All My Friends, written and illustrated by Hope Larson. Farrar Straus Giroux, Macmillan. Raincoast, 2022. $17.50 ages 10 and up

 

"I don't know. One, he's a jerk. 
Two, I don't think my parents 
would let me. 

So, don't tell them. We'll cover
for you!

Why are you so desperate for me 
to do this? 

'Cause you'll get to learn how 
recording works. 
The only thing really stopping 
us from recording our own
album is, we don't know how."

This is the third novel in the Eagle Rock Series about Bina and her love for music. At 14, she has worked hard to make a name for herself. She has new friends and her band, Fancy Pink, finally gets a break after blowing an opening gig with hit band Anne Surly. Following the show, the merch rep for Anne Surly asks for demo of one of their songs. Quickly, they hear that she and her father love their music and want to use it in a remake of a popular television show. Bina is over the moon. She is excited to agree to record it. 

Bina's parents say no, and so do the other parents. In talking to her bandmates, they decide they will try to earn the money needed to pay for making the record themselves. They will lie to their parents about doing it. At the same time as they are dealing with band issues, Bina goes on a few dates with Cooper, a cute member of Anne Surly's band. Things do not go so well, and the two decide they will remain friends. Dating Cooper has shown Bina just how much she misses her BFF, Austin. Maybe she should tell him how she really feels. How will he react if she does? What will happen with the recording contract? 

The two-tone pink artwork is appealing and very effective. Fans will be very happy to see Bina navigate the events as they play out. Familiar characters, and lasting friendships play a strong role. They have grown and changed, while dealing with issues important to a teen's sensibility. This is a terrific addition to a very popular series.                                                                                    

Go With The Flow, by Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann. First Second, Roaring Brook,. Macmillan. Raincoast. 2020. $20.50 ages 12 and up

"Fifty cents? Who even carries around quarters? Who's going to have that on hand if it's an emergency? The more I think about it, the more I think this is a real health issue. The school can buy brand-new uniforms for the football team, but they're charging us fifty cents for tampons that they can't even bother restocking? How are we supposed to focus on school if we're worried about leaking through our pants?"

If you have never been a girl in middle or high school, you have no understanding of the angst felt by Sasha Chen on her first day at Hazelton High. Being new is tough enough: trying to navigate hallways, notice all the posted invitations to join teams, and keep a low profile makes her day trying. 

On her second day, she notices that the response to her by other students is amped up. They are laughing, and looking at her with revulsion. Luckily three girls who are already friends (Abby, Brit and Christine) notice, and take her under their protection to the washroom where they tell her period has leaked through her white pants. To add to the embarrassment already felt by Sasha, there are no period protection products available for purchase in the washroom. The machines are empty. 

Abby is furious and makes it her mission to find out why, and to make a case for free feminine products for the half of the student body that experiences monthly periods. The principal puts no stock in her complaint, suggesting that she deal with her own 'little problem'. The girls decide they will do something more about the problem. Abby carries their protest a bit too far, and causes a rift with the group. 

Using a red-hued tone for the graphic artwork is empowering for those who will read this very accomplished novel. Perhaps it will give them impetus to have a say when they know that things need to change. Together they can try to change what is happening where they are, and for others experiencing the same injustice. The four girls are unique in height, color, race and body type. They share opinions, difficulties, expectations, and a clear goal. Their friendship remains strong; although each is dealing with issues of her own.

Frank, emotional and exploring a subject rarely discussed in young adult literature, their story has power and should be read by many. Awkward for many, but necessary for all. 

                                                                                    

All Together Now, written and illustrated by Hope Larson. Farrar Straus Giroux, Macmillan. Raincoast. 2020. $17.50 ages 10 and up

"Ugh. Maybe I should have 
tried harder to make it work 
with them. 

"I thought the idea was to see
and be seen."
Koff
koff 
koff! 

"I know. I didn't think I'd feel
so weird about this."

This follow-up graphic novel to All Summer Long (2018) has been long anticipated. It is a fan's chance to catch up with Bina and her love of music. She's in grade eight now, and still very interested in creating and playing music in a band. Her new friend Darcy is excited to play keyboards. When they realize that a drummer is what they need to improve their sound, they find Enzo.

Darcy and Enzo begin dating and quickly decide they need a new sound; Bina is out. Austin, Bina's neighbor and best friend, provides sympathy while also seeking support following a break-up with his girlfriend. After spending time together, Austin shows a romantic interest in Bina. Her interest lies only in music, not dating. How weird would it be to date your best friend? she worries.

It is tough for Bina to prove herself as her own person. She is bright and capable, and finds a way to make new relationships work while also following her own path. Written and drawn by Ms. Larson, then colored by Hilary Sycamore and Karina Edwards, this is a worthy novel that offers strong characters in familiar circumstances and will be appreciated by fans, old and new.

Readers will welcome back matter that includes Ms. Larson's explanation of her work as this story evolved. Useful and very interesting to read.

https://youtu.be/AN5E4MS58dQ

Cub, written and illustrated by Cynthia L. Copeland. Algonquin, Workman. Thomas Allen & Son. 2020. $18.95 ages 10 and up

"I've been staying so far away
from the predators that I didn't
realize they expanded their group
to include the two meanest boys:
Mark and Stew. UGH.

NOW WHAT?!

Where are my other friends? 
Molly must have gone to Senorita
Berkowitz's room for extra help in
Spanish ... "

This is Cynthia Copeland's first graphic novel. I will anticipate the publication of another in the future. It tells a story from her life. The school year is 1972-73. The place is middle school. The focus is on the job shadowing she does with a local newspaper reporter, the only woman in that office. It is a year filled with new revelations, and lots of writing practice. It definitely allows access to the way news is presented locally.

The cultural references are interesting as a look back at that era. As well, many have a connection to the middle schoolers of today. The school milieu is absolutely contemporary. Former best friend becomes enamored with the 'in' girls and avoids contact with Cindy. Cindy meets a worthy group of new friends who prove themselves reliable, while also being slightly weird. It's all good. Some things never change.  It is refreshing to read about a girl who doesn't let those events that can cripple a middle school student get in the way. She moves past old relationships and on with new ones.

Events in Cindy's family life, and growing attention to the Equal Rights Amendment make Cindy's work with Leslie more and more interesting, despite their sometimes less than envious assignments. As she works hard to improve her writing, she is pleased with the guidance and praise she receives from Leslie. Cindy also 'develops' a personal interest in photography. She improves quickly, gaining the confidence needed for an aspiring reporter.

The full-color artwork compliments the storytelling, and the historical events of the times. Cindy is able to deal with her work at school, her relationships with her family and friends, and the growing accomplishments of her internship with courage and success. It's a great look back at history, while also carefully connecting to the present time. 

Be My Love, written by Kit Pearson. Harper, 2019. $14.99 ages 12 and up

"A psychiatrist! But that's for
crazy people! Dad isn't
c - crazy!"

Crazy isn't a very helpful word,
Maisie. Your dad is obviously
deeply troubled. There's nothing
shameful about it. Lots of men
were affected badly by the war.
He should have seen someone
long ago, before he broke down."

The second world war has ended. The year is 1951. Things are beginning to return to normal for most people. For Maisie, who is 14, much is changing and causing her to worry. Her father served in the war, and has returned with lingering mental health issues following his service as a chaplain. Her friend Jim has stopped talking to her. She is not really interested in what other girls her age are doing. The icing on the cake is when she arrives at her grandparents' house on Kingfisher Island, and her lively and loving extended family are nowhere to be seen. They are away in Vancouver. As luck would have it, they will be back soon.

She has been looking forward to seeing her best friend, Una and doing all the crazy things they love to do together during their summer on the island. Even Una has changed; she is pleased to be wearing new styles in clothing and fully enraptured by an older boy, David. Maisie does her level best to keep Una close. That becomes a problem that almost ends their friendship. Can Una trust Maisie after what she did? Can Maisie let Una know exactly how she feels?

As she so deftly does in each of her wonderful books, Ms. Pearson has created a story that resonates with Maisie's struggle to find an even keel while dealing with so many changes in her life. She is strong, articulate, persistent as she tries to help her father, deal with her feelings for Una and Una and David, and find the right people to help her on her journey to becoming herself. With the realization that it is normal to feel the way she does, she becomes a more assured and understanding daughter, friend, and person. 

As happens in Ms. Pearson's stories, the historical setting is vital and enlightening. It would an excellent read in a middle years classroom to show how much certain long-held beliefs have, and continue to change.

Prince of Pot, by Tanya Lloyd Kyi. Groundwood, 2017. $16.95 ages 14 and up

"Sam is leaning against the wall again, waiting when I pull into the school parking lot on Monday morning. She jogs toward my truck and climbs inside. Before I realize what's about to happen, she leans across the seat and plants a kiss on my lips. As if we've been together for years. As if I'm used to having girls in my truck, or in my life for that matter. I think my new shirts are working."

Pot, and the sale of marijuana, is very much in the news these days in Canada. As the date for legalization looms closer, many are weighing in on the pros and cons of such a law. It will be interesting to see, from all sides, how it impacts our country and its citizens.

It reminds me of this book I read in February, and the fact that I wanted to share it with you. It is a powerful story concerning Isaac and his family, whose occupation is growing illegal marijuana. They live in the mountains of British Columbia where the two children were home schooled in order to keep everyone off the public grid. Judith, Isaac's older sister, broke that pattern when she demanded to be able to attend school in town. She now lives in a old school bus on family land while she works, and Isaac has been allowed to attend high school where he is a senior.

Isaac has done a commendable job of not attracting any attention at school. His art teacher notices his keen artistic ability and encourages that talent. Lucas, who has a locker next to Isaac, has discovered the family secret and uses that knowledge to get his own weekly supply of pot from Isaac for his silence. At home, he does his best to do what is needed to be done, to keep an eye out for anyone who gets to close to the family farm, and to try to keep the peace between his parents and grandfather. It is not an easy life, or comfortable.

When Sam, a girl from school, gets too close to the grow-op while on a hike, Isaac tries to discourage her with a warning about bears. When a bear appears and is dismissed by Isaac's firm voice, Sam notices. She doesn't know the bear is very familiar to Isaac. Isaac escorts her back to the beginning of her hike, and asks her not to mention the encounter with the bear. So much for trusting her. The next day, everyone at school knows, and he is afforded hero status.

Their meeting sets in motion questions, concerns and action. Tanya Lloyd Kyi handles family conflicts with candor and empathy for the teens who are struggling with decisions made for them. Isaac wants to be the son his father wants him to be, but he has hopes and aspirations for a different life. Sam wants her RCMP father to pay attention to her and what she wants. The ethical issues Ms. Kyi's story presents is fodder for some terrific discussions with adolescent readers. I would love to hear what they have to say about the family and friend issues, and the questions that arise given the family's anonymity.

On The Spectrum, by Jennifer Gold. Second Story Press, 2017. $13.95 ages 12 and up

" I eat butter all the time, and

I'm only in the twenty-fifth 

percentile for weight for my 

age. The doctor said so."

"Well, not all of us are that

lucky," I snapped. 

"Why is that lucky?" Now he

looked puzzled. 

"If I ate a lot of butter, I would 

get fat," I said flatly. "I'm not 

skinny like you. So I don't ... "

Living in New York as the daughter of a charismatic and famous ballerina has not always been easy for Clara.  She, like many girls, wants to emulate her glamorous mother whose strict and unrealistic rules about food have been part of Clara's life from a young age. Unfortunately, those rules have resulted in the 16 year old's orthorexia ... defined as an obsession with eating foods that one considers healthy. Eating healthy and being active is not a problem until it becomes an obsession that defines everything Clara does. 

When things go wrong on social media, Clara makes a decision to spend the summer in Paris with a father she has rarely seen, and his new family. Her half-brother Alastair is 6 and autistic. Spending days with him is a brand new experience for Clara, and offers life lessons that prove meaningful for all. She also meets Michel, a 20 year old pastry chef who steals her heart. Michel obviously loves food, and Alastair has some very honest opinions about Clara's relationship with it. Buoyed by their concern for her health, she is able to look more closely at decisions she is making. 

In this story of love, family, acceptance and being patient with oneself, we meet a cast of strong characters. The pacing make it a book that holds attention and offers hope for the future. The fact that the two main characters - Clara and Alastair - are each dealing with being different evokes empathy and understanding for those who read their story. It is very interesting to see the world so clearly through their eyes. The Parisian setting, the development of character, Clara's first person voice, the honest dialogue, and the willingness to include bumps along the path to a happier, more loving family won me over. 

Between The Lines, by Nikki Grimes. Penguin Random House, 2018. $23.99 ages 12 and up

"But since you asked,
here's one thing
that makes me mad:
Poverty,
and a mother too busy
to keep an eye on her kids
'cause she's working
two jobs
to keep us fed.
That's reason enough,
ain't it?"

In this companion book to Bronx Masquerade (2003), a new group of students have joined Mr. Ward's poetry class. They are culturally diverse, and share many of the same worries that other teenagers face. Darrian Lopez is hoping for a career in journalism, and provides poetry and narration as he listens to their stories and gets to know them better. His astute headlines catch the reader's eye and provide insight into their lives, their families, their fears and their achievements.

Mr. Ward is the teacher I would want to be if I were teaching high school. He encourages, guides, gives reason to the art of poetry, and allows time to reflect on and respond to meaningful prompts. He provides a goal - a poetry slam. As the student poets learn about each other, and become more comfortable with penning their thoughts and feelings, the reader also begins to know their stories.

We meet, and return to each poet in short, first person chapters that combine prose and poetry ... they are an admirable company of eight artists. Memorable and emotional, you will not soon forget them. Stories of foster care, anger, family dysfunction, death, alcoholism, and being overprotected are there to consider. It is easy to forget that one person writes in these eight voices, and gets each one so right.

 Difficult to read at times, but always with a sense of hopefulness as they express themselves through poetry, this is a fine book to read in a classroom setting as April is National Poetry Month. Nikki Grimes once again shows readers why she is so deserving of the 2017 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for her “substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children. Her love for poetry and the impact it has on literacy is commendable and we are better for having shared it.

An author's note focuses on Jenesis, a foster child about to age out of the system. Ms. Grimes has personal experience.

"I spent several years in the foster care system when I was young, and as a result, I am especially sensitive to the incredible challenges experienced by teens who age out of the foster care system after their eighteenth birthday. I was fortunate. I didn't end up on the streets, as so many former foster kids do ... "

"Tick tock. Tick tock.
Eighteen is the clock
my life is set to.
On that day,
my social worker will say,
"Jenesis, it's time.
No more foster home
for you.
Get your books stacked,
get your clothes packed.
Don't dawdle. Don't stop."
So what if I've got
nowhere else to go?"


Readers will go back and read these poems again. I know that I did.

Dumplin', written by Julie Murphy. Balzer & Bray, Harper. 2015. $21.99 ages 12 and up

"I sigh into the phone and it feels so good to not be chastised for it. Then I tell her. I tell her about Mom calling me Dumplin' in front of the carport, with all the freshmen and Patrick Thomas standing around, waiting for the first bell to ring. I tell her about the incident in the hallway, and how I'd never been made to feel so small for being so large. She curses and coos ... "

Willowdean is 16 and not fazed by her size when we first meet her. She's fat, and that's that! Her mother, on the other hand, is not so willing to be accepting of her daughter's stance on size. She is a previous winner of the Clover City Miss Teen Blue Bonnet Pageant, and lives in past glory of that revered win. Every year she diets to get into her old dress, puts pressure on Will to lose weight, and cannot comprehend why her daughter is not willing to do so.

While her mother is consumed with all things pageant, Will is busy with her own life. She is grieving the death of her much-loved Aunt Lucy, spending time with her best friend Ellen, harboring a crush on one of her co-workers, and being her own best self. High school is not easy for anyone who is 'different' from their peers. Will is a brilliant character, realistic and vulnerable. She is not afraid to stand up for herself or for others. Yet, she is just as self-conscious as every other teenager when it comes to awareness of body image. Is any one of us every happy with the way we look?

Will lives her life as best she can, and that is the focus of her story. The relationship between Will and Ellen has changed. Though they have grown up together and know each other better than anyone else does, it does not ensure a lack of conflict. As with all close relationships, they come to a point where circumstance results in misunderstanding and hurt. What will it take for them to see their way back to what they once had?

Her friendship with the pageant girls fills a void for her. They all have issues and bond over them. The four of them decide that they have as much right to be pageant contestants as anyone does; they enter their names. Getting to know each one of them is great fun as they are worthy of attention and the reader's admiration. They are unlike most characters we meet in young adult literature.

And then, there's Bo. He's hot, he is a co-worker, and he is not perfect. Who is? As they get to know one another better, he is honest about his past and also his feelings for Will. It makes Will uncomfortable knowing the kind of reaction they will get should they let others know how they feel.
Her confidence wavers; the results are funny, heartfelt, and helpful in making her realize her true potential. She is an awesome character. You will love her!

we are all made of molecules, written by Susin Nielsen. Tundra Books. 2015. $19.99 ages 12 and up

"But it wasn't a baby growing inside her. It was cancer. It had started in her ovaries, and by the time they caught it, it had spread. She died a year and three months later. Now I'm thirteen, and I still miss her like crazy, because she was a quality human being. When I was seven, my day and I bought her a mug for her birthday that read WORLD'S BEST MOM ... " 

I tore through this book in an evening this past week. I have great admiration for Susin Nielsen's writing and have read each of her worthwhile and thoughtful books. She does not disappoint here. Her stories of compassion and understanding are perfect for adolescent readers.  

Life has not been great for thirteen-year-old Stewart and his family. His mother's death, after battling cancer, has left he and his father feeling vulnerable and alone. He's happy that his father has found someone else to love; he and Stewart are moving in with Caroline and her fourteen-year-old daughter Ashley. No two adolescents could be more different than they are.

Stewart is an academically gifted and socially awkward boy who must leave the small school that has protected and encouraged his learning and individuality. Ashley is not smart, very popular, and consumed by everything Ashley. She has no intention of making life easy for Stewart. My, what a setting for a book that will make readers laugh, be horrified, and find much to admire about both Stewart and Ashley. Stewart is easy to love; Ashley takes time. Both are worth knowing, and certain to be memorable.

Told in alternating voices, we are acutely aware of the difficulties each is encountering as they forge a new way of living.

"STEWART

Alistair and I had an awesome morning. First, we spent a long time in the basement, working on my bicycle. This is a pet project of mine; a few months ago I bought a used ten-speed for just sixty dollars, and I'm converting it into an electric bike. I'm trying to do the entire conversion for under one hundred dollars, which is a challenge, but doable."

"ASHLEY

OH. MY. GOD!!!!

Can my life just be normal for twenty-four hours without one of my family members ruining everything? Is that too much to ask?
Lauren and I had a great sleepover. We played music really loud and sang along. We also experimented with makeup. When we were done, we voted on whose makeup job looked best and I won. Then we went to Facebook, and Lauren showed me Jared's home page, because she is 'friends' with him. "Did he friend you?" I asked. "No, I friended him," she replied, which made me feel better."

So authentic and memorable, humorous and honest. They are two classic characters who will wend their way into your heart. The focus is on family in its many guises, and is heartwarming and believable. It is also emotional and powerfully captured by a truly accomplished writer. Adolescent readers are sure to see themselves in the hallways of Borden Secondary. Finding ways to change the culture that is rampant in so many schools is a compelling read, and the ending is hopeful and encouraging - we are, after all is said and done, all made of molecules. Family life, in this new normal, is not easy to navigate for anyone involved. How each member of the blended family manages to deal with the changes is the stuff of great books.

This is a great book.

That One Summer, written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki. Groundwood Books, 2014. $18.95 ages 14 and up

"My mom screamed at my dad last night. Like SCREAMED. At my dad. They were outside in the car, but I could hear her through my window. My aunt and uncle left. Then my mom stood outside by herself for a long time. So today my dad is golfing and my mom is spending quiet time in her room."

The Wallace family has been coming to Awago Beach since Rose was a five-year-old. She is now twelve, dealing with the many issues that seem to plague young people...infatuation, family ills, waning friendship, growing up to learn things about the world you would rather not know.

While it is not her own story; Mariko Tamaki carefully reconstructs the cottage life that she experienced while growing up. She knows what draws families back each and every year; she shares that feeling on every page of this remarkable new graphic novel. Just go and ask your friends who spent childhood summers at the lake about it...in fact, you will likely have to go to the lake to talk with them about it. This is a perfect book to share with them!

There is so much here to see and appreciate, in both the text and the artwork. The two cousins earlier worked together to create Skim (Groundwood, 2010). I was really interested to read an interview in The New Yorker magazine this month that focused on their research for such a story:

“We spent a lot of time spying on kids, wherever we would find them,” Mariko and Jillian Tamaki, the authors of the graphic novel “This One Summer,” said about the research process for their book...
“I’m a huge fan of talk, and am a chronic eavesdropper,” Mariko confided. She provided the script and worked closely with her cousin Jillian, the artist. “I love riding the subway or sitting in malls listening to people gossip or argue on the phone. Mostly, when I eavesdrop in schools, I hear a lot of girls talking about other people, which I’m sure was a big influence on the plot of this book...
Jillian, the artist, who grew up in Western Canada, says she did “extensive research. It was really important to infuse the sensory elements into the story. My job is to make things specific and visceral. I take notes and keep an ear out whenever I am near kids to pick up the tics and nuances, but one thing I really took away from this exercise is how loud they are.”

Fans will quickly be drawn into the story of two young girls as they navigate the many events that are part of this particular summer. They have been meeting every summer for some time, and have many shared experiences. They fall into old habits, including walks and visits to the general store for treats, due especially to Rose's interest in one of the older boys who works there. She even convinces Windy that they are old enough to rent horror DVDs from the meagre pickings; perhaps in an effort to impress him. The movies may scare them witless (and even cause nightmares for Windy), but they return for more. Being scared by a movie has nothing on the other things that are happening at Rose's house.

Her parents are in distress. Her mother is suffering from a deep depression, which we learn is the result of infertility and miscarriage a year ago...it is very difficult to watch Rose try to deal with her father being away, her mother being absent from life, and her conflicted feelings about not being enough of a family for them. Those scenes are dramatic and powerful.

A secondary plot involves the young man Rose finds so intriguing, and a teen pregnancy. Rose seems unduly interested, while Windy could care less. The drama that is created is central to Rose's formative summer as she carefully watches all that unfolds. Always watchful, she is the heart of this fine book.

We are better for having read it! Savor every page for all that the illustrations reveal, and share it with young adults who love the graphic novel format. They will be forever grateful as they share this real, emotional journey with two girls whose relationship is not likely to be the same again. Exceptional! 

 

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, written by Jesse Andrews. Amulet, Abrams. 2012. $8.95 ages 14 and up

"Rachel and Earl were clearly not hitting it off. I had to do something. Unfortunately, I had no idea what that thing would be. The silence grew. Rachel continued staring at the ground. Earl started sighing. It was the opposite of a party. It was about the least fun social situation imaginable. If terrorists had burst into the room and tried to suffocate us in hummus, it would have been an improvement."

In this humorous and very inventive novel for young adults, we first meet Greg Gaines:

"I do actually want to say one other thing before we get started with this horrifyingly inane book. You may have already figured out that it's about a girl who had cancer. So there's a chance you're thinking, "Awesome, this is going to be a wise and insightful story about love and death and growing up. It is probably going to make me cry literally the entire time. I am so fired up right now." If that is an accurate representation of your thoughts, you should probably try to smush this book into a garbage disposal and then run away. Because here's the thing: I learned absolutely nothing from Rachel's leukemia. In fact I probably became stupider about life because of the whole thing."

It is easy to see that he is a self-deprecating teen; that only works in his favor, for me as a reader. While he constantly reminds us that he is not worth the space he takes up on this earth in his quest to be a writer, he proves time and again that he is worthy of our admiration and sympathy. I think he's great.

That being said, it is his final year of high school and he is shamed (by his mother) into spending time with Rachel, as she has been diagnosed with cancer and Greg's mother feels that she needs a friend. It is not what Greg wants to do, but he reluctantly agrees. In between the visits that we are witness to between the two of them, we learn much about Greg and his best friend Earl. They have been making movies since fifth grade, and are none too pleased with the results. They won't allow anyone to see them, and are happy with that decision. It is an unwritten law that they will not be shared.

Greg is a confessor, always alerting his audience to the way he deals with high school, and the hateful place he has found it to be:

"But here's the thing. There's a solution to that problem: Get access to all of them. I know. I know. That sounds insane. But it's exactly what I did. I didn't join any group outright, you understand. But I got access to all of them. The smart kids, the rich kids, the jocks, the stoners. The band kids, the theater kids, the church kids, the gothy dorks. I could walk into any group of kids, and not one of them would bat an eye. Everyone used to look at me and think, "Greg! He's one of us."

His best friend is Earl, and it is a most unusual friendship. Earl is a filmmaker, too. That is where any similarity ends. He is African American, he smokes continually, he is part of a very dysfunctional and non-supportive family, he is short, and he is crude (but, that crudeness will get some of the heartiest laughs in the book), and he is a good friend. I have great admiration for Earl.

When things don't seem to be going well for Rachel, despite her chemo treatments, Earl lets her watch their films (without Greg's permission) which is a definite blip in their relationship. Rachel loves the films. This leads to attempts to make a film that might be meaningful to her, as her cancer progresses and things don't look good. Greg and Earl are tasked to make that movie, and have great difficulty coming up with a workable idea. After they have made a number of tries, they try something new. Here is what Earl has to say to her in the film:

"I admire a lot of things about you. I admire how smart you are, how perceptive and observant. But, uh. What I'm really in awe of, is your, uh, I don't know how to put this. I guess, your patience. If it was me, I would be angry, and miserable, and, and hurtful, and just terrible to be around. And you've been so strong throughout, and so patient, even when things aren't going right, and I'm in awe of that. And you've make me feel, uh, blessed."

When you get to know Earl and his capacity to care, you will not be surprised at that speech. For Greg, it is an impossible act to follow, especially given his lack of feelings for Rachel which is a great embarrassment to him.

Did I tell you it had heart? It does, and it has so much more than that. I think you should read it!

the WEIGHT of WATER, written by Sarah Crossan. Bloomsbury, Penguin. 2012. $12.00 ages 10 and up

"I'm not welcome to play.
The reason: I'm too white.

No one likes too-white,
Eastern white,
Polish winter white,
Vampire-fright white.

Brown is OK - usually.
But white is too bad. "


Kasienka and her mother have come to England to find her father, who abandoned them in Poland. Living in a dowdy one room apartment is not where Kasienka wants to be, and looking for her father who seems unworthy of their search is not what she wants to be doing. Her mother cannot be consoled, or deterred from the nightly house-to-house searches for Tata:

"The old lady wants to help.
She looks sorry
For not knowing more,
Tells us she will ask her friends
at Tuesday bingo
If they've seen Tata.

Her head rolls to one side,
Heavy with regret,
And this makes me feel

Very small."

School offers no solace for the twelve year old immigrant who has been put in a class with classmates younger than she is because it is assumed that her inability to speak English well means she is special needs. She is treated badly, by teachers and other students, bullied and shunned by a group led by Clair who seems to take great delight in tempting her with friendship and then ignoring her.  It is heartbreaking to hear her describe what she is feeling:

"I knew I'd be different.
Foreign.
I knew I wouldn't understand
Everything.

But I thought, maybe, I'd be exotic,

Like the red squirrel among the grey,

Like an English girl would be in Gdansk.

But I am not an English girl in Gdansk.
I'm a Pole in Coventry.

And that is not the same thing
At all."

As persistent as Mama is at searching for Tata, so Kasienka is persistent at holding her head high,
and being resilient. While her heart aches, she finds support in William, in swimming and in Kanoro, their neighbor from Kenya.

The palpable sadness that pervades Kasienka's first few months in England is matched by the strength and courage she finds within herself to overcome the struggles she is facing. As I have said before, novels written in verse can be brilliant...this debut novel is just that!

Counting Back from Nine, written by Valerie Sherrard. Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2013. $9.95 ages 12 and up

"I like how Christine spreads
her quiet words and ways
over anger and upset.

She has that rare ability to
smooth and soften
just by being.

She is the last person I expect to
tell me to stop putting
things off..."

I have read a number of other books by Valerie Sherrard and have been a fan for a while. So, I was looking forward to reading this one, too. When I saw that it was a novel in verse, I was surprised (I think it is her first) but keen to read it as I am a huge fan of stories told with incredibly careful word choice. It still boggles my mind that authors can choose the perfect way to tell a story, with little embellishment or explanation. This author does it with just the right touch.

Laren is in high school, and has been keeping a huge secret from her friends: she is dating her best friend's boyfriend...well, her ex. When they are seen together by another of their mutual friends, Laren must come clean and tell Nina. She is unprepared for all of the repercussions, although she knows it is definitely a breach of friendship etiquette:

`There are rules
for what I`ve done. Specific punishments for
crimes against friendship.
I expect no leniency.

The first day will be the worst.
I`ve had time to prepare,
to imagine what`s coming.

I`m ready."

She may feel that way, but the reality is much more difficult than she could have imagined. Laren stands tall, searches out new friends who prove worthy, and tries to adjust to the way her life has changed. She has no idea that the wheels are about to come off, and that her issues with her friends will seem minor compared to what happens following a phone call to the family home.

Her father has been hurt in a car accident, seems to be doing well, and then suddenly dies. At the funeral, she is sure that the worst is over. It is not. Her father was not alone in the car; he was with another woman. Just as Laren has deceived Nina, so her father has deceived her mother. Each member of the family deals with the aftermath in their own way, and none of it is easy.

Laren's guilt over dating Scott makes their relationship an uneasy one. Weekly counselling gives her a window for remembering the past and to begin to deal with her conflicted feelings. It is in these sessions that she settles on a way to deal with the sadness, the anger, the memories. Laren is a writer and she begins a letter to her father that helps her deal with the many issues of his leaving:

"All I know right now is that I don't want every thought I have of my father to be about That. I'm still adjusting to you being gone. That feels like about all I can handle right now."

And then later:

"Then, as I thought about the past year and all that's changed, I found myself sorting through some specific moments and memories. Nine in all. And something still settled in me as I realized that each of these had one thing in common. You  know what that was? Your hugs. I saw that, through all of the bad and sad and glad moments, my father's arms were there to protect or comfort or celebrate with me."

This is a story full of emotion, and powerfully told. There is a lot to digest for those who read it. It goes far beyond teen romance, friendship issues, family strife and the impact of a parent's death. It is definitely worthy reading. 

all we know of LOVE, written by Nora Raleigh Baskin. Candlewick Press, Random House. 2008. $8.00 ages 14 and up

"She is smaller than I remember, and her hair is cut short and blunt. For a moment I remember her wearing an elastic headband to keep her long hair off her face while she cooked dinner or did the dishes or gave me a bath. But I don't remember the streaks of gray. Her eyes are taking me in, and they seem to redden with an immense pressure behind them. But she doesn't cry this time."

If you want characters to love, and love stories that don't always have a happy ending, this book will appeal to you. It is Natalie's story; but it also encapsulates the stories of the people she meets on an impromptu trip to see her long lost mother.

Her mother left without a word four years ago. Natalie and her father have been doing their best to cope with her absence. As the story unfolds, the author gives us some glimpses back at those events that have defined Natalie's life. She has become adept at taking personal responsibility for the way things have gone. She thinks that her question about chocolate chip cookies was what really drove her mother to leave them. Her infatuation with the older and self-absorbed Adam leads to monthly pregnancy checks and the inability to find any real security in the relationship because she is sure she has done something that does not please him. An unrelenting check for messages on her cell phone should convince her that Adam has no loyalty to their relationship.

She is looking for her mother to help her find answers to her questions about love. On the 24 hour bus ride taking her from her home in New York to the Florida address she found on a package from her mother she meets many people who give guidance and advice. She meets them in diners, in bus stations and even on the seat next to her during the trip. Each meeting is a lovely look at the goodness of those we meet along the way, and provide insight into relationships. Quite enlightening and uplifting are the people we meet along life's path!

The chapters begin with a verse about love:

"Love me when I least deserve it,
because that's when I really need it.
                         - Swedish proverb"

In this chapter she meets a young girl, Claire:

"I can tell this girl is not going to ask me where I'm
going, or why, or to see whom. First, because she's too
young to pretend to care, but also because she doesn't
want me to reciprocate. She won't ask, because she
doesn't want to have to tell."

Claire's poignant story is told, separate and apart from the contact between the two girls. This structure lets the other person think back on their own past, and each of the stories is concerned with love. Natalie's journey is at the heart of the book, and that never wavers. The writing is exemplary, and will certainly speak to a teenage audience. There are humorous bits, as well as heartbreaking pieces. Each contributes to the tone and appeal. It leads Natalie to make some important choices about her future, allowing her to change her life forever.

Nix Minus One, written by Jill Maclean. Pajama Press, 2013. $14.95 ages 12 and up

Safe and silent,
that's your gig. Let's play with nails,
let's avoid all sports, let's fall for a girl
who belongs to someone else - remember
the box you made for my birthday?
That's how you live your life, inside
a box you've made of yourself."

I'm sorry that the text above does not look as it does in this wonderfully written novel-in-verse. It's a small glitch in posting. But, I want to share this passage with you, as I want to share so many more. I honestly could go on and on.  I found myself going back again and again to reread page after page:

"I drop my tray.

Impressive
what a crash
one tray
makes on a tiled floor
and how far
Wednesday's special
- beef stew -
can splash."

In an interview Jill Maclean she said she writes character driven books. She hit the nail on the head with that statement, given the memorable characters she creates here...Nix, Roxy, Bryan, Twig, Chase, Loren and Blue, and Nix's parents. Set in Newfoundland, this is his story about family, conflict, friendship, death, secrets, a dog and a budding romance. The characters who people the pages are expertly drawn: flawed, remarkable, and redemptive for the most part.

I love them for many reasons...their vulnerability, their strength, their unparalleled concern for others. Well, not Bryan...not at all, but there has to be a villain; or the men who own Twig and treat her so abominably. Sorrow, and an inability to deal with it, tears at the Humboldt family which is stoic, secretive, and who all have reasons for doing what they do.

Nix, the narrator, is an introvert, happy to be on the outside and mostly alone. He finds solace in woodworking and creates beautiful tables and boxes. He worries about his older sister Roxy, his emotional opposite and a girl who is headed for big trouble. Nix can do nothing to keep her safe. He also has grave concern for Swiff Dunphy's dog Twig. His fears about neglect and abuse lead him up the path to Swiff's yard and a heartwarming connection to Twig, a bit of an outcast himself. Both grow and become stronger as they spend time together. Nix finds in that strength the power to show his concern for both Twig and Roxy, and determines to do something about those he loves.

The cost is high:

"             Dad drives into the school yard,
climbs out of the truck. I try to loosen my muscles
enough to stand upright. Through the only eye
that seems to be open, I see terror on his face.
His boots anchor themselves to the pavement.

"It's okay," I say. "I was in a fight.
The other guy looks worse."

but eventually things turn hopeful for Nix's family:

"She looks from me to Dad
and back again. Tears spout
from her eyes. She seizes Dad's hand,
bringing it to her wet cheek,
and clutches my shoulder.
"I've missed both of you...I've felt so far away and lonely."
The love in her voice,
                    it hurts my ears.
Dad's smile would light a whole hospital.

I rest the good side
of my face on Mom's arm."   

So worthy of your attention. Please look for a copy!

Peanut, written by Ayun Halliday aand illustrated by Paul Hoppe. schwartz & wade, Random House. 2013. $17.99 ages 12 and up

"I mean, I've only got one pen...and they're kind of expensive."
"If theft is a concern, I can assure you that such a device is safer in Miss Anderson's locked cabinet than in some untended backpack."
"Yeah, but I'm pretty careful..."
"Oh yes, we're all pretty careful...
And the two minutes in which our backpack is unsupervised, someone reaches in and steals the brand-new digital camera we so unwisely brought to school with us.
True story, by the way."

I think I'm turning a corner. I have begun to relish reading some of the expert graphic novels that are being published for our kids...well, and for adults who love to read them, too. So, I am reading the journals, and some of my favorite blogs, to find those that are compelling, entertaining and informative. The newest one concerns Sadie and a decision she makes in her anticipation of moving to yet another new school.

Being the new kid in high school is a topic that has been explored over and over again. Given a choice, would any of us want to be the one who walks in that first day? The experience can be harrowing, and demoralizing, and make you want to run and hide. Sadie has made a few moves with her mom, and she is not looking forward to her arrival at Plainfield Community High School. So, she decides that she will make herself more interesting.

She invents a peanut allergy, and you can probably suspect that things will not go smoothly when they begin with a lie. Some of her classmates are sympathetic; many are not. When Zoo Suzuki shows an interest in her, she is saved from total social disaster. As their relationship grows, so do Sadie's misgivings. She knows she should tell him and try to explain why she made the choice she did. She just can't seem to work up the courage. From the outside, it seems easy....just tell the truth.  From her place in time, it is much more difficult.

Sadie wears a medic alert bracelet to school each day, and takes it off before she gets home. She talks about close calls, and even has a few. She needs medical forms, must report to the school nurse and gives the impression that she carries an Epi-pen with her at all times. An over-anxious teacher is the final straw in tumbling her precarious house of cards. He panics when he tastes a nut in food the two are sharing, and the truth becomes her only option.
     
In Paul Hoppe's black-and-white graphic panels, Sadie is the only one who sports color. Her shirts are coral. We know where she is at all times. I appreciate seeing her thoughts as she imagines what her friends will say when they learn her secret. Her emotions are clear. The characters who people her story are appealing and real. Her mother loves her, wants to hear what she has to say and their relationship is tender. Zoo is a great boyfriend...loyal, thoughtful and unique. The encounters between students are often funny, yet poignant.

Great characters, an uncomfortable situation, trying to find a place in the world while your world is in a state of confusion and flux make for a book that will find fans in middle and high school classrooms.   

The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen, written by Susin Nielsen. Tundra Books, 2012. $19.99 ages 12 and up

"This was different. I'd only seen him cry like this once before. It was about a week after Jesse's funeral. We'd been washing dishes, and he suddenly sank to the floor and started bawling like a baby, for what felt like hours. My mom and I finally left him on the floor and went upstairs to escape the awful sound."

It is not a difficult task to love and admire Susin Nielsen's work. This is her third novel and I am a huge fan of each one, and every word written. She is VERY good at what she does.

Henry and his Dad have moved from their home in Port Salish to a dingy apartment in Vancouver. It's a new school for Henry and a bit of anonymity for both. His mother is in Ontario, living in an institution near her parents and trying to deal with the fallout from a life-changing event in Port Salish. Henry calls that time IT. Henry is happy that no one knows him at Trafalgar Secondary and he does everything he can to keep it that way. He is seeing a psychologist and not happy about it:

"Cecil has long stringy gray hair, and he uses a scrunchy to pull it back. A scrunchy! Today, at our third session, he was wearing yet another tie-dyed shirt, purple this time. Hey Cecil, I wanted to say,
the '60s called. They want their look back! He says, "How does that make  you feel?" a lot, like we're on a TV show and not real life. He also says,  "Holy Moly" a lot, as in "Holy Moly, you're fifteen minutes late, two weeks in a row!"

I loved Henry from the very first page. He has much to share in his journal, reluctantly written. He ise trying to leave behind the nightmare of his brother's pain filled and irrational decision to kill the bully who has mercilessly tormented him and then committing suicide himself. Henry wants no one to know the trauma their family is facing, and he certainly doesn't want to talk about it all in a journal. But, that is his given task. So, he includes entries about being on the Reach for the Top Team, about his growing friendship with Farley who has issues of his own, and his fascination with Alberta, a beautiful, sometimes scary and always refreshing female classmate.

Susin Nielsen is achingly adept at handling the pain and grieving that Henry faces. She writes with honesty and holds nothing back. At the same time, her book is funny, poignant and eye-opening. It is often humor that hides the hurt and allows some relief from the depth of pain being felt. Henry's voice is powerful, resilient and vulnerable. You will not forget him.

The other characters created to people Henry's new life are very special. Neighbors who have endured their own pain and are trying to come to terms with the ways in which their lives have changed, new school friends who prove to be loyal and compassionate, even old friends who have found peace through healing. Henry learns much in his new school. Bullies always find their targets, good people are everywhere and pain, regret and guilt can be alleviated with support and time.

"We entered the school. I could tell right away from the looks I got that Farley was right. People knew. But I think Farley must have talked to the Reach For The Top kids because, whenever I walked into a classroom, one of them would come and sit beside me right away. Like in Socials, Jerome sits beside me all the time now. He's a man of few words. "Hey," he'll say as he slips into the seat beside me. "Hey," I'll say back."

Henry is a charmer. He will make you laugh, and he will make you cry. If you are embarrassed to cry in public or to laugh out loud while your head is buried in a brilliant book, read it when alone. But do read it, please. It is so worth it!

Drama, written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier. Scholastic, 2012. $11.99 ages 10 and up

"Well, HE seems nice.
Callie, I wouldn't get too
attached to the performers.
WHAT!? WHY?
It'll only distract you from
what's most important. Our
job is to stay focused on what's
BEHIND the stage.
You'd rather we just ignore
each other completely?"

I make it completely clear to anyone who knows me and asks about my reading preferences that there is little I won't read, but graphica is not high on my list of favorites. When our kids were young, we read to them often and at all times of the day and night; but, they remember a pat line of mine: "I don't do comics."  Too much interpretation and discussion of what is happening in the story...blah, blah, blah. Of course, that is one of the best things about graphica for young readers. They must make inferences, predictions, and are always thinking story, story, story. I loved them when I was a younger reader, for reading to myself. Now, I never read comic strips, rarely pick up a graphic novel.

Raina Telgemeier is changing that for me, and other graphic artists. I will admit that I am less likely to just pass them by than I was a few years ago. I bought multiple copies of Smile (Graphix, Scholastic, 2012) because I loved the way she told a story from her life in a way that was so engaging. Kids love them and they have been a great giveaway at workshops. I will do the same with Drama.

In it, she takes me back to high school days and major productions. I never wanted to be on stage, but I loved the shared camaraderie of a community of like-minded individuals working toward a common goal...and it was FUN! 

Callie heads up the set design crew for her middle school's spring production. There is nothing she won't try to make the performance more authentic. She works hard with her crew to bring her vision to fruition, all the while dealing with the day-to-day things that are happening backstage and at home.  Her pain-in-the-neck little brother continues his snooping ways, attractive male newcomers, old boyfriend, the school dance, fights with best friends...all the while she remains focused on the job at hand and her love for stage work.
             

This is another wonderful addition to the growing list of graphica for young fans. Raina Telgemeier  ably offers up Callie's world, at school and at home, alone and with friends, in happy times and sad, triumphant and dejected. We feel her joy and her pain (be sure to take a careful look at the double page that shows her rushing off to meet her new crush at the ball field). It is an authentic look at today's adolescent world, with its 'drama' and its familiarity. Callie is a great role model for other girls who are interested in theatre and finding their place in a middle school world.             

a certain October, written by Angela Johnson. Simon & Schuster, 2012. $19.99 ages 14 and up

"Keone traces Misha's tattoo with his finger in an endless loop and it doesn't seem to drive her out of her mind. She's used to him. But I guess the biggest thing is Keone's used to her - so everything is quiet in the living room. He's used to Falcone, too. Falcone sits on the other side of him and is letting him listen to his favorite music on the iPod over and over again."

The streak continues. I have yet to find a book by Angela Johnson that I don't love. While I will admit that I don't think I have read every single one, I have certainly read most and am convinced that her skill at telling beautiful stories will keep me in her fan club for years to come.

Released this week, I am ever so grateful to April at Simon & Schuster Canada for sending it so that I can share it with you. Given my earlier experience with Ms. Johnson's work, I was not surprised to find that I could NOT stop reading, once started. In first person narrative Scotty, 16, tells us about 'a certain october'.

Her days in October are spent at school, with her friends and helping with her younger autistic brother, Keone. Falcone and Misha are her best friends and when she wants a break from home, they are together. Conversations center around the homecoming dance that is just around the corner and a trip they all hope to make to see Falcone's sister, Gina. Gina has been very special to Scotty, acting as a surrogate mother figure when Scotty's mom died.

Scotty's voice is so strong, and memorable:

"My life is like tofu - it's what gets added that makes it interesting. It might be good for me, sometimes its kinda bland and needs some hot sauce to spice it up, and most times I complain, silently, that I don't like it, but I think that's normal. I like to whine."

She holds grudges:

"I smiled at Misha and Falcone - remembering when we all used to get caught eating the paste  together underneath the art tables in kindergarten. They stayed friends with me when I was a bald nine-year-old after Kris Jones perpetuated a particularly nasty chewing-gum crime throughout my hair."

Thus, we meet Kris.

Keone is a bundle of energy, a young boy who loves cookies, and books about trains, planes and automobiles. When Scotty is charged with taking him to the pediatrician for her stepmother, they take the train. Keone loves it...except for this one trip. Kris in on the train, and offers to stay past his stop so he can help with Keone. In the following moments there is a crash, leaving two students dead (including Kris), Scotty injured and her little brother in a coma.

Scotty cannot get over the survivor's guilt she is feeling. She should have insisted that Kris get off at his stop, she should not be so afraid of driving and then they wouldn't have taken the train, she should have....the guilt consumes her and her friends try to help. As days pass, she visits the hospital and spends her time reading to Keone. She meets Jason and is infatuated with him. So much so that she tries to avoid him at all costs.  That is not going to happen if Jason has a say. As the month plays itself out, we realize that, despite this life-changing event, Scotty will find her way to 'better' with the help of friends and time. Wonderful and enriching, this is a book meant to be shared!