Encounter at Easton 

Summary: In 1768, two young indentured servants flee from their unkind master. A search party is determined to turn them over to the authorities. They hope to find work and freedom in the town of Easton. When Elizabeth becomes badly wounded, Robert must keep her alive. He is frightened and confused. He needs help but… who can he trust? Friendly Nathaniel Hill or the wild woman of the woods?

Comments: This sequel to Night Journeys features excellent characterization. Connections to American history can support social studies curricula. Themes of homelessness, friendship and courage are timely subjects for today’s students (despite its being presented in a historical context.)  Back to list 

Summary:  Peter York is newly orphaned and has been adopted by Mr. Shinn, a deeply religious Quaker farmer. Peter feels restricted in the strict and unyielding household and would like to break away. He sees an opportunity when two runaway indentured servants have escaped bondage and are in the vicinity of his community.

Comments:  This historical adventure (late 1700s) is told from Peter’s point of view, focusing on the conflict between the beliefs of Peter and those of Mr. Shinn.  The struggle is captivating and makes it a hard to put down book. In addition, it provides opportunities to discuss religious beliefs and to focus on well-chosen, effective vocabulary. The theme can be integrated into religion and social studies.  Back to List

Summary:  Mr. Ocax, a great horned owl, is the Lord of the Forest. All of the mice who live in the forest are his subjects and must ask his permission to move about Dimwood forest. Two young mice, Poppy and Ragweed, leave without permission and Mr. Ocax snares Ragweed and kills him instantly. Feeling guilty, Poppy redeems herself by making a dangerous journey to find a new home for the mice.

Comments:  The main theme of the book is the old cliché, "The truth shall set you free". The issues of accepting responsibility for as well as the consequences of one’s behaviour is very relevant in our society. AVI is a master of words who paints detailed word pictures and uses alliteration, humour and fast paced dialogue. The very modern animals appeal to the reader.  Back to List

Smugglers’ Island 

Summary: Set in 1932, impoverished Shadrach lives on an island where he is determined to bring liquor smugglers to justice. These smugglers have been terrorizing the island community and forcing its cooperation out of fear and taking advantage of the population’s straitened conditions. Unfortunately, Shad wrongfully trusts a man putting his brother’s life in danger. Mustering all of his courage, Shad works to save his brother and foil the smugglers.

Comments: The many plot twists and surprises maintain suspense till the novel’s end. Short chapters help drive the plot. Reluctant male readers may enjoy this rapidly moving adventure novel.  Back to List

Summary:  In 1832, thirteen-year-old Charlotte Doyle finds herself aboard a rat-infested ship bound for America. All alone, she must deal with the ruthless captain and his motley crew preparing to mutiny. Charlotte experiences despair, squalor, mystery, murder and hurricanes on her transatlantic voyage. Her way of thinking is challenged, her courage summoned and her loyalties questioned in her attempt to survive.

Comment:  This riveting adventure story aboard ship follows a young girl as she learns to dismiss the expectations of the time period, in order to survive and become the free spirit she was meant to be. The descriptive, sometimes challenging vocabulary describes the tranquil sea on one day, and the sheer horror of it on another day. Clear diagrams are provided to enhance the reader’s understanding of the ship’s design.  Back to:  5-6 List | 7-9List

Group of Seven Painters

Images of Nature PB (Poetry) 

Summary: The sense of where we belong in Canadian nature has inspired our painters and poets. Images painted in words - those of Earle Birney, Raymond Souster, Leonard Cohen, Margaret Atwood and others speak to every Canadian’s sense of belonging. In Images of Nature, their poetry complements the paintings of the Group of Seven, who first taught us that “art must grow and flower in the land before the country will be a real home for its people.” 

Comments: ***This book is a must-have for every school library. The paintings and poems capture each of Canada’s four seasons as well as her many moods. The paintings can serve as models for students’ own compositions as can the poems. A complementary audio text for this book is the Rheostatics’ “Songs for the Group of Seven” commissioned by the National Gallery of Canada.  Back to: 5-6 List | 7-9 List

Summary:  As a young boy, Liang, receives a wonderful gift of a brush which when used to paint causes the picture to come to life. Throughout Liang’s life journey, his ability to really see things enables him to bring them to life.

Comments:  The theme of accepting and being happy with the gifts God gives us fits well into religious studies. The author creates beautiful word pictures. This text is a good model of writing for upper elementary students.  Back to List

BURNETT, Frances Hodgson

Summary:  Mary, an orphan, discovers herself through the quiet miracles of nature in a forgotten garden on her guardian’s property. Through friendship, she grows into a child who is capable of acting out of love. Once she herself is transformed, she has the strength to be an agent of transformation for her cousin Colin. Through Colin’s newfound strength, there is hope for her uncle to be healed as well.

Comments:  Rebirth and redemption are topics worthy of study for students of all ages. Issues of abandonment and rejection are resolved for Mary and Colin. Students in similar circumstances can see their own potential for changing their own lives. Realistic characters are revealed through strong dialogue and dialect.  Back to List

BUTCHER, Kristin

Summary:  Nick meets Luther, an angry homeless man, while running away. Luther helps 12-year-old Nick to face his problems. An unlikely friendship develops. Nick discovers Luther’s secret and helps Luther realize he is running away from himself. As their friendship grows, Nick discovers that many street people do not choose to live on the streets.

Comments:  This book provides a springboard for discussions of many social and personal issues. The author deals sensitively with a young boy’s adjustments to a new stepfather and the news that his mother is going to have a baby. The life of street people is written about realistically.  Back to List

BYARS, Betsy

Summary:  Sara, a confused 14-year-old, is having a terrible summer. Comparing herself to her beautiful, older sister, Sara finds herself woefully inadequate in every way. She thinks that her father does not care about her and her aunt is too bossy. Charlie, Sara's mentally handicapped brother, is lost. Through the traumatic experience of Charlie's disappearance and the subsequent search, Sara begins to come to terms with her life and to accept herself.

Comments:  This Newbery Medal winner for 1971 would be great used as a group novel study or as one novel used in a literature circle. Since Byers explores Sara's confusion about her life and her perception of herself, the novel would probably be of more interest to girls than to boys.  Back to:  5-6 List | 7-9 List

CHOI, Sook Nyul

Summary:  10-year-old Sookum and her family must endure and survive the occupation of North Korea by the Japanese military. The family members face danger as they try to escape to the freedom of South Korea, controlled by the Americans. Determination and love keeps the family from being destroyed in this endeavour.

Comments:  This story is reminiscent of such stories as Lois Lowry’s, Number the Stars and Ann Holm’s, I Am David. It is a tribute to the endurance of the human spirit. Stories like this keep us ever vigilant of the atrocities that are perpetrated against human beings in many different cultures. This text would enrich a study on human rights. In addition, it would be an opportunity to explore and understand a different culture. Back to: 5-6 List | 7-9x List

Summary: Sadako Sasaki lived in Hiroshima when the atomic bomb was dropped on the city. As a result she contracted leukemia from radiation which caused her death at the age of twelve. She spent much of her time while dealing with her disease attempting to make one thousand paper cranes which symbolize good luck.

Comments:  This moving story has a message of hope and courage. It makes one aware of the implications of war. Some of the language is challenging because of its relation to another culture. Japanese forms of poetry and the art of origami are featured in this text.  Back to List

COOPER, Susan

Summaary:  A Scottish man named MacDevon and a ghost named Boggart share a close relationship. When MacDevon dies, the ghost becomes lonely and bored. The boggart now has no companion with whom to play tricks. When a new family moves into the house, he befriends the children. The boggart had fallen asleep in the family’s travelling chest and woke up in Canada. The children then try to return Boggart to Scotland via a computer game.

Comments:  Themes of new friendships, adjusting to new situations and solving problems collaboratively are developed in this book. This text relates to any student who has had to leave familiar surroundings. Computers and ghosts are motivating topics for readers. The strong characterization can be a model for student writing.  Back to List

COOPER, Susan

Summary:  Emily and Jessup Volnik return to Castle Keep on a holiday and to visit their boggart. As they travel to Loch Ness, they find they are in for an adventure as the boggart has come along. Boggart contacts a relative who has the taken the shape of a sea monster and cannot return to its original shape. The children and Boggart try to help Nessie regain his boggart agility for shape shifting in order that he can return to the ocean before he becomes a subject for scientific study.

Comments:  The morality of scientific issues may require us not to study a phenomenon if it could be harmful to the subject. Text features like *** break up the text in order to allow for movement of time and character. This text supports social studies curriculum of links to other countries: Canada to Scotland. The Loch Ness monster is a motivating mystery for students. This book is best used as a follow-up to The Boggart because some background information about Boggart may be missing.  Back to List

CROSS, Gillian

Summary:  Miriam and Stuart, video game test players, have been chosen to test a new game that uses virtual reality. As they play the game, they find that the game adapts to them but they soon realize that someone is using real information about their fears in the game’s design. The two players must find out the truth about who is using the information and how the information is being used.

Comments:  The novel challenges student readers to think about the ways people face their fears, and the ways that technology can be used to manipulate and/or condition us. Themes in the novel include fear, determination, friendship, trust and betrayal. The technology of the game is bound to keep young adult readers interested from cover to cover.  Back to:  5-6 List | 7-9 List

The Watsons Go to Birmingham- 1963 

Summary: 10-year-old Kenny and his family, the Weird Watsons of Flint Michigan plan a car trip to Birmingham, Alabama to visit Grandma. Kenny, Momma, Dad, little sister Joetta and 13-year-old Byron, his "official juvenile delinquent" brother head South during one of the most difficult periods for African Americans in US history. Kenny's narration captures the humour in the Watson's journey despite its being a time of civil unrest in the United States. Will the strict planning and adherence to the schedule mean that the family holiday is successful with no hitches? Read along with Kenny as he narrates his family's slice of history.

Comments: Christopher Paul Curtis wrote this book as a Windsor, Ontario resident where he continues to live. Despite the clearly American setting, all readers enjoy this novel. The Watson family's situation translates well to Canadian classrooms because the Watsons have their idiosyncrasies as do all families. Because of its historical significance, this text supports social studies themes. This novel can support religion discussions of tolerance and understanding.  ***This novel is a Newbery Honor Book and Coretta Scott King Honor Book for 1995. Back to list 

Summary:  Life in the Middle Ages for Catherine, a sharp-tongued, high-spirited, clever young maiden with a mind of her own, is indeed dismal. Her father is determined to marry her off to any rich man and her mother wants her to learn to do household tasks, which she hates. By writing a diary for her brother Edward, she is excused from spinning but must deal with the demands of her hateful father.

Comments:  Taking control of your own destiny and deciding what is worth fighting for is a universal message. The diary format of this book is very successful, humourous and occasionally vulgar. Before embarking on a career as an author, Karen Cushman had an illustrative career as a mediaeval historian. The text is well researched and historically accurate.  Back to:  5-6 List | 7-9 List

CUTLER, Jane

Summary:  Pre-adolescent tomboy, Ellen Parker, romanticizes World War II. At first, Ellen cannot wait until her Uncle Bob goes to war. She gauges the war effort through letters received from Uncle Bob. She imagines him leading the charge against Hitler, heroically winning the war for the U.S. As the summers pass, Uncle Bob is involved in serious war battles and his letters to the family change in length and content. Ellen finds it hard to accept that her uncle has changed, just as she finds it difficult to understand the changes occurring in the children around her as they become physically mature and their interests change.

Comments:  This novel is written from a girl’s point of view. In the beginning of the story, the author establishes a relationship between Ellen and some boys who are intrigued by the war. As the novel progresses, there are references to the physical maturation of the girls, and the relationship between Ellen and the boys change. The novel may not appeal to boys as much as to girls.  This novel could be used in a literature circle where similar novels are studied, e.g., Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (experiences of a Danish family) and the trilogy, The Sky is Falling, Looking at the Moon, The Lights Go On Again by Kit Pearson (experiences of a British brother and sister who are evacuated to Canada).  Back to List

Summary:  Susan Walker does not believe in Santa Claus or in fairy-tales because her mother has taught her that dreams do not come true. As Kris Kringle enters her life, she has to reexamine her serious nature en route to the true meaning of Christmas.

Comments:  The story deals with the true meaning of Christmas: the reality of "Santa" in everyone’s life makes each one of us a child at Christmas. Tomie daPaolo’s illustrations are delightful.  Back to List

Summary:  Eva, the daughter of a primatologist, finds herself transplanted into a chimpanzee’s body after her body is destroyed in a car accident. Eva is able to talk to humans using an electronic keyboard and to communicate with the chimpanzees by chattering and body gestures. She becomes a controlled, contract-bound celebrity who eventually organizes an escape for herself and the other chimpanzees. Living in the wild until her death, she returns her voice box to the humans after her demise.

Comments:  The themes of animal rights, anthropomorphism and family relationships are of great interest to students. The connections of human and chimpanzee behaviour focus on their differences rather than their similarities. The writing is seamless and manages to make Eva’s transformation very believable.  Back to:  5-6 List | 7-9List

Summary:  Morning Girl, a Taino girl, lives on a Bahamian island in 1492 before Columbus arrives in America. In alternating chapters, Morning Girl, and her younger brother Star Boy, vividly recreate life on their island – a life that is rich, complex and soon to be threatened.

Comments:  Different cultures are to be valued for their uniqueness, rather then destroyed because of our version of what is correct. Sibling rivalry and love are strong components of the story. This text complements Coyote Columbus by Thomas, another book which examines the "discovery" of North American by the Europeans.  Back to List

FENNER, Carol

Summary:  Fifth grader, Yolanda, is one girl ‘not to be messed with". She is an intelligent, charming, and assertive girl who loves her little brother and is concerned with the fact that he doesn’t talk very much and cannot read. Then she realizes his musical genius and is determined that his gift be recognized and developed by those who can help him reach his full potential.

Comments:  Themes fifth graders can relate to include: responsibility to younger siblings, difficulty making friends in a new school, difficulty learning to read, and recognition of talents, e.g., musical talents. The novel is beautifully written with an enriching vocabulary. It is full of emotion, spirit, wit and humor.

CAUTION: **Teachers must read this book before choosing to use it with a class. Unethical behaviour features in the first chapter.  Back to List

FITZHUGH, Louise

Summary:  Precocious Harriet keeps a notebook of the activities of her family, friends and neighbours as training to be a spy. Harriet shares a special relationship with her nanny, Gully, and takes notes of questions to discuss with her. Her honest observations get her into trouble when her notebook lands in enemy hands. Harriet’s real work begins as she must work hard to rebuild her prior relationships.

Comments:  The nature of honesty and respect for others’ privacy are worth exploring with students. Building and valuing friendships take time and acceptance of others’ failings. Realistic and detailed pen and ink illustrations contribute to the meaning of the print. Themes such as "an eye for an eye" are presented with their counterparts of loyalty and forgiveness conflicts are resolved realistically for students. This book would be worth comparing and contrasting to another media treatment of the same text, "Harriet the Spy" 1997 video.  Back to List

The Whipping Boy 

Summary: Prince Horace is so naughty that everyone calls him Prince Brat. Because the prince is never spanked, Jemmy, an orphan boy from the streets becomes the prince’s whipping boy. When Prince Brat decides to run away, he takes Jemmy with him. Jemmy sees this as an opportunity to escape from the palace. Soon the two boys are kidnapped by thieving cutthroats and Jemmy is unable to leave the prince. He must use his street knowledge to outsmart the kidnappers and save the prince.

Comments: The Whipping Boy offers opportunities to discuss how the characters grow as they begin to accept responsibility and develop an unexpected loyal friendship.  ***This novel is a winner of the John Newbery Medal.   Back to List

FLETCHER, Ralph

Summary:  Bobby Ballenger knows a lot about spiders and tarantulas, but he has much to learn about adjusting to life in a new town and school. His journal writing about arachnids and their behavior reflect his own introspection as he goes about making new friends, dealing with a bully and coming to terms with the death of a pet tarantula.

Comments:  Any student who loves (or even fears) spiders will be attracted to this fast-moving, easily read, humorous book. Fascinating facts about arachnids and a sympathetic, but strong main character make this novel a very enjoyable read. The author also provides a list of books for further reading on spiders.  Back to List

Running Out of Time 

Summary:  Jessie lives with her family in the frontier village of Clifton, Indiana in 1840- or so she believes. Diphtheria strikes the village and the children start dying. Jessie’s mother reveals a shocking secret- it is really 1996 and they are living a reconstructed village that serves as a tourist site and a lab for scientific observations. Outside 1840 Clifton, medicine to combat diphtheria exists in 1996. Jessie’s mother sends Jessie on a dangerous mission to bring back 1996 style help. Once she leaves Clifton behind, Jessie discovers a world more alien and threatening than she could imagine. It is up to her to put her life in jeopardy in order to save the other children in Clifton.

Comments:  This historical time-slip novel convincingly engages readers’ imaginations. This story of bravery and courage will have students examining all of our everyday materials and technology with new eyes.  Back to List

Summary:  Twelve-year-old Fanny, an only child, lives with her exacting, inflexible father and her much younger mother. Dad is at his most inflexible in regards to Fanny’s not having a dog. The family had tried it once and Nellie, the black lab puppy, destroyed some of Dad’s most-treasured possessions. One day, Dad tries to win back Fanny’s trust with Dinner, a fully grown lab German shepherd cross. It does not take long for Dinner to become a full-fledged member of the family, winning even Fanny’s father’s heart.

Comments:  This book can lead to discussion of different types of families and finding ways to make those families work. Fanny has a sixty-year-old father. Her best friend has many brothers and very easy-going parents. Taking responsibility for owning a pet is highly featured in this book. Beginning boy-girl friendships are also sensitively introduced in this book.  Back to List

Words of Stone 

Summary:  10 year-old Blaze is trying to deal with his many fears and his troubled feelings for his dead mother. His life changes when he meets the boisterous and irresistible Joselle. Blaze thinks that she is the most exciting person he has ever met, yet their friendship creates opportunities for further hurt. Feeling resentful at being dumped at her grandmother’s home when her mother goes on holiday with a new boyfriend, Joselle becomes angrier and angrier. A joke which is not really a joke threatens Blaze’s and Joelle’s new friendship.

Comments:  This novel creates many opportunities for studying characterization: change and growth. Many students will identify easily with the two lonely, hurting main characters.  Back to List

HESSE,   Karen

Summary:  War separates Hannah and her parents in 1918, forcing her and her two sisters to move in with her great aunt, Tanta Rose, and Vashti, Aunt Rose’s companion. After Tanta Rose dies from influenza, Vashti sends Hannah away from ‘flu-infested’ Boston. Suffering from influenza herself, Hannah collapses in a train station in Vermont. While convalescing at Uncle Klaus’ farm, she discovers the ugly truth about war.

Comments:  Beautifully written, this novel touches on a multitude of serious issues: death, war, separation, illness, racism (Hannah is Jewish; Uncle Klaus is German.) The characters are believable and endearing; the ‘angels’ are not overdone and fit comfortably into the story.  Back to:  5-6List | 7-9List

HESSE, Karen

Summary:  Thirteen-year-old Mila becomes the subject of scientific research after being reintroduced into the world of humans. For nine years of her life, she was a member of the dolphin family. Dr. Beck and Sandy teach Mila the English language hoping that Mila can teach them to communicate with the dolphins. Unfortunately the problem intensifies when the researchers and Mila discover that they are truly unable to communicate with each other.

Comments:  Mila is new to human language and her journal entries express complex thoughts and feelings with basic language. This story would be great for ESL students, who often feel like a ‘fish out of water’. All students can relate to Mila’s disenfranchisement. What does it mean to be human? This question can lead to interesting discussion and reflection.  Back to:  5-6 List | 7-9 List

HESSE, Karen

Summary:  Dust, dust, and more dust plagues Billie Jo and her family on their farm in Oklahoma during the Great Depression. An accidental fire burns Billie Jo’s hands, which previously played piano tunes of the day, effortlessly. Her mother, also burned by the fire, dies in childbirth along with Billie Jo’s new baby brother, Franklin. Grieving the loss of her mother and blaming herself and her father for Ma’s death, Billie Jo finally takes off ‘out of the dust’ by jumping onto a train that is heading West. Home calls her back and she returns to her father expressing, "I can’t be my own mother, and I can’t be my own father and if you’re both going to leave me, well, what am I supposed to do?"

Comments:  Billie Jo’s voice urgently compels the reader to read on. It is a voice that the reader will not forget. The dustbowl of Oklahoma in the 1930s parallels similar drought conditions that occurred in Alberta at the same time, and thus, has relevance to Calgary students.  Karen Hesse’s use of evocative free verse journal entries can serve as a model for writing poetry at any grade level. Another book, which explores this same blurring of genres, is the Canadian Child in Prison Camp by Shizuye Takashima. This 1997 winner of the Newbery Award is a historical fiction that students will not want to put down.  Back to: 5-6 List | 7-9 List

HOLM, Ann

Summary:  Twelve-year-old David left a concentration camp because a guard (The Man) encouraged him and helped him leave. He wanted to go to Denmark (eventually in search of his mother.) On his journey he meets people and makes discoveries about himself. His journey is exciting, filled with colorful experiences and very different from his life in the camp.

Comments:  This novel is a story of how a person learns to trust, as his character changes slowly over time. It is a powerful story that illustrates the impact of war on families.   Back to: 5-6 List | 7-9 List

HORROCKS, Anita

Summary:  Darien is struggling to deal with the death of his 5-year-old brother, Jeri, due to leukemia. His parents are lost in their own pain and Darien feels alone. The nightmares he has been trying to hide are starting to come true – yet each time he is in danger, some familiar presence seems to warn him. Darien is sure that his brother is with him. Darien finds himself fighting for his life against a rabid coyote and it is not only Jeri but also his friends that help him to move on.

Comments:  Anita Horrocks is a Canadian author and the story takes place in Lethbridge. Thus students relate to the setting and the experiences of Darien and his friends. This novel supports themes of death in ones family, mourning and new life.  Back to List

HUGHES, Monica

Summary:  Marg, on her 12^th birthday, receives a cardboard dollhouse from her grandmother. Visiting for the summer is her cousin, Peggy, who is two years older. The plot centers on the dollhouse, which Marg names Castle Tourmandyne. Marg must save her cousin from being drawn/lost forever within the dollhouse and the characters living in the dollhouse. This brings Marg to a new understanding of herself and her cousin.

Comments:  The language of the novel is appropriate for this age level. Ideas in the novel are challenging. Interest is maintained through the mystery (magic) surrounding the dollhouse. Suspense builds steadily over time. The theme of the novel can be related to personal growth, maturing and relationships. The story takes place in Alberta.  Back to: 5-6 List | 7-9x List

HUNTER, Mollie

Summary:  Finn Larson, a young and handsome man, seems to be the only survivor of a shipwreck. Sheltered by the Henderson family, he brings a terrible danger into their home. Finn is nothing of what he seems to be. Elspeth Henderson is drawn to Finn and her brother, Robbie, worries about her safety. He distrusts this stranger and seeks to find out more about his true origin.

Comments:  Connected to the Shetland Islands folklore of the Selkies, the seal-folk, the novel can be used to discuss the darkness of folktales. Evocative chapter titles can be used to predict upcoming events. Students may need to research the legend of the Selkies in order to build background needed to understand the novel. A video that complements this same theme is ‘The Secret of Roan Inish’. Harold Childe recorded a ballad that also deals with the myth of the Selkies.  Back to: 5-6 List | 7-9 List

JIANG, Ji-Li

Summary:  Ji-Li Jiang turns 12 in 1966, the start of China’s Cultural Revolution. Convinced that Chairman Mao Ze-dong was always right, Ji-Li, a member of the Young Pioneers willingly denounces her neighbours and other acquaintances who are not in complete agreement with this change in government. Ji-Li’s beliefs in the Communist state begin to fade when her family is attacked by this movement. Humiliated by former friends, neighbours and her parent’s coworkers, Ji-Li’s family fear arrest at any time. Eventually, her father is imprisoned and Ji-Li is asked to denounce her own family in order to become a privileged Educable Child of the state. This in turn causes her to question her own beliefs in Leader, Mao.

Comments:  The themes of unquestioning loyalty and belief in propaganda can lead to comparisons of circa 1970 Chinese government to Canada’s government today. A picture book, which can support this text, is A Little Tiger in the Chinese Night by Song Nan Zhang. An excellent example of autobiography, Jiang’s book is strong support for the grade 6 curriculum. The author recaptures her adolescent voice and the reader readily believes in her truthful retelling.  Back to:  5-6 List | 7-9 List

Summary:  In this time travel story, young Jack finds himself drawn to and inexplicably linked to a time, place and family that is not his own. A wooden cradle provides the magic that allows Jack to move between his modern suburban world and a village in the 1660’s. Through these experiences, Jack develops compassion and understanding and learns that his visits to the past world have a purpose.

Comments:  The choices Jack must make and the difficulties he faces with family and friends are very relevant to today’s youth. Moral issues faced by the protagonist would relate to religious studies. The setting of England in 1665 during a great plague relates to social studies. The author shows a good understanding of children.  Back to List

Summary:  In this science fiction story, Little Jon finds himself in a place he cannot recognize, in a world where he does not speak the language. The search for his identity and how he arrives in this place, how he will survive and find his way back home are the basis of this adventure story.

Comments:  The theme is environmental; we are part of our environment and have responsibilities to protect it. Characters speak in dialect. Line drawings enhance the mood of the text. Students will enjoy the conflict built on suspense.  Back to List

LAWSON, Julie

Summary:  13-year-old Jasmine has a fascination for Chinatown and tai chi. Unexpectedly, she walks into Fan Tan Alley of 1880s during the building of the CPR. She meets and helps Keung, a Chinese youth, search for his father and a powerful white jade tiger amulet in many of the CPR work camps. They must find the amulet before Blue-Scar Wong. This time-travel book is set between modern day Victoria, and Victoria/Fraser valley of the 1880s.

Comments:  The story should appeal to students because it is a great mix of time-travel/historical fiction. It is well written providing a very complete story with some twists and a surprise ending. The novel could easily compliment a social studies unit. It is a great example of Canadian literature.  Back to: 5-6 List | 7-9 List

Summary:  Jeremy is not having a good summer. His best friends have moved away and he is spending the summer with his aunt because his Dad is in hospital dying of cancer.

Comments:  This story of family relationships and coping with grief allows the reader to experience change as a result of illness, imminent death and death through the eyes of a young boy. Students are surprised to read that an important character dies.  Back to List

LOTTRIDGE Celia

Summary:  In this sequel to Ticket to Curlew, Josie Ferrier makes friends with Margaret, a girl her own age, for the first time since arriving in Curlew. Reading about Miss Stinson, one of the first women aviators, Josie begins to think that women are capable of doing anything that they want. When Margaret’s family has a problem finding a house that suits the fine tea set that Margaret’s mother brought from England, Josie finds a way to help them find an appropriate home.

Comments:  Fine pencil drawings complement the written text. A support for social studies curricula, Josie is depicted as a strong female character in a time when women like Emily Murphy were trying to find a voice for women in Alberta. Life in sod houses and homesteads is clearly described by the author. This novel serves as a model for writing effective settings.  Back to List

Summary:  Yeh Shen is the first recorded version of the Cinderella motif, circa 800 AD. After the death of her mother, Yeh Shen befriends a fish who becomes her protector. Even when the fish has been eaten, its bones continue to help Yeh Shen transform from a kitchen-drudge into a beautiful princess.

Comments:  This text would compliment a study of fairy tales from different cultures. The story is written in Chinese characters as well as English. The reteller carefully chooses adjectives and adverbs, e.g., ‘…her dress was of azure’. The illustrations suggest the fish on every page and can be used as a thread to connect Yeh Shen to her protector. Children look for the fish and its scales on every page.  Back to List

Summary:  Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend Ellen Rosen, a Jewish girl, often think about life before the war. Life in Copenhagen in 1943 is filled with school, food shortages and Nazi soldiers moving into their town. Danish Jews are being relocated so Ellen moves in with Annemarie and her family, the best friends become "sisters".

Comments:  This historical fiction gives insights into the discrimination the Jews faced because of their religious beliefs. This text parallels Underground To Canada by Barbara Smucker, as both have discrimination and journeys. Students experience a strong emotional response to this text.  Back to:  5-6 List | 7-9 List 

Summary:  Twelve-year-old Jonas is singled out for special training from the giver. This training helps Jonas to see the world in a different way than all those around him. Breaking into the world of colour and full emotion, he is able to experience pain and pleasure. From this training, Jonas discovers that the real truth is different from what he always knew it to be.

Comments:  The issues raised in this book need to be discussed in depth as they can be controversial.  This book is a winner of the 1994 Newbery Medal.  Back to:  5-6 List | 7-9 List

LUNN, Janet

Summary:  Notable Canadian authors, historians, and poets recount eerie tales that have appeal to young adult readers. Writers from Canada’s past to its present are represented. All regions of Canada are also represented.

Comments:  It is highly recommended that teachers select stories, which are suitable for the students in their classroom when using this text for intensive study. Although the tales themselves are not offensive, some parent communities may take issue with some of the stories if they are taken out of context. This text is suitable for student’s extensive reading. Reluctant readers can find something in this text that would make them want to read more.  Back to: 5-6List | 7-9 List

MACLACHLAN Patricia

Summary:  12-year-old Larkin together with her family takes in an abandoned baby named Sophie. Sophie has been left on their doorstep in a basket. A note attached to the basket says that Sophie’s mother will be back one day. Larkin’s family grow to love Sophie as their own, but realize that one day her mother will return.

Comments:  This well-written story could form the basis for discussions on families, adoption, birth and death. The characters are well developed, especially Byrd, the grandmother and Sophie. Back to: 5-6 List | 7-9x List

Summary:  Set in 1900, a young boy prepares to say goodbye to his friend Josepha, an older immigrant boy, who struggles with school because of a language barrier. Josepha now has to leave school to help on the family farm. As the boys exchange gifts, they recall their friendship despite a language difference.

Comments:  Friendship can flourish despite age and language differences. This text helps develop an understanding of the hardships of pioneer life. Some teacher interpretation may be required to develop vocabulary background knowledge.  Back to List

Black Cat PB (Poetry) 

Summary: A stray black cat journeys through New York neighbourhoods trying to find a home. Rhythmic poetry and bold collage art stimulates readers of all ages to explore their own neighbourhoods and identities. 

Comments: This compelling mixed media text is well worthy of discussion. In hip-hop type verse, and unusually angled compositions, readers visit these neighbourhoods with a cat’s eye view. This book is a fine accompaniment to a poetry genre study.  Back to: 5-6 List | 7-9 List

The Secret Wish of Nannerl Mozart 

Comments: This fictionalized account of Nannerl’s life is based on real events and accomplishments. The reader empathizes with Nannerl’s struggle as she journeys with her family throughout the Europe of 1763. Due to its subject matter it is a strong support to music curricula.  Back to: 5-6 List | 7-9 List

OWENS, Catherine (PEARE)

Summary:  This novel is a remarkable story of a girl, Helen, born in 1880. She contracts a serious fever as an infant that destroys her sight and hearing. Her parents refuse to institutionalize her and send for a teacher, Miss Anne Sullivan, when Helen is 6. Anne teaches Helen to communicate through language. Helen is an eager, able learner and eventually graduates with honors from Radcliffe. She becomes internationally known and loved.

Comments:  This touching biography can be lead to personal reflection and journal writing. The important themes of achieving a goal in spite of insurmountable obstacles, self-discipline and determination serve as role models for living.  Back to: 5-6 List | 7-9 List

PATERSON, Katherine

Summary:  Jesse Aarons, a farm boy, encounters Leslie Burke, a city girl who moves to the country with her parents. Jesse’s family decided to get away from a ‘materialistic world’. Jesse and Leslie have little in common but Leslie invites Aaron to dream and together they create the magical kingdom of Terabithia. Leslie changes Aaron’s world and when she accidentally dies, he realizes the great gift she left him.

Comments:  This novel can enhance the social studies and religion curriculum. It deals effectively with human relationships through its well-defined main characters. Issues of death, overcoming fears and boy-girl friendships are dealt with in a sensitive manner.  Back to: 5-6 List | 7-9 List

PAULSEN,  Gary

Summary:  Fourteen-year-old John Barren lives on a sheep ranch in Wyoming. He feels alienated from his father because his father does not communicate well or spend much time with him. Because of a shortage of work hands on the ranch, John is sent to the haymeadow to pasture 6000 sheep for the summer. Through the experience of relying on his own abilities, he matures and his relationship with his father changes for the better.

Comments:  The Haymeadow, winner of a number of awards, is full of action and adventure and will be especially appealing to boys. The novel looks at character development, a coming of age theme, as well as being informative about life on a ranch in the West.    Back to:  5-6 List | 7-9x List

The Schernoff Discoveries 

Comments: Fourteen-year-old Harold Schernoff and his best friend, the unnamed narrator (is it Gary Paulsen himself) undergo many humourous adventures and misadventures in a 1950s junior high school. The two buddies are decidedly uncool, yet this does not dissuade Harold from dreaming up another experiment. Each chapter depicts another of Harold’s "scientific" discoveries. Harold joins home economics class because it is "simply chemistry", kisses a girl, plays golf, sets pins at a local bowling alley and even manages to foil the school football team. The novel concludes with the two boys gaining a modicum of respectability.

Comments: The fast-moving slapstick comedy easily engages readers. Since each chapter is a complete story in itself, this text can serve as a model for student writing. The novel can support science curricula with Harold’s approach to solving problems.  Back to: 5-6 List | 7-9 List

Summary:  Theo and her young irresponsible mother live a poverty-stricken life in Vancouver. Theo often slips into a dream while reading. Her fantasy is to belong to a large loving family. A moon, a wish… and mysteriously she finds herself adopted into a perfect family leaving behind a dismal lonely life.

Comments:  Many students were totally captivated by the book. The message that our experiences influence us, but we can choose how to view and live our lives, is relevant to a large number of students. The narrative is beautifully written, eerie, full of suspense, emotion and wonder. It emphasizes the value of reading and writing.  It is the winner of the 1997 Governor General’s Award for fiction.  Back to List

Summary:  Patricia travels to Alberta one summer to spend time at the lake with her relatives because her parents are divorcing. Finding it difficult to fit in with her cousins, she finds a pocket watch hidden under a floorboard which enables her to travel back in time. Eventually she comes to a better understanding of herself and her relationship with her mother, while finding a connection to her Alberta relatives.

Comments:  Self-esteem and self-assertion are big issues for children today, especially for girls. Alberta of the 50’s, gender-roles and family relationships are explored in this book. The language provides clear imagery in short, descriptive paragraphs, e.g., ‘…Ping… ping sang the badminton bird as it whizzed back and forth. Its steady rhythm made Patricia drowse in her hiding place.’  Back to List

PEARSON, Kit

Summary:  For five years, Gavin and Norah, whose parents have stayed in England, have lived in Toronto with their two aunts as 'war guests'. As World War II ends, the children's grandfather arrives to escort them back to England. Norah is very excited about returning to England but Gavin is forced to make one of the most difficult decisions of his life.

Comments:  The Lights Go On Again is a winner of the National Chapter of Canada IODE Violet Downey Book Award and the 1994 Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People. This book is the last in a trilogy, with the other two Kit Pearson books, The Sky is Falling and Looking at the Moon.  Back to List

PULLMAN, 

Philip

Summary:  Lyra, a precocious orphan, on the verge of puberty, is thrust into an adventure that takes her from her home in Jordan College of Oxford to the outer limits of the Arctic. Set in the early 1900s, Lyra ’s quest is linked to the North’s magical dust in the Aurora borealis. Why the dust is so important and how the dust separates children from adults is what she must discover. Accompanying her on her journey is her daemon (a manifestation of her soul in animal form), Pantalaimon. Every human of her time has one. She must seek help from clans, gyptians, and an armored bear. In the search, she discovers the truth about her parentage and how her mother and father have different versions of the truth. Lyra’s truth is another reality, yet again.

Comments:  The text is a challenging read for very good readers because of the need to build context before reading this fantasy and its length of 351 pages. Allusions to many of the world’s mythologies and prejudices are better understood when discussed in a group or with a teacher. Children’s esteem is built up because the protagonist in the novel is a child and she successfully outwits the adult world. It is an interesting novel because it pits science and religion against each other as different manifestations of the truth. Because of Lyra’s young age, perhaps this book works best as a teacher read-aloud for students in grades 4 to 6.  Back to:  5-6 List | 7-9x List

Soldier Boys 

Summary: A bugle boy stows away on a train, dreaming of glory, to help fight the Métis rebels during the 1885 Riel Rebellion. At the same time, a Métis boy takes his fathers guns and enlists as a scout to spy on the English camp. In a steep coulee, the two boys meet face to face in the Battle of Fish Creek, a turning point in Canada’s history.

Comments: David Richards won the Saskatchewan Writer’s Guild Long Non-Fiction Manuscript Award for this work on the history of the Riel Rebellion. This novel is an excellent portrayal of the issues from both sides of the conflict. The novel also deals with the controversy of Louis Riel, himself. This historical fiction supports social studies curricula.  Back to: 5-6 List | 7-9 List

Summary:  Jamie is an unpredictable boy who enjoys stretching the limits. One summer he has a terrible experience and his best friend is left to deal with a tragedy. Jamie dies from an allergic reaction to bee stings.

Comments:  Friendship and coping with grief are central themes of the story. The language is rich and often simple to read. The illustrations are sparse but detailed and appropriate.  Back to List

Summary:  In the 1800’s Canada is the promised land to young black slaves, Julily and Liza. They escape from a plantation and make their way to Canada. It is a long and difficult journey as they hide by day and trust members of the Underground Railway to deliver them in to freedom.

Comments:  This historical fiction deals with oppression, slavery, freedom and supporting equal rights. The book has high appeal to students who described it as sad, enjoyable, exciting, superb. This text integrates well with Grade 5 social studies curriculum, Canada’s Links With Other Countries.  Some readers may feel uncomfortable with the historically accurate derogatory names for the young slaves in this context, e.g., "nigger".  Back to List

Elizabeth 

George

Summary:  The year was 1768 when young Matt and his father claim some land that they wanted to settle. When his father leaves for a while, Matt meets an Indian boy named Attean and they become friends. Matt teachers Attean to read; Attean teaches Matt to hunt and survive on the land. Many exciting adventures are experienced.

Comments:  Although set in a different era, the feelings of the main characters are true to the feelings of children today. This novel integrates well with social studies topic 5B Early Canada. The vast loneliness of unsettled land and the wonder and peace of nature are evoked by this text.  Back to List

SPINELLI, Jerry

Summary:  Crash Coogan, a seventh grade football sensation, mows down everything in his path, especially Penn Webb, his dweeby, vegetable-eating neighbour. Crash and his best friend, Mike, love tormenting Penn. Eventually Crash begins to rethink the concept of true friendship, when Mike plans a joke on Penn which goes too far. He discovers what true strength and power are by developing a new respect for Penn.

Comments:  This sports story appeals to students of all ages. What is different from more simplistic sports novels is that Crash’s view of winning, changes to encompass moral victories and not just sport’s victories. Realistic dialogue and adolescent jargon captures the sense of what bullying sounds and looks like. Back to:  5-6 List | 7-9 List

My Name is Seepeetza 

Summary: Seepeetza must give up her name and become Martha once she moves to a native residential school. Martha’s new world confuses her with its unfair rules and strict, unhappy nuns. Worst of all, she must deny everything that she values about being a native. Fortunately, Seepeetza reclaims her true identity when she spends her vacation time at home.

Comments: Journal entries tell Seepeetza’s story in an honest reflection of her life in the residential school. A support for religion curriculum, this novel allows for opportunities to discuss racism and its shameful place in Canadian history. *** This novel is a winner of the Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Book Prize.  Back to List

One Year Commencing 

Summary: Twelve-year-old Al struggles to deal with the terms of her parents’ divorce. Having lived with her mother in comfortable clutter in rural Alberta since young childhood, now she must spend a year living with her father in Toronto outlined in the custody order. Challenged by the separation from her best friend, Al finds life with Dad opposite to her experiences in Alberta. Mom is on a tight budget; Dad is a well-to-do real estate developer. As she matures, Al comes to terms with her parents’ differing perceptions and realities. Getting to know Dad and Toronto is difficult. However, by the end of the novel, Al has an even more difficult decision to make. Who will she live with now that the year is over- Mom or Dad?

Comments: This text depicts a wonderful year of growth for Al as she survives pain through her self-reflections. Many children struggle with family break-ups and relocations. This novel treats Al’s predicament with sensitivity without taking the subject too seriously. Because the main character is female and undergoes typical changes from young girlhood to adolescence, this novel may appeal more to girls than boys.  Back to: 5-6 List | 7-9 List

Summary:  Shichan and her family are uprooted from their home in Vancouver and interned in a prison camp for Japanese Canadians in New Denver, BC. After three years, the Takashima family is released to live as second-class citizens in Ontario. Shichan’s thoughts and feelings, of her imprisonment, haunt the sensibilities of Canadians who could allow this to happen.

Comments:  This text which is written as a journal, reads as free verse. It deals with the unjust acts of the Canadian government during World War II and is great for eliciting discussion of unjust behaviours and law. This novel can inspire social justice projects, e.g., collections for the Food Bank, CUPS. Like Sadako And The Thousand Paper Cranes, this novel can be studied in connection to Remembrance Day.  Back to:  5-6 List | 7-9 List

Summary:  Paulie and her family must leave their poverty-stricken village in Haiti to ‘seek life’. Chache lavi. In the climate of political unrest in the early 1990’s, life has become so unbearable that the villagers must escape immediately by sea.

Comments:  This novel is based on life in Haiti from 1991–94, when Jean-Bertrand Aristide was ousted by military leaders and a reign of terror followed. Many refugee children from around the world now in our classrooms can readily relate to this situation. The author uses the dialect of the Haitian people and provides a glossary of these words. Haitian creole spellings can be connected to French seeds of language. This novel is highly recommended for Immersion or Francophone schools.  Back to List

LITTLECHILD, George (illus.)

A Man Called Raven PB

Summary: Chris and Toby Greyeyes find a raven in the garage and they try to hurt it with hockey sticks. They believe that ravens are nuisances because they spread garbage all over the street. A mysterious man comes across them and scolds them for this behaviour. He uses this opportunity to teach them about the story of the raven. 

Comments: This book is an excellent support for social studies and religion curricula. Blending past with present, the magical with the real, this text is a tribute to the wisdom of the raven, a sacred animal in First Nations’ culture. George Littlechild’s brightly coloured paintings help to mythologize the depiction of the stranger. ***The cruelty towards the raven as well as the stranger’s smoking may offend some readers. The boys’ cruel behaviour is resolved after the stranger’s story-telling.  Back to: 5-6 List | 7-9 List

VOIGT, Cynthia

Summary:  12-year-old Brann believes that his father is a loser. His dad has created a ‘fortress’ out of building blocks that has been passed on through the family. Brann enters the fortress, falls asleep and travels back in time to when his father was a boy. He learns how special his father really is.

Comments:  The subject matter is relevant to students in their pre-teen years, who often see their parents as not being ‘cool’. This book illustrates how young people can have ill-conceived perception of their parents. The book is well written with challenging vocabulary and descriptive language and great character development.  Back to:  5-6 List |  7-9x List

A Dog Called Kitty

Summary:

Comments:    Back to: 5-6 List | 7-9 List

WATKINS, Yoko Kawashima

Summary:  11-year-old Yoko is living in North Korea with her mother and sister when WW II comes to an end. As they are Japanese, it becomes very dangerous for them. The Korean people want to punish the Japanese who have occupied their homeland for many years. Yoko, her mother, and sister are forced to flee not knowing the whereabouts of the brother and father. Their journey is terrifying and their struggles for survival remarkable.

Comments:  This novel provides a unique perspective of World War II. The story is a true autobiographical account. The riveting journey of survival also explores friendship, courage, and the horror of war. Students from war torn countries can relate to the story.  Back to: 5-6 List | 7-9 List

Summary:  This complex story tells of life in a small coal-mining town in the Appalachians in Virginia. Woodrow Prater moves into town to live with his grandparents when his mother disappears from their home in the hills. Woodrow and his cousin Gypsy become good friends. They learn much about themselves and their families. Together, they explore ways of coming to terms with their experiences.

Comments:  Award winning author, Ruth White, treats serious subjects with humour and love. She teaches us that there is no protection from pain for any of us, only varied ways of handling it. The language is folksy, e.g., ‘…Uncle Everett was wetting his whistle to the point of saturation…’. The characters are realistic and memorable. The tension and energy of the story are well maintained.  Back to List

A Place Not Home 

Summary: 13-year-old Nelly lives with her family in Budapest. On October 23, 1956 her home environment undergoes a major change as the Soviet army marches in and initiates Hungary’s Communist Revolution. Nelly’s family is warned of the anti-Semitic tide that will follow and since they are Jewish, they make arrangements to flee Hungary. Overcoming fears and hardship, the family makes a new home in Montréal.

Comments: Eva Wiseman effectively describes the confusion, fear, and hurt that a refugee family feels as they flee from home. The historical elements are effectively woven into the fiction. As the novel presents may opportunities to discuss issues of racism and prejudice, it is a fine support to religion curricula.  Back to: 5-6 List | 7-9 List

WOODRUFF, Elvira

Summary:  19 year old Martin Bellucci’s teacher and classmates are amazed when he gets a response to his letter to Napoleon. He also receives answers to his letters to Thomas Edison and Vincent Van Gogh. Martin’s secret partner in communication with people from the past is Gramps, who must now move to a nursing home. The touching story of a grandfather’s love for a child is blended subtly with a humorous story of horseplay and camaraderie among Martin and his friends.

Comments:  This book has relevance for children because of its setting in a single parent family. Love figures strongly in the family relationships. Death is treated sensitively with connections to myths about dying and the after life.  Back to List

WYNNE- JONES Tim

Summary:  This collection of seven short stories contains unexpected and amazing happenings to the characters. These characters encounter difficulties with family, friendships, bullies, prejudice and school projects. As the characters search for answers, they discover themselves and the special people around them.

Comments:  Young people will find the subject matter very relevant. The stories present opportunities to discuss issues and find solutions to difficult situations.  Back to:  5-6 List | 7-9x List 

Summary:  Choon-yi’s father has worked hard on the railway to earn money so that she can be reunited with him in North America. Unfortunately, Choon-yi is unable to share her passion for painting with her father because he has been killed in a railway accident. Her father has not forgotten his promise to his daughter. They are reunited to paint together as a ghostly train carries them across the New World.

Comments:  This historical fiction is based on the Chinese immigrants’ experience in coming to Canada to help build the railroad. This work contributed to the loss of lives and sacrifices by families in China. It emphasizes the long history of cultural diversity in Canada. The language and the illustrations contribute to a mood that truly adds to this story. Because of its Chinese context, this book can support grade six social studies curriculum.  Back to List