solomon continues with their group leader, but his feelings of loss and isolation haunt him, as he attempts to forge a new home in Canada.
It soon becomes apparent that racial prejudices know no borders, and while Solomon works hard and begins to experience some newfound freedoms, he faces discrimination and segregation and lives with the ongoing fear of being caught by slavecatchers and dragged back to the South.
With all of these barriers facing him, Solomon must find the strength - the same strength that brought him north, the same strength that gives him hope of finding his father - to persevere and understand the true meaning of freedom.
Ghost Messages by
Pursuing the thief who stole her father's treasure, a young Irish girl encounters some strange characters, most of whom are alive, when she stows away on the ship that is laying the first transatlantic telegraph cable in 1865.
Ghosts of the Titanic by
Kevin and his family are enroute to Halifax to check out a house they have mysteriously inherited from a man named Angus Seaton ― mysterious because none of them have any clue who he was or why they would be named in his will.
While at the house, Kevin does his own investigating and discovers some old artifacts hidden behind a wall, including enigmatic photographs dating back to 1911, which show a young woman and her baby.
This puzzling discovery leads to troubling dreams for Kevin ― haunting dreams and a voice that plagues him, a voice he cannot escape. Someone ― somehwere ― needs his help. One night he tries to answer the call, and finds himself in another reality, another time, in a flooded corridor...
... aboard the ship Titanic.
In this ghostly new mystery by award―winning writer Julie Lawson, the terror, anxiety and reality of the sinking of the Titanic comes to life, as a teenage boy tries to right the wrongs of the past... and put some troubled souls to rest.
The Glory Wind by
Winner of the 2011 Ann Conner Brimer Award for Children's Literature Winner of the 2011 Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People 2012 Silver Birch Fiction Award nominee Shortlisted for the 2011 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award Shortlisted for the 2011 Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award A 2012 "Woozles' Battle of the Books" Elementary List Title 2011 Independent Publisher Book Awards, Bronze Medalist A young boy must come to terms with the moral prejudices of his small town in the prairies in the 40's when he befriends the daughter of a young widow who moves in next door. Gracie is unlike anyone Luke has ever met - fun, charming, imaginative and full of life. But when the townsfolk discover that her mother's past is less than completely honourable, they set out to isolate both mother and daughter. This striking new novel from Valerie Sherrard explores themes of friendship, loyalty, hypocrisy, and forgiveness.
The McGuillicuddy Book of Personal Records by
Nominated - Silver Birch Fiction Award, 2012 This is an extraordinary story about a 13-year-old boy named Lee who loves setting personal and odd records. He's obsessed by them in fact - from tracing the annual public marathon with his dog Santiago to bouncing a basketball in the school playground for 12 hours straight with no one around - but he's not interested in going public with them. Along the way Lee collects famous quotes from all manner of famous people whose lives and words have encouraged him - and provided inspiration during trying times. In addition he sees himself as the director of the definitive movie about his life, focusing on the light and dark moments he experiences as he seeks a raison d'etre for his life. Above all, he seeks to escape being ordinary, and when he's confronted with the greatest challenge of his young life - saving his pesky friend from certain death - his strength of character and purpose demonstrate that he is anything but ordinary.
Milo by
Loveable thirteen-year-old geek Milo Cruikshank finds reasons for frustration at every turn, from the annoying habits of his neighbors to his futile efforts to get Summer Goodman to realize his existence. The truth is, ever since Milo's mother died, nothing has gone right. Now instead of the kitchen being full of music, his whole house has been filled with Fog. Nothing's the same. Not his Dad. Not his sister. And definitely not him. Milo achieves a rare and easy balance of poignancy and awkward, natural humor, making it deeply accessible--this is the kind of book that can change lives.
Neil Flambé and the Aztec Abduction by
Fresh off his success in solving the Marco Polo murders, Neil heads to Mexico City to take part in the Azteca Cocina ”a two-week battle of the chefs. With a huge prize for the winner, and the final cook-off held in the Azteca Stadium, Neil will finally be able to prove that he’s more than an oddity; he’s the best chef in the world! But things start to go wrong at the very first battle. Neil’s box of secret ingredients contains more than he bargained for. There’s a note inside, telling him that Isabella has been kidnapped. He must lose in the final, or else she’ll be killed. But Neil can’t afford to lose. He’s already taken out a huge loan to pay for renovations to Chez Flamb , and he’s Neil, after all. The word “lose” isn’t in his vocabulary! As he faces a formidable slew of rivals ”including Pablo Pimento ”he desperately searches for Isabella. The kidnappers are obviously having fun. With every ransom note they send, they include a lock of Isabella’s hair, not realizing how clever their captive really is. Knowing that Neil and his super-nose will be looking for her, Isabella does what she can to help, and rubs her hair in the smelliest thing she can find at each location. Neil can smell garbage, flowers, animals, but this only helps him find out where Isabella has already been ”not where’s she heading next, In order to solve this mystery, Neil will need Larry’s knowledge of Mexican history and Spanish, Sean Nakamura’s portable forensic lab, and Angel Jicama’s mentorship. He’ll have to delve into Aztec history, symbolism, and even into the real ruins that are buried under the modern city. But will he figure it all out in time? Neil Flamb and the Aztec Abductionis a mouth-watering mystery filled with chills, thrills and adventure!
That Boy Red by
It’s the Depression, but Red’s family is managing better thanmost on their Prince Edward Island farm. Hard working andresourceful, they have enough to eat and to help others, evenif at times they are mocked by their neighbours for puttingeducation ahead of farm work. Eleven-year-old Red has plentyof chores around the farm, and the days can be long, but hestill gets the odd break to go swimming or fishing, provided hishomework is done. Red’s older sister, Ellen, teaches at the localschool, and if Red doesn’t shine, she will not only punish him,but also make sure their parents hear about it.
But then Red’s father’s hand is seriously injured and thefamily’s situation looks dire. Red steps up to the challenge,finishing the tobacco boxes that his father makes and helpingshovel out a train stuck in the snow. Stubborn and even pigheaded,Red does make mistakes along the way (such as pretendingto be dead so that his younger sister will stop followinghim), but his heart is always in the right place.
Undergrounders by
"Ever since his mom died, Jonathon has been on his own, living on the streets. The Underground gives him a place to sleep, but it's not like having a real home or being a regular kid. That seems like an impossible dream."
Undergrounders by
"Ever since his mom died, Jonathon has been on his own, living on the streets. The Underground gives him a place to sleep, but it's not like having a real home or being a regular kid. That seems like an impossible dream."