121 Express by Monique Polak
Summary: Lucas is determined to change his nerdy reputation when he switches schools. Going from brainiac to popular proves to be pretty easy though if he’s willing to make a few bold moves on the 121 Express bus. His efforts quickly pay off, but the pranks on the bus become more and more outrageous – opening the emergency window, dumping yogurt on another car’s windshield, throwing objects at pedestrians – until the bus driver himself has a nervous breakdown. When one of Lucas’ other friends is about to be the victim of the next prank, it is up to him to stand...
Read MoreEsther by Sharon E. McKay
Summary: Esther is a Jewish girl living in the 1700s, a time when both Jewish people and women are controlled and undervalued. An outsider in her own community due to the nature of her birth, Esther uses a shipwreck to escape her family after learning her father is going to marry her off to Red, the rag picker. She is rescued by Philippe, a sailor, who helps her get on her feet by finding her a place to stay and work. When things go wrong though, Esther transforms herself into a boy and runs away. Thus begins a series of adventures that lead her to New France, where she must confront the...
Read MoreMiracleville by Monique Polak
Summary: Ani and her sister Colette live in Ste-Anne-Beaupré, Quebec, a religious town named after one of Quebec’s patron saints. People come from far and wide to petition Saint Anne for miracles, and Ani’s family runs a store that sells religious souvenirs to those who are on pilgrimages. When an accident happens at the store leaving Ani and Colette’s mother paralyzed from the waist down, Ani reconsiders her views on God, miracles, and the church all while dealing with the complicated feelings of being a sixteen year-old. Number of Pages: 246 Age Range: 14-16 Review:...
Read MoreWild Geese by Caroline Pignat
Summary: Driven by the desire to reunite with her family as well as running from the law in Ireland, Kit disguises herself as Mick’s younger brother and books passage with him to Canada. A break out of Typhus on a lengthy ship voyage causes them to be quarrantined at Grosse Ilse in Quebec, but Kit doesn’t let that stop her in her pursuit of her siblings. When she finds them, however, her goal of being a family again runs into some significant barriers and Kit finds she must re-evaluate what is best for everyone. A period of self discovery with the nuns in Bytown, Quebec helps her...
Read MoreRink of Dreams by Nancy L. M. Russell
Summary: Living in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, a town that is dedicated to its hockey teams, Gary McDonald is a thirteen year-old hockey player hoping to make the local Bantam AAA. A farm team called the New Mexico Snow Dogs moves to Charlottetown, but the small community paired with the team’s overall lack of skill means ticket sales are not meeting the owners’ expectations. One player named Dmitri, however, is headed for stardom in the NHL, but his problems with the Russian Mafia require that he turn to Gary and his family for help. In the midst of all of the drama,...
Read MoreNights Below Station Street by David Adams Richards
Summary: Adele is a high school student with an older boyfriend named Ralphie, an alcoholic father named Joe and a mother named Rita that she despises. As bitter as Adele is and as much as she wants to be rid of them at times, all of their lives are intertwined with each other. Being a family and living in their community isn’t easy, but when things are at their toughest, Adele’s family proves again and again that they have the strength to band together and face whatever arises. Number of Pages: 218 Age Range: 17-18 Review: At first, I didn’t like Nights Below Station...
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
Sponsors
