With summer just around the corner we thought it would be appropriate to focus this column on some summer reading choices for tweens and teens. These titles have all been reviewed in Volume 23 of Resource Links and many are on lists for a number of the Canadian Awards for Children’s and Young Adult Literature. We hope you enjoy these titles!
Summer Reading for Tweens
ALLENBY, Victoria
Timo Goes Camping
Illustrated by Dean Griffiths. Pajama Press, 2018. 48p. Gr. 1-3. 9781772780406. Pbk. $6.95
Rating: E
Timo Goes Camping is the newest early reader chapter book about the loveable rabbit Timo and his friends, such as Suki and Hedgewick. In this adventure, Timo is planning a camping trip, but as always, his anxiousness makes him so nervous that he often wonders how to make it happen; a trip to the library helps him discover about camping adventures. Timo finds the perfect book in the library, Camping is Fun, which provides him with all the information he needs, information on tying knots, using a compass, paddling a canoe, finding food and of course wilderness safety. But Timo’s biggest problem to overcome is his friend Suki and her teasing, especially when someone makes a mistake. Suki makes fun of him because he read a book on camping, and this makes Timo more nervous. Finally Timo can take no more of Suki’s comments and behaviour and confronts her. Eventually Suki realizes that her teasing is hurtful to others. The camping trip certainly was an adventure, and in the end, they friends realize that communication is the most important part of any adventure.
Each of the five characters on the camping trip has a distinctive personality: nervous Timo, smarty Suki, grumpy Bog, helpful Rae, and quiet Hedgewick. Children will relate to this cast of characters, and when the trip is complete, and the last pages of the book are read, children will understand that the camping adventure was also about courage, lessons in life, and how teasing can be hurtful. The message lends easily to opportunities for discussions about teasing, courage, teamwork, and learning from mistakes, etc. The text is refreshing, uncomplicated and the perfect font for an early chapter book.
The complementing illustrations are vibrant, delightful, and inviting. The bold vignette drawings, on both single pages and double pages, are expressive and help tell the story, especially the emotions of the animals, bringing them to life on each page. Readers will surely deviate from the text to discover the illustrations because they are so integral to the story.
Timo Goes Camping is a great book for beginning campers and readers who enjoy the outdoors. The story has lots of information and ideas for preparing for a camping trip. Certainly an enchanting story depicting a familiar Canadian adventure!
Thematic Links: Camping; Friendship; Kindness; Courage; Teasing
(Reviewed in Vol. 23, # 4 by Carmelita Cechetto-Shea)
DOWDING, Philippa
Alex and the Other (Weird Stories Gone Wrong, Book 4)
Illustrated by Shawna Daigle. Dundurn Press, 2018. 137p. Gr. 4-6. 978-1-4597-4063-1. Pbk. $9.99
Rating: E
Alex is a kind, shy and quiet guy who likes cats and is good at basketball, not that anyone notices. Alex is the loneliest boy at school, so lonely in fact that he eats his lunch in the bathroom in the school basement. Alex feels invisible to his teachers, classmates, older brother and parents. One day during lunch Alex sees his reflection wink at him in the haunted bathroom mirror. That same night he has an encounter with two mysterious strangers in overcoats amidst a green fog. The strangers warn Alex to “Beware the Other.” But what could this mean? Things only get worse when a suspicious girl that bears a resemblance to Alex appears to take over his life. Who is the girl? Why is she better than him at everything? And who can he trust to help him?
This fourth book in the Weird Stories Gone Wrong Series by Philippa Dowding will not disappoint. From the book’s first sentence readers will feel like they’ve entered into a ‘conversation’ with the author. The conversation that unfolds about a mysterious green fog, missing piglets and a frighten farmer reads like a cross between delicious gossip and a campfire tale so absurd and intriguing you can’t help but want more. With each chapter Dowding develops tension and a strong sense of Alex’s isolation and despair. Readers will no doubt relate to Alex and root for him as he tries to reclaim his life.
This fast paced and enjoyable book is great for hi-low readers. The story is brought to a satisfying conclusion without loose ends. Readers will also gain insight into Dowding’s motivations behind this instalment in the Weird Stories Gone Wrong Series through a letter at the beginning of the book. Shawna Daigle’s creepy illustrations punctuate the text and add to the mystery.
Thematic Links: Mystery; Aliens; Doppelgängers; Asking for Help; Believing in Yourself
(Reviewed in Vol. 23, # 3 by Ana Malespin)
HUMPHREY, Anna
Megabat
Illustrated by Kass Reich. Tundra Books, 2018. 192p. Gr. 2-5. 978-0-7352-6257-7. Hdbk. $18.95
Rating: E
Megabat by Anna Humphrey could easily have a subtitle of “home is where the heart is”. This endearing and hilarious chapter book tells about the unlikely friendship of a boy and a bat, both suffering from loneliness. Daniel has moved to a new home, and initially thinks the house might be haunted. Megabat (a fruit bat) was eating a papaya one day, minding his own business when he was scooped up and placed in a box, a box that was being sent halfway around the world. Megabat was so scared that he thought by frightening the humans he would overcome his loneliness; but in Daniel, he eventually discovers that not all humans want to get rid of him.
Besides both Daniel and Megabat having the feelings of loneliness, they also share a love for Darth Vader, jellyrolls and fruit. This common bond creates a wonderful and engaging friendship that makes them discover that home is not just about the physical structure, a home is where the heart is. Daniel is a typical kid, curious and determined to keep his new friend a secret from his parents. Megabat is a funny very talkative little guy, he has a childlike voice, mischievous; he is also the reason for the reappearing puddle of water which has the parents thinking there is a leak in the roof. Megabat refers to himself as “mine” as in “mine was napping on a tree one day” (pg. 39). The new friends hatch a plan to send Megabat back to his homeland in Borneo. But when Daniel and his friend Talia go to the post office, they discover they can’t send fruit through the mail which also means Megabat can’t get sent back that day. Daniel’s parents come close to learning about Megabat’s existence, but Daniel makes the bat wait outside the window and he goes missing. The search begins. Once found the story returns to the plan to send Megabat home, but it is a futile task. Megabat can’t even use echolocation to return to his homeland. Will Megabat make it home? Or will he learn that “home is where the heart is”? One must also not forget about Birdgirl (she plays an integral part of the discovery of home).
Scattered through the text are black and white illustrations, adding detail and realism to the story. The illustrations bring Megabat to life, because he is a talking bat of course! Each drawing keeps the momentum of the book flowing, giving the reader a visual to the text being read. With the illustrations, the readers get a clearer glimpse of the characters emotions: love, worry, fear, happiness, etc.
Megabat is a delightful story, and according to the book cover one of the main characters is an “itty-bitty bat with a MEGA personality”. Ultimately, Daniel and Megabat find the true meaning of home, a lesson for all readers, young and old. Megabat would be a great chapter book introduction for reluctant readers, especially boys. A must for any school or public library, especially as a read-aloud.
Thematic Links: Fruit Bats; Uncommon Friendship; Loneliness; Power of Love; Kindness
(Reviewed in Vol. 23, # 4 by Carmelita Cechetto-Shea)
KORMAN, Gordon
Restart
Scholastic Press, 2017. 243p. Gr. 4-8.
978-1338-05377-7. Hdbk. $21.99
Rating: E
Chase Ambrose is a jerk. He’s mean, aggressive, arrogant, uncaring, and a bully. He’s also a sports superstar at the middle school he attends (as was his father before him), which means he mostly goes unpunished by the school’s administration for bullying his fellow classmates. That is, until he got amnesia.
Chase wakes up in the hospital sore with a concussion not knowing how he got there. He doesn’t recognize any of the people surrounding his bed and when he is presented with a mirror, he doesn’t even recognize himself! His memory loss allows him an opportunity rarely afforded to anyone else: a chance to start his life over from scratch.
As he tries to piece together his life before waking up in hospital, he encounters several unsettling incidents. A classmate named Shoshanna angrily dumps a bowl of ice cream over his head one evening at an ice cream bar; his four-year old half-sister is terrified of him and screams when he comes near her; his step-mother is uneasy in his presence; as well, some of his classmates cower when he addresses them. As he learns more and more about himself before the accident from his parents, his two best friends Aaron and Bear, and his classmates, he’s startled to discover that he’s a hero to some, but a bully to others.
On top of all of this, he keeps seeing an image of a girl in a dress. What could it mean? Throughout the course of the book, random images come to his mind triggering his memory. At the same time he’s busy trying to remember his former life, he’s making friends with the classmates he formerly bullied, including the twin sister of a boy he bullied so badly that he had to be sent to boarding school. He can’t play football due to an injury sustained in the accident, so he joins the video club, unaware that it’s full of folks he tormented on a daily basis. At first wary of Chase, they gradually begin to warm to him as he helps them with a project and protects them from fellow bullies: his friends Aaron and Bear.
Chase’s new life isn’t without its bumps in the road: in the process of doing community service at a nursing home as punishment stemming from a bullying incident that led to the destruction of school property, he witnesses Aaron and Bear stealing from an older lady with memory problems. A war medal of one of the residents also goes missing, and when Chase sets out to find it, he discovers that he was the thief. Can a bully really change?
Each chapter of Restart is told from the perspective of different characters in the book: Chase, the main character, Shoshanna Weber, the twin sister of the boy tormented so badly he was sent away to boarding school for his own safety, Brendan Espinoza, nerd and member of the video club, and Aaron Hakimian, brutish friend, bully, and fellow member of the football team. This is a great book for those aged 9 to 13 and provides insight into the bullies and those that are bullied. The plot is very realistic, thoughtful, and a great conversation starter on the topic of bullying. This would be a great addition to the bookshelves of the classroom and library.
Thematic Links: Bullying; Amnesia; Middle Grades; Sports; Getting Along; Divorced Parents; Stepfamily; Fighting; Stealing
(Reviewed in Vol. 23, # 1 by Catherine Bellamy)
LAWRENCE, Katherine
Stay
Coteau Books, 2017. 128p. Gr. 5-7.
978-1-55050-681-5. Pbk. $9.95
Rating: E
Millie is an eleven year old girl whose story is told in verse. Her twin brother Billy died at birth, but she keeps his spirit alive by speaking with him often in her imagination. Millie tells her brother: “You live here, in my heart, where I talk to you / any time I want.” Billy is a soothing presence in Millie’s otherwise chaotic life. Her parents are in the midst of a messy separation, and she feels her father’s absence keenly. Lawrence conveys Millie’s thoughts and feelings through beautifully crafted poetic passages describing the thrills of an anticipated birthday party and the empty space left by her father at the kitchen dinner table. Both Millie’s fears and joys are made palpable thanks to Lawrence’s use of evocative and nuanced language. Like many children who have experienced a divorce or separation, Millie’s deepest worry is that her parents will fall out of love with her like they did with each other. To combat the mountain of worries threatening to crush Millie, her hope of adopting a dog becomes a life raft during turbulent times, buoying her spirits when she bumps into a kind stranger who helps make Millie’s canine dream a reality. In this way, Lawrence celebrates the power of chance connections and shows readers that a family can be reconstructed – albeit slowly – with the help of compassion, care, and tenderness.
Stay is a memorable and affecting novel that will resonate long after reading. It is a highly recommended middle-grade addition to all library collections.
Thematic Links: Family; Siblings; Separation; Loss; Dogs; Healing; Compassion; Love
(Reviewed in Vol. 23, # 2 by Chloe Humphreys)
LAWSON, Julie
A Blinding Light
Nimbus Publishing, 2017. 264p. Gr. 5-7.
978-1-771085410. Pbk. $14.95
Rating: G
Julie Lawson has a way of writing realistic characters who resonate with children today, while still staying true to the spirit and culture of her historical settings. In A Blinding Light, she has created two wonderful characters in Will and Livy Schneider, part of a half-German family living in Halifax in 1917, during the Great War. Both are witnesses to and victims of the devastating Halifax Explosion on the morning of December 6th that killed almost 2000 people. Twelve-year-old Livy has trekked by herself to the Richmond area of town, which was completely destroyed, to meet up with her family’s former housekeeper, while Will is almost at the heart of the explosion, in Citadel Hill, on assignment for his school paper.
Will witnesses the horror firsthand, and is then called to testify at the official investigation to discuss whose fault the explosion was – the French cargo ship Mont Blanc, which was carrying volatile explosives, or the Imo, an empty Belgian relief ship. The court, and the citizens of Halifax, are only too happy to blame the Mont Blanc, but Will stands strong and gives an account of the events that should prevent the Mont Blanc’s captain to be used as a scapegoat.
Will, whose father has been mysteriously missing for some time after a ship’s accident, is thrown into a political fight based on a strong anti-German prejudice. He is a character of incredible integrity and strength, and Lawson’s eloquent and realistic writing of him is top notch. With alternating chapters between Will’s and Livy’s points of views, this historical fiction novel is a thought-provoking read with extremely well-represented themes of resilience, tragedy, and humanity.
As an excellent account of the single largest man-made explosion in history before the 1945 atomic bomb detonation, as well as its aftermath, this riveting novel is highly recommended as a must-have addition to any Canadian library.
Thematic Links: Halifax Explosion; World War I; Disasters; Social Classes; Prejudice; Germans in Canada; Humanitarian Efforts; Resilience
(Reviewed in Vol. 23, # 3 by Nicole Rowlinson)
POLAK, Monique
Princess Angelica: Camp Catastrophe (Orca Echoes Series)
Illustrated by Jane Heinrichs. Orca Book Publishers, 2018. 97p. Illus. Gr. 2-3. 978-1-459815384. Pbk. $6.00
Rating: G
Princess Angelica: Camp Catastrophe introduces the reader to a spunky character Angelica (also known as Jelly) who has a knack for telling stories based on a vivid imagination; the combination of the two often gets her into trouble. Angelica’s friend Maddie tends to listen in awe to the stories, but this summer will be different. “Jelly” is off to summer camp, for the first time, and it is certain she will create one “unbelievable” story. Angelica’s mom hates the fact that her father calls Angelica “Princess”; her mom believes it creates stereotypes and makes snobs. But Angelica relishes in being royalty!
But all the royalty perks soon disappear when Maddie surprises the “Princess” and blows her cover and the real Jelly is exposed. Angelica soon discovers that being yourself may be the best person to be! Told in first person narrative, Princess Angelica: Camp Catastrophe is a humble camp story that provides a message of being one’s self is the best. Putting on airs can actually cause you more issues than one might want. Monique Polak recalls her own experience in this story, as she once told campmates she was a princess. Both Polak and Angelica are great storytellers!
The black and white illustrations by Jane Heinrichs enhance the story with subtle images of being young at camp, and discovering how wonderful you truly are.
A title from the Orca Echoes Series, Princess Angelica: Camp Catastrophe is a great chapter book that children will relate to, especially if they have been to summer camp. Who cannot enjoy a book with adventure and messages built in? Hopefully Ms. Polak tells more stories about the delightful Princess Angelica!
Thematic Links: Being One’s Self; Camp; Friendship; Storytelling
(Reviewed in Vol. 23, # 2 by Carmelita Cechetto-Shea)
SPALDING, Esta
Knock About with the Fitzgerald-Trouts
Illustrated by Sydney Smith. Tundra Books, 2017. 298p. Illus. Gr. 3-5. 978-1-77049-878-5. Hdbk. $19.99
Rating: G
The Fitzgerald-Trouts are Kim, Kimo, Pippa, Toby, and Penny, a family of children who live in a car on a tropical island. In this, their second outing, the Fitzgerald-Trouts are on summer break when they meet an unusual person who calls herself Leaf. Leaf points out all the changes the island is undergoing: a dormant volcano has awakened, rain is causing floods, earthquakes (the “knock abouts” of the title) are occurring frequently, and there are brizzill bugs everywhere. She reminds the children that they’re islanders, whispers that they need to be ready to help, and then melts into the night. So begins their new adventure, in which they win and lose a boat, attempt to fix a broken romance, and discover the secret to the island’s distress.
Knock About with the Fitzgerald-Trouts, the sequel to 2016’s Look Out for the Fitzgerald-Trouts, has a rollicking plot underpinned by a gentle lesson about environmentalism and localism. It’s also one of those fantastic books in which the kids live far from their terrible parents and other interfering adults. Adults are generally a negative force for the Fitzgerald-Trouts. They’re obstructive, they don’t listen, they think their job is to teach and correct, and worst of all, they’re unimaginably self-centred. Most of the parents remain off-stage this time, with the exception of Johnny Trout, Kimo’s father, who proves to be truly terrible. In our era of hands-on parenting, the lives of the Fitzgerald-Trouts may seem dazzlingly strange to many readers, but the cooperation, compassion, ingenuity, and self-reliance the siblings display are admirable.
Knock About with the Fitzgerald-Trouts should prove tremendous fun for middle-grade readers, although critical readers may have a tough time suspending their disbelief in the children’s situation. The book is sweetly illustrated by Sydney Smith and is beautifully designed. The author’s attention to rhythm and patterns makes the text an appealing read-aloud choice in the classroom. It’s also a strong “summer reading” choice for both boys’ and girls’ home libraries.
Thematic Links: Families; Siblings; Home; Ecosystems; Summer Vacation
(Reviewed in Vol. 23, # 1 by Leslie Vermeer)
Summer Reading for Teens
BERKHOUT, Nina
The Mosaic
Groundwood Books, 2017. 272p. Gr. 8-12. 978-1-55498-985-0. Hdbk. $18.95
Rating: E
The Mosaic tells the story of Twyla Jane Lee, a teenage pacifist who can’t wait to leave her military hometown where war and the army pervade every corner of the community. In Twyla’s words Halo, Montana leads “a double life, looking restful and rural above ground with weapons of mass destruction below.” In order to graduate, Twyla accepts a forty-hour community service assignment that pairs her with a solitary young marine named Gabriel Finch. He’s suffering from PTSD, but Twyla soon discovers that Gabe is channeling his trauma into a stunning mosaic made from ammunition and housed in a decommissioned missile silo. Twyla convinces Gabe to enter his artwork in the MOMA’s “America’s Next Great Artist” competition, and their relationship slowly blossoms in the face of tragedy, prejudice and community backlash.
Author Nina Berkhout writes with clarity and compassion about difficult subjects that affect us all. She makes it clear that conflict – in all shapes and forms – is exceptionally complicated, and that both intolerance and understanding exist in equal measure when it comes to war. Her characters are whole and nuanced individuals, allowing for readers to revel in their quirks and understand their flaws. In particular, Twyla’s Nan, who writes poems to Leonard Cohen and fiercely loves her family, is a strong and endearing character. Romance fans will enjoy the subtleties of Twyla and Gabe’s developing relationship which moves believably from antipathy to love.
The Mosaic is an engrossing and beautifully written young adult novel, making it a highly recommended addition to all library collections.
Thematic Links: War; The Army; Pacifism; Prejudice; Understanding; Love; Art
(Reviewed in Vol. 23, # 2 by Chloe Humphreys)
BURTINSHAW, Julie
Saying Good-bye to London
Second Story Press, 2017. 262p. Gr. 8-10.
978-1-77260-029-2. Pbk. $12.95
Rating: E
Saying Good-bye to London is a hard-hitting yet sensitively written novel about teen pregnancy, told primarily from the perspective of fifteen-year-old Francis, a quiet boy whose first romance leads to a baby, an adoption, and a rapid transition to the responsibilities of adult life.
The novel spans a little more than a year. Francis meets Sawyer, their relationship blooms, and within a few months they’ve broken up over the news of Sawyer’s pregnancy. When Francis first learns that Sawyer is pregnant, he reacts very, very badly. It is only through the persistent direction of his friends that he starts to change his attitude. As such, readers are invited to grow with Francis – and with Sawyer. Although most of the time readers experience the story through Francis’s eyes, now and then the author lets readers slip into Sawyer’s point of view, as well as that of various other characters, lending a much broader view to the unfolding events. The plot never drags, the narration is direct and matter of fact, and it communicates without becoming preachy – a tone books about teen pregnancy sometimes adopt.
At its core, however, Saying Good-bye to London is a novel about fathers. Sawyer’s best friend, Jack, is homeless because his abusive father has thrown him out for being gay. At the same time, Francis’s best friend, Kevin, is living through the death of his father, who has been an important figure in Francis’s life. Francis and Sawyer both have complex relationships with their own fathers. Though boys may be reluctant to read a book apparently about pregnancy, this one offers some deep thinking about what it means to be a good man, what it means to be a father (rather than just a “sperm donor,” as Sawyer crisply comments), what it means to be a good partner.
This novel is likely to evoke strong responses. It would make an excellent selection for a teen reading group or as an independent novel study in grade nine or ten. Readers are sure to have opinions about Sawyer’s choice to have the baby, the process of private adoption, the couple selected to adopt baby London, and Francis’s treatment of Sawyer. Layers of complexity in the text will encourage conversation and reflection, and there are numerous themes readers can evaluate against their own morals and ethics. Saying Good-bye to London is a rewarding book on many levels.
Thematic Links: Pregnancy; Adoption; Families; Fathers; Vancouver
(Reviewed in Vol. 23, # 1 by Leslie Vermeer)
CAMLOT, Heather
Clutch
Red Deer Press, 2017. 240p. Gr. 5 up.
978-0-88995-548-6. Pbk. $12.95
Rating: E
The year is 1946, it’s summer in Montreal and Jackie Robinson is playing for the Montreal Royals. Twelve-year old Joey Grosser’s father has died of a heart attack and Joey is trying to keep the family grocery store afloat while his mother mourns and his six year-old brother David obsesses about baseball and Jackie Robinson.
Joey wants out of the Plateau, his poor Jewish neighbourhood, but the store is not a money-maker, thanks to Joey’s father’s kind nature. Joey hopes to change that and make enough money to move his family west across Park Avenue, closer to Westmout.
Joey’s Bar Mitzvah is fast approaching and it is to be shared with the Rabbi’s granddaughter as a B’nai Mitzvah; a newish approach. Joey has a crush on the Rabbi’s granddaughter but her father is a doctor, so Joey feels he doesn’t have a chance, even though there may be a chance that she likes him. The most important thing for Joey is making money and getting out of the neighbourhood. He is intent on being a businessman, so he tries to ensure his customers pay their bills.
However, Joey is being watched by the local thug whose son just happens to be Joey’s best friend. The aptly-named Mr. Wolfe wants to use Joey’s drive to help his own criminal pursuits and sets about to make sure Joey cannot escape his plan. Joey is first unaware of the sinister plot and later ignores his growing discomfort about Mr. Wolfe’s intentions because his main concern is getting out of the Plateau. Joey disregards his friend Ben’s comments about his thug father to the point it almost costs both boys their lives.
Each chapter in this book is given a title accompanied by a quote from sportswriters observing the ground-breaking career of Jackie Robinson, the first black baseball player in the major leagues. The titles and quotes accompany the story but are not essential to it, yet the outcome of the story does tie in quite satisfyingly with the Jackie Robinson motif and that is worth the price of admission.
After 20 years as an editor, writer, and translator, this is Heather Camlot’s first novel. It has been listed among Kirkus Reviews’ Best Middle-Grade Historical Fiction of 2017. This book may not be The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravtiz, but it is a YA major league contender.
Thematic Links: Montreal; Late 1940s; Jewish Life; Family Life; Friendship; Baseball; Jackie Robinson
(Reviewed in Vol. 23, # 3 by Lesley Little)
DIMALINE, Cherie
The Marrow Thieves
Dancing Cat Books, 2017. 231p. Gr. 9-11.
978-1-77086-486-3. Pbk. $14.95
Rating: E
Frenchie’s brother, Mitch, sacrifices his survival so that Frenchie can escape the Recruiters – government officials who work for the Department Oneirology. The mandate of this department is to capture Indigenous people who, rumour has it, are being experimented on and murdered because they still have the power to dream. The official rhetoric is that the Indigenous people are being put into “schools,” modelled on the historical principles of Residential Schools, for their own protection. Frenchie is left to continue the journey north in the hope that he can survive long enough to meet up with other “Indians” (17). As luck would have it, Frenchie is saved from hypothermia by Miigwans and his “family” and he joins them as they continue their journey. It is a journey that will put Frenchie’s will and determination to the test and challenge his beliefs in ways he could never have imagined. Can there be a hopeful ending when persecution and strife seem to be around every corner?
The Marrow Thieves is a gorgeous and surprising novel. Dimaline expertly weaves Indigenous lore and history with post-apocalyptical tropes to create an exciting must-read. All of her characters are rich, flawed, and multi-dimensional. Each character’s story is unique. From beginning to end, this page-turner does just the right amount of heart-warming and heart-wrenching. Accolades will abound for this gem of a novel.
Thematic Links: Post-Apocalyptic Survival; Relationships; Friendship; Residential Schools; Indigenous Lore and Story; Self-Discovery; Loyalty
(Reviewed in Vol. 23, # 1 by Angela Thompson)
GOLD, Jennifer
On the Spectrum
Second Story Press, 2017. 319p. Gr. 7-12.
978-1-77260-042-1. Pbk. $13.95
Rating: E
Clara and her half-brother Alastair are both on the spectrum: he is on the spectrum of autism, and she is on the spectrum of eating disorders. Her professional ballerina mother has always been concerned with her weight, and correlates healthy with thin. As a result, both Clara and her mother have developed obsessions about caloric and nutritional content, and their diet is almost exclusively sushi and Perrier. When the school counsellor suggests that they need professional help, they are in denial.
Then Clara gets an invitation to spend the summer with her father, his new wife, and their six-year-old son Alastair at their home in Paris. Clara knows her brother has autism, but doesn’t realize what a special little boy he is until she gets to know him better. He has challenges with crowds and over-stimulation, but he is very clever and refreshingly honest. In return, she helps him to better understand social norms, and helps his parents to address the bullying which has been happening. But Paris is also a food culture, and the handsome son of the downstairs bakery owner encourages Clara to appreciate the pleasures of food. Only when she learns her mother has broken her hip due to osteoporosis does Clara admit the extent of their “folie à deux”. They are both ready to seek help.
In her acknowledgements, the author explains: “I wanted to convey to readers that girls with eating disorders aren’t all anorexic or bulimic – that disordered eating and body image disorders exist on a spectrum – and to show that being on the autism spectrum is not a curse of some kind.” (p. 321) This novel addresses the role of peer pressure and of social media in a clear and authentic manner, with charming characters. After all, who isn’t “on the spectrum” in some aspect of their life?
Thematic Links: Autism; Eating Disorders; Orthorexia; Relationships to Food; Paris; Romance
(Reviewed in Vol. 23, # 2 by Patricia Jermey)
JUBY, Susan
The Fashion Committee
Penguin Teen Canada, 2017. 305p. Gr. 7-12.
978-0-670-06760-2. Hdbk. $21.99
Rating: E
What if you could get everything you ever wanted by winning a contest? Charlie Dean is obsessed with winning a scholarship to Green Pastures, the private art school in her home town. Her dream is to become a famous fashion designer, and she has spent her whole life working toward that dream despite all her problems. Competing against a strong group of teenage designers, Charlie still believes she has a chance to win. However, she is worried about one competitor in particular, John Thomas-Smith, whose real love is metal working. He dreams of becoming a famous metal sculptor one day, but has no chance of realizing his dream because of his circumstances. The fashion contest would get him into the art school and give him a high profile in the art community to help his future efforts.
Both Charlie and John face incredible odds against them. Charlie’s mother died of a drug overdose, and her father is still an addict. Charlie is the “adult” in her household. Her dad’s current girlfriend is Charlie’s model for the fashion show, but her violent ex-boyfriend keeps showing up at inopportune times. Will they ruin Charlie’s chances to finally attain her fashion dream? John has a dead end job at the Salad Stop and lives with his caring but impoverished grandparents. Although they support his metal-working dreams, they could never afford art school. His two best friends are supportive, but he soon betrays them. Will he be able to fake his way in the fashion contest to get closer to his metal-working dream? This superbly written novel is told in the alternating voices of Charlie and John’s journals about the fashion contest. There are very strict rules for the contest which eat up all their time before the contest. In the end, both Charlie and John must face up to their mistakes and errors in judgement as their fashion dreams crash around them.
Susan Juby has captured the spirit of the fashion world in her marvellous novel. The fact that the two protagonists are male and female makes this novel approachable for all readers. Juby spends some time addressing the importance of “fashion” in everyone’s life. There are also many interesting descriptions of fashion; however, the novel also addresses many diverse themes including: drug addiction, dating violence, poverty, resilience, grief, family relationships, friendship and same sex relationships. Readers of all ages will definitely enjoy their dose of fashion in Susan Juby’s novel The Fashion Committee!
Thematic Links: Creativity; Fashion; Arts Education; Friendship; Integrity; Bullying; Drug Addiction; Family Relationships; Dating Violence
(Reviewed in Vol. 23, # 1 by Myra Junyk)
KINSELLA, Warren
Recipe for Hate
Dundurn Press, 2017. 304p. Gr. 9-12.
978-1-459739062. Pbk. $14.99
Rating: E
Canadian political gadfly Warren Kinsella likely relives his misspent rocking youth in this lively mystery about the punk rock scene in the late 1970s. From historical snippets of actual punk/racist news, Kinsella sets a story in Portland, Maine where a group of young punk enthusiasts led by the enigmatic and intelligent Christopher “X” find themselves at odds with the police and justice system when two of their friends are mysteriously and brutally killed. More dubious deaths occur. More beatings. Yet the police seem determined to set the blame squarely in the punk scene, despite obvious clues that there is more horror and hate and possibly even religion involved. It is up to The X Gang to solve the crimes – which they do with a little help from their biker friends.
In spite of the fact that this book is highly entertaining, Kinsella also manages to make it instructive by pursuing some major social themes that are under particular scrutiny today. In showing off to the world the puck-rock community, he stands up for the value and importance of non-conformity and why we shouldn’t judge too quickly. Another important theme is justice and Kinsella does a great job of demonstrating the strengths and weaknesses of the justice system (Kinsella is also a lawyer!). The book is also a pretty strong testament to the power of hate and the consequences of racism, although it never becomes pedantic or boring.
Recipe for Hate is a real page-turner despite also being a fictional history of punk rock, its philosophy and its musical greats. Narrated by X’s best friend, Kurt Blank, some twenty years or so after the fact, the story still holds together beautifully and its pace is maintained by short breathy chapters (60+), although this sometimes creates some choppy plotting and incredulity for the reader. There’s just enough profanity to keep punk wannabes happy.
Because Recipe for Hate is a high action plot there’s little room for explicit characterization, and some of the characters in the book would be ripe for more exploration, particularly “X” and Kurt (who is gay and in the closet). Additionally, the whole story might have been less bumpy had there been fewer parachute characters dropped into the narrative. On the whole, though, it all works very well. Highly recommended.
Thematic Links: Racism; Punk-Rock Music
(Reviewed in Vol. 23, # 3 by Anne Letain)
SANDOR, Steven
Stick Pick (Sports Stories)
James Lorimer & Co., 2017. 125p. Gr. 4-10.
978-1-4594-1219-4. Pbk. $12.95
Rating: E
Janine is one of the most popular kids in school and a star hockey player. When her family’s vehicle is hit in a head-on collision, her life is changed forever: she is paralyzed from the waist down. Her mother is also badly injured, and cannot get past the unfairness of the accident. Janine goes through the stages of grieving for her loss: denial, and then anger. After several months of rehabilitation, she goes home to their newly accessible house, and starts back to school taking the “short bus”. Her former team-mate and best friend Rowena is there to support her in every way, and suggests that she and Janine might want to try sledge hockey. Janine angrily retorts, “I am not going to play some game that is nothing but a pity party for cripples!” (p. 59). Rowena responds with tough love, “You say you don’t want to play sledge hockey because it’s a pity party. But, look at yourself. You tell me how hard it is to ride in the van with Marlon. Whine, whine, whine. How you don’t want to do this and you don’t want to do that. Whine, whine, whine. I try to be there for you and you go on like I’m the last person you want to see. So, really, haven’t you been having your own pity party all along? Get out. I meant it. I’m tired of seeing you saying no to this and complain about that or try to get out of assignments. One day you’ll figure out that it’s just a chair. That you’re still you.” (p. 60). Janine is shocked, and angered, and decides she will try sledge hockey just to show Rowena.
They both learn how physically demanding the sport is, and how rewarding it can be. Janine also realizes why she did not want to be friendly to Marlon: for years she had ignored him and his disability. She turns one of her school assignments into a presentation on the challenges for accessibility just within their school. Her teacher suggests that she use Marlon’s computer skills, and together they create a blog to highlight accessibility and rights for the disabled in their community. Finally, she writes a victim impact statement for the court regarding the accident, in which she forgives the other driver. She is ready to move on.
This book clearly portrays the difficulties encountered by Janine, her family and her friends. The chapter where the family decides to eat out in a restaurant is an excellent example of the frustrations. As protagonist, Janine is not always likeable: her thoughts and actions are often rude and selfish. But this honesty makes Stick Pick both believable and powerful.
Thematic Links: Sports; Sledge Hockey; Paralympic Sports; Friendship; Disabilities
(Reviewed in Vol. 23, # 3 by Patricia Jermey)
STRATTON, Allan
The Way Back Home
Scholastic Canada Ltd., 2017. 269p. Gr. 7-12.
978-1-4431-4838-2. Hdbk. $19.99
Rating: E
Zoe Bird can’t catch a break even though she has, “the biggest heart in the world.” (p. 17). She cherishes the time she spends with her grandmother, but the family wants to put her grandmother in a home because of her dementia. Her mother’s hair salon in their living room ruins her social life. Her obnoxious cousin Madi makes her life miserable at school with constant criticism and bullying. She tells Zoe, “Stop talking to me at school, stop sitting at my table, and don’t visit my locker. Okay?” (p. 9).
The issue of her grandmother dominates Zoe’s life. Her grandmother is very forgetful, but she tells Zoe she would, “rather be dead than trapped in Greenview Haven.” (p. 34). For Zoe, her grandmother’s desire to remain at home is not a matter of safety, it is a matter of freedom to do what she wants with her remaining days. Her grandmother wants her son Teddy to take care of her, but he has been disowned by his family for some mysterious reason. As a result, she goes to the retirement home, much to Zoe’s dismay. Zoe decides to find Teddy. After an argument, Zoe is violently bullied by her vicious cousin Madi. Her parents believe Madi’s lies and blame Zoe. “You lock me up. You take my phone. You never listen.” (p. 114). With nothing to lose, Zoe and her grandmother run away from the retirement home and travel to Toronto to find Teddy. However, they soon discover that Teddy now has a new life – as a woman.
This is a beautifully written narrative about the strong relationship between a granddaughter and her grandmother. It is also an examination of how one family deals with the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. This novel deals with several important questions: How does a family ensure the dignity of a grandparent while still keeping them safe during the onset of memory loss? Where do you draw the line on bullying? What role does forgiveness and acceptance play in family relationships? How does change impact relationships? Readers of all ages will discover that this wonderful novel deals with important questions with sensitivity and honesty. “Sometimes there’s no good answer. Those are the hardest times of all.” (p. 260).
Thematic Links: Alzheimer’s Disease; Family Relationships; Senior Care; Bullying; Empathy; Transgender Relationships; Retirement Homes; Homelessness
(Reviewed in Vol. 23, # 1 by Myra Junyk)
WALTERS, Eric
Fourth Dimension
Penguin Teen Canada, 2018. 370p. Gr. 7-12.
978-0-14-319844-4. Hdbk. $21.99
Rating: G
In Fourth Dimension Eric Walters is riffing on his successful Rule of Three Series by switching to a female teen main character and her ex-Marine mother, who uses her training to cope in a dystopian future where all computer controlled devices have failed. Emma’s father, also a Marine, is currently overseas on an assignment. Her mother and her brother have prepared to go for a camping weekend, and Emma grudgingly agrees to join them. But a power outage in their building, and in their neighbourhood, and in their city, leads their mother to decide they should just canoe to the city’s nearby islands (based on the Toronto islands) and use their camping gear for the weekend. They have a tent, sleeping bags, a water purifier and food for several days, assuming the problem will be soon resolved. But Emma’s mother is preparing for the fourth dimension: “There’s a fourth dimension to people that you don’t normally see. Normal, nice people in normal and nice circumstances become different when bad things happen. Desperate situations cause people to do desperate things.” (p. 29). As days turn into weeks, she is proven right: without running water, electricity, or transportation, people are forced to do whatever they need to in order to survive. The family returns to their condo to get more supplies, and finds that every apartment has been broken into and robbed. Emma realizes that her treasured accumulation of clothing and tech toys is less important to her than a fishing rod and a hunting bow. The new circumstances force a re-evaluation of priorities.
The family eventually joins up with several others, and then combines their resources with the citizens of Ward’s Island. That community has a democratic and pacifist tradition, but when brutally attacked by desperate, violent, and well-armed men, they decide they must adopt a more militaristic attitude. As Ellen says, “Peace comes at a price, and sometimes that price is being willing to fight.” (p. 242). The second half of the novel is tactics and training in a war zone, and Emma learns what it feels like to kill in order to protect your loved ones.
Walters places a dystopian concept in a very realistic world, and a reader familiar with the Toronto islands will recognize the details, down to the petting zoo, amusement park and marina. Emma and her mother are admirable female role models, who take on military leadership. Walters makes us face the fact that the strong, and well-prepared, survive.
Thematic Links: Strong Females; Dystopian Fiction; Military Training
(Reviewed in Vol. 23. # 4 by Patricia Jermey)
Resource Links, published 5 times a year is Canada’s national journal devoted to the review and evaluation of Canadian resources for children and young adults
Resource Links reviews new information books, picture books and novels for children and young adults, audio-visual materials, computer software, and Internet resources for young people and professional literature of interest to teachers and librarians.
Resource Links informs you about Canadian writers, awards and announcements. Everything of interest to a Canadian audience.
Resource Links is written by educators, librarians and writers working with young people across the nation. Our reviewers span the country from British Columbia to Newfoundland.
For subscription information, feature columns, excerpts, and a comprehensive index visit the Resource Links website at: www.resourcelinksmagazine.ca
