The Leaving by Budge Wilson
Summary: A collection of short stories about gender inequality, coming of age, and complex familial relationships written by classic Canadian writer Budge Wilson. Number of Pages: 161 Age Range: 17-18 Review: I want to pick a favourite story but it’s impossible to do. I enjoyed “The Metaphor” because it fondly reminded me of my own seventh grade experiences with my English teacher Mr. Miller. “Mr. Manual Jenkins” confused me. “The Leaving” made me think about gender roles and the right everyone has to being treated with respect. “My Cousin...
Read MoreThe First Stone by Don Aker
Summary: Reef is a young offender who has gotten into trouble more times than he can count. When he and his friends Jink and Bigger find out the city is going to demolish their favourite hang out spot, his anger leads him to make an irreversable decision that will change the lives of himself and Leeza Hemming forever. After the dust settles, Reef finds himself in a group home doing volunteer work while Leeza finds herself in a rehab facility trying to rebuild her body. Both face having to make a choice about going on with their lives, but they find help in the most unexpected place: each...
Read MoreBetsy Wickwire’s Dirty Secret by Vicki Grant
Summary: Everybody has secrets. Walking in on her boyfriend and best friend about to kiss is a secret that devastates Betsy Wickwire, especially when it becomes clear the secret wasn’t really a secret to anyone but her. Inconsolable and trying to maintain a shred of dignity, Betsy decides that the only thing to be done is to make some money and move far away as fast as possible. An encounter with Delores, a fellow student from school, is a game-changer as Delores immediately jumps on board with Betsy’s idea to be a house cleaner and creates a cleaning business for the two of...
Read MoreB Negative by Vicki Grant
Summary: Paddy Armstrong’s mouth gets him into trouble when a smart-ass answer to his irritating step-father’s question about what he’s going to do after high school changes his whole life. His mother’s worried, his dad is proud and his girlfriend breaks up with him. When Paddy follows through on his choice, a medical examination reveals a secret that has the power to destroy his family as he knows it. Now it’s up to Paddy to decide whether he will be the spark that lights the gasoline or the one who brings everyone together. Number of Pages: 125 Age Range:...
Read MoreDeconstructing Dylan by Lesley Choyce
Summary: Sixteen year-old Dylan is an only child and a bit of a loner. His girlfriend breaks up with him because she’s sick of hearing him talk about bugs, but when a new girl named Robyn starts at his school, Dylan finds himself with a new friend who has her own quirks. Both have an affinity for the study of death, and both are affected by secrets their parents have kept from them. In Dylan’s case though, the secrets his parents have hidden involve a dead older brother and questionable, possibly illegal activities that could put Dylan in danger and his parents in jail. As the...
Read MoreAbout Amy
Amy Mathers has been passionate about reading from a very young age, and hopes others will share her enthusiasm for funding a teen book award. Read more Follow Amy
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