- post-confederation (1867-) (34)
- emotions & feelings (26)
- friendship (19)
- girls & women (19)
- hockey (18)
- women (16)
- basketball (15)
- bullying (13)
- winter sports (13)
- adolescence (12)
- violence (12)
- canadian (11)
- criminals & outlaws (11)
- historical (11)
- prejudice & racism (11)
- soccer (11)
- boys & men (10)
- law & crime (10)
- peer pressure (10)
- self-esteem & self-reliance (10)
The Next Step
After losing her mother, Clara tries to get used to her new life -- shopping for clothes with dad; Tess' chocolate chip cookies (instead of the sugar cookies Mama made); and more responsibility with her little brother Calvin. Hardest of all, Clara doesn't know how to tell her Dad that dance is just not for her. Mama was a great dancer. But, with th …
One More Clue
In this fabulous follow-up to Kathy Stinson's classic children's novels, Seven Clues and The Great Bike Race, Matt Randall uncovers two mysterious objects in his neighbour's attic: a magician's costume and a brand new clue. Or is it an old clue? Matt sets out to discover the history of this dusty mystery with the help and hindrance of a familiar ca …
No TV? No Fair!
At first eleven-year-old Chloe is angry at her parents' new rule. But in time, she starts to enjoy much-loved but forgotten activities like art, visiting with her neighbours, and spending quality time with her family -- with the television off! Maybe machines aren't so great anyway, Chloe begins to think. But she soon learns that technology does h …
Seven Clues
Matt is bored. It's summer vacation, all his friends are away, and there is nothing -- NOTHING -- to do in Pebble Creek ... until he receives a clue to a mystery!
"There's something you should look for. It will bring you great pleasure. Not coins in a pirate's chest but a different sort of treasure."
A treasure? In Pebble Creek? That's crazy, thi …
Libby's Got the Beat
Fans of Canadian Idol, Camp Rock, and High School Musical will delight in reading this super funny story of eleven-year-old Libby Meek and her plans for superstardom!
The only thing standing in Libby's way is her school's low provincial test results. With all extra-curricular activities put on hold so the students can retake the test, Libby and her …
Libby On Strike
Libby Meek is busy -- too busy. Between art class and youth group, skiing and piano lessons, Libby discovers that she no longer has time to just play. When her parents ignore Libby's demands for more free time, she decides to go on strike to prove her point. Along the way, both Libby and her parents discover the importance of balancing work and pla …
Alison's Ghosts
Alison is held captive by the powers of a mysterious pipe bowl belonging to a Mi"kmaq shaman. The bowl takes her back in time where she forms friendships with troubled ghosts who need her help. She must uncover the history of the pipe, and she must do it quickly, before she too is consumed by the grim fate of the pipe's beholders.
[Fry Reading Level …
Catching Forever
It's awkward enough for any kid going to a new school, but Rose, whose family belongs to a Mennonite community, feels even more out of place. Then, one day, she picks up a baseball.
Inspired by her own childhood memories, Laurel Dee Gugler paints a touching portrait of a young girl throwing herself into a new game and fresh possibilities.
Maurice Richard
Maurice Richard was the greatest hockey player of the 20th century. He was also the most popular and respected hero of French-speaking Canadians. His career paralleled the dramatic changes that occurred in Quebec after the Second World War, when the Quebecois people asserted their equality and their rights.
This new biography of Richard records his …
Family Violence: A Canadian Introduction
Family violence is hard for most people to understand. The fact that we are more likely to be killed or assaulted by family members than anyone else seems incredible. Yet for many Canadians the family is a dangerous place, far from the haven of love and security that we would like to believe.
In this book, sociologists Julianne Momirov and Ann Duffy …
The Rise of the New West
This one-volume history chronicles a 150-year history of dramatic changes in fortune and attitudes in western Canada.
From the Riel Rebellions and the Winnipeg General Strike to the founding of the CCF, Social Credit, and Reform parties, Canada's West has always been a hotbed of political, social, and economic change. In the early twentieth century …
Peacemakers
A world without war: this is the vision that Douglas Roche has pursued for decades. A long-time Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament, Canadian ambassador for disarmament, and later a senator, Roche has been in the thick of international affairs for more than forty years.
Though few of us realize it, today the world is more peaceful than in …
Academic Freedom in Conflict
For more than a century academics have had unique rights -- to speak, teach, and write freely. Central to the case for academic freedom is that scholars must be able to voice their views free of fear in order for society to gain a better understanding of ourselves and our world and to be effective teachers.
Academic freedom has always faced challeng …
Gang Life
For the first time, here's a no-holds-barred inside account of life for criminal gang members in cities and towns across Canada.
Mark Totten has slowly gained the confidence of gang members in many Canadian cities and small towns, and he knows enough to get the real goods from these men and women. In this book he tells the life stories -- so far -- …
Hustle
Fourteen-year-old Johnny Huttle -- nicknamed "Hustle" by his best friend, Rex -- comes from an inner-city neighbourhood, where the streets are tough and the street ball games are rougher. More than anything, Johnny wants to shine as the school's star basketball player. But the one thing standing in his way is his best friend, Rex, who outshines Joh …
28 Tricks for a Fearless Grade 6
Dave Davidson's heart is in the right place. He believes it's his mission to cure his friends of their fears. But his solutions are hare-brained at best and often come with unintended and hilarious consequences. Afraid of dancing at the school dance? Dave's got ways to fix that: sprain an ankle, eat expired food to get sick, or even get yourself s …
Hoop Dreams
Playing ball is what keeps Podium Sports Academy's basketball captain going when things get rough. When there's trouble back home, Allie turns to basketball. Ditto when her relationship is in trouble or when she's at odds with her friends. But then tragedy strikes when an old knee injury resurfaces and Allie is told she might not be able to play a …
Pick and Roll
Jazz Smith-Mohapatra is the toughest and best player on her basketball team -- and this year she's determined to lead the team to a championship win. But in the last game of the regular season, Jazz sets an offensive move called a pick and roll. A player on the other team doesn't see it coming; she crashes into Jazz, and then onto the floor. Though …
Power Hitter
Connor might need a pinch runner, pinch catcher, and pinch thrower, but can he ever hit a baseball out of the park! So when Connor ends up staying with his baseball-loving relatives in Winnipeg for the summer, he allows his cousin to talk him into trying out for the baseball team. Connor isnt surprised when he doesnt make it, but he is disappointe …
Annaleise Carr
Over eight months worth of planning, hundreds of hours of hard physical training, amassing a team of dedicated crewmates, approaching sponsors and collecting donations -- and finally, swimming for twenty-seven hours across the cold, rough waters of Lake Ontario.
Why would a fourteen-year-old girl take on such a challenge?
For Annaleise Carr, the moti …
Blow
As far as Mary, a.k.a. Meringue, can tell, the only good thing about moving from Vancouver to Red Deer following her parents' divorce is that she was able to get a head-start on earning her Learner's Permit. Now she's sixteen, she can drive on her own. When her friend Jeff asks her to cover his pizza route, Meringue jumps at the chance to cruise ar …
Stupid
Martin's been diagnosed with ADHD, but he feels something about his diagnosis isn't right. The Ritalin he's prescribed doesn't seem to make a difference. When Martin's grades continue to sink no matter how hard he tries, his father writes him off as lazy and just plain stupid. His dad is convinced that Martin just needs to focus more on his studies …
The Mystery of the Oak Island Treasure
In the summer of 1795, a teenager was exploring a tiny island in Nova Scotia's Mahone Bay when he came across a curious depression in the ground. Driven by visions of lost pirate treasure, he later returned to the spot with shovels, pickaxes, and two friends. The trio began to dig, and in so doing launched what would become one of the most famous t …
Unsung Heroes of the RCAF
More than 250,000 courageous men and women were enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. These Canadians fought valiantly in every major air operation from the Battle of Britain to the bombing of Germany. Thousands lost their lives. Those who survived to tell their stories were forever changed. Here are some of their incredible …
Big League Dreams
This is a history of black major league baseball players and the crumbling of the colour barrier in sport, and the story of how Fergie Jenkins rose to the top to become Canada's first inductee into the American Baseball Hall of Fame.
Fergie Jenkins grew up in the era when Jackie Robinson became the first black man to play major league baseball, and …
A Spy's Wife
This is a lively, readable, and informative account of life in Moscow by the wife of a Canadian military attach� who witnessed the last days of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War
Janice Cowan was trained by the Canadian government for her role in Moscow. She and her husband went to spy school in Canada to learn how to gather intelligenc …
Spiked
Eighth-grader Emma is the tallest person in her class. While she used to be into sports in a big way, now that she's hanging out with her new best friend, other things have become more important -- like clothes and makeup and fitting in. When Emma gets roped into volunteering for the girls' volleyball team, she feels the urge to play again. First, …
Hoop Magic
Orlando O'Malley has had to overcome a lot to play basketball. He's the worst shooter on the Evergreen Eagles middle school team. He can barely dribble around a cone in practice. And he's certainly the shortest. But Orlando has two special talents: a winning personality and the ability to call play-by-play almost everything that is happening around …
SAR: Powderhounds
It's the last run of the day and hotdog skier Luc isn't afraid to go out of bounds to get the most out of a downhill experience. Though his girlfriend, Cass, is a bit more cautious, she's not going to let Luc go on his own. But as the weather takes a turn for the worse, the skiers become lost.
When Search and Rescue gets the phone call that the skie …
The Secret Power of Juries
Canadians know that the jurors at a trial decide the defendant's guilt or innocence according to the law of the land. What they don't know is how far that right actually goes, and what the real power of juries is.
Sometimes people -- even jurors -- wonder if a law or a judgment in a particular case is a just one. When the law seems wrong, we are tol …
Skinner's Banks
Cale Finch has just won second place in a skateboarding competition when he's ambushed on his way home by a member of a rival crew, the Mental Posse. They steal the money that Cale was going to use to replace his broken skateboard. Cale feels embarrassed by what happened, so he doesn't tell anyone right away.
Eventually, Mark Skinner, an older skat …
TT: Full Throttle
Scott has one obsession: to fulfill his late father's dream of racing in the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Races, the most dangerous and prestigious motorcycle road race in the world. Far from their home in British Columbia and still reeling from a recent tragedy, Scott and his roommates-turned-pit crew have only five days during Practice Week to secu …
Striker
Thirteen-year-old Cody is aching to get back onto the pitch. Last year he had a tumor removed from his leg. Though it's a struggle, Cody tries out for the Lions and makes the team as a "super sub" -- one of eleven players who jokingly named themselves that because they're never allowed to play. Secretly Cody is relieved, since he hasn't told anyone …
Pure Fake
Gina is the kind of girl who works hard to keep up her appearance -- not just her hair and makeup, but going so far as breast-enhancement surgery and regular diet pills. When tall, athletic, good-looking Colter wants to be her boyfriend, Gina jumps at the chance. She thinks they'll be the perfect couple and ignores the warning signs that things are …
Quiet No More
Spontaneous and creative protest movements have burst onto the political stage in Canada and around the world. Joel D. Harden, an activist, writer, and educator, offers a ground-level account of the most important of these recent expressions of large-scale political engagement, mostly by young people. Based on first-hand accounts from many of the p …
Old Enough to Fight
Between 15,000 and 20,000 underage youths, some as young as ten, signed up to fight in Canada's armed forces in the First World War. They served in the trenches alongside their elders, and fought in all the major battles: Ypres, the Somme, Passchendaele, Vimy Ridge, and the rest. Many were injured or suffered psychological wounds. Many died. This i …
Big Air
Aboriginal snowboarder Jax has it made. He's in his last year at Podium Sports Academy and he's got a sponsorship from a big snowboarding company in the bag. But then his older brother, always the troublemaker in the family, shows up in Calgary unexpectedly. Suddenly Jax's sponsorship is threatened when the police come asking questions about a brea …
Canadian Christmas Traditions
Included in this book are 28 traditional recipes by Chef Jeff O'Neill, showcasing Canada's multicultural heritage, plus a special section of 18 Christmas recipes from across the country, highlighting Canada's regional diversity. The origin of a Canadian Christmas is a fascinating blend of different traditions and festivities. The stories behind the …
Strange Events of Ontario
Mythological sea monsters lurking in the depths of Lake Simcoe, a fair-haired Sasquatch combing the isolated stretches of northern highways, and the mournful "Maid of the Mist" of Niagara Falls are just some of the mysterious stories of Ontario found in this collection. Read up on the eerie events of Ontario's history that will challenge reason and …
Edwin Alonzo Boyd
Edwin Boyd woke up, rolled out of bed, and got ready to rob his first bank. He began his preparations by disguising himself. He shoved wads of cotton into his cheeks and nostrils, smeared black mascara on his eyebrows, and rubbed rouge on his cheeks.
This book will be especially fascinating for all readers interested in: history, biography, true cri …
Women Explorers (JR)
Canadian women have been conquering mountains for more than 100 years. The early pioneers set the standard for the women who followed. This group of extraordinary women include the founder of the Alpine Club of Canada and the first North American woman to summit Everest. These women were all strong and determined, and shared a love of adventure.
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators have had a long and storied history as one of the original -- and dominant -- Canadian hockey franchises. Stocked with skilled and adventurous players, the early Senators were known for their aggressive play and never-say-die attitude. The fascinating story of the team continues into the present with the thrilling account of how …
The Incredible Adventures of Louis Riel (JR)
"Fifteen years ago, I gave my heart to this nation, and I am ready to give it again." - Louis Riel, 1884.
This book will be especially fascinating for all young readers interested in: history, biography, or politics. Louis Riel is perhaps the most controversial figure in Canadian history. A rebel and a powerful orator, he emerged as a leader of the …
East Coast Murders
The towns and villages of Canada's East Coast are home to countless tales of drama and intrigue, some of which do not end happily. This fascinating collection of crime stories features many chilling incidents that have scarred the history of the Atlantic Provinces. Exploring deadly love affairs, mysterious disappearances, and murderous mutinies at …
Montreal Canadiens
In 1917, the Montreal Canadiens became one of the four founding teams of the National Hockey League. Since then, the team has enjoyed countless breathtaking triumphs. Not only have they won more Stanley Cup Championships than any other team in the NHL, they have also boasted some of the best players the league has ever seen. Through it all, they ha …
Toronto Maple Leafs
"Since its construction in 1931, the Maple Leaf Gardens had seen its share of powerful, memorable moments and held its share of championship glory. But there was something different about this evening of May 2, 1967."
This book will be especially facinating for readers interested in hockey or sports. The Toronto Maple Leafs is one of Canada's great …
Game Face
Jay Hirtle's back in Rockets territory and he's determined to help his former teammates win the basketball championship. But some of his teammates aren't very welcoming, including Colin, Jay's former best friend and last season's MVP. When Jay wins out in a close vote for team captain, Colin's behaviour becomes even more hostile. Jay has to think o …
Pirates and Privateers
Murder, mutiny, and mayhem were the order of the day in the seas off the East Coast during the golden age of sailing. Pillagers and opportunists plied the seas in search of riches in the holds of American ships. And they invariably found what they were looking for...
Double Play
Allie loves baseball. It's the one thing that has been consistent in her lately complicated life. Allie's father left recently, and now Allie has a new family -- her mother's new girlfriend, Phyllis, and son Miles have moved in. It's taking some adjustment, mostly because Miles seems determined to get under her skin. Things start looking up when Al …
Real Justice: Convicted for Being Mi'kmaq
When a black teen was murdered in a Sydney, Cape Breton park late one night, his young companion, Donald Marshall Jr., became a prime suspect. Sydney police coached two teens to testify against Donald which helped convict him of a murder he did not commit. He spent 11 years in prison until he finally got a lucky break. Not only was he eventually ac …