If Only by Becky Citra
Summary: On a day just like any other, twins Danny and Pam are planning to spend some time in their clubhouse, the Jolly Roger, when Danny is threatened with a knife and Pam is physically attacked. Thankfully, a woman named Carol and her dog come along before more harm can be done, but it is already too late – the twins’ lives are changed forever. Danny blames himself for not protect Pam better, and Pam is haunted by fear that prevents her from leaving the house. With the help of friends, time and the new knowledge of another horrific family event, Danny and Pam journey through their fear and grief and end up contributing to the investigation into the man that assaulted Pam.
Number of Pages: 232
Age Range: 13-15
Review: An earnest story about the reality of grief and fear in the face of an act of random violence, Becky Citra’s If Only follows the reactions of twins Danny and Pam after Pam is attacked. It’s a grim tale, but Citra aids its telling by providing the twins with wonderfully supportive friends willing to help them get through their trauma.
Backed by an emotionally compromised father and a family secret, Danny and Pam are facing an uphill battle when it comes to processing and surviving the attack. There’s a lot of guilt on Danny’s part because he wasn’t able to stop the event from happening, and Pam feels a certain amount of shame because she worries she brought it on herself. I thought Citra’s exploration of the complicated feelings that follow such an act was honest, but I was also extremely happy she had Pop help Danny see things in a new light. That sometimes terrible things just happen, and thinking about all of the ‘if onlys…’ doesn’t really help in the long run.
At the same time, while it is a book that covers serious themes, there’s a level it doesn’t cross. While Danny and Pam are changed, the attacker is found and convicted, and Danny especially plays a large role in his capture. Even the trauma that occurred in the past is neatly wrapped up, although Danny and Pam’s father is still paying the emotional cost. It’s an uncomplicated ending as a result, which makes If Only a read suitable to early to mid teen readers. While attacks do take place, they are not described graphically.
Set in 1968, Citra’s story gave me new insight into the time period, and I wonder if the same events would garner different reactions in our present day and age.
Memorable Quotes:
“Mr. Leary’s glittering eyes probe his students. ‘Martin Luther King once said, “We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.”‘
Everyone is quiet. ‘The flood of fear.’ That was exactly what Danny had felt when he saw the knife. Fear, gushing through his limbs, turning his knees to water.” – Danny listening to his teacher describe his fear from If Only by Becky Citra, page 39
“He’s drained when he’s finished. Wiped. At first he doesn’t even realize that he’s crying. He rubs the tears away fiercely. Sniffs in the snot that is leaking from his nose.
‘I should have saved Pam,’ he whispers.
‘Now wait a minute,’ Pop says. Danny hears a hint of the old Pop, before Shady Haven. ‘You listen to what I’m gonna tell you. You can’t be a hero every day. Life doesn’t work that way. You can’t do it. No one can. That’s something you and your dad gotta learn.’
His eyes lock into Danny’s. ‘That just wasn’t your day to be a hero.'” – Conversation between Danny and Pop from If Only by Becky Citra, page 192
If Only by Becky Citra is published by Orca Books, (2013).
My Parents Are Sex Maniacs… by Robyn Harding
Summary: When her father is caught with another woman at his fortieth birthday party, Louise’s world is turned upside down. Not only is her parents’ marriage suddenly in jeopardy, but the woman her father was with is Louise’s best friend’s mother making everything infinitely more complicated. As their families come down on different sides of the affair, Louise finds herself without the support of the best friend she’s had for years. Seeking out new friends and a sense of stability in an uncertain time, Louise deals with the increasing changes due to her parents’ sex lives, and tries her best to see past her own issues to protect others when needed.
Number of Pages: 234
Age Range: 14-16
Review: Portrayed through Louise’s clever and humourous perspective, My Parents Are Sex Maniacs by Robyn Harding explores every teen’s worst nightmare, the realisation that their parents are sexual beings. In Louise’s case (and her brother Tory’s) this realisation is amplified when their father is caught in the act at a party with their neighbours there to watch the fallout.
But the fallout doesn’t just involve the dissolution of her parents’ marriage, it also ends what Louise thought was a solid friendship with Sienna. So while Louise is dealing with her father moving out, her mother beginning to date again, and the embarrassment she feels over what has happened, she shows how incredibly strong she is because she keeps going.
I loved her friendship with Russell because even though it began with some false assumptions on Louise’s part, it still flourished. Throughout everything, Louise is always a good friend, not just to Russell but to Sienna as well. She doesn’t let anger hold her up for long even though she does feel it, and her genuine concerns for her friends and past friends lead her to be honest with them in as loving as she can manage.
I did not like how Troy’s nickname for Louise was ‘Fat Bitch.’ It was jarring every time I read it, and I thought he got away with it far too often.
It’s a fun, hilarious look at the horrors of parents having real and messy lives. Because it has some sexual content and swearing I would not recommend it for all 14 to 16 year-olds but I do think it is an enjoyable read about surviving high school under challenging circumstances.
Memorable Quotes:
“That settles it! There is only one gift significant enough to repay Russell for his chivalry: my virginity. I had been hoping to give it to him at some point anyway, and his recent actions have just affirmed my decision. Now it is time to take action. Make a plan. No more waiting for the right moment or for him to make the first move. I’m going to make it happen, thus showing my sincere thanks and solidifying out boyfriend-girlfriend relationship.” – Louise from My Parents Are Sex Maniacs by Robyn Harding, page 136
“That is, until Thursday at lunchtime, when, without any warning, my worst fear is realized. A few of us are leaning against Leah’s locker talking when she appears in the distance. She’s walking down the hall – or should I say waddling down the hall, her enormously round stomach leading the way to Mr. Bartley’s classroom, Okay, my mom isn’t really that big, but that belly of hers is obviously more than just beer and pizza. My first instinct is to make a loud noise or crack a joke or something – anything to keep my friends focused on me and not the obviously pregnant form of my mother lumbering to the math room. But if I do create some kind of outburst, will it attract my mom’s attention? Will she come over and say, ‘Hi, honey! Hi, girls! Would you like to touch my stomach and feel the child I created from your math teacher’s seed?'” – Louise from My Parents Are Sex Maniacs by Robyn Harding, pages 193-194
My Parents Are Sex Maniacs… by Robyn Harding is published by Annick Press, (2009).
Getting the Girl by Susan Juby
Summary: In Sherman’s high school, girls who are thought to behave questionably are ostracised. All it takes is a picture of the girl with a D marked in it put up in all of the student bathrooms and it is like she never existed. She has been ‘defiled.’ When Sherman’s crush Dini starts going out with Lacrosse star Lester, Sherman is fearful she will be the next to be defiled. Inspired by his friend Vanessa’s detective novels, Sherman becomes determined to protect Dini by unravelling the mystery of who the Defilers actually are and why they are doing it before it is too late. In the meantime, Sherman is sharpening his cooking skills and aiming for a coveted Cafeteria spot in the fall of his grade ten year.
Number of Pages: 341
Age Range: 13-15
Review: I feel in some ways Getting the Girl by Susan Juby is the light-hearted, funny version of Beth Goobie’s The Lottery. Both feature frightening high schools where being ostracised seems to take place on the whim of a mysterious person or committee. Both have characters wh eventually willing to take a stand and do something about it, and both highlight the fact that though the defiling is started by an unknown party, it is carried out by the student body. No one is innocent.
But unlike The Lottery, I laughed so hard I felt like I was reading a Vicki Grant book. Sherman has good intentions, but almost everyone turns out to be a better detective than he is. Reading about how hard he tried to be a professional though was hilarious.
I also enjoyed how Sherman comes to realise his feelings for Dini are more lust-based than love-based. There is something attractive about being her potential knight in shining armor, but Sherman eventually embraces reality and begins to see the love that is waiting right in front of him.
I just love Juby’s quirky characters. Who can resist Sherman’s big heart, or his burlesque loving mother, his cravat wearing friend and his balding and thoughtful neighbour? Juby has an incredible talent to use a whole cast of characters and make each memorable and unique. That, along with her wonderful sense of humour, is what keeps me reading her books and wanting more.
Memorable Quotes:
“There is no man alive who is not partially jackass. When we detect some areas of jackassery within ourselves, we feel discontent. Our image suffers.” – Meyer to Travis McGee in A Tan and Sandy Silence by John D. MacDonald from Getting the Girl by Susan Juby
“Most of the women the detectives interview in Vanessa’s books want to sleep with the detectives as soon as they see them. Looked like I wasn’t going to have that problem.” – Sherman from Getting the Girl by Susan Juby, page 74
“After trying out stationary surveillance, I’m thinking that the mobile kind is probably more my style. For one thing, it won’t be as boring because you get to move around. For another, if you do stationary surveillance of a girl by yourself when you aren’t the police or a certified P.I., people might think you are a pervert as opposed to a concerned and righteous fighter for justice.” – Sherman from Getting the Girl by Susan Juby, page 122
Getting the Girl by Susan Juby is published by HarperTrophy Canada, (2008).
Another Kind of Cowboy by Susan Juby
Summary: Ever since he was little, Alex has been in love with horses. Without the funds to own one himself, Alex pretends his bike is a horse, until one day his dreams come true and his father wins Turnip in a poker game. Thus Alex’s life as a cowboy begins as he learns to ride Western style. But what interests Alex most is dressage, an aspect of English riding. Unfortunately this does not fit in with Alex’s father’s idea of what a cowboy should be, and Alex must chose between following his dreams and being who he really is or pleasing his dad. With the help and support of Cleo, a new friend from a nearby equestrian boarding school with issues of her own, Alex finds the strength to stand up for himself and do what he was born to do.
Number of Pages: 341
Age Range: 13-15
Review: Full of colourful characters, Another Kind of Cowboy by Susan Juby is a story about friendship, family, and following your dreams. This is the fourth Juby novel I’ve read and once again she brings her trademark humour to her writing with deeply funny moments and characters.
At the heart of Alex’s story is the age-old struggle to find the courage to do what you want to do and be who you are, even when you know others probably won’t understand or support you. Not only does Alex go from Western to English riding, he also comes out as gay to his family to mixed results. Driven by wanting to do Dressage so much Alex tends to neglect the social aspects of his life, Cleo seems to help him with that and by the end he has the support he was lacking.
Cleo, however, is a different story. She seems to keep walking into the same trap, building so-called friendships with people who just want to use her, probably because she is starved for attention thanks to her neglectful parents. I mostly felt Cleo’s actions were misguided as opposed to malicious, but where Cleo helps Alex open up and take risks by letting people in, Alex shows her that not all people will use her, and that some do genuinely care about her.
I love the theme of belonging that runs through some of Juby’s books. By the end of the book a pretty rag-tag group of friends exists for both Alex and Cleo, but they’re more than friends, they are family.
I was struck by Juby’s descriptions of the various styles of riding as well as the different horses themselves. She really showed me that horses behave uniquely depending on who is riding them, because they are incredible creatures with personalities and preferences all their own. I wanted to cry when Detroit went back to his owner, because it was clear Alex’s skills were a gift and that he loved all of the horses he rode. I also loved Juby’s contrast between those who ride to appear rich and well-bred to those who ride because they have skill and passion.
Living vicariously through Alex and Cleo as they rode their horses was wondrous, and I appreciated the vibrant picture Juby created for me.
Memorable Quotes:
“After making a series of illegal turns, Cleo got onto the highway. Traffic was heavy and moving slowly. At least, most of it was. The Volkswagon Passat swerved in and out of the fast lane, darting around slower-moving vehicles like a bionic rabbit in a field of three-legged tortoises.
‘Hey, Sam, has this thing got air bags?’ asked Cleo after an excruciatingly close call with a panel van.
‘God, I hope so,’ said Sam in a small voice. When they finally stopped at a light he said, ‘Okay, I think you’ve got a pretty good idea of how it runs. What say we head back to the office now and I’ll fill out the paperwork for you?’
‘Already?’ said Cleo.
‘Yes!’ shouted Alex from the backseat.
When Cleo screeched to a stop in the dealership lot, Sam practically leaped out of the passenger seat.
Cleo turned back to Alex with one of her eyebrows raised.
‘I think that young man earned his commission today.’
Alex just nodded as he waited for his heart rate to drop back to its normal range.” – Conversation from a test drive with Cleo, Sam and Alex from Another Kind of Cowboy by Susan Juby, page 214
“As he spoke, it suddenly came to him that he was talking to not one, but three people. And those three people were his friends! The sensation was strange but also thrilling. This, he thought, must be what it’s like to be popular. To have a social life.” – Alex from Another Kind of Cowboy by Susan Juby, page 220
“It seemed to Alex that he could feel the horse’s back muscles ripple in time with the music as they crossed the diagonal at a medium trot. Detroit did a traverse to the right and then to the left at the trot, maintaining his rhythm. When Alex tightened his stomach. Detroit stopped in time with the crescendo. The horse backed up the four steps at the slightest prompt and then moved off again. Alex put the big gelding into a canter, again perfectly timed to the music. He lengthened and collected the horse’s canter, then let him stretch his neck down to take the bit. Alex felt as if he’d grown wings and that his horse was stepping on clouds rather than sand. The music swirled around them and Alex heard the crowd clapping in time. He put the horse into a medium trot and the clapping seemed to hold them aloft each stride for an extra moment.
When it was over and Detroit stood perfectly still and square at X, the music faded from the air, and several people in the crowd stood up and applauded.” – Alex and Detroit performing from Another Kind of Cowboy by Susan Juby, pages 253-254
Another Kind of Cowboy by Susan Juby is published by HarperTrophy Canada, (2007).
Trouble in the Hills by Helaine Becker
Summary: Fresh from a fight with his strict and seemingly uncaring father, Cam takes off on his mountain bike for an uphill trek by himself. But when an uncontrolled descent leads to an accident and the loss of his bike, Cam suddenly finds himself in a survival situation. To complicate matters, he stumbles upon a group of teens from India being smuggled across the border into the United States. Samira is one of the teens, and manages to escape her captors after realising their intentions are sinister. Together, Cam and Samira struggle to make it down the mountain alive. The situation turns out to be more complex than they thought though, and the threat to their lives comes not only from surviving the elements but from escaping a conspiracy of pot and meth dealers in Grand Forks, British Columbia.
Number of Pages: 200
Age Range: 12-14
Review: Trouble in the Hills by Helaine Becker is written with such momentum and energy that the pages simply fly by. A convincing story about the unlikeliest of circumstances, Becker portrays Cam and Samira as two relatively level-headed teens who keep their wits about them even when faced with life or death situations.
Cam’s voice is authentic and entertaining. Becker seems to capture the humour and attitudes of a teenage boy completely and I loved reading about him. Samira is a character with a lot of courage in the face of being completely out of her element in a foreign country. I admired what she brought to the story, though I worried for her safety in the end.
Bushcraft is a term I hadn’t heard of before reading Becker’s story, and as a result I was quite impressed that the skills Cam used to keep himself and Samira alive he learned in school. From finding shelter to building and maintaining a fire to knowing the danger of getting caught in the rain, Cam handled himself in a knowledgeable manner. I was caught up in the drama of surviving and fascinated by the details.
But I think my favourite part was Cam’s relationship with his dad. Becker paints it one way, and completely changes her readers opinion in the end. I love when a writer is able to do that.
I’d definitely recommend Trouble in the Hills to an early teen audience, especially reluctant male readers. The plot simply pulses with suspense and drama and is sure to hook readers.
Memorable Quotes:
“She shrugged her shoulders. ‘Where I come from, there are animals everywhere. Birds, bats. Bugs. Especially bugs. And I can tell you I’m less afraid of a dead animal than I am of Kavel and Jay. So,’ she said, her voice all business. ‘Shall we check together? Or would you rather I go back in myself to check? I don’t mind.’
Samira’s question ripped nine-inch gash in Cam’s pride.
So much for appearing confident and strong…
‘No,’ he declared. ‘I’ll go. You wait here.'” – Conversation between Samira and Cam from Trouble in the Hills by Helaine Becker, pages 98-99
Eventually, though, their words just ran out. The good ones did, anyway. All they had left between them were dark, frightening ones.
Like: Would they have enough wood?
Like: Were they going to die?
Better to say nothing.” – from Trouble in the Hills by Helaine Becker, page 117
Trouble in the Hills by Helaine Becker is published by Fitzhenry & Whiteside, (2011).
Destination Gold! by Julie Lawson
Summary: After his father dies, Ned must leave school at the tender age of fourteen to work and help support his mother and sister. But when the Klondike Gold Rush comes along, both Ned and his mother figure it’s their ticket to wealth and prosperity. Sixteen-year-old Ned heads up the west coast of North America all by himself, hoping to stake a claim in the Yukon once he gets there. Befriended by a man who goes by the name Montana and a dog he calls Nugget along the way, Ned finds things are not what he expected. Swindled by Montana and too late to stake any great claim, Ned seeks out employment and struggles to make his way in the harsh environment.
Number of Pages: 210
Age Range: 11-13
Review: Destination Gold! by Julie Lawson is a story mainly about three characters: Ned, Catherine, and Sarah. While Ned’s tale is what drives the book and plot, Catherine and Sarah are equally wonderful characters with compelling storylines of their own. I loved Sarah’s journey toward independence from her mother, proving to her family that all she needed was a chance to flourish in order to do so.
Ned’s independence isn’t as surprising. He’s a male and though he is only sixteen-years-old, venturing out into the world alone to seek his fortune at that age in the late 1800s was certainly not unheard of. What I liked about Ned’s part of the story was his determination. He kept encountering obstacles but he also kept picking himself back up. And when things go really bad, he is fortunate to have help from trustworthy friends and a dog who is incredibly loyal.
Catherine is the character I admired the most through. She’s also sixteen, but she’s a girl, and the difference between the sexes becomes obvious when she is offered as a bet payment in her father’s poker game. Catherine has guts, fighting for herself when the man who won her tries to abuse her. I loved how she tried to make herself as inconspicuous as possible by dressing as a boy while journeying to the Klondike, and that Sarah was able to see beyond Catherine’s rough exterior to see someone who was lonely and in need of someone to care about her.
But the best part is that it’s all set up against the backdrop of a gold rush, and Lawson uses it effectively to make for a fascinating, fast-paced and action-packed read. I love the historical aspect of the story, as I didn’t know much about the gold rush before reading it. The hardship so many people endured for what amounted to a pipe dream for most is just astounding.
I appreciated Lawson’s happy ending, although I think it makes the book more suitable for pre-teen and early teen readers. It’s an excellent adventure story, and Lawson develops three characters that are easy to care about.
Memorable Quotes:
“Catherine frowned, bewildered and unexpectedly hurt by Sarah’s words. Heathen, foreigner … Neither was true, but that didn’t bather her. She’d been called worse. But lonely? No! Just because she’d built a wall around herself didn’t mean she was lonely. It meant she was smart. She had to be, to survive what she’d been through.” – Catherine from Destination Gold! by Julie Lawson, page 111
Destination Gold! by Julie Lawson is published by Orca Books, (2000).
About 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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