Days That End in Y

by Vikki VanSickle

Scholastic Canada

978-1-4431-2432-4

194 pp.

Ages 9-12

2013

When Vikki VanSickle introduced readers to Clarissa Delaney in Words that Start with B (Scholastic Canada, 2010), Clarissa was trying to cope with her mother being diagnosed with breast cancer, with her best friend Benji being bullied, and with a boy leaving her odd gifts.  Fortunately, with treatment, lifestyle changes and a new relationship, her mom's health is renewed in Love is a Four-Letter Word (Scholastic Canada, 2011), leaving Clarissa worrying more about her own feelings: for Benji, who gets chosen for a production of The Wizard of Oz in which Clarissa had hoped, almost expected, to win a role; for boys, particularly Michael; and for her mother's love for the new man in her life, Doug.

In Days That End in Y, Clarissa is still confused by her relationships and even more so as the summer sees her going solo, with friend Mattie at camp and Benji heavily involved with the Gaslighters drama group.  In fact, Benji and the drama group are enthralled with their summer director, the charismatic university student, Dean, and Mattie can't seem to stop telling Clarissa about her awesome and infinitely wise camp counsellor.  And then Mom and Doug get engaged. 

While prepping the house for Doug and his dog Suzy to move in, Clarissa's mom finds her old high school yearbooks, which Clarissa secretly squirrels away with the intent of learning more about her biological dad.  Though her initial aim may have been to learn more about his identity and character, even pumping Mom's best friend Denise for more information, an unexpected sighting of him at her maybe-boyfriend's baseball game has Clarissa determined to meet him.  But all goes awry when Clarissa learns that her dad never knew of her existence, and that her mother's portrayal of him as a deadbeat was used to mask her own flaws and mistakes.  As events progress towards the summer wedding, Clarissa begins to wonders if the most important relationships in her life are actually what they seem to be or only as she wants them to be.

Middle-grade readers often find a dearth of great realistic fiction that reflects their lives but is still interesting to them without crossing into the mature issues of young adult fiction.  Surprisingly, they do enjoy reading about characters slightly older than themselves to help prepare for the changes that puberty, high school and boy-girl relationships will bring, but they need to see that the ineptitude and confusion that comes with those changes is universal.  Vikki VanSickle's Clarissa and Benji are the perfect escorts for middle-grade readers to navigate those transition years.  

In Days That End in Y, as in the first two books, Clarissa and Benji make mistakes with each other and with others, including their families.  They are on the cusp of reluctantly giving up on their "childish" missions for new experiences, regardless how awkward.  They're looking for heroes amongst those with whom they connect - parents, friends, camp counsellors, directors, other adults - always assuming that they've chosen wisely, unless otherwise indicated.  There is angst, questioning, confusion, misunderstanding, arrogance and the optimism of youth.  That is, until otherwise indicated.  Fortunately, for Vikki VanSickle's Clarissa and Benji, they are there to support each other when things begin to get out of control, as is the norm for all, on Days That End in Y.

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Sadly, Days That End in Y concludes Vikki VanSickle's middle-grade trilogy about Clarissa and Benji.  Sadder still is the fact that Vikki VanSickle provides fodder for another great book based on a revelation at the end of Days That End in Y.  It is a series that will be greatly missed but one of which we can be proud as readers of wonderful #youngCanLit.

Vikki VanSickle's Book Trailer Contest now open!

To herald the February release of her newest book

Days That End in Y

Scholastic Canada

978-1443124324

240 pp.

Ages 10-14

February 1, 2013

Vikki VanSickle

author of  

Words That Start with B (Scholastic Canada, 2010) and

 Love is a Four-Letter Word (Scholastic Canada, 2011)

has announced a

 BOOK TRAILER CONTEST

 Just create a fun video, no longer than two minutes in length, 

celebrating the Clarissa and Benji book series

Grand Prize

• your video posted to the author's and Scholastic Canada websites

• a school visit from the author, including a fun writing workshop

• a library of Scholastic books, valued at $100.00, for yourself

• signed sets of the series for your classroom and school library

Three Runners Up

• video posted on the author's website

• prize pack from Scholastic Canada, valued at $25.00

Contest runs from October 1 to January 15

Winners announced on February 1, 2013

For rules and regulations and 

information about submitting your video,

contact Vikki VanSickle at Vikki.vansickle@gmail.com

More details can be found at author Vikki VanSickle's blog at http://vikkivansickle.wordpress.com/book-trailer-contest/

Love is a Four-Letter Word

by Vikki VanSickle
Scholastic Canada
978-1-4431-0787-7
237 pp.
Ages 9-13
2011

Clarissa, whose mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in Words that Start with B (Scholastic Canada, 2010), continues to support her mom through her treatments, "Run for the Cure" training, and now budding relationship with her personal trainer, Doug.  But, except for her friendship with Benji, one that is experiencing its own ups and downs, Clarissa is naive about the role of love in different relationships.  

Always aspiring to be an actress, Clarissa envisions herself in a leading role in a local young people's theatre production of The Wizard of Oz, coercing Benji to accompany her to the auditions.  Unfortunately for Clarissa, she is not chosen but Benji is selected to play the Cowardly Lion.  So while tending to her bruised pride, Clarissa has to find a way to uphold her part in their intense friendship even though Benji is finding success and new friends without her.

Then, Mattie, a friend whose crushes seem to change weekly, makes Clarissa consider her feelings for boys, specifically Michael, a classmate who may like her.  Clarissa is unsure about her interest in Michael and learns through a series of missteps how careless comments can hurt.

Finally, Annie, Clarissa's mom, is finding love for the first time since Clarissa was born.  Before it was just Clarissa and her mom and her mom's hair salon, and Clarissa thought that had always been good enough.  But, Doug seems to be around a lot now, and Clarissa can't seem to balance her fears for her mother's health with her worries that she's losing her mom and that secrets are being kept.

VanSickle's writing gives her young characters, especially Clarissa, the clear and honest voices of youth, hopeful but laden with anxiety. Clarissa makes a lot of mistakes as she attempts to understand the different loves she sees and experiences, using trial-and-error to choose what she should be feeling or doing.  So, with some suitable direction from her supporting cast of youth and adults, plus a lot of apologizing, Clarissa seems to find a path that may work for her, at least for now.  After all, even if Clarissa doesn't know it yet, love can also be fickle (sorry, that's six letters).