Running on Empty by Don Aker
Summary: Seventeen year-old Ethan has a chip on his shoulder a mile wide. Every thing is everyone else’s fault and he deeply resents having to face the consequences of his own actions. This attitude of entitlement leads him down a self-destructive road that will take away almost everything he has and put his closest relationships to the test. Hopefully he’ll be able to pull himself out of it before anyone gets hurt. Number of Pages: 265 Age Range: 15-17 Review: The interesting part of reading more than one book by an author is developing a sense of their specific writing...
Read MoreRun by Eric Walters
Summary: Fourteen year-old Winston’s bad behaviour at home and at school has his mother at her wits’ end. Following a suggestion from the police officer who brought Winston home from his latest runaway attempt, Winston’s mother sends him to live with his father for a bit. About to leave on a trip to Nova Scotia to follow a lead on a story, Winston’s father takes Winston along. It’s 1980 and it turns out the story is about a young, unknown man named Terry Fox who is on the cusp of changing the country and perhaps Winston too. Number of Pages: 236 Age Range: 12-14...
Read MoreRattled by Lisa Harrington
Summary: Bored after her fifteenth birthday, Lydia’s life picks up when new neighbours move into the old Henley place across the street. Suddenly there’s a new love interest named Sam that her older sister Jilly calls dibs on, and Lydia gains a new friend in his younger sister, Megan. After what seems like merely a rough start with Mrs. Swicker, Lydia realises Sam and Megan’s mother’s hostile nature is meant to hide something and decides to investigate. What she uncovers will not only have consequences for the Swicker family, but will also put Lydia’s life in...
Read MoreThe 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 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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