From The Winnipeg Review:

By Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch

In the spirit of December gift-giving, I asked my fellow children’s authors to help me put a list together of books they’re giving and ones they’re looking forward to reading over the holidays.

Here are picture book suggestions:

Margriet Ruurs, whose most recent book is Amazing Animals: The Remarkable Things That Creatures Do (Tundra, 2011) will be giving Island Santa written by Sheryl McFarlane and illustrated by Sheena Lott, to the children on her list. “It’s a beautiful story and one that all children on the Gulf Islands can relate to as we watch Santa arrive by boat.”

Marilyn Helmer says, “I just bought a copy of Lisa Dalrymple’s new seasonal picture book, If It’s No Trouble…a Big Polar Bear. The story is about adjusting to new and unusual situations. The illustrations compliment the story perfectly and the rhythm and rhyme make it a great read aloud book.” I have ordered copies of this book as well and am looking forward to reading it before giving them away. Lisa is a rare author who can amuse in perfect rhyme. Marilyn’s newest picture book is called That’s What Bears Are For, illustrated by Sonia Nadeau (Peanut Butter Press, 2012) will surely find its way under a number of trees as well.

“I would like another copy of Picture a Tree by Barbara Reid,” says artist and illustrator, Kristi Bridgeman. The book shows tree varieties through the seasons, “but what I love are the plasticine images and green cover because it makes me want to make play dough.” Krisi also recommends Solomon’s Tree by Andrea Spalding and Janet Wilson (Orca, 2005), “because it made me cry in the bookstore.”

One of illustrator Dianna Bonder’s favourite seasonal books is a hard to get classic by Jerry Pallotta called Dinosaur Christmas (Scholastic US). I searched around for this one and the only place that it’s available is from Pallotta’s website (www.jerrypallotta.com) but he’ll autograph it for you. The most recent book Dianna has illustrated is Pedro the Pirate, by Tim Hoppey (Raven Tree Press, 2012).

Short story writer Merna Summers, who won the Marian Engel Award in 1989, says “I have just read Noah’s Bark (Lerner, 2010) by Stephen Krensky, with enchanting illustrations by the Quebec artist Rogé. It tells the story of how each animal was given its individual way of speaking by Noah, as a means of keeping some sort of order on the ark.”

Christine Tripp (illustrator of Sheri Radford’s Penelope and the Preposterous Birthday Party, Lobster, 2009) says, “I’ve picked up a copy of Mine (Knopf, 2012), a little picture book with illustrations by Patrice Barton, for my 3.5 year old granddaughter. The author is Shutta Crum. The illustrations are what really knock this little book out of the park, so, so sweet. The story line of everything thing being the older sisters, EVERYTHING, would apply to any home where there is a baby sibling. It suits two of my granddaughters to a tee!”

Children’s Book News editor Gillian O’Reilly will be giving Crazy About Soccer!, a collection of poems about the sport by Loris Lesynski, with illustrations by Gerry Rasmussen (Annick Press) to her 3.5 year old great-niece.  “To describe her father and brother as avid soccer fans is putting it mildly, so the subject matter and the amazing versifying talent of Loris Lesyski seems like a perfect combination. The fact that the illustrations are by one of the creators of my favourite Canadian comic strip (Betty) is icing on the cake.” Gillian is the author of two non-fiction titles herself: Slangalicious: Where We Got That Crazy Lingo (Annick, 2004) and The Great Number Rumble: A Story of Math in Surprising Places (co-written with Cora Lee, Annick, 2007).

Helaine Becker’s A Porcupine in a Pine Tree, illustrated by Werner Zimmerman (North Winds Press, 2010) is finding its way onto several gift lists this year, in its traditional format from years past and new this year in a book and gift package. Maureen McGowan , author of Deviants, (Amazon Children’s Publishing 2012) says, “I’m  looking forward to reading A Porcupine in a Pine Tree, by Helaine Becker, with my four-year-old nephew. He was introduced to it last year and nearly had it memorized. I’m hoping he’ll sing the book to the whole extended family this Christmas.”

Wendy Whittingham, illustrator of Valerie Sherrard’s Miss Wondergem’s Dreadfully Dreadful Pie (Tuckamore, 2011), is buying A Porcupine in a Pine Tree for herself, “because it’s Canadian and because it’s awesome!” Wendy also recommends Maurice Sendak’s classic Where the Wild Things Are and Mo Willem’s Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus.

Wendy also says, “I’m looking forward to giving a copy of I’m Bored, by Michael Ian Black, and illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi to my nephew (Simon & Schuster, 2012),” says Maureen McGowan. “The minimalist illustrations really capture the emotions of the characters–even the potato!” Christine Tripp agrees:  “I am very tempted to keep it for myself, just because I love that ridiculous damn potato! The idea of trying to entertain a bored potato alone keeps making me chuckle.”

Marjorie Gann, author of Five Thousand Years of Slavery (illustrated by Janet Wilson, Tundra, 2011) suggests four picture books:

The Huron Carol, illustrated by Frances Tyrrell (William Eerdmans, 2003): “Tyrrell’s exquisite illustrations situate this famous carol squarely within the native context. Mary is a Huron mum, the manger a longhouse, Bethlehem a boreal forest, the kings wear snowshoes, etc., all as in Father Brebeuf’s telling. Tyrrell is a brilliant draughtsman, and the design of each page is enchanting: an arched window in the centre concentrating on the story, framed by a background of the Canadian landscape or sky (constellations representing bears, wildcats, etc.)” This classic book is out of print but can be purchased used.

“Zlateh the Goat,” by Isaac Bashevis Singer. “This comes in a collection by Singer, Zlateh the Goat and Other Stories, illustrated by Maurice Sendak (Programs and Genres, 2001). Set in the vanished world of the European Jewish communities, this Hanukkah story begins when the father tells his son Aaron to take their goat Zlateh to the butcher; the money for the animal will help the family to buy what they need for Hanukkah. But on the way, the wind whips up a fearsome snowstorm. The beloved goat leads the boy to shelter in a haystack while the winds whirl; the goat nourishes herself on the hay, Aaron drinks her milk, and they stay warm and safe. The storm ended, the boy is found by his panicking father and — you guessed it — Zlateh returns home to the grateful family. A beautiful book. There’s a video made in black and white, set in Czechoslovakia, with Janacek’s music in the background, that captures the story’s tone magnificently.

The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter (Little Simon, 1987). “Well, this will never go out of print! I’m sure everyone knows the story (of the tailor who has to finish the mayor’s waistcoat by Christmas morning but becomes ill – only to be saved by the little mice who live in his walls, and are threatened by Simpkin the cat!) but I wouldn’t want to forget it. Quaint, old-fashioned — but my (Grade 4) students loved it.

Elijah’s Angel: A Story of Chanukah and Christmas by Michael J. Rosen, illustrated by Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson (Harcourt, 1992). “Elijah Pierce really existed — an African-American barber and woodcarver who was a friend of both the author and illustrator. This is the story of a friendship between a Jewish-American boy and a devout Christian woodcarver, of how they shared their traditions. It’s not at all sappy or Brotherhood Week – ish, though. But it is about Christmas angels and Hanukkah menorahs, and how they bond two people together.”

I have a whack of picture books to give out myself and I always enjoy reading them gently before wrapping. Rebecca Bender’s Don’t Laugh, Giraffe (Pajama Press, 2012) is a fabulous selection on so many levels. I love how it demonstrates the teasing that can happen between friends but gently shows how a tease gone wrong can hurt. The illustrations and text are both vivid yet simple. A great choice for toddlers to grade two.

I am also giving Cat’s Night Out by Caroline Stutson and J. Klassen (Simon & Shuster, 2010). Ostensibly a counting book, but it will not bore the adult reader no matter how many times a child wants to hear it. The illustrations are visually stunning, showing detailed streetscapes, many retro styles of clothing, dance and music.

A Birthday for Bear by Bonnie Becker and illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton (Candlewick, 2012) is the perfect book to get a child out of a spoiled brat funk. Humourous and engaging.

Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown (Little-Brown, 2010) will make your littlest family members chuckle but it will also make them think from the point of view of the animal when they drag in a squirrel or sparrow and want to keep it as a pet.

For kids eight and up, Robin Stevenson, author of Hummingbird Hearts (Orca, 2012), has a great suggestion. “I will be buying my eight-year-old son as many Foxtrot comic books as I can find! The first books he enjoyed reading on his own.” For example, AAAA: A Foxtrot Kids Edition, by Bill Amend, (Andrews McMeel, 2012). “The character of ten-year-old Jason is kind of like a grown up techie version of Calvin [from Calvin and Hobbes],with the same quirky humour and mischievous spirit. Anyone who likes math, science and computers will love this kid and his family.”

My own suggestion for kids aged eight and up is Jennifer Lanthier’s stunning new picture book, The Stamp Collector, illustrated by Francois Thisdale (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2012). I didn’t include it in the picture book category above because it really is for older kids and adults. It’s the story of a city boy and a country boy, both who grow up in a repressed country. One becomes a writer and is imprisoned for his stories. The other becomes his prison guard. A powerful and nuanced story that is sure to win awards.

Illustrator Jan Dolby, (Gabby, by Joyce Grant, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2012) is giving her daughter Hockey Girl by Natalie Hyde (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2012) for Christmas. Jan says it’s “a perfect fit for her…she plays girls’ peewee rep hockey and has played for boys’ hockey league as well. I think the story line will grab her attention and she will finish the book with excitement.”

Dianna Bonder is looking forward to reading the Penderwicks books with her oldest daughter over the holidays. Jeanne Birdsall’s Penderwicks books are The Penderwicks at Point Mouette, The Penderwicks on Gardam Street, and The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy (Yearling). They just begun reading the series and she called them “truly excellent!”

Wendy Whittingham suggests J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, Yann Martel’s Life of Pi, Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White, Holes by Louis Sachar, and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis for kids aged ten and up.

And what children’s novels are authors reading and giving over the holidays? An eclectic variety:

“I am saving Shane Peacock’s Vanishing Girl from Tundra Books to read over the season,” says Marilyn Helmer.

“I plan to give Urve Tamburg’s The Darkest Corner of the World to an Estonian friend who came to Canada when she was a young girl in the 1950s,” says Judith Robinson, playwright and author of Working Miracles: The Drama & Passion of Aimee Semple McPherson (James Lorimer & Company, 2006). “Her grandfather was interned by the Soviets and never returned. I’m sure the experiences in the book will speak to her about her own family.”

Helaine Becker, author of Porcupine in a Pine Tree: is looking forward to reading Leah Bobet’s Above (Arthur Levine, 2012), Joanne Levy’s Small Medium at Large (Bloomsbury, 2012), Deborah Kerbel’s GG-nominated novel, Under the Moon (Dancing Cat, 2012), and Valerie Sherrard’s Counting Back From Nine (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2012).

Valerie Sherrard recommends Amphibian by Carla Gunn (Coach House, 2009). “It’s a crossover book – written for adults but also great for young people.” Sherrard also recommends Mahtab Narsimhan’s The Tiffin. “It had me instantly mesmerized with its rich descriptions. A wonderful story that plunks you down in Mumbai and takes you along on a young man’s perilous search for hope and home.”

Gillian O’Reilly says, “What I’ll be reading over the holidays is Trilby Kent’s Stones for My Father, (Tundra, 2011) recent winner of this year’s TD Canadian Children’s Book Award.”

Rebecca Upjohn, author of The Secret of the Village Fool (illustrated by Renné Benoit, Second Story Press, 2012) says, “I am really looking forward to reading Mastiff (Random House, 2011) book three in Tamora Pierce’s Beka Cooper trilogy. I have long enjoyed Pierce’s books for their smart female characters who often challenge the status quo. Her books set in the kingdom of Tortall are among my favourites. The Beka Cooper series is about a young woman employed by the city guard. She and her working dog, Achoo, and a cast of many take on such subjects as slavery, counterfeiting, and the clash between those living in poverty and those born to nobility. The books in this series are long but Pierce is a compelling storyteller and a master world builder and there is always a payoff worth the read.”

Rebecca Upjohn has another suggestion as well. “Although marketed for adults, I would consider giving an older teen who loves epic fantasy, K.V. Johansen’s Blackdog (PYR Books, 2011). The world created in the book is compelling. There is an intriguing treatment of gods and other immortal beings and the charged history between these beings and humans is slowly revealed. The story focuses on a mortal girl, the living incarnation of a goddess, and Blackdog, a spirit who possesses a human mortal male. Blackdog’s only goal is to protect the goddess regardless of the toll it takes on the man whom it possesses. It is a layered story with many twists which kept me guessing. The connection between the goddess and Blackdog and that between their two human counterparts is complex and unpredictable. Altogether a great read for someone in need of a book to sink their teeth into.”

“A book I am looking forward to re-reading over the holidays is Dianne Linden’s beautifully-written Shimmerdogs (Thistledown, 2008),” says Merna Summers. “It is the story of a little boy whose world falls apart in various ways after his mother is posted out of the country on a peace-keeping mission. The joy of the book, besides its honesty, is the beauty of the prose. I believe that Dianne was short-listed for a GG Award for this one, and anyone who reads it will readily understand.”

Maureen McGowan, is looking forward to reading Insurgent, by Veronica Roth (Katherine Tegan, 2012). “I thoroughly enjoyed her first book, Divergent, because it’s fast-paced and tackles big questions we first faced as teens such as, who do I want to be, and what kind of person am I? Her dystopian world poses the questions: ‘Can you be too honest? Too self-sacrificing? Too brave? Too friendly? Too knowledgable?’ in an interesting and exciting way. I’ve been saving Insurgent as a treat for when I finish the last book in my own dystopian trilogy.”

For myself? Many of those I’ll be giving will be books that I reviewed over the past year. I would also highly recommend The Talk-Funny Girl by Roland Merullo (Crown Publishing, 2011), a novel about a dirt-poor girl who transcends her abusive childhood. It will appeal to anyone who loved Jeanette Walls’ The Glass Castle (Scribner, 2006).

Resource Links

Volume 18, Number 1

October, 2012

SKRYPUCH, Marsha Forchuk

One Step at a Time: A Vietnamese Child Finds Her Way

Pajama Press, 2012. 92p. Illus. Gr. 3-6.

978-1-927485-02-6. Pbk. $12.95

One Step at a Time is an easy-to-read book about Tuyet, a Vietnamese girl adopted by a Canadian family. It is the sequel to Last Airlift: A Vietnamese Orphan’s Rescue from War and picks up where that book leaves off. Tuyet suffers great pain from having a weak ankle. Just weeks after her adoption, her new family decides Tuyet should have surgery to correct the problem. Tuyet goes through the surgery, learns to use crutches, and takes physiotherapy in the hope of one day being able to walk confidently on her own two feet.

At the same time, Tuyet, who speaks little English, is learning about her new family, new home, and new culture and is healing from terrifying experiences in Vietnam. Events that seem ordinary to many Canadian children are extraordinary for Tuyet, and we share her confusion and delight as situations—such as a flaming cake and a pile of pretty boxes, or the passing of a crop-dusting airplane—begin to resolve into meaning.

This is a gentle non-fiction telling of a particular period in Canadian history and of the experience of being a new immigrant with health concerns. Notes in the end matter provide some useful context for readers who may not understand the significance of polio or the conventions of narrative non-fiction. Black-and-white photos, including pictures of Tuyet and her family, add to the reading experience. Although Tuyet’s experiences are unusual and sometimes frightening, the narrative is full of love, kindness, and comfort.

One Step at a Time is a good choice for sensitive young readers interested in non-fiction about other children, other cultures, and recent history; it may be eye-opening for many readers. Although aspects of Canadian culture have changed, the disorientation that new Canadians experience may be similar to Tuyet’s. The book is likely to encourage many questions and wide-ranging discussion in a reading group, and the story is highly likeable. Readers do not need to know the author’s earlier book about Tuyet to understand this one, but many will want to read more about this brave and spirited girl.

Thematic Links: Families; Adoption; Vietnam; Health and Wellness

Leslie Vermeer

Thursday, November, 08, 2012 – 1:01:00 AM

The Book Shelf – Nov. 8

Making Bombs for Hitler, By Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch, 160 pages. @ SPL: J FIC Skryp

Making Bombs for Hitler brings to light one of the lesser-known aspects of World War II and the Holocaust – slave labourers, often teenagers or young people in their early 20s. Captured by Nazi soldiers in Russia, especially in the Ukraine, they were brought to Germany and forced to perform dangerous work from dawn to dusk.

Regarded as “expendable,” they were shot if they became too sick to work. In Marsha Skrypuch’s story, Lida was one of the youngest slave labourers. When she was taken by Nazi soldiers, Lida was separated from her parents and her younger sister and sent to a labour camp. Surviving on a meager daily portion of bread and thin soup, and clothed in only a thin dress, Lida survived the long days of hard work only through luck, resourcefulness and the desire to find her sister.

Then, with a group of other girls, she was assigned the dangerous work of constructing bombs that would be used by the Nazis to kill allied soldiers and civilians. How Lida survived the terrible days which followed was later a mystery to her.

But she did survive, barely, and was later rescued by allied soldiers, only to find that she could not go home. Joseph Stalin regarded anyone who had been captured by the Nazis to be a Nazi. Such people were either killed or sent to work camps in Siberia.

Making Bombs for Hitler is a companion book to writer Marsha Skrypuch’s award-winning Stolen Child, which relates the story of Lida’s sister, Larissa. Both of these stories, told with sensitivity and compassion, are based on historical fact.

** Recommended for ages nine to 12.

– Sally Hengeveld, librarian

Originally published in The Winnipeg Review.

If you are an author, summertime is a time with deadlines looming in the far distance. A time relax and to read a few books for the sheer pleasure of them.

I recently finished the final edit of my September true story, One Step At A Time (Pajama Press, 2012), which continues Tuyet’s experiences from Last Airlift: A Vietnamese Orphan’s Rescue From War. I’ve begun writing the companion novel to Making Bombs For Hitler, but I’ve got til December. This means that I’ve had some time to read for pleasure (shhh, don’t tell my editors).

The novel I most recently enjoyed was Beth Revis’ Across The Universe (Razorbill, 2011). This fabulous first novel transcends all genres. I love the premise — Amy leaving typical teen life behind to be frozen and launched on a ship for 301 years of travel to an earth-like planet in a different galaxy. A second narrator — Elder — a young man destined to be the leader on this aircraft transporting Amy, her parents, and the other scientists and settlers for the destination planet. But much as this sounds like it would be all about transponder rings and metal hats, it isn’t. Against a backdrop of a believable future, we get nuanced characters, a murder mystery, lots of suspense, and a hint of romance.

Next up on my to-read-this-summer pile is Libba Bray’s Beauty Queens (Scholastic Press, 2011).

This got me to thinking. What are other young adult authors reading this summer? So I asked.

Maureen McGowan, author of Deviants, a young adult sci-fi novel coming October, 2012 (Amazon Children’s Publishing) says, “I just finished reading Moira Young’s Blood Red Road (Doubleday, 2011)and it’s one of the best young adult novels I’ve read in a long time. The plot is tense and fast paced, but it’s complex and challenging both in its style and the subject mattter. I loved the author’s commitment to writing an unabashedly tough heroine and how, in this book, the girl saves the boys. My to-be-read pile is stacked very high right now, but I’m really looking forward to reading Diana Peterfreund’s latest young adult novel, For Darkness Shows the Stars (Balzer & Bray, 2012). It’s a loose re-telling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, set in a post-apocalyptic future and I’m hearing really great things about it.”

Cathy Ostlere, whose free verse novel, Karma (Razorbill, 2011), was shortlisted for the Canadian Library Association’s Young Adult Book of the Year, says, “I’ve just finished Lord of the Flies, Nobel Prize Winner William Golding’s first novel published in 1954. What I loved was the language! Does anyone write like this anymore? Lord of the Flies is a beautifully written book that provocatively challenges the reader with the question: What does evil look like? Once I began I was trapped inside the rich, island world where the chant “Kill the beast!” made me shudder. It’s a truly terrifying and absorbing read. A must read for older teens.”

Ostlere’s summer reading pile includes verse novelist Helen Frost’s Crossing Stones (FSG Kids, 2009). “I am a devotee of Frost’s work, particularly Keesha’s House(FSG Kids, 2003) so I’m looking forward to reading her accomplished, elegant poetry.” Helaine Becker, author of the 2010 Libris Award Picture Book of the Year, A Porcupine in a Pine Tree (Scholastic, 2010), says, “I recently read and was blown away by Lena Coakley’s Witchlanders. Get a box of chocolates and a tall pitcher of something delish and prepare to settle in…” Helaine wasn’t the only one to recommend Witchlanders. Valerie Sherrard, whose novel The Glory Wind (Fitzhenry & Whiteside 2010) won the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction last year, says, “Rapidly making its way toward the top of my TBR pile is Lena Coakley’s Witchlanders, which I’m very much looking forward to getting into soon.  I read an excerpt a while back and the prose was breathtaking, so I know this book is going to be exceptional.”

Sherrard recently read and fell in love with The Town that Drowned (Goose Lane Editions, 2011) by Riel Nason. 

“It’s one of those stories with so much – rich, believable characters and an intriguing storyline.  While the members of her community struggle to accept the scheduled flooding of their town, 14 year old Ruby Carson has much more to deal with than the possible loss of her home.  Ruby’s problems include frequently being made responsible for her autistic brother, a sudden ability to foresee tragedies, and difficulties with her peer group.  This was definitely one of the best books I’ve read in the last year.”

Jocelyn Shipley, author of How To Tend A Grave (Great Plains Teen Fiction, 2012), recently read The Hangman in the Mirror, by Kate Cayley (Annick, 2011). “I loved this historical young adult book because it’s a gripping tale based on an actual story, it’s beautifully written and full of details that bring 18th century New France to life, and Françoise is a strong, gutsy and engaging protagonist, despite her horrible situation.” On Shipley’s TBR pile is crush. candy. corpse. by Sylvia McNicoll (Lorimer, 2012) “I really want to read this contemporary YA book because I’m a fan of Sylvia’s Beauty series, and her new book has a great premise, a great title and cover, and it’s getting great reviews.” Sylvia McNicoll also had some suggestions. “I love the summer for catching up on backlist under a tree somewhere while my Jackapoo Mortie cools down. Sometimes a book comes along that’s just too good to be read just by the tweens and teens.  I stumbled on just such a novel Glory Wind by Valerie Sherrard. The voice and the characters are so delightfully captivating, the story is reminiscent of the film My Girl or the story Bridge to Terabithea in that it captures a boy/girl friendship in its innocence and puts it through tragic stresses.  I found myself lingering under the tree far longer than the dog wanted to and going to bed early just for the pleasure of  reading this wonderfully written novel.” Judith Robinson, author of Working Miracles: The Drama & Passion of Aimee Semple McPherson (James Lorimer & Company, 2006) says, “I loved Natalie Hyde’s Saving Armpit (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2011). Kids who read it will be encouraged and uplifted by the way the characters use their ingenuity to rescue a little league baseball team and a community post office. This book demonstrates a can do attitude that will brighten the spirits of anyone who reads it. As a teacher, I highly recommend it for middle grade use, and for reluctant readers at the high school level.” 

Judith continues, “I’ve got a pile of books sitting on my desk waiting to be read. Jeanette Ingold, a feisty woman from Montana, has oodles of books published. Paper Daughter (Harcourt, 2010) is on my reading list because I love historical novels and it focuses on the plight of Chinese immigrants around 1900.” Margriet Ruurs, author of A Mountain Alphabet (Tundra 1996) and dozens of other books, recommends The Winter Pony (Delacourt, 2011) by Iain Lawrence. It has “an interesting viewpoint. The main character is a pony accompanying humans on their quest to be the first to reach the South Pole.” On Ruurs’ TBR pile is Rachel’s Secret a first novel by Shelly Sanders (Second Story, 2012). A tale about Jews in turn of the century Russia. Shelly Sanders, also has recommendations. “My most recent and memorable young adult read was The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, which my 11 year-old son encouraged me to read. I’m always drawn to Jewish historical fiction, with Jewish blood on my maternal side, but this book was by far the most intriguing so far, with death as a the narrator and a compelling protagonist—Liesel—who retains her strength and hope in the darkest days through reading.”

“On my summer reading list is Enemy Territory by Sharon E. McKay about Palestinian and Israeli teen boys who must discard their differences in order to stay safe. Like McKay, I’ve seen the effects of religious animosity in Belfast, where my husband’s family resides. Seeing tanks with gunners poised in every direction has had a lifelong impact on me, and has deeply affected my own writing.”

GG nominated Gillian Chan, whose upcoming novel, A Call To Battle: The War of 1812 (Scholastic, 2012) will be published in September, recommends Paul Yee’s Money Boy (Groundwood, 2011). “I liked because of its unflinching description of life on the street for the protagonist who is thrown out when his father discovers he is gay. Ray Liu, the main character, is beautifully drawn in that the reader both feels sorry for him, coping with a new culture and a very traditional father, but also is aware and even irritated by him in that his attitude and poor decisions contribute to the difficult situation in which he finds himself.”

Chan also recommends Silence by Michele Sagara (DAW Books, 2012), a “paranormal thriller, the first in a trilogy, and it was great to get away from the whole vampire schtick to something original and quirky. Emma is grieving the death of her boyfriend when a chance encounter in a cemetery awakens her power to not only speak to the dead, but to draw upon them in order to do magic, making her a necromancer. Of course, she has no idea that this has happened, nor in fact that there is another secret organization dedicated to stopping necromancers, killing them if necessary. How Emma comes into her powers and refuses to use them for evil makes an interesting read. Sagara’s great strength is creating interesting characters so that all Emma’s friends are well rounded and believable.”

Karen Krossing, author of The Yo-Yo Prophet (Orca, 2011) recommends Pat Bourke’s novel for children ages 9 to 14, Yesterday’s Dead (Second Story Press, 2012). She says it “is a perfectly paced historical fiction with finely crafted, likable characters. Set in 1918, it’s about 13-year-old Meredith, who travels from small-town Port Stuart to Toronto to work as kitchen help in a doctor’s home to help support her family. She hopes to train as a teacher one day, but when Spanish Influenza invades Toronto, Meredith may have to give up that dream forever.”

Krossing is currently reading Richard Ungar’s Time Snatchers (G.P. Putman and Sons, 2012), which she calls “a deliciously creative time travel story with unique characters and a plot that never slows its pace. Set in 2061, Caleb is a time snatcher ‘adopted’ by Uncle to steal priceless artifacts from a range of time periods. When Uncle plans to kidnap innocent kids to grow his business, Caleb starts to think about getting out. Richard is a Canadian author, although the publisher is American.” Rina Singh, author of Nearly Nonsense: Hoja Tales from Turkey (Tundra 2011) says, “I finished reading Home of the Brave (Square Fish, 2008) by Katherine Applegate and just had to read it again to soak in all the poetry. It’s a novel in verse about young Kek, who escapes the brutal conditions of a Sudanese refugee camp to come to Minnesota in the dead of winter. He has never walked on snow and ice before and he falls. He wonders if he can ever call ‘this America’ home where even the ground cannot be trusted. Beautifully written. There are no wasted words or metaphors in this book. Through vignettes of small scenes, Kek’s world comes alive for us.”

Singh says, “I’m also planning to read Identical by Ellen Hopkins (Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2008) and Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral (Razorbill, 2012). Chopsticks has been called a provocative tale of forbidden love and madness. It also comes as an app – an interactive , electronic version. Excited!”

Rebecca Upjohn, who has a book coming out in September called The Secret of the Village Fool (Second Story Press, 2012) recommends Brian Selznick’s Wonderstruck (Scholastic Press, 2011).

“I knew nothing about it (or the author) when I picked it up at the local library. The book tells two stories set 50 years apart, one in illustration and one in text. Each story is about a different character and the two weave back and forth until eventually the they come together in one timeline. The book is about deaf culture, museums and family. What I found intriguing was how much sense it made to tell a story about a deaf character in illustrations. The book kept me guessing, most of the way, about how the two stories were connected. The book grew on me the further I went.”

Rebecca is also looking forward to reading Mercy: The Last New England Vampire, (Islandport Press, 2011) a novel for 12+ by Sarah L. Thomson and inspired by a true incident. “There has been a glut of vampire books in the last few years but refreshingly this one is based on a real incident that took place in 1892. I’m interested to see how the author weaves together history with popular culture, if in fact she does!”

From this eclectic variety of books, you can see that Canadian young adult authors are as passionate about the books they read as they are about the ones they write. Enjoy!

Check out my interview with Don Aker in the Winnipeg Review.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Distopian? SF? YA? Yes and no to all. This fabulous novel transcends all genres. An original and compelling first novel, that’s for sure. Must now read the second one.

I love the premise — Amy leaving typical teen life behind to be frozen and launched on a ship for 301 years of travel to an earth-like planet in a different galaxy. A second narrator — Elder — a young man destined to be the leader on this aircraft transporting Amy, her parents, and the other scientists and settlers for the destination planet.

But much as this sounds like it would be all about transponder rings and metal hats, it isn’t. Against a backdrop of a believable future, we get nuanced characters, a murder mystery, lots of suspense, and a hint of romance.

Well done.

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Making Bombs for Hitler by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch (Scholastic Canada, 186 pages, $8.99)

Skrypuch gives us another compelling tale based on the slave raids Hitler conducted throughout the Soviet Union. This is the courageous story of Lida, who was separated from her family. Her determination to find her sister and her usefulness as a seamstress help her survive the brutal labour camps.

For ages nine and up.