The First Stone

Written by Don Aker

HarperTrophy Canada

978-0-00639-286-6

289 pp.

Ages 14+

2003

Note Bene: Published before I was even a teacher-librarian (just a teacher), The First Stone won both the 2004 OLA's White Pine Award and the Ann Connor Brimer Award.  I'm reviewing it here as it is the prequel to Don Aker's The Fifth Rule, a current White Pine nominee.  I will post my review of The Fifth Rule tomorrow.

Reef, 17, and friends, Jinks and Bigger, are not the most likeable fellows in Halifax, unless you like guys who spew profanities as easily as breathing, who think nothing of vandalizing property, and who think little beyond themselves.  Reef, a foster child since his grandmother died eight years earlier of cancer (his abusive drunkard of a grandfather died earlier), goes by his gut instincts.  Unfortunately, he makes a lot of poor choices, one which causes a horrific crash and leaves a teen broken and in a coma.

Sentenced to the North Hills Group Home, a set-up created by ex-con Frank Colville, to volunteer hours at a rehab centre, and ultimately to present talks to schools about his experiences, Reef isn't pleased; neither are many citizens, including the victim's mother, Diane Morrison, who are convinced he got away with almost murdering her daughter.  Playing the tough-guy, Reef begrudgingly does what is required of him, including following Frank Colville's rules and repairing a greenhouse on his own, but Reef continues to share very little of himself.  That is, until he begins his volunteering at the Halifax Rehabilitation Centre, where his usefulness is appreciated by staff and patients on the muscoloskeletal floor. 

He especially makes a connection with Leeza , a young woman dealing with multiple fractures and injuries which have her in constant pain.  Through their commonality in dealing with the death of a loved one, Reef and Leeza become closer, each having a positive impact on the other: Leeza making more of an effort in her rehab, and Reef finding it easier to respect himself and do the right thing.  

Frank Coville's rules (respect yourself; respect others; honor your commitments; be accountable; and do the right thing) become mantras that poke their way into Reef's consciousness, steering him to ensure he doesn't interact with his victim, to help direct Jinks and Bigger into making better choices, and to recognizing his own worth.  Meanwhile, Leeza is learning to deal with her anger, fear and pain, while accepting the attraction she feels for Reef.

Regardless of how unappealing Reef and his friends are, courtesy of Don Aker's expressive writing, the reader is compelled to read to the end, sure that Reef is one of those characters that can and will redeem himself, somehow.   Leeza can be a less sympathetic character, primarily because of her interactions with her controlling mom, but Leeza demonstrates her resiliency, grabbing the support of her readers.  Even the ending prepares the reader to accept that time is needed for characters and circumstances to resolve themselves before their story truly ends. And so, now comes Don Aker's reluctant sequel, The Fifth Rule.

Better than Weird

by Anna Kerz
Orca Book Publishers
978-1-55469-362-7
217 pp.
Ages 8-12
2011

Aaron Waite, who first appeared in Kerz's The Mealworm Diaries (Orca, 2009) as the weird kid with whom newcomer, Jeremy, was paired to complete mealworm experiments, is trying desperately to curb his "differences."  He knows he talks too fast, that he's impatient (hence his nickname "Cantwait"), that he laughs at the wrong things, that he acts before he thinks, and needs to be reminded constantly by his Gran about everyday things like putting on his underwear.  By talking to the school counsellor, Karen, and his Big Brother, Paul, making lists and doing a lot of self-talk, Aaron is making a great effort to hold onto his friendship with Jeremy and impress his own dad who he hasn't seen in eight years.

But, Aaron could have been the poster boy testifying that the road to ruin is paved with good intentions.  He becomes the target of classmate, Tufan, after embarrassing him publicly; the music teacher, Ms Masilo, doesn't want him participating in the choir for the winter concert; and Jeremy is losing patience with Aaron after a series of mishaps, including messing up Jeremy's fish tank responsibility, and belabouring the news of Aaron's dad's impending visit, forgetting that Jeremy's father died recently.  But Aaron does not want to be seen as a loser.

The arrival of his dad with his new, pregnant wife, Sophie, gives Aaron the opportunity to get some answers as well as share himself with them, both critical to helping him see that he is truly "better than weird."

Similar to Jack Gantos' Joey Pigza character (Joey Pigza Loses Control, Macmillan, 2000) as a child with behavioural issues (Joey has ADHD) and an absentee father who returns, Aaron is a classmate of all our readers, one of the numerous diverse personalities with which they will connect in their schooling.  Kerz compassionately shares Aaron's struggles and joys while illustrating the different perceptions others have of him and how these perceptions impact his own views and responses.  As trying as they may appear to be, the Aarons bring richness to our lives.  Even Jeremy recognizes that,

"If everything goes smoothly all the time, we'll never have good stories to tell."(pg. 179)

The Gathering

Written by Kelley Armstrong

Doubleday Canada

978-0-385-66851-4

359 pp.

Ages 12+

2011

When Kelley Armstrong's first book in her Darkest Powers trilogy, The Summoning (HarperCollins Canada, 2008) first came out, I was convinced that our YA readers would have a superior and Canadian alternative to Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series.  I was so right.  The Summoning's plot went beyond a romance with supernatural elements. It added layers and layers of storylines with youthful protagonists (with various supernatural abilities) and adults with questionable intentions, and left the reader desperate to read the next in the series (i.e., The Awakening, 2009; The Reckoning, 2010).  Her newest trilogy, Darkness Rising, will similarly find avid readers of fantastical fiction awaiting the sequel to the first book in this series, The Gathering, a current Ontario Library Association White Pine Award nominee.

As important as the characters in The Gathering is the setting of this book: the tiny town of Salmon Creek on Vancouver Island, a remote, wilderness-surrounded community created by the St. Cloud Corporation for its top-secret research facility and its employees' families.  Unlike the majority of the youth in Salmon Creek, Maya Delaney (16, shortly after the book begins), adopted daughter of the park warden (Dad) and architect (Mom), was born outside of the community.  Much mystery surrounds Maya, primarily because of her genesis (definitely Aboriginal, but tribe unknown), a paw-print birthmark, and her strong attachment to the forest and its creatures.

Throw in a few friends (best-friend, Daniel; mayor's daughter, Nicole; Nicole's unusual cousin, Samantha; antagonistic Hayley; newcomer and love-interest, Rafe), a couple of animals (pets Kenji, a German shepherd, and Fitz, a three-legged bobcat; old-timer cougar, Marv; a marten and others being rehabilitated by Maya); and a few parents and concerned adults, and Maya's story could be that of a "regular" teen. (But where would the story be?)  Alas, I didn't mention the bizarre drowning of swim team captain and friend, Serena, the year before.  Or Maya and Rafe finding the cougar-chomped body of visitor reporter, Mina Lee.  Or Rafe's flip-flop persona (bad boy vs. honest, affectionate boy), particularly with regards to Maya. Or the increase in cougar attacks.  Or Rafe's elusive, guardian and sister, Annie.  And what about the older Aboriginal woman at the tattoo parlour treating Maya as a pariah, first telling her she is a witch and then a skin-walker?  Not so normal anymore.

But in the deft writing of Kelley Armstrong, Maya's story seems so plausibly intricate that the reader is compelled to read on, as if to help support Maya through her journey.  Without giving away the ending, I can say that, even as Maya moves on to a new set of circumstances and setting, she still carries her need to know herself fully, heritage and all.

By the way, Book 2 in the series, The Calling, is due out in April, 2012, and the final installment, The Rising, is scheduled for publication in 2013.  Hope you can wait.

Check out the book trailer for The Gathering on my Book Trailers page

Vicky Metcalf Award for Children's Literature (2011)

Congratulations to winner Iain Lawrence! 

 

Sponsored by the Metcalf Foundation and judged by a jury composed of Deirdre Baker, Ronald Jobe, and Julie Johnston, the Vicky Metcalf Award for Children's Literature recognizes a writer of a body of work in children's literature.  This year, on November 1st, the Writers' Trust of Canada awarded the $20,000 Vicky Metcalf Award for Children’s Literature to Iain Lawrence. 

 

Check out Iain's website at Iain Lawrence for full bio, bibliography and details.

His series The High Seas Trilogy (The Wreckers, The Buccaneers, The Smugglers) and The Curse of the Jolly Stone Trilogy (The Convicts, The Cannibals, The Castaways) have grabbed many readers with his distinctive protagonists and suspenseful adventures.  Other titles, including The Giant-Slayer, Gemini Summer (a personal favourite) and The Séance take us into the more contemporary settings of North America in the 20th century, still knitting elements of history with the trials of young people, creating great stories of suspense and atmosphere.   The Winter Pony (Delacorte, 2011) has only been out a couple of weeks and is already lauded as a valuable contribution to children's literature.


Full details about this award and the citation of Lawrence's contribution can be found at 2011 Vicky Metcalf Award for Children's Literature.

The Writers' Trust of Canada Awards

The Writers' Trust of Canada, whose mandate is to advance, nurture and celebrate Canadian writers and writing, presents 10 prizes annually to writers of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and children's literature. I've highlighted the only award specifically for writing for children.

• Vicky Metcalf Award for Children's Literature: awarded to the author of a body of work in children's literature

• Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction: literary excellence in the category of nonfiction, which includes, among other forms, personal or journalistic essays, history, biography, memoirs, commentary, and criticism, both social and political

• Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize: Canadian writers of exceptional talent for the year's best novel or short-story collection

• Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing: annually to a non-fiction book that captures a political subject of interest to Canadian readers and enhances our understanding of the issue

• Writers' Trust Engel/Findley Award: on a writer's body of work (no less than three works of literary merit which are predominantly fiction)

•  Matt Cohen Award: In Celebration of a Writing Life: recognizes a lifetime of distinguished work by a Canadian writer, working in either poetry or prose in either French or English

• Journey Prize: annually to a new and developing writer of distinction for a short story published in a Canadian literary publication

•  RBC Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Writers: annual award is given to a writer below the age of 35 who has published poetry or prose but has not yet been published in book form

• Dayne Ogilvie Grant: an emerging Canadian gay or lesbian writer who demonstrates great promise through a body of work of exceptional quality

• Writers' Trust Distinguished Contribution Award: annually to an individual or an organization in recognition of their long-standing involvement with the Writers' Trust of Canada

Writers' Trust of Canada Awards

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).

Dreamline

Written by Nicole Luiken
Great Plains Teen Fiction (imprint of Great Plains Publications)
978-1-926531-08-3
227 pp.
Ages 12+
2011

Being different, whether it be in books or in the “real” world, is not always appreciated.  Lissa Foster who can cross the dreamline into the dream world anytime has had to deal with her “difference", learning to accept being friendless, to keeping what she learns to herself and to fighting the formless shadows called wulfdraigles that prey on people’s fears and twist dreams into nightmares.   And now the wulfdraigles seem to be scheming something big for her town of Grantmere.

However, being a pariah in high school becomes more difficult after a new (very cute!) boy, Mitch Kincaid, and his wealthy, former software-developer, now motivational speaker, dad arrive in town.  First, Lissa realizes that Mitch is like her, a dream-come-true and one who can cross the dreamline (although he really doesn’t know it, believing he’s crazy instead).  Secondly, because of her reclusiveness, Lissa’s parents are forcing her to attend the charismatic Mr. Kincaid’s program, “Building Confidence, Building Dreams."  There she learns that Mr. Kincaid is a conduit, a human who acts as the wulfdraigles’ agent in the real world (in exchange for something he wished).

The network of intersecting plotlines (Mitch learning about his dreamline ability; Lissa trying to determine the wulfdraigles’ plan; Mr. Kincaid’s relationship with his son; Lissa’s encounters with the wulfdraigles; etc.) made for a thrilling read.  Knowing that the ending to the story would be complicated and worrying that it would not be satisfying (i.e., not happy), I was thrilled at how Luiken effortlessly plaited the storylines, while leaving the reader breathless through the final scenes.

Irrespective of the fantastical elements of this thriller, Lissa is a wholly empathetic character, enduring ridicule from her peers and adults’ misinterpretations.  But she carries on, finding the means to brave all agonies, physical, emotional and supernatural, even conceding to the rare pleasure of closeness. 

With such strong writing, both content and craft, evident in Dreamline, I look forward (or is it backward?) to reading Nicole Luiken’s Dreamfire (Great Plains, 2009), the prequel to Dreamline.