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Description
Liza, determined to prove that her mother's boyfriend is no good, starts researching the oil company he works for.
Liza discovers a lawsuit against the company for compensation that is long overdue to Guatemalan farmers. She starts a group at school called GRRR! (Girls for Renewable Resources, Really!) and launches an attack on Argenta Oil. As her activism activities increase, her objections to her mother's boyfriend become political. She is learning to separate the personal from the political, but when her mother discovers her plans for a demonstration outside the Argenta Oil head office, the two collide in ways Liza least suspected.
This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Contributor Notes
Sara Cassidy has worked as a clown, a youth-hostel manager, a tree planter in five Canadian provinces, and as an international human-rights witness in Guatemala. Her poetry, fiction and articles have been widely published and won a Gold National Magazine Award. She lives in Victoria with her three children.
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age:
- 9 to 12
- Grade:
- 4 to 7
- Reading age:
- 9 to 12
Awards
- Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens
- Commended, Bank Street College of Education Children's Book Committee Best Children's Books of the Year
Editorial Reviews
"With its short length and high-interest, action-packed nature, this empowering book will be a favorite with younger teens."
— School Library Journal (SLJ)
"Liza's determination and activism set a powerful example...The topic is relevant and will engage young socially aware readers."
— The Horn Book Guide
"Reluctant readers will like this fast-paced read."
— The Washington State Young Adult Review Group (WASHYARG)
"[Orca] couldn't have picked a better time to publish Slick…A well-written, fast-paced, high interest novel with compelling characters written for reluctant readers…Liza is an appealing, interesting and realistic character. The book also encourages girls and tweens in general to become interested in political issues and current events…Highly Recommended."
— CM: Canadian Review of Materials
"Slender, easy-to-read, and strongly purposeful...This upbeat tale...[is a] solid entry in the Orca Currents series."
— Booklist
"This novel would work well with an environmental science component. Largely idealistic, Liza shows that one person can make a difference in both their community and in the wider world…A subject area that is certain to be of interest and appeal to those with an environmental aptitude; especially of interest with the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico."
— Resource Links
