Fiction: The Crazy Man

The Crazy Man is a beautiful book about love, loss and acceptance. Eleven-year-old Emaline’s world shatters when a horrible farm accident mangles her leg and leads to her father’s abandonment. At the end of her rope, Emaline’s mother hires a patient from the mental hospital down the road to help out on the farm.

Despite her own misgivings and the cruel attitudes of the townsfolk, Emaline finds solace in Angus’ steadfast kindness. Emaline learns to stand by someone she knows is good at heart, even in the face of prejudice.

This book is set in Saskatchewan in the 1960s and author Pamela Porter tackles the topics of prejudice, ability and healing head on. The author unflinchingly explores the community's harsh views on mental illness, disabilities and differences: kids who consider how different mainstream views are today from the 1960's may also think about current biases, and how they may change in the future. A powerful and inspiring novel.

Fiction
Grades 4-7
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Fiction: The Garbage King

The Garbage King, by Elizabeth Laird, plunges the reader into the heat and dust of modern Ethiopia. Set in the streets of Addis Ababa, this story follows the fates of two very different boys.

Mamo’s family is impoverished and he is left to fend for himself after his mother dies. He becomes a victim of child slavery but he uses his sharp wits to escape and find a place for himself on the streets.

Dani comes from a wealthy background but he flees his tyrannical father and becomes fast friends with Mamo when they meet on the streets. Together, the boys join a street gang and find friendship, loyalty and dignity despite their desperate circumstances.

Laird shines a harsh light on child poverty in Africa while spinning a wonderful tale of friendship, loyalty and trust. This story would definitely appeal to readers who are looking for an adventure story: it will give them plenty of action, and surprise them with a strong social message, and an understanding of the power of hope, even in desperate circumstances.

Fiction
Grades 5-9
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Fiction: Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree

Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree, by Lauren Tarshis, is a lovely and insightful book about what it’s like to be different.

Middle school can be a tough place and Emma-Jean definitely marches to her own beat. Unlike the rest of her seventh-grade classmates, Emma-Jean uses reason to guide her actions. Her incredibly logical brain helps her to stand apart from the social turmoil that upsets and excites her classmates and avoid the emotional confusion of 12-year-old friendships and enmities. But Emma-Jean’s detachment is broken when she uses her keen intelligence to extract classmate Colleen from a sticky social situation. Once Emma-Jean sees how her logical solution can “solve” an emotional problem, she can’t resist meddling again. Soon, all her chickens come home to roost and Emma-Jean must realize that logic just can’t solve matters of the heart.

This book would be a perfect read for later elementary or middle school girls: it takes a realistic but detached view of the all-consuming social jostling that takes place during this period of childhood. With a clear message about standing up for what's right, and a charming plot that moves along briskly, most girls will find lots to like about this title.

Fiction
Grades 4-7
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Thriller: Half-Minute Horrors

Those with strong stomachs and short attention spans will be captivated by this collection of instant frights, courtesy of over 50 of the hottest authors in children's literature. From Lemony Snicket to Kenneth Oppel, from James Patterson to Avi, these pages are bursting with thrilling contributions from top notch writers.

Each story is less than three pages long, with the vast majority being under a page. Ranging from silly to downright disturbing, these tales are best for kids in later elementary through middle school. This book is the perfect springboard into a writing exercise: have kids see how horrible a story they can create in under one page!


Thriller/Horror
Grades 4-7
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Fantasy: Enchanted Glass

Diana Wynne Jones is a master storyteller whose characters are always likeable, unique, and powerfully magical. In this latest tale, scholar Andrew Hope's aged grandfather dies and leaves him an old and enchanted family estate. Andrew knows there is something special about the house and grounds, but he can't seem to pull himself away from the scholarly book he wants to write in order to think about it.

It takes one desperate twelve year old boy to pull Andrew out of his academic stupor. When Aidan Gain turns up on Andrew's doorstep, there's nothing to do but take the boy in. After all, he has some fairly nasty faerie haunts chasing him! Throw in one ill tempered housekeeper and a crotchety gardener, and things start getting tricky. All of a sudden, Andrew is managing his rebellious household staff (who are also strongly magical) while trying to find out who or what is chasing down Aidan. Add in an ancient and maelevolent faerie lord and his several ex wives (Titania and Queen Mab!) and you've got a hilariously chaotic scramble for power.

Somehow the complicated threads of this tale come together in a satisfying conclusion, where the evildoers receive a richly deserved compeuppance, and the heroes end up living in magical harmony. (sort of!) Kids who like fantasy with a dash of humour will enjoy this rollicking tale.

Fantasy

Ages 11-14

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Science Fiction: Claim to Fame

Bestselling author Margaret Peterson Haddix has written another fast paced Science Fiction mystery.

Five years ago, Lindsay Scott was the child star of a hit TV sitcom. Then, without warning, she disappeared from the public eye. Of course people gossiped, and when a tabloid publishes a story about how Lindsay is being held hostage by her dad in a Hicksville small town, a couple of well-meaning teenage boys decide to rescue her.

But the real story is much more complicated. When Lindsay turned 12, she began hearing voices. And not just a few: Lindsay could hear anything that anyone said about her, anywhere in the world. It was more of a curse than a talent, and Lindsay's college professor dad relocated them to a small town where, miraculously, they found a house that blocked out the voices. Since then, Lindsay has rarely gone outside the safety of the house's yard. So when the boys say that they know she's a prisoner, in many ways they're right.

After the rescue attempt, Lindsay finds that she can't ignore what's happening to her anymore. She's tired of hiding from her talent, and it seems that there are others in her small town who know more about her family than she does. Could it be that others have the same gift? How much will Lindsay risk to find out the truth?

Science Fiction
Grades 5-9
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Nonfiction: Never Smile at a Monkey

You probably know that you shouldn't swim with sharks, or tease a lion, or stick your head in an alligator's mouth. But did you know that many smaller animals can also be deadly - especially if you do exactly the wrong thing?

This fact filled picture book tells kids all about some of the animals that you might not know are dangerous. From kicking Cassowaries to electrified caterpillars, kids will be amazed at the inventive (and deadly!) self defence mechanisms that animals have evolved.

This is a great general interest book about animals, and would be suitable for kids in grades 3-5. With its high interest subject matter and brief, simple text, reluctant readers would find this an appealing read.

Nonfiction

Grades 3-5

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