When You Trap a Tiger

 

When You Trap a Tiger

By Tae Keller

"Long, long ago, when tiger walked like man..."

The summer before grade 7, Lily, her sister, and her widowed mother move in to take care of their elderly grandmother, Halmoni. We first meet the family on their drive up from California to Washington State when Lily sees a tiger in the middle of the road and talks to it. Soon bedtime stories swirl with reality as Lily wonders what is true and what is false. Trapping and striking a deal with this tiger, she agrees to find the story jars, open them, and (this is the hardest part) listen to their stories. Thinking by doing so, Halmoni will be healed, Lily listens to these stories fueled by Korean folklore. Ages 10-14.

Newbery Award Winner.

When Stars Are Scattered

When Stars Are Scattered

By Victoria Jamieson and Omar Hassan

When Stars Are Scattered is a warm and welcoming graphic novel that introduces us to two brothers, Omar and Hassan, who are from Somalia but staying in a Kenyan refugee camp after their father dies in the Somalian Civil War and they are separated from their mother. This is based on a real-life story that the author, Victoria Jamieson, wrote after collaborating with one of the brothers, Omar. Omar is the one who takes care of his younger brother because Hassan has special needs, and their story continues on for years in this novel until Omar is nearly an adult. Through Omar’s narration, we find out how traumatic their lives have been, and how he wants to have hope for the future, enough for both brothers. Ages 9-12.

The Longest Night of Charlie Noon

The Longest Night of Charlie Noon

By Christopher Edge

Charlie Noon has one friend at her new school in rural England.  Dizzy is a bit of a scatterbrain, but nonetheless, he is kind to Charlie.  When Dizzy finds some coded messages made of sticks in a clearing in the woods, he enlists Charlie’s help to come and decode them.  Neither of them tell their parents where they are going, but they plan to be back before anyone notices that they’re gone.

Before they set off, mean Johnny Baines warns them that Old Crony, a terrifying old man who eats children, lives in the woods.  But Charlie and Dizzy are undeterred.  When Johnny plays a trick on them, all three of them end up lost.

As night falls, Charlie, Dizzy and Johnny know they must find their way out, but nothing is as it seems.  Bird calls begin to sound like Morse code, the stars in the sky have changed, and Charlie can’t even see the lights of the village when she climbs a tree.  And there’s a strange presence in the woods – but is it really Old Crony?  Or something else?

The Longest Night of Charlie Noon is more than a survival story.  Author Christopher Edge combines World War I history with time travel to create something very unique.  The end of the book even introduces kids to the science behind the story.  If you want to try reading something a little different, try this book!

A Field Guide to Getting Lost

A Field Guide to Getting Lost

By Joy McCullough

Sutton is almost ten years old and is very scientifically minded.  She spends her days programming robots to navigate a maze she has created.   She has inherited her scientific skills from her mom who is currently living in Antarctica studying penguins.  Sutton’s parents are divorced, so she lives with her dad, but she is really hoping her mom can be back in time for her birthday.

Luis is interested in creative writing, fantasy and superheroes.  He’s also extremely allergic to peanuts and bee stings, amongst other things.  His dad passed away when he was little, so it’s just Luis and his mom in their cute little house in a Seattle suburb.

Sutton and Luis don’t have much in common, but they are going to have to learn to get along because their parents are dating. When Sutton’s dad and Luis’s mom decide to take them on a “family date”, both kids are dismayed to learn that they will be going on a hike.

The trail at Discovery Park is new to them and soon both kids discover a “tunnel” that leads through some bushes.  Sutton and Luis enter the tunnel, asking their parents to meet them on the other side.  But the tunnel takes some unexpected twists and turns and before long, these two unlikely companions realize that they are lost.

Without their parents, both kids know that they will have to rely on themselves.  Luis is terrified of possible bee encounters and Sutton isn’t too keen on crossing some of the park’s bridges.  Can these two figure out how to work together to find their way back to the parking lot?

A Field Guide to Getting Lost is a lovely story about learning to adapt to the changes in our lives.  It will especially appeal to children who have lost a parent or whose parents are separated or divorced.

Three Keys

Three Keys

By Kelly Yang

Mia Tang returns in this follow-up book to the amazing Front Desk.  This time, Mia and her parents, along with some of their friends, are the owners of the Calivista Motel in Los Angeles.  While they are always willing to welcome immigrants to their motel, there is a growing anger in many Californians toward undocumented immigrants.

A hot topic of discussion in Mia’s grade six class is Proposition 187, a bill designed to make life much more difficult for “illegals”.  If Prop 187 gets passed into law, undocumented immigrant children will no longer be allowed to attend school.

Mia is outraged by this idea, but the effects of Prop 187 really hit home when she learns that she actually knows many undocumented immigrants, some of whom are among her best friends.  When one of them gets put in jail, Mia and her friends get to work to try to keep him from getting deported.

Three Keys also tackles other issues faced by immigrants, such as the loss of their culture and the difficulties they have finding good jobs in the United States.  Mia’s mom, for example, was an engineer in China, but in the U.S. she must clean motel rooms.

This is another fantastic book by Kelly Yang.  Although it takes place in the early 1990s, the issues of discrimination and racism continue to resonate today.  Three Keys will also have readers cheering for Mia and her friends – even though they are kids they are willing to take on the fight against racism.  A highly enjoyable read!

Out Of This World

Out Of This World

By Chris Wooding

Jack is just an ordinary twelve-year-old kid.  His parents, however, are anything but ordinary.  Jack’s dad is always putting him through grueling assault courses where Jack must fend off hidden attackers.  His mom is always testing him on science and math concepts.  Neither of Jack’s parents ever seem to sleep and both of them always wear black tracksuits.

Jack has moved many times in his life so he doesn’t have any close friends.  When he starts attending yet another new school, Jack is befriended by Thomas, an out-of-shape nerdy kid who is forever sucking on his inhaler. 

One afternoon, Thomas drops by Jack’s house unannounced.  As he begins to explore, he discovers some rather strange machines hidden in the attic.  When Thomas presses a button, he releases a beam of light that changes both their lives forever.

Before Jack realizes what’s happening, some very aggressive aliens appear and they have one target: Jack.  As he runs from them he begins to understand why his parents have been testing him his whole life.  The aliens believe that Jack is someone called Gradius Clench – some want him dead, and others are willing to take him alive.  Soon Jack is caught up in an interstellar war complete with spies, mind-readers, flame-throwers and gates that transport ships between galaxies.  Jack and Thomas are whisked away with some very unlikely new friends.

But who is Jack really?  Jack himself longs to find out.  As he learns more about his parents, Gradius Clench, and the rest of the universe, Jack must make some important decisions about his life.  But can he also help save Earth from certain destruction?

Author Chris Wooding makes science fiction fun.  Those who like space aliens and superheroes will love Out Of This World!

Red Fox Road

Red Fox Road

By Frances Greenslade

Francie and her parents are on a road trip.  They have left their home in Penticton and are driving to the Grand Canyon to do some hiking and camping.  As they travel through Oregon, Francie’s dad decides to trust his new GPS and takes a shortcut down a remote logging road.

The road becomes less and less passable and soon their truck begins leaking oil. Eventually the truck stops working altogether and they become hopelessly stuck in the middle of the Oregon wilderness.

Ever-faithful to his technological gadgets, Francie’s dad decides he will walk the rest of the logging road while following directions from his GPS.  Francie and her mom are left behind, but are certain that they will be rescued within a day.  They sleep rather uncomfortably in the truck and ration their minimal supplies which include two water bottles, a few granola bars, and a bag of Scotch mints.

After a couple of days of waiting, Francie wakes up to find her mother gone as well, searching for rescue in the other direction.  Francie is now alone.

Although she is only thirteen, Francie has some experience in the outdoors and has been studying wilderness survival.  She gathers her wits, builds a shelter and a fire, and waits patiently for rescue.  As it turns out, survival will take much more determination and courage than she ever imagined.

Red Fox Road is beautifully written and Francie’s resilience and knowledge are inspiring.  If you love survival stories (like me), you will love this book!

Kerry and the Knight of the Forest

Kerry and the Knight of the Forest

By Andi Watson

Kerry’s parents are very sick and he is their only hope. So Kerry leaves their family farm to retrieve their lifesaving medicine.  As he skirts the forest on the way back, he is led astray by what appears to be a little girl.  But this girl isn’t what she seems.  As Kerry follows her into the woods, he quickly becomes lost.

The forest itself is filled with dangers.  From one-eyed monsters to mystical weed-filled swamps to captive children, Kerry finds peril wherever he runs.  He is desperate to find his way home, but every turn in the forest seems to take him further into darkness.

But on his travels, Kerry also meets an old forest creature called Waystone.  With his one eye and rock-like appearance, Waystone seems rather menacing.   But Kerry quickly learns that Waystone is the Knight of the Forest, a trustworthy fellow who is willing and able to lead Kerry back to his farm.

Even with Waystone on his side, moving through the dark forest is not easy.  But as danger closes in, Kerry unexpectedly finds friends too.  His open heart allows him to trust some of the forest dwellers, despite Waystone’s warnings.  Will Kerry’s faith in the goodness of the world be his ultimate downfall?

Kerry and the Knight of the Forest is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel that leads readers down the path of the old-fashioned lost-in-the-woods fairy tale.  By turns frightening and hopeful, Kerry will keep you hooked from beginning to end.

Tornado Brain

Tornado Brain

By Cat Patrick

Thirteen-year-old Frankie is different from the other kids in her life.  She can’t stand loud noises and doesn’t always understand social cues.  She’s been labelled “neurodivergent” – in other words, her brain works differently.  Frankie is also fascinated by tornadoes, hence the term “tornado brain”.

Frankie has always had two best friends – her twin sister Tess, and Colette.  But lately Tess and Colette haven’t wanted to hang out with her at all – they only want to be with mean Mia.  When Frankie overhears the three of them talking behind her back, she is devastated.

But everything changes when Colette goes missing.  Students from their middle school, including Frankie and Tess, are called to the police station to talk about the last time they saw Colette.  Both Frankie and Tess saw her on the night she went missing but have no idea where she went.

Although Frankie is mad at Colette, she desperately wants to help find her.  She begins to do some investigating herself and discovers some interesting details about Colette’s last known whereabouts.  She also finds clues in some of Colette’s recently-posted videos.  Frankie soon gets completely wrapped up in solving this mystery, and even puts herself and Tess in some danger to solve it.  Along the way she learns that she is a very capable human being and that sometimes, being different is a good thing.

Tornado Brain is a story about finding your own strengths.  It is also a story of friendship and a riveting mystery all rolled into one.

Highly recommended!     

Pine Island Home

Pine Island Home

By Polly Horvath

Fiona, Marlin, Natasha and Charlie McCready are four sisters who have travelled the world with their parents and lived in many places.  During their time in Borneo, the unthinkable happens – their parents take a short vacation to Thailand and are killed in a tsunami.  Luckily their Aunt Martha, whom they have never met, agrees to take them in.  She lives on tiny Pine Island, off the coast of British Columbia.

The girls are understandably anxious about their new home but look forward to it just the same.  Fiona, as the oldest, takes it upon herself to reassure her sisters and to take charge of them on the long flight from Borneo to Canada.  But when they finally arrive in the small town of St. Mary’s by the Sea, they learn of yet another tragedy – Aunt Martha has now died too.

Alone on Martha’s farm, the girls make a decision.  They will live on their own, with 14-year-old Fiona in charge, and try to fool the schools and social services into believing that they have some kind of adult guardian.  It won’t be easy, but they are determined to stay together as sisters and not be split up and sent to different homes.

After acquiring Aunt Martha’s bike, Fiona is able to ride into town, register the girls for school and even pick up a few groceries.  She is also able to meet with Mr. Pennypacker, a lawyer who informs her that the girls have inherited Martha’s farm.  But Fiona realizes that she’s in a real predicament when the schools and Mr. Pennypacker want a guardian’s signature for all the required paperwork.

That’s when the girls meet their neighbour, Al Farber.  He lives in a trailer next door, is extremely rude and disheveled, and sits around drinking beer all the time.  The girls make him a deal that they will bring him dinner every night, and in exchange, he will act as their legal guardian when necessary.

As it turns out, this is a very difficult lie to maintain and Fiona especially feels the stress building.  How will she be able to care for her sisters, pay her bills, go to school and keep up the pretense of having an actual adult looking after her?

Pine Island Home is a lovely story of family ties and close friendships.  It’s the story of sisters who love one another and who create their own new family when their first one is lost.  If you enjoy realistic fiction that leaves you feeling hopeful and happy, try Pine Island Home.