Between Shadows by
It's bittersweet: Ari's beloved grandfather has died, but he's left Ari an amazing gift - the inheritance of his log cabin and all the land he owned. Tucked into a small lakeside community, the cabin and its land are unusual, full of secrets to discover...and very, very marketable.With the family's money troubles, the only sensible option from his dad and aunt's point of view is to sell it at a prime price to a luxury hotel developer.As the grown-ups proceed with the paperwork, Ari sets about discovering everything his new property has to offer. Hidden beaches, forest trails, locked doors - and even an extraordinary (and exasperating) new friend who introduces him to a world into which he sees himself just...fitting. Not only is it the perfect place to live, it's a connectionwith his grandfather that is too precious to lose.But the deadline to sign away the property is approaching. How can Ari speak up for his hopes, for his grandfather, and for the land itself?
The Incredible Space Raiders from Space! by
Lord of the Flies meets Star Trek in this outer space story of adventure, mystery, and fantastical fun from the author of The Vindico and The Feros. When Jonah wakes up on the Fantastic Flying Squirrel, he's a bit confused. One second he is in his family's living room doing his homework, and the next he's sitting on a very cold floor on a very cold ship with a very strange-looking girl staring at him. Her name is Willona the Awesome, and she's here to welcome him to The Incredible Space Raiders. Now that Jonah is on board, the Incredible Space Raiders can set off on an important mission: to venture into the Dark Zone and save the universe from the Entirely Evil Things. But when Space Raiders start to disappear, Jonah realizes that if he's going to make it to the Dark Zone alive, he's going to have to step up and figure out what's going on. Join the Space Raiders aboard the Fantastic Flying Squirrel for an unforgettable journey where imagination and truth collide somewhere deep in space!
Jacob's Landing by
Coping with the recent death of his father, twelve-year-old Jacob Mosher is sent to spend the summer with his aging, estranged (and strange!) grandparents in rural Newport Landing, Nova Scotia. Reluctantly, he trades the security of his foster mum in "Upper Canada" for a blind grandfather, Frank, who dresses like a sea captain and conducts flag-raising ceremonies, and a quirky grandmother, Pearl, who sometimes forgets her dentures and has Jacob running in circles. Jacob has two short months to figure out how to deal with his ailing grandfather, the surging Avon River tides, and the family secret that's haunting his newfound grandparents. He didn't expect so much danger and mystery to be lurking in tiny Newport Landing.
Lost in the Backyard by
Flynn hates the outdoors. Always has. He barely pays attention in his Outdoor Ed class. He has no interest in doing a book report on Lost in the Barrens. He doesn't understand why anybody would want to go hiking or camping. But when he gets lost in the wilderness behind his parents' friends' house, it's surprising what he remembers--insulate your clothes with leaves, eat snow to stay hydrated, build a shelter, eat lichen--and how hopelessly inept he is at survival techniques.
Masterminds by
A group of kids discover that their ideal crime-free community is connected to some of the greatest criminal masterminds ever known.
Forest of Reading 2016 nominee.
Silver Birch Fiction winner 2016.
Rain Shadow by
Bethany knows that she is special. She doesn't learn things as easily as her classmates do and that sometimes makes them mean to her. They call her names - including the really "bad" name. Even her mom and her sister Mira say unkind things at times. But Bethany has friends like her neighbor Mrs. Goldsborough as well as happy times with Dad when he gets home from work. And now, Mira has promised to protect her from the bullies when the new school year begins. Then tragedy strikes, tearing Bethany's world apart in ways she could never have imagined, and she starts to wonder if there will ever be a place that feels like home again. Award-winning author Valerie Sherrard revisits the world of The Glory Wind in her new historical novel.
Rocket Blues by
When Rocket gets cut from his AAA bantam hockey team, he needs to re-evaluate his priorities. Bryan Rockwood (aka "Rocket") is faced with the unthinkable: being cut from the Huskies--the AAA hockey team he has played on for three years. With no other teams interested in him, Bryan reluctantly joins a AA team, the Blues, at his best friend Maddy's insistence. Things only get worse when Rocket sees that the Blues don't take hockey seriously. Facing the Huskies in the round robin will give Rocket the chance to prove his skills, but in order to keep his hockey dreams (and his friends) Rocket will have to realize that while hockey is his passion, it is not his entire life. Publisher's website.
Forest of Reading 2016 nominee.
Silver Birch Fiction award nominee 2016.
Speechless by
Jelly is as surprised as anyone when he decides that he's going to win the annual sixth grade speech contest. Just like that, Joe Alton Miles, better known as Jelly (because his initials are J.A.M. and his best friend's are P.B.), is faced with overcoming not only his terror of being in the spotlight, but also the wrath of smart, popular Victoria, who believes that the prize (like all prizes) is rightfully hers. At first, Jelly only cares about winning the awesome prize (a new tablet), but as Victoria escalates her campaign against him, Jelly begins to realize that it's not only the prize that's at stake, but also his reputation, his self-respect and the friendship he values most. Jelly must dig deep inside himself to find out if he's strong enough to stand up to Victoria and show everyone what he's really capable of. Hilariously funny and just as poignant, Speechless is about finding out who your friends are, giving back, standing up to bullying and finding your own unique voice.--chapters.indigo.ca
I forced my feet to the stage and turned around. This was going to be the scariest thing I'd ever done in my whole life. I looked down into the expanse of gleaming eyes and willed myself to focus on the next step ahead. I just had to make it through the next five minutes, word by word. Then it would be over. Jelly Miles would rather be playing video games with his best friend P.B. than preparing for a speech competition. In fact, he'd rather be doing just about anything else. So he's as surprised as anyone that he's taking this year's competition seriously. At first, it's for the awesome prize. But when the competition turns ugly, Jelly realizes it's his chance to finally get the last word with the class know-it-all. With his reputation, self-respect and the friendship he values most on the line, can Jelly find the courage to get up in front of the whole school and show his true self? Laugh-out-loud funny, Speechless is about standing up to bullying, knowing who your friends are and finding your own unique voice.--scholastic.ca
Forest of Reading 2016 nominee.
Silver Birch Fiction award nominee 2016.
The Swallow by
In 1960s Toronto, two girls retreat to their attics to escape the loneliness and isolation of their lives. Polly lives in a house bursting at the seams with people, while Rose is often left alone by her busy parents - both girls seek solace in books and the cosy confines of their respective attics. But soon they discover they aren't alone - they're actually neighbours, sharing a wall. They develop an unlikely friendship, and Polly is ecstatic to learn that Rose can actually see and talk to ghosts. But is there more to Rose than there seems?
The Case of the Missing Moonstone (the Wollstonecraft Detective Agency, Book 1) by
History, mystery, and science collide in a new series for middle-grade readers, perfect for fans of The Mysterious Benedict Society and Lemony Snicket! Jordan Stratford imagines an alternate 1826, where Ada Lovelace (the world's first computer programmer) and Mary Shelley (author of Frankenstein) meet as girls and form a secret detective agency! Lady Ada Byron, age eleven, is a genius. Isolated, awkward and a bit rude--but a genius. Mary Godwin, age fourteen, is a romantic. Adventurous, astute, and kind, Mary is to become Ada's first true friend. And together, the girls conspire to form the Wollstonecraft Detective Agency--a secret constabulary for the apprehension of clever criminals. Their first case involves a stolen heirloom, a false confession, and an array of fishy suspects. But it's no match for the deductive powers and bold hearts of Ada and Mary. Mystery fans will love this tween girl riff on Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. History buffs will be delighted to see all the real figures who play a role in this story and appreciate the extensive backmatter that helps separate truth from fiction. Parents and educators hoping to promote the STEM fields for girls will be thrilled to have a series where two girls use math, science, and creative analytical thinking to solve crimes. But most especially--emerging readers will love this series filled with humor, action, intrigue and wonderful artwork from Kelly Murphy.
Masterminds by
A group of kids discover that their ideal crime-free community is connected to some of the greatest criminal masterminds ever known.
Forest of Reading 2016 nominee.
Silver Birch Fiction winner 2016.