Author |
Title |
Comment |
Category |
|
Allende, Isabel |
City of the Beasts |
An adventure story that takes place during a treacherous trip down the Amazon river. Ghosts, snakes, an adventurer grandmother … there’s a lot going on in these 400 pages! |
translated from the Spanish |
|
Almond, David |
*Clay |
Two young, mischievous altar boys befriend another boy who can bring clay creations to life. David Almond’s novel are a bit creepy – you never know how far he is going to take things … |
British 2005 |
|
Anderson, Jodi Lynn |
Peaches
|
Three very different girls end up on a Georgia peach farm and they learn about the healing power of friendship. All three are interesting, complex characters and the story is a lot of fun to read. If you liked The Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants, you’ll probably enjoy this too. |
2005 |
|
Anderson, Laurie Halse |
Speak |
Tough, tender, darkly funny story of a teenage outcast. Gripping plot, powerful characters. Melinda’s sarcastic wit, honesty & courage make her a memorable protagonist. Highly recommended. |
(SWC) |
|
Anderson, Laurie Halse |
Fever 1793 |
Fictional account of the yellow fever epidemic that killed thousands in Philadelphia in, you guessed it, 1793. Good historical detail, and a compelling story of the events that befall an independent-minded young girl. |
2000 |
|
Anonymous |
Go Ask Alice |
A diary of a teenage girl caught in the world of drugs. |
(SWC) |
|
Baird, Alison |
The Hidden World |
A girl is sent to Newfoundland for the summer and discovers a secret world of Celtic myths and legend. |
Cdn (SWC) |
|
Bédard, Michael |
Redwork |
A teenage boy and his friend are fascinated by the eccentric behaviour of his landlord. A blend of fantasy, realism and history. |
Cdn (SWC) |
|
Bell, William |
Crabbe |
An 18 yr.-old boy learns important life lessons in Algonquin Park while on a canoe trip with a mysterious woman. |
Cdn (SWC) |
|
Bell, William |
Forbidden City |
A teenage boy is caught in the middle of the Tiananmen Square massacre. |
Cdn (SWC) |
|
Bell, William |
Speak to the Earth |
Loosely based on the environmental battle to protect Clayoquot Sound in B.C. A boy and his mother are caught up in the fight between loggers and environmentalists. |
Cdn (SWC) |
|
Bell, William |
Stones |
A boy in his last year of high school meets mysterious girl. Together they learn about prejudice and persecution in their community. |
Cdn |
|
Bell, William |
Zack |
A boy traces his roots and discovers racism. |
Cdn (SWC) |
|
Bennett, Holly |
*The Bonemender |
Gabrielle is a bonemender, a healer with special abilities. One day a stranger arrives, desperately seeking help for his injured friend. He is an Elf (think Lord of the Rings) and brings word that an invasion is imminent. A romantic and suspenseful fantasy. 200 pages. |
Cdn 2005 (SWC) |
|
Blume, Judy |
Tiger Eyes |
A girl overcomes the tragic death of her father to find love. (Has the distinction of disappearing instantly and permanently from my collection not once, but twice!) |
(SWC) |
|
Boraks-Nemetz, L. |
Sunflower Diary |
16 yr.-old Jewish survivor of World War II immigrates to Canada. |
(SWC) |
|
Bradford, Karleen |
There Will be Wolves |
During the 11th century, a young girl experiences the dark side of the Crusades. Winner 1992 Cdn Library Assoc. YA award. |
Cdn (SWC) |
|
Bray, Libba |
A Great and Terrible Beauty |
16 yr. old Gemma Doyle is not your typical girl in Victorian England. Although she is being groomed to be a rich man’s wife, she has other ideas. She also has frightening visions that come true and she is being followed by a mysterious young man from India. Some bizarre supernatural elements; interesting insights about friendship. |
|
|
Brian, Kate |
Lucky T |
A very lucky teenage girl discovers that her mother has given her lucky T-shirt to a charity in India. Naturally, she wants it back so, you guessed it, she flies to India! |
2005 |
|
Brooks, Martha |
Being with Henry |
After a troubled 16 yr. old boy is kicked out of his house, he meets an old man who helps him to get himself together. Wonderful characters and story line; takes some unexpected turns. |
Cdn
|
|
Brooks, Martha |
True Confessions of a Heartless Girl |
Set in a little Manitoba town, a 17 yr. old girl is on the run, and she's pregnant too. Fiercely independent and stubborn, she is taken under the wing of the owner of the local café. A novel full of startlingly insights into the rich inner lives of ordinary, yet always extraordinary, people. Winner of 2002 GG award. |
Cdn (SWC) |
|
Canfield, Jack etc. |
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul |
A collection of stories on life, love, and learning. |
Non-F (SWC) |
|
Chan, Gillian |
The Carved Box |
On his way from Scotland to live with his uncle and his family in Upper Canada, 15 yr-old Callum is befriended by a dog with unusual abilities. A story of a boy and his dog, but with a twist. Nice suspense; realistic portrayal of the main character and of the back-breaking labour required to turn forests into farms. |
Cdn 2001 |
|
Clement-Davies, David |
*The Telling Pool |
Set during the time of Richard the Lionheart’s crusade to Jerusalem, this fantasy novel draws on Arthurian legend and is richly detailed. Young Rhodri looks into the Telling Pool and is forced to demonstrate his courage and true heart on a dangerous quest. (350 pgs.) |
Brit 2005 |
|
Cooney, Caroline |
Face on the Milk Carton |
Young girl makes shocking discovery about her family. |
(SWC) |
|
Cormier, Robert |
Heroes |
After World War II, an 18 yr old boy returns without a face to murder his childhood hero. |
(SWC) |
|
Crew, Linda |
Children of the River |
A Cambodian girl whose family has recently immigrated to Oregon faces cultural conflicts. Excellent! |
(SWC) |
|
Crossley-Holland, K. |
Arthur: The Seeing Stone |
Set in the Welsh Marches in 1199. A contemporary take on the Arthurian legends and life in the Middle Ages. Recommended by Philip Pullman, author of The Golden Compass. |
|
|
Czech, Jan |
Grace Happens |
Fifteen year old Grace, daughter of a movie star, longs for a “normal” life and to know the identity of her father. She goes to Martha’s Vineyard to vacation with her mother and finds out the truth. Nice story; quick read. |
2005* |
|
Ellis, Deborah |
The Breadwinner (written for younger readers but still interesting) |
Young girl dons boy’s clothes to help her family survive brutal Taliban regime (pre-September 11th) in Afghanistan. Interesting, topical content. |
Cdn (SWC) |
|
Ellis, Deborah |
Looking for X |
Rebellious young girl, with special needs brothers, seeks to regain her mother’s respect. Governor General’s Award winner. |
Cdn |
|
Foon, Dennis |
The Dirt Eaters |
First of trilogy; fantasy. 15 year old male protagonist, in a compelling story about a post-nuclear war world in which a number of groups, both brutal and peaceful, struggle to rebuild society. Fast-paced, suspenseful and very enjoyable to read. Much better than the title suggests. |
Cdn (SWC)
|
|
Foon, Dennis |
Double or Nothing |
Story of a boy who gets hooked on gambling. Very realistic and topical. A quick read. |
Cdn (SWC) |
|
Fox Mazer, Norma |
After the Rain |
A girl discovers that there is more to her grumpy old grandfather than she thought. |
|
|
Frank, Anne |
The Diary of Anne Frank |
A Jewish girl, in hiding during World War II, deals with the problems of confinement, war, and growing up. Most have read this by now, but if you haven’t, now’s your chance! |
Non-Fiction, (SWC) |
|
Gallo, Donald (editor) |
First Crossing: Stories About Teen Immigrants |
Stories written by award-winning authors about teenagers from Venezuela, Romania, Mexico, Ramallah as well as other countries. |
(SWC)
|
|
Galloway, Priscilla |
Snake Dreamer |
An exciting mystery combining ancient mythology with modern characters. When Dusa sees two doctors on TV claiming to be able to cure the strange condition called “snake dreaming,” she heads off to their special clinic hoping to rid herself of the imaginary snakes haunting her. But there is something strange about everything … |
(SWC) |
|
Gibbons, Kaye |
Ellen Foster |
The story of a spunky girl from the American South who overcomes adversity with humour, honesty and determination. First person narrative. |
|
|
Giles, Gail |
Shattering Glass |
A suspenseful, disturbing story about a group of high school boys and how they destroy another boy. Some unexpected twists and grim humour. |
(SWC) |
|
Gratz, Alan |
*Samurai Shortstop |
A novel about a 16 yr. old Japanese boy and his friend at an exclusive high school in Japan in 1890. It shows the contradictions found in a Japanese society that is evolving from a medieval to a modern one, And yes, it’s also about baseball. Check out the amazon.ca review for more details. (It’s much better than its somewhat cheesy title suggests.) |
2006 |
|
Hickham, Homer H. |
October Sky |
Boys in dying coal mine town learn how to build rockets. Inspiring, based on true story of Homer Hickham who eventually made it as an engineer for NASA. (There’s a sequel too.) |
|
|
Holeman, Linda |
Mercy’s Birds |
Grade 10 girl’s life is spinning out of control. Selected by NY Public Library as one of its 1998 recommended books for teens. Mother has problem with depression and creepy boyfriend. Highly recommended. |
|
|
Holeman, Linda |
Raspberry House Blues |
16 yr. old Vancouver girl doesn’t get along with her adoptive mother, stays with her dad and his new family in Winnipeg. Searches for biological mother and discovers what real family love can be like. Lovely story! |
Cdn (SWC) |
|
Holeman, Linda |
Search of the Moon King’s Daughter |
Set in 1830s London and Manchester, a young girl must fend for herself when her mother is injured and her young brother, who is deaf, is sold. Vivid portrayal of the contrasts of Victorian life, with an engaging, determined protagonist. Wonderful supporting characters, drama, suspense, and a hint of romance. |
Cdn (SWC) |
|
Holland, Isabelle |
The Search |
A girl searches for the baby she gave up for adoption. |
|
|
Hrdlitschka, Shelley |
Kat’s Fall |
15 yr. old Darcy has more than his share of troubles, including a mother that is just about to be released from prison. He is an excellent brother to his young sister, who is deaf, but has difficulty with other relationships. A quick but satisfying read about trust and love. 2005 White Pine nominee. |
Cdn |
|
Hughes, Monica |
Blaine’s Way |
A young man’s World War II experiences and how they have changed him. |
Cdn (SWC) |
|
Hughes, Monica |
Hunter in the Dark |
An 18 yr.-old boy comes to terms with his serious illness during a hunting trip. |
Cdn (SWC) |
|
Hughes, Monica |
Storm Warning |
Sandra Williams seems like an ordinary teenager, on holidays with her family at a northern Ontario resort town. Then she is paired up with Bryan for scuba diving. Only he can help Sandra solve a terrible mystery that links the two families in a tragic history. |
(SWC) |
|
Jansen, Hanna |
*Over a Thousand Hills I Walk with You |
The account of a young Rwandan girl’s survival during the 1994 genocide. Retold by her adopted mother; translated from the German. At times painful to read, but authentic and compelling. |
African 2006 |
|
Johnston, Julie |
In Spite of Killer Bees |
A real gem! The plot concerns three sisters ranging in age from 14 to 18. Their mother has run off, and their father is dead. They are on their own and living well below the poverty line when they arrive in Port Desire for their grandfather’s funeral, hoping for an inheritance. The inheritance proves to be much less – and by the end, much more – than they hoped for. GG award nominee; winner of Mr. Christie’s book award. Looks a bit juvenile, but isn’t. Highly recommended. |
Cdn (SWC) 2002 |
|
Larbalestier, Justine |
Magic or Madness |
The first of a trilogy about a girl who, after living 15 years in the Australian outback with her mother, is sent to live with her grandmother, who has some nasty habits. Fantasy, with some good suspense. |
Australian 2005 |
|
LeGuin, Ursula |
Tehanu |
Sequel (written years later) to the Earthsea trilogy. |
(SWC) |
|
Little, Jean |
Little by Little |
Autobiography of Canadian children’s author who overcomes the obstacles she faces as she loses her sight. |
Non-F,Cdn (SWC) |
|
Lohans, Alison |
No Place for Kids |
A story about two girls on the run after the death of their mother and their father’s descent into drugs and alcohol. Honest and direct, this story follows the two sisters’ journey through enclaves of urban homelessness in Winnipeg and Regina as they travel to their aunt’s in Vancouver. |
(SWC) |
|
Lynch, Chris |
Inexcusable |
Keir is a high school senior about to graduate. He knows that he’s a good guy but he’s being accused of something that good guys just do not do. A story about truth, lies and responsibility. Not for the faint-hearted but very realistically presented. National Book Award finalist. |
2005 |
|
Major, Kevin |
Hold Fast |
A teenage boy and his cousin flee an oppressive father to search for freedom and a sense of family. |
Cdn (SWC) |
|
Marsden, John |
So Much to Tell You |
A young girl’s journal entries are her “voice” as she struggles to come to terms with personal tragedy. |
Aus (SWC) |
|
Marsden, John |
Letters From the Inside |
Letters between two girls in very different circumstances. |
Aus (SWC) |
|
Marsden, John |
Tomorrow, When the War Began (series) |
A group of teens are caught in the middle of a war. Set in Australia. |
Aus (SWC) |
|
Marsden, John |
Winter |
Another great book by Marsden, this time about a girl who returns to her home 12 years after being orphaned at age 4. Very strong-willed and independent, she unravels the mystery of her mother’s death. Suspenseful, and well-written. At only 150 pages in length, a quick but satisfying read. |
Aus 2000 |
|
Marsden, John |
*Checkers |
A quick but suspenseful read. Narrated from the psychiatric ward, a young girl explains how her seemingly perfect life spun out of control. (Under 150 pages.) |
Aus |
|
McClintock, Norah |
Password: Murder |