The Republic of Nothing by Lesley Choyce

Title: The Republic of Nothing

Author: Lesley Choyce

Publish Date: February 2007

Publisher: Goose Lane Editions

Pages: 382pp

IBSN: 0864924933

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Annotation: On the birth of his son, Ian, Everett McQuade, an Anarchist, proclaims Whalebone Island in Nova Scotia an independent republic.

Plot Summary: It’s the early 1950s on Whalebone Island in Nova Scotia and Everett MacQuade has marked the birth of his son, Ian, by declaring the island's independence. Whalebone is place of independent fishers, children whom have never had a formal education, pioneers of equal rights, and refugees from the city. Ian is at a point in his life where he is questioning his parents—his mother Dorothy, whom had suffered some sort of amnesia from her early life and has an uncanny sense of perception and his father Everett, whom is politically inclined. This leaves Ian wondering if anarchy is good for Whalebone.

Personal Response: What a ride this story was. From circus elephants and exotic furniture washing up on shore to refugees from the outside world settling in to live in a place of peace during time when peace was somewhat scarce (1960s, Vietnam war, atom bomb, etc.), The Republic of Nothing offers readers an in-depth look into the political rights and wrongs as well as the internal rights and wrongs.

~Reader’s Advisory~

Themes: Political and philosophical. Coming of Age.

Age Range: 12 and up

Subjects: Family, Friendship, Love, Relationships, Politics, Anarchy, Resilience, Independence

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Rockbound by Frank Parker Day

No Great Mischief by Alistair MacLeod

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Different Dragons by Jean Little

Title: Different Dragons

Author: Jean Little

Publish Date: May 2007

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)

Pages: 112pp

IBSN: 0143312308

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Annotation: Timid Ben faces many challenges on his first stay away from home without his family. He confronts his fears and becomes friends with a Labrador Retriever named Gully.

Plot Summary: Ben is not looking forward to his stay with his Aunt Rose while his family goes away. During this stay, Ben will have to sleep alone, deal with the bossy girl next door, live through a thunderstorm, and deal with his fear of big dogs, all by himself. Aunt Rose had meant the big dog, Gully a Labrador Retriever, as a gift but Ben doesn’t like this gift, he is scared of the big dog. Then, a thunderstorm hits and Ben and Gully survive together underneath the bed. This begins a beautiful bond.

Personal Response: A simplistic plot with a sweet message about overcoming your fears and finding the courage that lays within. I especially liked the bond Ben makes with Gully, very sincere and touching. I think this is a good story for younger children who are experiencing fears. As adults we so easily forget what it is like to be little with fears—the world can be scary place.

~Reader’s Advisory~

Themes: Overcoming fears.

Age Range: 8 to 12

Subjects: Dogs, Fear, Thunderstorms, Family, Family Relationships, Friendship, Courage, Realistic Fiction

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Stand in the Wind by Jean Little

Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang by Mordecai Richler

Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch

Title: Paper Bag Princess

Author: Robert Munsch

Illustrator: Michael Martchenjo

Publish Date: February 1992

Publisher: Annick Press, Limited

Pages: 32pp

IBSN: 0920236162

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Picture Book

Annotation: A prince is kidnapped by a dangerous dragon who happened to burn up all the clothes in the palace with his dragon breath. The princess finds a paper bag to wear as she sets out to save the prince.

Plot Summary: A young princess goes off to rescue the young prince (whom she loves and hopes to marry) after a dangerous dragon has taken him captive and burned all the clothes in the palace. The princess decides she will wear a paper bag to go save the prince. She tricks the dragon and enters the cave where the prince is being held. When the prince sees her, he tells her how poorly she is dressed. Her retort is that he is a fine and handsome prince, but completely useless and in the end they do not end up together.

Personal Response: I really appreciated the theme of this story as it allows girls (from a young age) to see that if a man does not treat you the right way, you do not have to be with him (very empowering). Along with this running theme is lots of humor and a fluid style of writing that is both accessible to children and adults. I really enjoyed this book!

~Reader’s Advisory~

Themes: Empowering girls—you don’t have to be with someone that doesn’t treat you well.

Age Range: 4-8

Subjects: Girl Power, Princess, Humor, Courage, Fantasy

Similar Titles:

Princess Ben by Catherine Murdock

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The Witches of Willowmere by Alison Baird

Title: The Witches of Willowmere

Author: Alison Baird

Publish Date: September 2003

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)

Pages: 224pp

ISBN: 0141313730

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Annotation: Sixteen year old Claire is having dreams of the 17^th century Salem witch trials. As she struggles to understand why she is having these dreams, she becomes increasing fascinated with magic and the Wiccan belief system.

Plot Summary: Clair is sixteen years old and basically living on her own. Every time she passes by the Willowmere, her curiosity arouses as she is intrigued by the beautiful and mysterious estate. The owner of the estate, Dr. Myra Moore, befriends Clair and tells her about the Wiccan belief system. As Claire learns about this belief system, she wonders if this can help her understand why her mother left her. In addition, she wonders why she is having vivid dreams of the Salem witch trials of the 17^th century—and what her connection is to the girl in her dreams.

Personal Response: I really loved this story and look forward to reading the next two books in the series. Alison Baird does an excellent job at weaving in teenager dialog and keeping the reader intrigued. The ending definitely left you hanging—I am glad I don’t have to wait for the next book to come out.

~Reader’s Advisory~

Themes: Self discovery. Good verses evil.

Age Range: 14 and up

Subjects: Wiccan, Abandonment, Witches, Urban Fantasy, High School, Identity, Teenager, Reincarnation, Good verses Evil,

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Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison

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Bonechiller by Graham McNamee

Title: Bonechiller

Author: Graham McNamee

Publish Date: September 2008

Publisher: Random House Children's Books

Pages: 176pp

ISBN: 0553494279

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Supernatural

Annotation: Danny and his three friends encounter a soul-stealing beast that has been making young people disappear from their small town in Ontario, Canada.

Plot Summary: Danny and his father have moved to Harvest Cove, a small town just north of Barrie on the shores of Lake Simcoe. Danny has three close friends he hangs out with; Ash, Howie and Pike. It is the dead of winter, which means the weather is the coldest of the season. One night, after being out with his three friends, Danny is running home, and he is bitten by something. It was too dark to see what it was, some sort of beast/monster that moves quickly. The bite leaves him with ice in his veins, and later, with voices in his head, and nightmares that seem real. As he becomes increasingly and mysteriously ill, he realizes that his life is in danger. Danny and his friends decide they must kill this beast themselves as they have found disturbing statistics about kids who disappear every generation on the coldest winter nights. While dealing with this beast and feeling ill, Danny is simultaneously dealing with the death of his mother, reconnecting with his father, and falling in love with Ash.

Personal Response: I really enjoyed this fast paced thriller/horror story—it was a wild ride set in a lackluster little town. Filled with plenty of supernatural elements, along with a romance and what I found to be the most meaningful theme of the story in which was the reconnection of Danny with his father and his coming to terms with his mother’s death.

~Reader’s Advisory~

Themes: Coming to terms with death. Reconnecting.

Age Range: 12 and up

Subjects: Winter, Supernatural, Paranormal Relationships, Boxing, Kidnapping, Nightmares, Monsters, Native American, Death, Father and Son Relationships,

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Black Box by Julie Schumacher

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Whaleshinger by Welwyn Wilton Katz

Title: Whaleshinger

Author: Welwyn Wilton Katz

Publish Date: October 2002

Publisher: Groundwood Books

Pages: 212pp

ISBN: 0888991916

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Annotation: Seventeen year old Nick is not yet over the death of his older brother and sixteen year old Marty has learning difficulties. On a scientific field trip on the California coast, these two teenagers come together and share an empathic bond with two grey whales.

Plot Summary: Seventeen-year-old Nick is feeling hurt and angry about his brothers death. To get away from everyone at home in Vancouver, he accepts a research job for a conservation group on Point Reyes and Drake's Bay. He meets Marty, an intensely shy sixteen-year old who seems to have her own set of disabilities. It is these qualities that help Marty communicate with a whale mother and her baby. Together, Nick and Marty discover that the conservation project is a front for a plan to rob the treasure of Sir Francis Drake’s sunken frigate. Nick and Marty make an uncomfortable conformation and experience an earthquake.

Personal Response: A deeply felt novel with a multi-layered storyline of science, love, loss, treasure, and a whale mother with an ailing baby. Katz writes beautifully and depicts deeply touching relationships—the love between Marty and Nick and the love they share with the mother whale and her baby.

~Reader’s Advisory~

Themes: Teen angst.

Age Range: 12 and up

Subjects: Death, Depression, Teen Angst, Anger, Relationships, Family Relationships, Love, Whales, Ecology, Environment, Ocean, Sex, Thievery, Confrontation, Empathy, Earthquake,

Similar Titles:

The Sky Is Falling by Kit Pearson

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The Kitty Ran Up the Tree by Denis Lee

Title: The Kitty Ran Up the Tree

Author: Denis Lee

Illustrator: Nora Hilb

Publish Date: April 2009

Publisher: Key Porter Books

Pages: 16pp

IBSN: 1552638138

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Children/Action Poetry

Annotation: Action poetry about movements and incorporating cats and dogs.

Plot Summary: Action poetry utilizing dogs chasing cats up trees and a child dressed as a cat.

Personal Response: Part of the series, Alligator Tales, Dennis Lee’s action poetry is both witty and delightful. If I had a child I think I would have lots of fun reading this to them, and acting out the

~Reader’s Advisory~

Themes: Fingers, toes, tickles, and laughter during the reading experience

Age Range: For infants or children in preschool

Subjects: Cats, Dogs, Action Poetry, Poetry, Children

Spot Giant’s Treasury by Eric Hill

Awake and Dreaming by Kit Pearson

Title: Awake and Dreaming

Author: Kit Pearson

Publish Date: September 2008

Publisher: Penguin Group

Pages: 240pp

ISBN: 0143056379

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Annotation: Nine-year-old Theo in Vancouver, Canada and desperately wants a new family, in fact she dreams and wishes for one, and one day her dreams and wishes come true.

Plot Summary: Theo is nine years old and lives with her mother in Vancouver, Canada. They are extremely poor and Theo is often neglected by her immature mother, so she decides to go live with her aunt in Victoria. While aboard the ferry, Theo falls into a deep sleep. When she awakes, she finds herself in a big comfortable bed—in a big comfortable house with a wonderful and nurturing family with four perfect siblings who are always happy. At first, Theo is confused, but eventually she becomes accustomed to this new life with her new family—all her dreams came true and she has everything she ever wanted. Until she is awaken by a strong gust of wind, and her dreamworld is gone. Theo feels she cannot live without her new family and decides to go searching for them and is amazed at what she finds.

Personal Response: A beautiful story about finding happiness wherever you are. Kit Pearson does a fantastic job at weaving fantasy into reality. Theo is a charming character with applicable emotions. I found the prevalent theme of finding happiness wherever your at to be a wonderful message for youth and young readers may learn from Theo’s experiences.

~Reader’s Advisory~

Themes: Be thankful for what you have. No matter how bad your situation is, there is always someone in a worse situation.

Age Range: 9-12

Subjects: Adventure, Identity, Family Relationships, Dreams, Imagination, Poverty, Contentment

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What's the Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses? by Richard Van Camp

Title: What's the Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses?

Author: Richard Van Camp

Illustrator: George Littlechild

Publish Date: April 2003

Publisher: San Val

Pages: 32pp

IBSN: 0613709888

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Picture Books

Annotation: On the coldest day of the year, a boy decides he wants to find out about horses, so he asks those closest to him what the most beautiful thing they know about horses is?

Plot Summary: A member of the Dogrib nation from the Northwest Territories in Canada seeks information regarding horses as he is a stranger to horses, only knowing about dogs. On the coldest day in January, he goes to his friends and family members, asking them what they know of horses.

Personal Response: Folksy text by Richard van Camp combined with gorgeous artwork by George Littlechild, this story asks a series of questions that the reader may have fun answering. Overall, I felt the story was insightful and sweet with the last question of "What's the most beautiful thing that you know about you?"

~Reader’s Advisory~

Themes: Think about what special and beautiful attributes are.

Age Range: 4-8

Subjects: Horses, Curiosity, Cold, Dogs, Cowboy, Poem, Picture Books

This Land is my Land by George Littlechild

A Man Called Raven by Richard Van Camp