Bone, Fog, Ash & Star: The Last Days of Tian Di, Book Three

Written by Catherine Egan

Coteau Books

978-1-55050-593-1 (pbk)

978-1-55050-594-8 (pdf)

312 pp.

Ages 9+

For release October 2014

When Catherine Egan began her high fantasy series The Last Days of Tian Di with Shade &Sorceress (Coteau, 2012), everything was new to twelve-year-old Eliza Tok: who: learns she is the Shang Sorceress, as were her mother and grandmother; discovers her Magic; clashes with the Nia, the entrapped Xia Sorceress; befriends Charlie, the shape-shifting Shade; and connects with Faeries, Mancers, Witches, Cra, Dragons,and other assorted characters.

Now turning 16, Eliza continues to study Magic with the Mancer Foss in the Great Sand Sea, the home of her father's people, the Sorma. After The Unmaking (Coteau, 2013), Eliza is loathe to have any part of the Mancers at the Citadel, most especially Kyreth whose aim has been to control her and her powers. Unfortunately, Kyreth has other plans, including sending fog-like assassins, the Thanatosi, to murder Charlie and force Eliza back to the Citadel, where he would orchestrate her marriage to a Mancer and ensure an heir, a new Shang Sorceress.

To keep Charlie safe (though he has now lost his ability to shape shift), Foss and Eliza take him and Nell to the Realm of the Faeries where Jalo, a Faery smitten with Nell, gives them sanctuary. Too bad Jalo's mother, Tariro, hates humans and is determined to murder Nell to keep her son away from her.

Foss and Eliza return to the Citadel, with Eliza ready to take on the war they've chosen with her.  Even with a new Supreme Mancer, Aysu, Eliza realizes that Kyreth is still at work.  Exploring, she discovers her grandmother and Kyreth's wife, Selva, alive but under a Curse. Granddaughter and grandmother help each other and Eliza is sent to gather the Four Gifts of the Ancients, the Gehemmis, one of which Selva had been stealing when cursed.

So begins Eliza's newest quest, to retrieve the four Gehemmis and learn of the Magic contained within, and to find her future, wherever or with whomever it may rest.

If Shade and Sorceress is all about newness, and The Unmaking looking deeper into those that appear to be good or evil, then Bone, Fog, Ash & Star is about loss.  It's about making choices that may cause pain to others or heartbreak to one's self, that may confuse or antagonize those who are your allies, and may result in turning one's back on the innocence and trust of youth.  While Eliza grows into herself as a Shang Sorceress, finally recognizing the Magic she can accomplish and the hard choices she must make, she has lost some of the wonder of her youth, the wonder that allowed her to share in new worlds wholeheartedly, regardless of the possible dangers.

"You don't remember the loss, not exactly, but you cling to those you love with such ferocity, you would die for them, because the memory of the first loss is buried within you, and it defines you." (pg. 240)

Nia may be pointing out Eliza's loss but others in Bone, Fog, Ash & Star will undergo similar experiences, ranging from small sacrifices and mishaps to life-altering ruin and the ultimate loss, death.  Nell, who'd been amazed at the grandeur of the Faery Realm's Illusions, begins to lose some of her wonder of the supernatural. Charlie, who loses that which defined him as a Shade, must find a way to reconcile that loss with what is left for him to be.  There's the Blind Enchanter who gave up his sight and song for seeing the Sparkling Deluder. And Rea, Eliza's mother, who gave up and still gives something important up to be with her husband.  Loss is the substance of life. It is only luck that keeps it at bay as long as possible. Or the pen of a true spellbinder, like Catherine Egan.

Though Catherine Egan does provide a short epilogue with a joyous scene to close The Last Days of Tian Di, the reader will also feel a great loss. It's inevitable. We've followed and cheered for Eliza, afraid for her goodness and choices, and longing for the love she feels to be realized.  After travelling alongside this young Shang Sorceress and woman through three epic volumes, we can only hope that her unwritten life is as prodigious as this written one has been.  For that, we can only thank Catherine Egan for the courtesy she has extended to us in sharing it.

*  *  *  *  * *  *
Check in tomorrow when CanLit for LittleCanadians welcomes author Catherine Egan for a guest post about villains titled, "Isn't he scary?  Isn't he beautiful?"

Now you have to read the whole series, don't you think?

The Wolf and Me: The Seven Sequels

by Richard Scrimger

Orca Book Publishers

9781459805316

256 pp.

Ages 10-16

For release October 1, 2014

Poor Bunny.  He's such a great guy but, often through no fault of his own, he gets himself immersed in the most unusual, even dangerous, situations.  In Ink Me (Scrimger, 2012), the prequel to The Wolf and Me, Bunny (Bernard, as only his grandfather called him) ended up with a tattoo indicating he was part of the 15 Street gang and that he had killed someone, all untrue.  Sadly he did get mixed up in some dangerous situations and is currently at Creekside, a young offender facility just outside of Toronto.  While Bunny is finding his time at Creekside useful, especially with the lessons he has with Mr. Wing to help him with his literacy (especially his spelling), he's not a troublemaker, and he's happy to have the holidays until New Year's with his family. Too bad he gets kidnapped while out skating with his brother Spencer at Toronto's City Hall.  See what I mean?  This kid has no luck.

While his hostage-takers demand to know about his grandfather, David McLean (though Bunny initially believes they're asking about "Mr. Clean"), the woman named Vi attempts to gain his confidence, offering to help him get a note to the police.  But Bunny learns of her deceit and manages to escape, setting off on an amazing skating adventure on the icy landscape, in search of Creekside, home, or just help.

Bunny may call himself "dumb" and "stupid" but he's very smart about putting all the little pieces of the puzzle together to make a comprehensive big picture.  He just doesn't have a lot of luck.  Sure that he's found Creekside, Bunny breaks into a juvenile detention centre for females!  As unfortunate as that may seem, that mistake puts him in a position to help others, even if it does complicate things.

"Here I am in my little life trying to deal with my troubles.  Some people are worrying about me and some are heping me and some are making it hard for me and all the time theres this–this–this gigantic ALL all around me.  It make me feel small but also grate full." (pg. 122)

Like the detention centre, there are many obstacles that impede Bunny's journey.  But he always finds a way to turn them into something positive, including an encounter with a wolf that allows him to connect with his grandfather.  And if anyone deserves a break in life, it's Bunny.

I'm delighted that Richard Scrimger was able to parlay Bunny's Ink Me fiasco into a second adventure that shows the teen's growth after incarceration at Creekside while providing both him and the reader the evidence that he's one of the good guys.  Bunny makes the best of that which life tosses at him, whether they're rocks or candies. Who else could manage to enjoy a hockey game with his captors and take advantage of his only footwear–a pair of hockey skates–to escape?  Bunny.  And I'm so glad Richard Scrimger gave him life.  He makes life better for all who meet him, fictional characters and readers alike.

"Life isnt about making sense.  Its a gift and you do your best with it." (pg. 190)

Spooky youngCanLit Reads for Halloween

Whether you're looking for a funny Halloween read for your youngest readers (or listeners), historical reads with an edge, a frightening young adult novel, or some true ghost stories, this list of youngCanLit reads has something for everyone. And, while I couldn't include everything, there are several authors whom I would recommend for anything spooky: L. M. Falcone (for a middle-grade fun read); Arthur Slade (for a middle-grade evil); Kelley Armstrong, the queen of queasy (for young adult); and Alyxandra Harvey, who rocks YA vampires. Take your pick!


PICTURE BOOKS

Black and Bittern Was Night
Written by Robert Heidbreder
Illustrated by John Martz
Kids Can Press
32 pp.
Ages 5-8
2013

Boo!
Written by Robert Munsch
Illustrated by Michael Martchenko
Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages+
2004

A Day at the Pumpkin Patch 

Written by Megan Faulkner

Photographs by Adam Krawesky
Scholastic Canada
30 pp.
Ages 6-10

2006

Franklin's Halloween
Written by Paulette Bourgeois
Illustrated by Brenda Clark
Kids Can Press
32 pp.
Ages 5-8
1996

Ghost Train
Written by Paul Yee

Illustrated by Harvey Chan
Groundwood Books
Ages 8-12

1996

The Haunted House That Jack Built
Written by Helaine Becker
Illustrated by David Parkins
Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages 4-7
2010

Omar’s Halloween
Written and illustrated by Maryann Kovalski
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
32 pp.
Ages 2-6
2006

Pumpkin Orange, Pumpkin Round
Written by Rosanna Battigelli
Illustrated by Tara Anderson
Pajama Press
24 pp.
Ages 3-6
2019

Pumpkin People 

Written by Sandra Lightburn

Illustrated by Ron Lightburn
Nimbus
32 pp.

Ages 5-8

2008

Pup and Hound Scare a Ghost 
Written by Susan Hood

Illustrated by Linda Hendry
Kids Can Press
32 pp.

Ages 4-6

2007

What There is Before There is Anything There
Written and illustrated by Liniers
Translated by Elisa Amado
Groundwood Books
24 pp.
Ages 4-7
2014

CHAPTER BOOKS

Breath of a Ghost
Written by Anita Horrocks
Stoddart
195 pp.
Ages 9-12
1996

The Dead Kid Detective Agency

Written by Evan Munday
ECW Press
320 pp.
Ages 8-13
2011

The Devil, the Banshee and Me
Written by L. M. Falcone
Kids Can Press
192 pp.
Ages 9-12
2006

Dial "M" for Morna
Written by Evan Munday
ECW Press
296 pp.
Ages 8-13
2013

The Elevator Ghost
Written by Glen Huser
Illustrations by Stacy Innerst
Groundwood Books
168 pp.
Ages 7-12
2014

Five Days of the Ghost

Written by William Bell
Stoddart
196 pp.
Ages 10+

1989

Fred's Halloween Adventure
Written by Marie-Danielle Croteau
Illustrated by Bruno St-Aubin
Translated by Sarah Cummins
Formac
62 pp.
Ages 6-9
2002

The Ghost Horse of Meadow Green

Written by Anne Louise MacDonald

Kids Can Press

207 pp.

Ages 10-14

2005

Ghost Hotel (Arthur Slade's Canadian Chills series) 

Written by Arthur Slade
Coteau Books
134 pp.
Ages 9-13

2004

The Proof that Ghosts Exist (The Ghosthunters, Book 1)

Written by Carol Matas and Percy Nodelman
Key Porter
216 pp.
Ages 8-13
2008

The Curse of the Evening Eye (The Ghosthunters, Book 2)
Written by Carol Matas and Percy Nodelman
Key Porter
248 pp.
Ages 8-13
2009

The Hunt for the Haunted Elephant (The Ghosthunters, Book 3)

Written by Carol Matas and Percy Nodelman
Key Porter
272 pp.

Ages 8-13

2010

The Ghost and Max Munroe: Case #1 The Magic Box
Written by L. M. Falcone
Illustrated by Kim Smith
Kids Can Press
88 pp.
Ages 7-11
2014

Ghost Messages

Written by Jacqueline Guest
Coteau Books
184 pp.

Ages 9-12

2011

Ghosts of Government House

Written by Judith Silverthorne
Your Nickels Worth Publishing
114 pp.

Ages 9-12

2011

Ghost of Heroes Past
Written by Charles Reid
Ronsdale Press
168 pp.
Ages 10-14
2010

The Ghost of Lunenburg Manor (A Tom and Liz Austen Mystery)
Written by Eric Wilson
HarperCollins
109 pp.
Ages 9-11
1981/2003 

The Ghost of Northumberland Strait
Written by Lori Knutson
Dundurn
152 pp.
Ages 7-11
2008

The Ghost of Ramshaw Castle
Written by Robert Sutherland
Scholastic Canada
171 pp.
Ages 9-14
1990

The Ghost of the Stanley Cup (Screech Owl series)
Written by Roy MacGregor
McClelland & Stewart
118 pp.
Ages 9-13
2000

Ghost Ride
Written by Marina Cohen
Dundurn
172 pp.

Ages 11-13

2009

Ghosts of the Pacific
Written by Philip Roy
Ronsdale Press
251 pp.
Ages 11-14
2011

Ghosts of the Titanic
Written by Julie Lawson
Scholastic Canada
193 pp.

Ages 9-12

2011

Ghost Voyages
Written by Cora Taylor
Coteau Books
120 pp.
Ages 8-12
2003

Ghost Voyages II: The Matthew
Written by Cora Taylor
Coteau Books
112 pp.
Ages 8-12

2002

Ghost Voyages III: Endeavour and Resolution

Written by Cora Taylor

Coteau Books

176 pp.

Ages 8-12

2004

Ghost Voyages IV: Champlain and Cartier

Written by Cora Taylor

Coteau Books

128 pp.

Ages 8-12

2009

The Ghouls' Night Out
Written by Janice MacDonald

Illustrated by Pamela Breeze Currie
Ronsdale Press
49 pp.
Ages 7-9

1998

The Graveyard Hounds 
Written by Vi Hughes
Illustrated by Christina Leist
Tradewind Books
167 pp.
Ages 9-11
2008

Greysteel's Ghost
Written by Robert Sutherland
HarperTrophy Canada
176 pp.
Ages 8-13
2005

Haunted
Written by Barbara Haworth Attard
HarperCollins
273 pp.
Ages 10+
2009

The Haunting of Heck House (The Wiggins Weird, Book 2)
Written by Lesley Livingston and Jonathan LLyr
Puffin Canada
280 pp.
Ages 8-12
2014

The Improbable Party on Plum Lane (Babysitter Out of Control Series, Book 3)
Written by Margaret J. McMaster
Mansbridge Dunn Publishers
53 pp.
Ages 7-9
2011

Invasion of the IQ Snatchers (Arthur Slade's Canadian Chills)

Written by Arthur Slade

Coteau Books

Ages 9-13

120 pp.
2007

The Midnight Curse

Written by L. M. Falcone

Kids Can Press

208 pp.

Ages 8-12

2010

Never to be Told

Written by Becky Citra

Orca Book Publishers

217 pp.

Ages 9-12

2006

The Night Gardener
Written by Jonathan Auxier
Puffin
384 pp.
Ages 10+
2014

Northern Frights Trilogy

Written by Arthur Slade

HarperTrophy

352 pp.

Ages 10+

2014

Includes the original three books: Draugr, The Haunting of Drang Island and Loki Wolf

The Path of Trees
Written by Ari Goelman
Arthur E. Levine/Scholastic
399 pp.
Ages 10-12
2013

Return of the Grudstone Ghosts (Canadian Chills)

Written by Arthur Slade
Coteau Books
119 pp.
Ages 9-12

2002

The Secret of Grim Hill
Written by Linda DeMeulemeester
Lobster Press
187 pp.

Ages 9-13

2007

Shades: Tales of Fear and Wonder

Written by Arthur Slade
Dava Enterprises
79 pp.
Ages 11+
2011

Small Medium at Large
Written by Joanne Levy
Bloomsbury Children's Books
193 pp.
Ages 9-13
2012

That One Spooky Night
Written by Dan Bar-el
Illustrated by David Huyck
Kids Can Press
80 pp.
Ages 7-10
2012

The Unseen: Scary Stories

Written by Janet Lunn
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
171 pp.
Ages 9-14
1996

Walking with the Dead
Written by L. M. Falcone
Kids Can Press
200 pp.
Ages 9-12
2005

Zombiekins
Written by Kevin Bolger

Illustrated by Aaron Blecha
Razorbill 

206 pp.

Ages 8-11

2010

YOUNG ADULT

Beyond: A Ghost Story
Written by Graham McNamee
Wendy Lamb Books /Random House Canada
226 pp.
Ages 14-17
2012

The Summoning
Written by Kelley Armstrong
Doubleday
400 pp.
Ages 12+
2008

The Awakening
Written by Kelley Armstrong
Doubleday
368 pp.
Age 12+
2009

The Reckoning
Written by Kelley Armstrong
Doubleday
400 pp.
Ages 12+
2011

The Geomancer's Compass

Written by Melissa Hardy

Tundra Books

254 pp.

Ages 11-15

2012

Give Up the Ghost
Written by Megan Crewe
Henry Holt and Co. / H. B. Fenn
244 pp.
Ages 12-15
2009

Guardian

Written by Natasha Deen

Great Plains Teen Fiction

192 pp.

Ages 13+

2014

Haunted
Written by Barbara Haworth-Attard
HarperTrophy
288 pp.
Ages 12+
2009

Haunting Violet
Written by Alyxandra Harvey
Bloomsbury
352 pp.
Ages 12+
2012

The Horrors: Terrifying Tales: Book One
ed. by Peter Carver
Red Deer Press
184 pp.
Ages 13+

2005

The Horrors: Terrifying Tales: Book Two
ed. by Peter Carver
Red Deer Press
207 pp.
Ages 12+

2006

The Prank (Nate’s Journal)
Written by K.E. Calder
Vanwell
93 pp.
Ages 10-13
2003

The Serpent’s Spell
Written by Rae Bridgman
Great Plains
190 pp.
Ages 10-14
2006

Someone Else's Ghost

Written by Margaret Buffie

Scholastic

227 pp.

Ages 12+

1995

This Dark Endeavour (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein)
Written by Kenneth Oppel
HarperTrophy Canada
304 pp.
Ages 12+
2011

Such Wicked Intent (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, Book 2)
Written by Kenneth Oppel
HarperTrophy Canada
320 pp.
Ages 12+
2012

This is Not a Test
Written by Courtney Summers

St. Martin's Griffin
326 pp.
Ages 13+
2012

NON-FICTION

100% Pure Fake
Written by Lyn Thomas
Kid Can Press
48 pp.
Ages 8-12

2009

Are You Afraid Yet?: The Science of Scary Stuff
Written by Stephen James O'Meara
Illustrated by Jeremy Kaposy
Kids Can Press
80 pp.
Ages 8-12
2009

Canadian Hauntings: A Haunted Canada Book
Written by Beth Scott and Michael Norman
Scholastic Canada
136 pp.
Ages 9-13
2009

Ghost Trackers: The Unreal World of Ghosts, Ghost-Hunting, and the Paranormal
Written by Chris Gudgeon
Tundra
75 pp.
Ages 10-13

2010

Ghosts of the World: True Tales of Ghostly Hauntings
Written by Susan Smitten
Lone Pine Publishing
232 pp.

Ages 13+

2006

Gotcha! Mystery Hunters: 18 Amazing Ways to Freak Out Your Friends
Written by David Acer
Illustrated by Stephen MacEachern
Kids Can Press
48 pp.
Ages 8-12
2008

Grim and Ghostly Stories: A Haunted Canada Book
Written by Pat Hancock and Allan Gould
Scholastic Canada
136 pp.
Ages 8-13
2006

Haunted Canada: True Ghost Stories
Written by Pat Hancock
Scholastic Canada
106 pp.
Ages 9-12
2003

Haunted Canada 2: True Tales of Terror
Written by Pat Hancock
Scholastic Canada
114 pp.
Ages 9-12

2005

Haunted Canada 3: More Ghost Stories
Written by Pat Hancock
Scholastic Canada 
128 pp.
Ages 9-12
2007

Haunted Canada 4: More True Tales of Terror
Written by Joel Sutherland
Scholastic Canada
128 pp.
Ages 9-12
2014

Haunted Canada: Ghost Stories
Written by Pat Hancock and Allan Gould
Illustrated by Andrej Krystoforski
Scholastic Canada
172 pp.
Ages 8-13
2014

Scary Science: 24 Creepy Experiments
Written by Shar Levine and Leslie Johnstone
Illustrated by Ashley Spires
Scholastic Canada
48 pp.
Ages 8-13
2010

Strange and Spooky Stories: A Haunted Canada Book
Written by Pat Hancock
Scholastic Canada
128 pp.
Ages 8-13
2005

The Unexplained: A Haunted Canada Anthology
ed. by Janet Lunn
Scholastic Canada
160 pp.
Ages 9-13
2008

And my apologies for some inconsistency in the fonts and size.  Seems I have my own little cyber-ghost that keeps altering my font no matter how many times I clear the formatting.  

Happy Halloween!