The Vindico by Wesley King
Summary: Living in a world where there’s war being waged between superhero villains and good guys, Hayden, Sam, Emily, Lana and James each have reasons to be bitter about their lives. Kidnapped by the Vindico, an organization of evil superheroes seeking to train the next generation, the teens suddenly find themselves with new super powers being asked to do questionable things. After being forced to physically train and subjected to psychological manipulation, each must decide between staying a villain and the false offer of being able to return home like nothing ever happened.
Number of Pages: 298
Age Range: 13-14
Review: What I liked about The Vindico by Wesley King is the fact that it isn’t clear if the good guys should actually be considered good. It’s clear that the villains are evil in their intent and actions, but their motivations were heavily influenced by their rejection from the Legacy of Heroes in the first place. I didn’t agree with the Vindico’s methods, picking emotionally vulnerable teens to mold to their will, but it’s kind of implied when you’re evil that you’re going to be shady.
King presents an interesting idea though. Hayden, Sam, Emily, Lana and James each find themselves in situations where they have no power. While they aren’t inherently evil, the whole power versus powerlessness dynamic seems to be too tempting to resist. Can one really expect that King’s characters would choose to go back to their regular lives when they’ve had a taste of what it feels like to be powerful?
I wanted to know more though. I liked the characters but I wasn’t convinced they would immediately believe their parents cared so little for them. I thought the Vindico was probably lying during their announcements, but King never reveals the truth of the reaction of the parents of those kidnapped. Still, it was a read that made me laugh in parts, and I’m glad things turned out in the end.
Memorable Quotes:
“Lana struggled to free herself, but Avaria’s grip was like iron. Helpless again, she thought. She remembered Kyle standing over her in the forest wearing an arrogant smile.
‘You don’t have a chance against me,’ Avaria said softly. ‘Next time, I will make you suffer. But if you listen to me, I will give you the power to have your revenge. On your father, on Kyle’ – she hissed his name – ‘and on all the others who have hurt you.'” – from The Vindico by Wesley King, page 100
“‘It is a scary thought,’ Lana agreed.
‘Sometimes I almost forget what we’re doing here.’ Sam said quietly. ‘That we’re going to be a part of this was we’ve been hearing about since we were little kids. It’s like we’re in these four walls, and there’s nothing really outside. It feels like it’s a private school or something, and eventually we’ll go home to our parents and everything will be normal again. But even if we’re really lucky, and everything turns out okay, and we actually can go home when this is finished, we’re going to be the first people in history to be given superpowers. We’re going to be famous. Nothing will ever be the same again.'” – Conversation between Lana, Sam and the group from The Vindico by Wesley King, pages 153-154
“‘Looks like the teachers are about to be taught a lesson,’ Emily said. ‘If you turn a bunch of kids into supervillians, you can’t expect them to follow the rules.'” – Emily from The Vindico by Wesley King, page 236
“Lana hesitated. The truth was they hadn’t been forced. The Baron had given the, the pption to leave, and they had all stayed. Without even realizing it, they had chosen to join the Vindico. They had chosen to be the bad guys.” – from The Vindico by Wesley King, page 277
The Vindico by Wesley King is published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons, (2012).
Ghost Ride by Marina Cohen
Summary: Starting over in Sleepy Hollow, the smalltown his father grew up in, Sam is bitter about his parents moving his family from his friends in Toronto. His mother tries to make him befriend Walter, the geeky neighbour boy, but a witnessed prank gets Sam into the cool crowd at school. In his quest to fit in with his new friends, Sam takes part in a prank with disastrous results making him question everything. Sam isn’t the only one having trouble though, his father has been sick ever since the move. In a town rumoured to have been founded by witches, both father and son are being haunted by the past, and if the truth doesn’t come out history is doomed to be repeated.
Number of Pages: 183
Age Range: 13-15
Review: Packing powerful themes into a short but haunting book, Ghost Ride by Marina Cohen is a quick read with depth.
I figured out pretty quickly that the actions of Sam and his father were connected, and I loved it. Cohen explores the impact of the sins of the father being revisited on the son. If Sam’s father had been honest with Sam from the start instead of hiding his shameful secret, I wonder if Sam would have made the same choices or had such low self-esteem in the first place. It’s a well-developed idea, even to the point where Sam’s father seems to be in the same position as his son, trying to grow up and make better choices for his life. The move back to the town where he grew up to live in a mansion was a way for Sam’s father to prove himself, and convince himself that he had come up in the world.
As for Sam, I felt for him. Haunted unknowingly by his father’s mistakes and by the friendless period in his life, it was easy to see why he tries so hard to fit in. The tension between father and son when Sam’s father realised Sam was hanging out with the same crowd as he did was realistic and believable.
I liked how Cohen resolved Ghost Ride, and I found the Homegirl twist to be amusing. With the paranormal aspect, it’s definitely a good choice for reluctant early to mid teen readers.
Memorable Quotes:
“‘Walter’s starting the ninth grade,’ Maeve said. ‘The real-estate agent mentioned something about your son being around the same age.’
Sam’s stomach lurched. It was suddenly clear where this was headed. It was a setup. They had let a Trojan horse into their house. Sam cleared his throat to get his mother’s attention, but it was too late.” – from Ghost Ride by Marina Cohen, page 24
“Sam shook his head. He had to get used to smalltown life. He’d had no idea what it was like to live in a place where everybody knew one another, where the sins of the father were passed down to the son.” – from Ghost Ride by Marina Cohen, page 63
“Sam didn’t know what he was saying anymore. He was out of his mind. His emotions had gone haywire. Fear, panic, anger, anguish – they were writing like snakes in his gut, twisting and turning until they knotted into a giant ball of confusion. He should be talking to Mike. He should be telling him everything. But he couldn’t. He couldn’t face himself. Instead, he threw himself onto his bed, closed his eyes, and pretended to sleep.” – Sam from Ghost Ride by Marina Cohen, page 115
“The vault inside his brain, the one he’d kept locked for what seemed like forever, snapped open, and a river of unwanted memories gushed forth, nearly drowning him.
There was Sam picked last for every game. There was Sam standing alone in the playground, kids fleeing from him as if he had some kind of disease. Kids laughing at him. Teasing him. Calling him names. Looking at him with disgust in his eyes that said: ‘You worthless piece of trash. You don’t deserve to get treated any better.’ And the worst part of all, the saddest, most pathetic part, was that he, Sam, agreed with them. He had let them do it because deep down he believed they were right.” – Sam from Ghost Ride by Marina Cohen, page 157
Ghost Ride by Marina Cohen is published by Dundurn Press, (2009).
Real Mermaids Don’t Wear Toe Rings by Helene Boudreau
Summary: Jade’s first period brings on an unexpected, additional change – the appearance of a mermaid’s tail. The even bigger surprise is that Jade’s dad expected this transformation might happen. Turns out that the mother Jade thought had drowned was actually a mermaid herself, held captive by rogue mer-people stuck in the fresh water lake as punishment for various crimes. Jade finds her life becoming quickly complicated, especially when keeping the mermaid issue a secret puts her at odds with her best friend Cori and a former crush of hers comes back to town looking better than ever. Her first priority is rescuing her mother from her watery prison, but if she can figure out what triggers her mermaid tail, that would be good too.
Number of Pages: 206
Age Range: 13-14
Review: A lighter, adventurous and imaginative read, Real Mermaids Don’t Wear Toe Rings by Hélène Boudreau is the first in a series for young female teen readers. Jade finds herself in a completely unexpected situation, falling asleep in her bath and waking up to find she has a mermaid’s tail that disappears and reappears under specific circumstances.
It turns out it’s a genetic thing, because her mother is a mermaid too. And because mer-people are considered to be the stuff of legend, it’s kind of challenging to find out real information about being a mermaid.
There were a couple of things I particularly enjoyed about Boudreau’s story. The first is the relationship between Jade and her father. Her mother’s presumed death brings them together, and no matter what, Jade’s dad has her back. When faced with unfamiliar situations like Jade getting her period or when she suddenly has a mermaid’s tail, he dives into research on the topics so he can support her as best he can. Jade, in turn, values the relationship she has with her father, knowing with certainty that he will help her out no matter what.
The second is Boudreau’s inclusion of Jade getting her first and second period. Perhaps it sounds odd, but for something that is a natural part of a young woman’s life, writing about menstruation is noticeably absent from teen literature. This absence means when I do read a book including discussion or experiences with periods, it stands out. Instead, the opposite should be true – books that don’t include it should stand out, and books that do should be common place. Kudos to Boudreau for covering an oft neglected topic that is a vital part of a girl’s coming of age.
Memorable Quotes:
“Rubbing my eyes, blinking away the sting, trying to get out, shocked by what I saw breaking through the surface of the water.
Then, I was yelling for Dad, he was crashing through the door.
And I had a tail. A shimmering, scale-covered, slimy, wet tail.
Freak-of-nature suddenly took on a whole new meaning.” – Jade from Real Mermaids Don’t Wear Toe Rings by Hélène Boudreau, page 40
Real Mermaids Don’t Wear Toe Rings by Hélène Boudreau is published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, (2010).
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Red Wolf by Jennifer Dance
Summary: Red Wolf has a happy life with his parents and The People. He is part of the Anishnaabek nation and lives in close community with nature and the animals around him. The summer before everything changes Red Wolf is befriended by Crooked Ear, a recently orphaned wolf cub who must learn to survive on his own. When Red Wolf is forced to go to a residential school at the tender age of five, he also finds himself in a similar situation. As he grows, his experiences at school change his relationship with his parents and affect his trust of white people, leaving him with limited options and a profound sense of shame. Red Wolf struggles to find his place in the world when school finally ends and only finds his true path after confronting his mother about everything that has happened.
Number of Pages: 251
Age Range: 17-18
Review: In Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s apology speech to the Aboriginal People he called what happened to them a cultural genocide. Thanks to Red Wolf by Jennifer Dance, I now have a better understanding of the true impact of what cultural genocide means.
This is another topic that needs to be examined and re-examined in the hopes that we can learn from our sordid history. What I appreciate about Dance’s book is the new, sensitive perspective she gives me about reserves and residential schools. By basing her story at the time of their origin she sets the stage for all the books about the same topic that talk about a later time period. Dance increased my understanding and compassion just as she wished her book would in her dedication.
I was close to tears many times during my reading because the Indian Act had horrific results. Separating children from their parents and subjecting them to physical and sexual abuse, religious brainwashing and continuous emotional abuse are all things no child should have to experience and the fact they were mandated by the government makes it worse.
But even though I am so disturbed by the subject matter, I love Dance’s writing. The reason why Red Wolf and Crooked Ear are so affecting as characters is because Dance paints a vivid picture through the use of multiple perspectives. It’s a breathtaking portrait of sorrow and it went straight to my heart. I loved reading about Crooked Ear and the special relationship he and Red Wolf have. It lightens the story and I am happy their friendship provides some comfort for Red Wolf.
I have read that Red Wolf is for readers in middle grades but I don’t agree. It is a nuanced book with mature themes and needs an older teen or adult reader to fully appreciate it. I think it would also be suitable for a classroom setting.
I had more memorable quotes than the ones listed below but they were more passages of the book than quotes and too long to include. Reading Red Wolf is an experience that isn’t for the faint of heart but Dance is a talented storyteller who leaves us with a note of hope in the end.
Memorable Quotes:
“May this story open hearts and minds
to the history of Canada
and the long suffering of our First Nations people.
May it be used to restore relationships
and increase peace, understanding, and compassion
among our nation’s youth.” – Dedication from Red Wolf by Jennifer Dance
“Red Wolf followed the bright sparks that rode a distance on the wind. He felt something warm inside his chest. It wasn’t just fire, or the furs. He glanced up at the ridge and saw them! The wolves! He listened to their howl and his heart was filled with joy.
A bell clanged and Red Wolf knew something was wrong. Bells did not ring on the beach at Clear Lake. He looked at the sparks from the fire and watched them get snuffed into blackness.” – from Red Wolf by Jennifer Dance, page 86
“Crooked Ear trembled, wanting to roll on the ground with the child as he would with another wolf, but something warned him that the Upright pup needed to be treated gently. So he raced in circles until he was calm enough to sit on his haunches and allow the child to throw his arms around him. He licked behind the boy’s ear, Red Wolf’s giggles making the animal’s tail swish back and forth.
Then they chased each other along the trail. On the steep hills the boy held on to Crooked Ear’s ruff and allowed the wolf to pull him up the incline. Then they both raced down the other side, the wolf taking the lead and the boy, with arms held wide, pretending to fly like a bird.” – from Red Wolf by Jennifer Dance, page 133
“HeWhoWhistles pondered his son’s words for a long time, his breath moving in rhythm with his soft footfalls. ‘My son, the white man makes this life very hard for us. I am not yet dead, but already I am in Hell! They can do no more to me.'” – HeWhoWhistles from Red Wolf by Jennifer Dance, page 139
“Then he thought of Jesus, the school god, with long brown hair that flowed over his shoulders in the way of The People. George didn’t have much confidence in Jesus. After all, the white men had killed him. If he was so powerful, why did he let them do that?” – Red Wolf from Red Wolf by Jennifer Dance, page 167
“From the back of the horse, Red Wolf looked into his father’s face and was angry. Hatred surged into his throat like vomit; hatred for HeWhoWhistles for not being all-powerful, hatred for StarWoman for not being there. He hated them both for not loving him enough to fight for him. He fought back his tears and said nothing.” – Red Wolf from Red Wolf by Jennifer Dance, pages 192-193
“Both boys understood that male piglets had to be castrated. The boar that was kept for breeding purposes was evidence that uncastrated piglets grew into dangerous, unmanageable animals. George knew that the strength and wildness that he took from a piglet had been taken from him too, albeit in a different manner. Like the pigs, he had become docile, domesticated, and tame.” – George from Red Wolf by Jennifer Dance, pages 208-209
“Daisy was the biggest animal George had ever seen. Her withers were higher than his head, and he couldn’t see the top of her back. But once he got over the shock of her immense size and strength, he realized that she was a gentle and sweet-natured creature with no trace of malice. He felt safer around her than he did around white folk because he sensed she wouldn’t try to hurt him. Most white folk, on the other hand, made his heart beat fast, his stomach churn, and sweat break out on the palm of his hands.” – George from Red Wolf by Jennifer Dance, page 213
Red Wolf by Jennifer Dance is published by Dundurn Press, (2014).
Crush. Candy. Corpse. by Sylvia McNicoll
Summary: Stuck volunteering in a smelly nursing home to complete a forty hour requirement for graduation, Sunny’s initial reluctance is tempered by a talent for taking care of the residents. Her position gives her a new perspective on growing older, and her burgeoning relationship with Cole, the grandson of one of the seniors, changes her. A charge of manslaughter when Cole’s grandmother chokes to death on three pieces of candy means Sunny is facing time in a detention centre, but the trial itself helps her sort through her experiences to find a way to move on with her life.
Number of Pages: 219
Age Range: 13-14
Review: I’ve read two books by Sylvia McNicoll now (Crush. Candy. Corpse. and Dying to Go Viral) and what I love about them is that despite everything that happens to her main characters, they are pure of heart. It seems funny to write but although Sunny is caught up in a manslaughter court case where she is the one on trial, it’s easy to see that underneath everything she has good intentions. She may be misguided at times, but she’s still inherently good, just like her mother says.
I loved details like Sunny being unable to talk about her mother’s breast cancer and dyeing pink streaks in her hair instead, giving the lipstick she bought as a bingo prize to Jeannette, and using her own ring to replace the wedding ring borrowed by one of the residents in the home. Set against the backdrop of a nail-biting court case, Crush. Candy. Corpse. has both intrigue and heart.
I think what I love most though is that McNicoll’s story is layered. Yes, it’s about whether or not Sunny is guilty of the crime she’s been accused of, but it’s also simply the story of a girl coming of age. The death of her grandmother when she was six and her mother’s bout with breast cancer have affected her deeply, and heavily influence her choices in the book. I loved the glimpse McNicoll allows her readers into the depth of what at first seems like a superficial character.
It’s a well-paced read with substance, and I’d recommend it to young female teen readers.
Memorable Quotes:
“It had been a great day. I felt good about how I handled Jeannette. Maybe forced volunteer work was okay after all. It opened your eyes to helping different kinds of people, ones you wouldn’t normally meet.” – Sunny from Crush. Candy. Corpse. by Sylvia McNicoll, pages 124-125
“‘Oh, he didn’t sign. I walked in right behind him so I know.’ Funny how the truth sounds like a lie sometimes. I can lie way better than I tell the truth.” – Sunny from Crush. Candy. Corpse. by Sylvia McNicoll, page 126
“I watched his profile – curls softening a hard jawline, smoky brown eyes that could melt you. I didn’t believe him because he lied all the time, to his parents and his teachers, to his friends, too. When the truth was inconvenient, when it was uncomfortable, when it meant trouble – if deception smoothed things over, then Donovan lied. Still, I didn’t want to think he stole the pin from Jeannette.” – Sunny from Crush. Candy. Corpse. by Sylvia McNicoll, pages 184-185
“She sighs. ‘What is guilty?’ She reaches out and touches the left side of my chest with one hand. ‘Your heart is good. I know this. Your father and your brother know this, too.'” – Sunny’s mother from Crush. Candy. Corpse. by Sylvia McNicoll, page 209
“Before bed, my mother and I sip a cup of herbal tea that’s supposed to make you sleep. My mother hugs me for a long time. She loves me, likes me too, no matter what. I think knowing that helps me sleep best of all.” – Sunny from Crush. Candy. Corpse. by Sylvia McNicoll, page 211
Crush. Candy. Corpse. by Sylvia McNicoll is published by Lormier Books, (2012).
Haze by Erin Thomas
Summary: On a swimming scholarship to a prestigious private school, Bram is doing everything he can to make the Sharks’ swim team. This means participating in hazing rituals invented by the senior members of the team, putting himself and others at risk. When Jeremy, a fellow Shark, comes to Bram with a previous hazing cover-up, Bram is driven to investigate, especially after Jeremy is a victim of what looks like a hit and run accident. Aided by Jeremy’s sister, Abby, Bram is in a race against time to figure out who is really behind the death of a promising former team mate before he ends up as their next victim.
Number of Pages: 175
Age Range: 13-15
Review: It took me an hour and 13 minutes to read Haze by Erin Thomas because I couldn’t put it down. Usually I take a reading break every twenty minutes, but I was so engaged by Thomas’ story that I just kept reading. In only 175 pages Thomas was able to make me care about her characters, develop suspense around who the culprit of the hazing gone wrong was and create believable friendships between Bram and his teammates. Not an easy thing to do.
I know Bram was a great guy and I agree with Thomas’ that he has a wonderful name, but my favourite character was definitely Droid. The nickname, the hair, the Star Wars connection, the swim cap and the streaking? All epic.
Mostly though, I just enjoyed that Thomas told a good story. It was a sports book with a murder mystery of sorts and I was hooked. Haze is an excellent reluctant reader pick for early to mid male teens.
Memorable Quotes:
“I got a lane to myself so I could set my own pace and swim slow, focusing on kick form, or swim fast, just for the feel of cutting through the water. I liked the rush of water past my ears, the smell of chlorine. I liked the reach and follow-through as I pulled myself forward. I liked the pattern of my breathing every fifth stroke, and the way the water held me up just a little, just enough.” – Bram from Haze by Erin Thomas, page 113
“Maybe when you have a lot of money, you can go through life not caring who you hurt. Or maybe it’s not about the money. Maybe it’s just who you are, your character.” – Bram from Haze by Erin Thomas, page 171
Haze by Erin Thomas is published by Orca Book Publishers, (2012).
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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