Gilly loves her flippers. Her best friend is a fish named Finnegan, and together they flap their flippers in Lighthouse Bay. However, when rumours of a monster snarfing, swiping, and pinching start to swirl around, Gilly decides that she will catch the monster and restore peace to the little town. … More Gilly’s Monster Trap by Cyndi Marko
‘The Boy Who Lost His Spark’ is a chapter book disguised as a picture book. Younger readers will enjoy the story when read aloud, and the illustrations are captivating for all ages. As the reader gets older, they will learn new ways to appreciate the beauty of the prose, allowing for the audience to grow into the book. … More The Boy Who Lost His Spark by Maggie O’Farrell, illus. Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini
Review by Belle Cole Orca Currents from Orca Book Publishers, August 17, 2021 115 pages, paperback, $10.95 CAD, 9781459828049 Middle-grade, ages 9-12, grades 2-5 Fantasy “Violet and I formulated a plan last night. It’s bonkers. But it might work. And we have no other choice… It’s dangerous. That’s why we’re leaving it to the last … More The Wherewood by Gabrielle Prendergast
Review by Gabrielle Tselos Illustrated by Yong Ling Kang Tundra, April 4th, 2023 32 pages, hardcover, $23.99 CAD, 9780735271340 Ages 3-7 years Picture book, realistic fiction “My grandma was discombobulated by changes to her routine. But I was patient. Eventually, we found plans that worked for everyone.” The Care and Keeping of Grandmas tells the … More The Care and Keeping of Grandmas by Jennifer Mook-Sang, illus. by Yong Ling Kang
Review by Ash Wahking With collaborators David Yoon, Jarrod Shusterman, Sofia Lapuente, Michael H. Payne, Michelle Knowlden, Joelle Shusterman Simon & Schuster, 2022 423 pages, hardcover, 24.99 CAD, ISBN 9781534499973 Young adult, 15-18 years old Fiction, sci-fi, anthology of short fiction “Everyone makes pleasant little digital drawings,” continued Af Klint. “It’s clear where our new … More Gleanings by Neal Shusterman
Review by GiGi Kang Orca Book Publishers, April 11, 2023 261 pages, paperback, $12.95 CAD, 9781459836730 Ages 9 to 12 Action/Adventure Fiction Excerpt to come with book’s release Imagine commanding a spacecraft at only fourteen years old. Houston Williams finds himself in this exact position in Mission to Mars by bestselling author Eric Walters, the … More Mission to Mars by Eric Walters
Review by Alicia L’Archevêque Tundra Books, Penguin Random House, 2022 48 pages. Hardcover. CAN. $24.99. ISBN: 9780735270251 3-7 years old (Preschool-Grade 2) Fiction, Picture Book “That night, before he said good night to the mountain, the boy drew it once more. And, this time, he was completely satisfied.” Like a mountain, this book proves that … More The Boy and the Mountain by Mario Bellini, illus. Marianna Coppo
Review by Deborah Vail Orca Sounding Books, August 2020 137 pages, paperback, Hi-Low $10.95 CAD, 978-1459-8238-15 Ages 12+ Young Adult, Contemporary Realism It’s not about the money. It’s not even about winning or losing. It’s about hating myself, punishing myself and then seeking redemption in all the wrong ways. Imagine being so smart that, at … More Double or Nothing by Brooke Carter
Review by Ash Wahking Red Deer Press, 2021 444 pages, paperback, $14.95 CAD, 978-0-88995-641-4 Young adult, high school Realistic Fiction “Twenty,” I called out in a gasp. The boat picked up a little. My legs seared and my breathing was like rapid bursts. In and out. In and out. I kept sliding and pushing. Keep … More When You Least Expect It by Lorna Schultz Nicholson
Review by Hannah Luppe Flatiron Books, 2021 416, Hardcover, $25.99 CAD,9781250268396 Ages 13 – 18, Grades 9+ Fantasy, Romance According to the myths, the Prince of Hearts was not capable of love because his heart had stopped beating long ago. Only one person could make it work again: his one true love. They said his … More Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
YOUNG ADULTING 