And Then It Happened By M & L Wade“…After dinner that evening, we had a large bonfire and the Head Counsellor read us some really hokey, kiddie stories… until Gordon interrupted and asked if he could tell a story. The Head Counsellor smiled and said, ‘Sure, go right […]
The Skeleton TreeBy Iain Lawrence I’ve already mentioned that I love survival stories and this one is no exception. Twelve-year-old Chris doesn’t know much about the outdoors. His parents never taught him to fish or hunt or survive in the wild. He’s scared of wild animals and downright terrified of mountain climbing. Chris’s dad, who […]
Jungle JittersBy Lisa DalrympleThis post was originally published in Canadian Materials, Volume XXIII, Number 23, February 24, 2017. Tate, aka the Potato, is known as a pretty boring kid. Nonetheless, when he and some of his grade six classmates get the opportunity to travel to the Amazon with their teacher to help build a school, he […]
The Thickety: A Path BeginsBy J.A. White Kara Westfall is a witch – at least that’s what the townsfolk keep telling her. Her mother was a witch too, although Kara doesn’t remember any magic or spells. She does remember a loving mother whom she misses very much. Kara’s mother’s legacy and reputation as a witch […]
Mark of the Plague By Kevin Sands This follow up to the wildly popular Blackthorn Key is equally good. Christopher Rowe is back, but his master is dead. Although the apothecary shop has been left to him, he is still an apprentice and therefore not allowed to sell his wares. He is in dire straits […]
Lost in the Backyard By Alison Hughes I love survival stories, and this is a good one! Flynn is 13 and couldn’t care less about nature or the environment. He finds camping pretty boring and he doesn’t pay attention in his Outdoor Ed. class. He is far more interested in his phone and his Nike […]
The Best Mistake MysteryBy Sylvia McNicoll Stephen Noble tends to worry a lot. His mom often says that he makes too much out of things. But when the fire alarm goes off at school and all the kids get sent home without even getting their agendas, Stephen suspects something is really wrong. Later that afternoon, […]
Mae and June and the Wonder Wheel By Charise Mericle HarperThis post was originally published in Canadian Materials, Volume XXIII, Number 16, December 23, 2016. June is always open to making friends, and when Mae moves in across the street, it looks like a perfect opportunity. But potential friendship is almost thwarted by the disagreeable April, […]
The Riverman By Aaron Starmer What a wild book this is! Twelve-year-old Alistair Cleary is befriended by one of the neighbourhood “weird kids” – Fiona Loomis. Fiona has a secret to tell Alistair and she trusts him not to tell – she is regularly transported to a fantasy world called Aquavania. In this magical place, […]
Eco Warrior Eco Warriorby Philip RoyEco Warrior is a wonderful tale about a sixteen year old boy named Alfred that pulls you in right away and keeps you reading from page one to the end. Alfred is traveling to Australia in a homemade submarine with his pet seagull and dog to learn how to be an […]