Zevi Takes the Spotlight (Orca Currents)

Written by Carol Matas

Orca Book Publishers

978-1-459838826

128 pp.

Ages 9–12

RL 2.7

April 2024

 

Some gift! Unlike other gifts, this one is not returnable. (p. 2)

Zevi's gift? He's psychic. Sometimes he can see into the future, or dream about something that is going happen, hear someone's thoughts, or even talk to the dead. When he dreams of the location of a missing 5-year-old girl, he helps the police find the child unharmed. But, for a Grade 7 boy who wants to be an actor, he doesn't appreciate the celebrity, both good and bad, that comes with this good deed.

Now Zevi's family is getting dragged into the filming of a movie starring Robert Lemon when their glass-and-steel home is selected as a location for the futuristic movie. Problem is that Zevi keeps sensing a dark cloud associated with the star and the boy is worried that Mr. Lemon is in danger. When repeated accidents occur on set, i.e., at their house, Zevi, his best friend Nir, and Zevi's family use their proximity to the movie to do some sleuthing to discover who might want to hurt Robert Lemon.

 

Zevi Takes the Spotlight is another fast-moving hi-lo book in the Orca Currents series, which are high-interest books written at a lower vocabulary and reading level, here at 2.7. (RL 2.7 is associated with readers in the seventh month of Grade 2.) Carol Matas, a prolific writer of everything from picture books to historical fiction, paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi, capably writes a compelling mystery for middle-grade readers at a less challenging level. She weaves a story of real characters, kids who want to try new things or don't, who want to be famous or don't, and who want to connect with others. And they've got a mystery to solve. They may have a few tricks to help them out, like Zevi's psychic ability, but that "gift" is both beneficial and an obstacle, as Zevi learns. 

 

Zevi may want to be an actor when he is older but he's learning early what fame can mean when he gets a taste of it. Still, it doesn't stop him from doing good for others or learning how to deal with it. His brush with celebrity may put him in the spotlight but he's now seeing beyond that attention to a path that will allow him to be both who he is and who he wants to be.

Optimists Die First

Written by Susin Nielsen

Tundra Books

978-1-77049-782-5

240 pp.

Ages 12+

February 2017

Reviewed from audiobook

Read by Julia Whelan

Listening Library

B01N6PZ3Q3

4 hr 58 min

Apparently optimists do die first.  By ten years.  Pessimists, it seems, are more realistic because they see eventualities the oblivious optimists ignore.  No wonder Petula De Wilde, 16, is obsessed with all the circumstances that can take and have taken peoples’ lives before expected.  Her obsession about all things dangerous has her keeping a scrapbook of news stories of deaths from falling debris at construction sites, a faulty roller coaster or elevator, and even deadly paper cuts, leaving her fearful of everything from double-dipping eaters, public washrooms, biological warfare, and airplanes.  This since the death of her baby sister Maxine two years earlier, a death for which Petula blames herself.  Now she can’t keep herself safe enough.

In lieu of counselling, Petula attends YART, Youth Art Therapy, along with recently out-of-the-closet Alonzo, alcoholic Koula, angry, grief-stricken Ivan and new guy Jacob Cohen, the guy with the bionic arm.  Under the instruction of therapist Betty, the group undertakes a series of juvenile projects.  But, after Petula and the aspiring film director Jacob prepare a cat adaptation of Wuthering Heights (to rave reviews, except from their English teacher), the group convinces Betty to let them organize their own projects, more relevant to their needs and issues.

Amidst their YART sessions, Petula’s phobic life style, overwhelming guilt, regrets over falling out with former BFF and crafting buddy Rachel, and a disintegrating family, Petula and Jacob fall in love.  But Jacob only reveals a few scenes from his life, and apparently a lot of it is fiction, jeopardizing his relationship with Petula and the other members of YART.  Whether they can find a way to heal their own guilts and allow another into their worlds is only up to Susin Nielsen, director of fine stories and creator of characters more real than those we encounter every day.

If you’re familiar with Susin Nielsen’s earlier works (Word Nerd; Dear George Clooney, Please Marry My Mom; The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen; and We Are All Made of Molecules)–and if you’re not, go out right now, rush, get them and read them–you’ll know the power of her writing to blend stories of families in transition with heavy issues like death, divorce and homophobia, while still leaving room for humour and romantic love.  Optimists Die First is a package of inspiritment (even from the tragedies) that serves to entertain because of Susin Nielsen’s diverse characters, human and cat, subplots of secrets and shames, and reassurance of a close that’s more a beginning than an end.

“But that’s life, I guess. We know we can’t do a rewrite.  We can’t undo what’s been done, or control what’s coming next.   

All we can do is hope for the best.”

Just stick to the bright side (away from falling construction debris) and you’ll be just fine.  I’m positive.

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Author Susin Nielsen speaks about Optimists Die First in a brief video on YouTube and is accompanied by her cat who is not named Moominmamma, Anne of Green Gables, Ferdinand, Stuart Little, Stanley, Alice or Pippi.

Susin Nielsen talks all things 'Optimists Die First' avec cat

Uploaded by Maximum Pop! Books on March 13, 2017 to YouTube.

Internment in Canada: A youngCanLit book list

On August 22, 2014, the 100th anniversary of Canada's first internment operations will be commemorated with the unveiling of 100 plaques across Canada.  These historical plaques will be unveiled at 11 a.m. at Ukrainian, Croatian, Serbian, German, and Hungarian churches and cultural centres, museums and other public venues.

While the internment of Canadians of different nationalities began with the enactment of the War Measures Act at the onset of World War I, there are too many individuals and families that were labeled as enemy aliens during both world wars that we should not forget this blemish in our history.  As such, I've prepared a list of youngCanLit and NFB films that either focus on the tragedy of internment or include characters that have been interned.  The majority of these resources involve the internment of Japanese Canadians during World War II, but please recognize that the commemorative plaques are specifically the work of the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Foundation to help everyone... Remember, Learn, Never Forget Them. (Further details are available at http://www.internmentcanada.ca/news-events.cfm)

As an aside, I'll be reviewing Marsha Skrypuch's newest book, Dance of the Banished, (listed below) in which a young Alevi Kurd from Anatolia is interned during World War I in a camp in Kapuskasing.  That review will be posted on August 22, and Marsha Skrypuch will answer some questions about her book in a post the following day.


PICTURE BOOKS

Flags

by Maxine Trottier

Illustrated by Paul Morin

Fitzhenry & Whiteside

27 pp.

Ages 8+

1999

Naomi's Tree
by Joy Kogawa
Illustrated by Ruth Ohi
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
32 pp.
Ages 8-11
2008

Silver Threads
by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Illustrated by Michael Martchenko
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
32 pp.
Ages 6-8
2004





FICTION

Beautiful Goodbye
by Nancy Runstedler
Dundurn
146 pp.
Ages 10-12
2013

Caged Eagles
by Eric Walters
Orca Book Publishers
256 pp.
Ages 12-15
2001
Sequel to War of the Eagles

Cherry Blossom Winter
by Jennifer Maruno
Dundurn
174 pp.
Ages 10-13
2012

Dance of the Banished
by Marsha Skrypuch
Pajama Press
288 pp.
Ages 12+
August, 2014

Lesia’s Dream
by Laura Langston
HarperCollins
208 pp.
Ages 11+
2003

My Anastasia
by Sharon Stewart
Scholastic Canada
249 pp.
Ages 11+
1999

Naomi's Road
by Joy Kogawa
Illustrated by Ruth Ohi
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
120 pp.
Ages 9-12
2005

Prisoners in the Promised Land: The Ukrainian Internment Diary of Anya Soloniuk, Spirit Lake, Quebec, 1914 (Dear Canada)
by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Scholastic Canada
243 pp.
Ages 11-14
2007

Sabotage
by Karen Autio
Sono Nis Press
293 pp.
Ages 11-13
2013

Stones for My Father
by Trilby Kent
Tundra Books
170 pp.
Ages 9-13
2011

Torn Apart: The Internment Diary of Mary Kobayashi, Vancouver, British Columbia, 1941 (Dear Canada)
by Susan Aihoshi
Scholastic Canada
209 pp.
Ages 10-13
2012

War of the Eagles

by Eric Walters

Orca Book Publishers

224 pp.

Ages 12-15

1998

When the Cherry Blossoms Fell
by Jennifer Maruno
Napoleon
112 pp.
Ages 9-12
2009

The Whirlwind
by Carol Matas
Orca Book Publishers
128 pp.
Ages 12-14
2007

Winds Through Time: An Anthology of Canadian Historical Young Adult Fiction
Ann Walsh, ed.
Beach Holme Publishing
162 pp.
Ages 10+
1998






NON-FICTION

A Child in Prison Camp
by Shizuye Takashima
Tundra
102 pp.
Ages 10+
1976

A Curious Cage: Life in a Japanese Internment Camp 1943-1945
by Peggy Abkhazi
Sono Nis Press
167 pp.
Ages 14+
2002

Italian Canadian Internment in the Second World War (Righting Canada's Wrongs)
by Pamela Hickman and Jean Smith Cavalluzzo
Lorimer
111 pp.
Ages 14-17
2012

Japanese Canadian Internment in the Second World War (Righting Canada’s Wrongs)
by Pamela Hickman and Masako Fukawa
Lorimer 
160 pp.
Ages 14+
2011

The Kids Book of Canadian Immigration
by Deborah Hodge
Illustrated by John Mantha
Kids Can Press
64 pp.
Ages 8-12
2006

Kobzar’s Children: A Century of Untold Ukrainian Stories
Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch, ed.
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
199 pp.
Ages 13+
2006

This Land We Call Home
by Alison Lohans
Pearson Education
189 pp.
Ages 11-13
2007

On a Canadian Day: Nine Story Voyages Through History
by Rona Arato
Illustrated by Peter Ferguson
Maple Tree Press/Owlkids Books
96 pp.
Ages 9-13
2009






FILM

Barbed Wire and Mandolins
Directed by Nicola Zavaglia
Produced by Sam Grana
National Film Board of Canada
46 min., 45 sec.
Ages 14-17
1997

Freedom Had a Price
Directed and produced by Yurij Luhovy
National Film Board of Canada
55 min.
Ages 12+
1994

Obachan's Garden
Directed by Linda Ohama
Produced by Selwyn Jacob and Linda Ohama
National Film Board of Canada
94 min.
Ages 13+
2001



################################

Additional books more appropriate for adults, such as Blood and Salt by Barbara Sapergia (Coteau, 2011), are available but not listed here because of their unsuitability for youngCanLit readers.  But do seek them out for greater depth into the history of internment in Canada, sadly a less than proud part of our heritage.

A Canadian Christmas Tale: Book List

While there are many who think that the onset of the Christmas season is marked by Black Friday deals, I like to think that pulling Christmas-related tomes off the bookshelf would be a more appropriate way to start off a virtual advent calendar to mark off the days until December 25th.  While some of these books are hard to come by and others are new releases, they are all youngCanLit worthy of reading over this holiday season.  Please enjoy!


PICTURE BOOKS

An Aboriginal Carol
Written by David Bouchard
Illustrated by Moses Beaver
Music by Susan Aglukark
Red Deer Press
32 pp.
Ages 4-8
2007

Annie’s Bright Idea: A Christmastime Adventure
Written by Audrhea Lande
Illustrated by Jenny Prest
Your Nickel’s Worth Publishing
32 pp.
Ages 5-8
2010

Aunt Olga's Christmas Postcards
Written by Kevin Major
Illustrated by Bruce Roberts
Groundwood
40 pp.
Ages 6-9
2005

Baseball Bats for Christmas
Written by Michael Kusugak
Illustrated by Vladyana Krykorka
Annick Press
24 pp.
Ages 6-9
1990

A Bluenose Twelve Days of Christmas
Written by Bruce Nunn
Illustrated by Doretta Groenendyk
Nimbus Publishing
26 pp.
Ages 7-9
2012

Buddy the Bluenose Reindeer and the Boston Christmas Tree Adventure
Written by Bruce Nunn
Illustrated by Brenda Jones
Nimbus Publishing
67 pp.
Ages 4-11
2007

Canadian Jingle Bells
Written by Troy Townsin
Illustrated by Jennifer Harrington
Polyglot Publishing
40 pp.
Ages 6-9
2011

Carl, the Christmas Carp
Written by Ian Krykorka
Illustrated by Vladyana Krykorka
Orca Book Publishers
32 pp.
Ages 6-8
2006

Chinook Christmas
Written by Rudy Wiebe
Illustrated by David More
Red Deer College Press
32 pp.
Ages 5 -11
1992

The Christmas Bear  

Written and illustrated by Nathaële Vogel

Scholastic Canada

36 pp.

Ages 3-6

2001

A Christmas Dollhouse
Written and illustrated by Richard Rudnicki
Nimbus
32 pp.
Ages 7-10
2011

Christmas La Pouchinn
Written by Deborah L. Delaronde
Illustrated by Virginia McCoy
Theytus Books
32 pp.
Age 8-10
2010

Christmas Eve Magic
Written by Lucie Papineau
Illustrated by Stéphane Poulin
Kids Can Press
32 pp.
Ages 3-7
2006

The Christmas Orange
Written by Don Gillmor
Illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
32 pp.
Ages 3-8
1998/2003

The Christmas Wind
Written by Stephanie Simpson McLellan
Illustrated by Brooke Kerrigan
Red Deer Press
32 pp.
All ages
2017
Reviewed here

A Coyote Solstice Tale
Written by Thomas King
Illustrated by Gary Clement
Groundwood Books
64 pp.
Ages 5-11
2009

Dashing Through the Snow: A Canadian Jingle Bells
Written by Helaine Becker
Illustrated by Werner Zimmermann
North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages 3-8
2014

Deck the Halls: A Canadian Christmas Carol
Written by Helaine Becker
Illustrated by Werner Zimmermann
North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages 3-8
2016
Reviewed here

Elliot’s Christmas Surprise
Written and illustrated by Andrea Beck
Kids Can Press
32 pp.
Ages 2-7
2003

Finding Christmas
Written by Robert Munsch
Illustrated by Michael Martchenko
North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages 3-7
2012

A Forest for Christmas
Written by Michael Harris
Illustrated by Eric Orchard
Nimbus
40 pp.
Ages 6-9
2007

Forever: The Annual Hockey Classic
Written by Roy MacGregor
Illustrated by Brian Deines
Red Deer Press
56 pp.
Ages 7-9
2005

Fox and Squirrel, The Best Christmas Ever
Written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi
North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages 2-7
2016
Reviewed here

Franklin's Holiday Treasure
Written by Paulette Bourgeois
Illustrated by Brenda Clark
Kids Can Press
128 pp.
Ages 3-7
2002

Gadzooks: The Christmas Goose
Written by Jennifer McGrath Kent
Illustrated by Ivan Murphy
Nimbus Publishing
32 pp.
Ages 4-8
2010

Hanna Bear's Christmas
Written by Monica Devine
Illustrated by Sean Cassidy
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
32 pp.
Ages 2-5
2007

The Huron Carol
Words by Jean deBrébeuf
Illustrated by Frances Tyrrell
Key Porter
32 pp.
Ages 6-12
2006

The Huron Carol
Words by Jean deBrébeuf
Illustrated by Ian Wallace
Groundwood Books
32 pp.
Ages 3-7
2006

Jack and the Manger: A Christmas Jack Tale
Written by Andy Jones
Illustrated by Darka Erdelj
Running the Goat Books and Broadsides
40 pp.
Ages 4-7
2010

Listen, Said the Donkey: Tales of the First Christmas
Written by Jean Little
Illustrated by Werner Zimmermann
North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada
38 pp.
Ages 3-10
2006

The Little Crooked Christmas Tree
Written by Michael Cutting
Illustrated by Ron Broda
North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada
19 pp.
Ages 4-9
1990

The Man Who Walked the Earth
Written and illustrated by Ian Wallace
Groundwood Books
32 pp.
Ages 6-8
2003

Merry Christmas: A Canadian Keepsake Collection
Scholastic Canada
176 pp.
Ages 4-9
2009
Incl. The Little Crooked Christmas Tree, Sadie the Ballerina, Moon and Star: A Christmas Story, One Special Tree, Woodland Christmas

Moon and Star: A Christmas Story
Written and illustrated by Robin Muller
North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages 4-8
2005

A Moose in a Maple Tree: The All-Canadian 12 Days of Christmas
Written by Troy Townsin
Illustrated by Jennifer Harrington
Polyglot Publishing
32 pp.
Ages 5-7
2008

A Newfoundland Christmas
Written and illustrated by Dawn Baker
Pennywell Books/Flanker Press
21 pp.
Ages 5-8
2011

The Night Before a Canadian Christmas
Written by Troy Townsin
Illustrated by Jennifer Harrington
Polyglot Publishing
32 pp.
Ages 2-10
2011

The Night Before Christmas
Written by Clement Moore
Illustrated by Barbara Reid
North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages 3-8
2013

A Northern Nativity: Christmas Dreams of a Prairie Boy
Written and illustrated by William Kurelek
Random House
48 pp.
Ages 4-8
1976

On a Snowy Night
Written by Jean Little
Illustrated by Brian Deines
North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages 8-11
2013

One Christmas in Lunenburg
Written by Amy Bennet
Illustrated by Don Kilby
James Lorimer
24 pp.
Ages 4-8
2004

One Hundred Shining Candles
Written by Janet Lunn
Illustrated by Lindsay Grater
Tundra Books
32 pp.
Ages 4-8
2008

One Special Tree
Written and illustrated by Olena Kassian
Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages 4-7
2010

One Splendid Tree
Written by Marilyn Helmer
Illustrated by Dianne Eastman
Kids Can Press
32 pp.
Ages 4-8
2005

Pippin the Christmas Pig
Written by Jean Little
Illustrated by Werner Zimmermann
North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages 3-10
2003

A Porcupine in a Pine Tree
Written by Helaine Becker
Illustrated by Werner Zimmermann
North Winds/Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages 5-7
2010

Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Christmas: A Safety Guide for Scaredies
Written and illustrated by Mélanie Watt
Kids Can Press
80 pp.
Ages 5-8
2012

Silver Threads
Written by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Illustrated by Michael Martchenko
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
32 pp.
Ages 6-8
1996

Snow for Christmas
Written and illustrated by Doretta Groenendyk
The Acorn Press
28 pp.
Ages 4-10
2010

A Star for Christmas
Written and illustrated by Trisha Romance
Tundra Books
40 pp.
Ages 5-10
2007

Steel Drums And Ice Skates
Written by Dirk McLean
Illustrated by Ho Che Anderson
Groundwood Books
32 pp.
Ages 6-9
1996

A Very Hockey Christmas
Written by Gilles Tibo
Illustrated by Bruno St-Aubin
Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages 6-8
2013

Woodland Christmas
Written and illustrated by Frances Tyrrell
North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages 4-9
1995

Woodland Nutcracker
Retold by Avril Tyrell
Illustrated by Frances Tyrrell
Key Porter
32 pp.
Ages 6-12
2006








NOVELS

The Best Worst Christmas Present Ever
Written by Budge Wilson
Scholastic
104 pp.
Ages 8-11
1984

Bright Shining Moment
Written by Deb Loughead
Second Story Press
178 pp.
Ages 9-13
2018
Reviewed here

Christmas at Wapos Bay
Written by Jordan Wheeler & Dennis Jackson
Coteau Books
145 pp.
Ages 8-11
2005

The Christmas Demons
Written by Tom Henighan
Stone Flower Press
156 pp.
Ages 12+
2012

A Christmas to Remember: Tales of Comfort and Joy (Dear Canada)
Written by Jean Little, Carol Matas, Maxine Trottier, Julie Lawson and Sarah Ellis
Scholastic Canada
241 pp.
Ages 9-14
2009

Christmas with Anne and Other Holiday Stories
Written by L. M. Montgomery
Edited by Rea Wilmshurst
McClelland & Stewart
224 pp.
Ages 9+
1995

Dancing Through the Snow
Written by Jean Little
Scholastic Canada
238 pp.
Ages 9-14
2007

Elizabeth: A Hornbook Christmas (Our Canadian Girl)
Written by Anne Laurel Carter
Penguin Canada
89 pp.
Ages 8-11
2005

Harley's Gift (Streetlights)
Written by Beth Pollock
James Lorimer
122 pp.
Ages 8-10
2007

Hidden
Written by Kelley Armstrong
Subterranean Press
193 pp.
Ages 14+
2011




House of Wooden Santas
Written by Kevin Major
Santa carvings by Imelda George
Photographs by Ned Pratt
Red Deer College Press
95 pp.
Ages 6-11
1997

Izzie: The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t (Our Canadian Girl)
Written by Budge Wilson
Penguin Canada
87 pp.
Ages 9-11
2002

Of Mice and Nutcrackers: A Peeler Christmas
Written by Richard Scrimger
Illustrated by Linda Hendry
Tundra Books
223 pp.
Ages 8-12
2001

Penelope: Christmas Reunion (Our Canadian Girl)
Written by Sharon E. McKay
Penguin Canada
118 pp.
Ages 9-11
2004

Rachel: An Elephant Tree Christmas (Our Canadian Girl)
Written by Lynne Kositsky
Penguin Canada
84 pp.
Ages 9-11
2004

A Season for Miracles: Twelve Tales of Christmas (Dear Canada)
Written by Jean Little, Kit Pearson, Michelle Trottier, Gillian Chan, Sarah Ellis, Barbara Haworth-Attard, Julie Lawson, Karleen Bradford, Janet Lunn, Carol Matas & Sharon Stewart
Scholastic Canada247 pp.
Ages 8-13
2006

NON-FICTION

Early Christmas
Written by Bobbie Kalman
Crabtree Publishing
63 pp.
Ages 8-11
1982

Christmas Crafts From Around the World
Written by Judy Ann Sadler
Illustrated by June Bradford
Kids Can Press
40 pp.
Ages 6-11
2003

Christmas Long Ago from A to Z
Written by Bobbie Kalman
Crabtree Publishing
32 pp.
Ages 8-11
1999

A Pioneer Christmas: Celebrating in the Backwoods in 1841
Written by Barbara Greenwood
Illustrated by Heather Collins
Kids Can Press
48 pp.
Ages 8-12
2003

Santa Claus from A to Z
Written by Bobbie Kalman
Illustrated by Barbara Bedell
Crabtree Publishing
32 pp.
Ages 8-11
2000

Victorian Christmas
Written by Bobbie Kalman
Illustrated by Barbara Bedell
Carbtree Publishing
32 pp.
Ages 8-11
1996









FILM

The Christmas Orange
Bardel Entertainment
Directed by Ian Freedman
2002
30 min

An Old Box
NFB
Directed by Paul Driessen
1975
9 min 11 s
http://www.nfb.ca/film/an_old_box

Noël Noël
NFB
Directed by Nicola Lemay
2003
22 min 30 s
http://www.nfb.ca/film/noel_noel_en