Middle (6-8) Grades 

Basic Package

Winter - 2008 - 2009

The book packages listed below are from our previous packages and are not currently for sale online.

They are presented here as a sample of the grade level appropriate type of books CanLit selects and offers to school libraries.

These book packages can be ordered (depending on availability of books) by email (canlit@shaw.ca) or by calling CanLit toll free at 1-888-656-9906.

FICTION

Back to Book Packages 2008 - 2009

Archipelago by David Ward

Regular List Price: $12.95

Suggested Grades: 5 to 8

Pages: 143

Twelve-year-old Jonah and his mother, a well-known photographer, are on a self-healing mission, exploring the natural beauty of the Queen Charlotte Islands. They are each trying in their own way to get over the tragic loss of father and husband who died in a rock climbing accident months before. Right away Jonah is plunged into a time travel adventure that takes him back 14,000 years when the Charlottes were one of the stops for the ancient peoples making their way from Asia over the Bering Strait and down through the Americas.

For Jonah this is a healing quest, teaming with Akilah, the girl from that other time who teaches him survival skills he has never dreamed of. There is menace in the confrontation with the Crossers - more recent arrivals from the Bering Strait - and from all manner of natural hazards. The burgeoning friendship with Akilah arouses all Jonah's generous instincts and yearning for love. Above all, he discovers personal strengths that help him get past the loss of his father, qualities and realizations that he brings back to his mother when the adventure is complete .

Reviewed by Dana L. Coates. CM: Canadian Review of Materials, December, 2008 Highly Recommended. “If you like the notion of traveling back in time, then Archipelago by David Ward is a must read for you. Archipelago, which is a fantasy and mystery novel intended for juveniles, takes readers back 14,000 years to the Charlotte Islands. It is based on the theory of the First Peoples crossing from Asia to North America.”

Call Me Mimi: The World's Ugliest Beauty Queen by Francis Chalifour

Regular List Price: $14.99

Suggested Grades: 7 to 10

Pages: 184

Mimi loves flowers, crystal chandeliers, kittens, Céline Dion’s voice, the color pink, swaths of satin, the Queen of England, and chocolate. Far, far too much chocolate. She craves beauty and her own overweight self is emphatically not beautiful, at least in her own eyes. And despite her size, she doesn’t feel whole because all she knows about her father is that he was a sperm bank donor seventeen years before. Mimi is a fractured soul.

Mimi knows that she needs to take charge of herself to find a person she can love within her self-imposed wall of weight. She leaves her doting mother and Montreal behind and heads to Toronto to find her father. What she finds is far more important than anything she could possibly have imagined.

Francis Chalifour’s ability to bring the unforgettable Mimi to life makes this a novel that will touch the reader’s funny bone and heart.

Chantel's Quest for the Golden Sword by Oliver Neubert

Regular List Price: $9.95

Suggested Grades: 6 to 9

Pages: 224

Unleashed by a vengeful spirit, a force of evil is slowly destroying nature and corrupting minds. Chantel, the Princess of Freedom, is the only one who can save the world from darkness — but only if she can retrieve four ancient relics, each hidden in a far-flung corner of the world. With the help of a warrior mouse and a fox bat, Chantel begins her search in the Land of the North, where she must find the powerful Golden Sword. Unfortunately, someone else is determined to locate the sword first: the Snow Walker, the brutal Warlord of the North. As she struggles though icy, unfamiliar territory to unearth the magical relic, Chantel makes an amazing discovery that holds the key to the planet’s future. But is it too late? With an exciting plot and a simple writing style, Chantel's Quest: The Golden Sword is perfect for reluctant readers, while Chantel’s journey away from the security of her guardian and into the unknown resonates with all young readers.

Reviewed by Daphne Hamilton. CM: Canadian Review of Materials, August, 2008 Highly Recommended. “Oliver Neubert has created an intriguing world, full of interesting creatures and beings. Neubert has managed to create a wide variety of creatures and beings without resorting to the stereotypes of the genre. ... has created an engaging first book about the Four Lands, with fantastic characters and a solid story.”

Cleavage: Breakaway Fiction for Real Girls Edited by Deb Loughead and Jocelyn Shipley

Regular List Price: $12.95

Suggested Grades: 7 to 11

Pages: 185

The innovative stories in this collection are all about taking pride in wearing our bodies just the way they are. They're about hating our mothers and loving them, fitting in and breaking out. These characters articulate ways of looking at the world, of looking at others and of seeing life's possibilities. Touching on a range of issues from cosmetic surgery and makeup, and unhealthy attitudes toward eating, to sexuality and teens' impressions of their own and others' bodies, these stories challenge stifling mainstream notions of beauty and femininity.

Reviewed by Joan Marshall. CM: Canadian Review of Materials, December, 2008 Highly Recommended. “This eclectic collection of short stories, edited by Deb Loughead and Jocelyn Shipley, both award-winning writers for young people themselves, is tied together by theme: girls struggling with body image and their relationships with their mothers. The female authors of these 15 stories have nailed to the wall the self-absorption of teenage girls who think and act as if their problems are the centre of the entire world.”

Reviewed by Sarah Steinberg. Quill and Quire, December, 2008 "Loughead and Shipley have assembled an eminently readable collection here, one that may be as enlightening and enjoyable for mothers as their teenage daughters."

Darkwing by Kenneth Oppel

Regular List Price: $14.99 (New in Paperback)

Suggested Grades: 5 to 9

Pages: 336

Before there were bats like Shade, Marina or even Goth, there was a young chiropter—a small arboreal glider—named Dusk.

Against a tableau of disappearing dinosaurs and the ascent of the mammal kingdom, Oppel has created an adventure fantasy that sets the stage for the birth of the bats, the story of the ancestors of Shade, the beloved hero of the Silverwing series. As with all Silverwing books, it is impossible to simply read Darkwing; each of us enters a world of convincing characters, warring theologies, incredible natural history and a story that roars through head, heart and imagination. A tale that can be read as a stand- lone or as a prequel, Darkwing will be a welcome classic for the millions of Kenneth Oppel fans.

Reviewed by Gregory Bryan. CM: Canadian Review of Materials, October, 2007 Highly Recommended. “Congratulations to Kenneth Oppel for maintaining his own high standards and for creating another gem of Canadian children’s literature.”

Germania by John Wilson

Regular List Price: $19.95

Suggested Grades: 7 and up

Pages: 280

An old Roman Legionaire, Lucius Quintus Claudianus, has been left abandoned in a small villa while Mt. Vesuvius erupts. In his dying moments, he recounts his adventure as the sole survivor of three Roman legions, ambushed and slaughtered in the wilds of Germania. His writings recount how many of the soldiers got caught up in treachery and war, and how they had to choose between their culture and their friendships, with the consequences of being wrong possibly meaning death.

Reviewed by Todd Kyle. CM: Canadian Review of Materials, November, 2008 Highly Recommended. “Vivid historical details, fascinating glimpses of the lives of soldiers and barbarian tribes, debates on Roman primacy vs tribal rights, political and racial divides — all are featured in this novel. Wilson evokes the excitement of the period, the intensity of people's beliefs and of their struggle for survival, the inevitability of their conflicts — making it all relevant to the modern world. ...this is a hugely rewarding novel that has much more than its exciting and bloody battle scenes to appeal to young readers, especially boys.”

Greener Grass: The Famine Years by Caroline Pignat

Regular List Price: $12.95

Suggested Grades: 7 and up

Pages: 278

Kit Byrne’s family is a strong one, but their strength and unity are being severely tested, as life becomes more and more desperate in 19th century rural Ireland. Lord Fraser is the wealthy landowner, from which the Byrne’s and many other families rent their lands. When the potato blight hits, the farmers can no longer make their payments much less produce food for themselves, and the cruel system has no mercy as Lord Fraser wields an iron fist, driving families from their homes and burning their cottages.

This story is a glimpse into the tragic events of the Great Hunger, the famine that devastated Ireland, forcing thousands of impoverished families to seek better livelihoods outside of their homeland.

EDUCATOR’S GUIDE IS AVAILABLE.

Reviewed by Ann Ketcheson. CM: Canadian Review of Materials, December, 2008 Highly Recommended. “Pignat’s writing is strong and detailed, bringing to life historical events in a personal and tangible way. Readers relate to Kit’s emotions as she battles problems that seem virtually insurmountable. She is to be greatly admired, even though circumstances lead her to theft and even attempted murder. Difficult times mean difficult decisions, and protagonist Kit may struggle with her conscience even as she does what must be done to save her family.”

Leaving Fletchville by Rene Schmidt

Regular List Price: $9.95

Suggested Grades: 6 to 9

Pages: 158

Brandon is the biggest and toughest kid in his small-town school. He is feared as a bully, but he only pretends to be "dumb as a bag of hammers," so he can learn as much as possible about the people around him. When Leon, his sister Winnie, and their lively little brother Sam, arrive in Kingsville, they are the only black people in town. Everyone is curious about them-where they came from, what their parents do-but when Brandon discovers the truth about their situation, he decides to do what he can to protect them from harm.

Reviewed by Caitlin Campbell. CM: Canadian Review of Materials, November, 2008 Recommended. “With his debut novel, René Schmidt gives voice to the children who fall through the cracks, whose struggles go unnoticed, whose responsibilities deprive them of the luxuries of childhood. While Leaving Fletchville's themes are tough, its story is hopeful, and its characters are inspirational. ... Leaving Fletchville, is, overall, an engaging read that teachers will love to discuss with their students.”

Maverick Mania by Sigmund Brouwer

Regular List Price: $9.95

Suggested Grades: 6 to 8

Pages: 176

The disappearance of his soccer team's leading scorer during the championship finals leads sixteen-year-old Matt to investigate and entangles him in a possible kidnapping. If the Mavericks win just a few more games, they'll make it to the national soccer championship. There's only one catch. Their star player, Caleb Riggins, has disappeared. Matt Carr is determined to find his teammate and solve the mystery. He just didn't realize it would involve attack dogs, a mysterious golden bridge, the internet and a family who may not be who they seem. And the big game is only days away.

Paralyzed by Jeff Rud

Regular List Price: $9.95

Suggested Grades: 6 to 8

Pages: 176

Linebacker Reggie Scott is forced to deal with the repercussions of an incident that shakes his belief in the game of football which he loves. When he is persecuted by angry fans for being a "dirty" player, Reggie is forced to confront his own guilt and decide whether he can continue to play his senior season and beyond.

A Perfect Gentle Knight by Kit Pearson

Regular List Price: $8.99

Suggested Grades: 5 to 7

Pages: 224

Kit Pearson’s long-awaited new novel tells the story of the five Bell children, each of them coping in various ways in the aftermath of their mother’s death. Set in the 1950s and seen through the perspective of the middle child, 11-year-old Corrie, Pearson’s story illustrates how a rich fantasy life both helps and hinders children trying to cope with loss, loneliness, and growing up. While elder sister Roz is maturing and out of the desire for fantasy games, eldest brother Sebastian, who fancies himself Sir Lancelot in their Round Table game, continues to need them as much as ever, creating tension in the family. Corrie becomes concerned and worries that Sebastian may have lost his grip on reality.

A beautiful family story – nostalgic really – for those days before computers and video games when imaginative games were complex and creative. A Perfect Gentle Knight shows Pearson at her best: Great writing in a great and gritty tale, told with realism and compassion.

Reviewed by Gregory Bryan. CM: Canadian Review of Materials, September, 2007 Highly Recommended. “Young adults will enjoy Pearson's well-crafted, multi-dimensional characters. Despite a setting 50 years distant, the characters resonate with realistic depth and complexity that will intrigue readers who are themselves making the often-difficult transition from childhood through adolescence and into adulthood. This is an extremely well written, intriguing book from a superb storyteller.”

A Thousand Shades of Blue by Robin H. Stevenson

Regular List Price: $12.95

Suggested Grades: 7 to 11

Pages: 240

A sailing trip to the Caribbean might sound great, but sixteen-year-old Rachel can't stand being trapped on a small boat with her family. She misses her best friend and feels guilty about leaving her older sister Emma, who lives in a group home. Her father is driving her crazy with his schedules and rules, her brother is miserable, and there is never anyone her own age around. Worst of all, there is nowhere to go when her parents fight. While their boat is being repaired, the family spends a few weeks in a small Bahamian community, where Rachel and Tim discover a secret which turns their world upside down and threatens to destroy the fragile ties that hold their family together.

Reviewed by Lois Brymer. CM: Canadian Review of Materials, October, 2008 Highly Recommended. "A Thousand Shades of Blue is a thought-provoking read for teens and parents alike who may see something of themselves in Rachel and her family. With so many pressures and stresses placed on families these days (such as coping with and caring for a disabled child like Rachel's sister) this is a timely novel. It is a well-written, well-paced, easy to read and conveys the message that there is no such thing as a perfect parent. Young readers will like that! "

Thunderbird Spirit by Sigmund Brouwer

Regular List Price: $9.95

Suggested Grades: 5 to 9

Pages: 176

Hockey stars Mike "Crazy" Keats and his new friend, Dakota, are caught in a web of violence which makes winning a championship the least of their concerns. Dakota Smith is in trouble. But Mike "Crazy" Keats doesn't care. He is new to the Seattle Thunderbirds, and Dakota seems like a good guy to have for a friend. Unfortunately, not everyone accepts Dakota's Native North American heritage so easily.

Voyageur by Eric Walters

Regular List Price: $12.99

Suggested Grades: 4 to 8

Pages: 204

Brian, his mom, and his sister Jennie have left their Manhattan home for a canoe trip in Northern Quebec in order to scatter the ashes of Brian’s father, whose most cherished memories were of his childhood summers spent at a boy scout camp in the area. Although the trip starts out well enough, it soon becomes clear that the 3 are in over their heads - literally, in Brian’s case - when they take a wrong turn into rapids! It is only the quick action of an old man named Pierre that saves Brian from drowning. Seeing just how ill-equipped the family is to complete their journey safely, Pierre kindly offers to guide them to their destination. Along the way Brian faces his grief and his deepest fears of life without his father while developing a friendship with Pierre, who turns out to be somebody far more important than Brian could have imagined. Vintage Eric Walters!

Reviewed by Catherine Howett. CM: Canadian Review of Materials, November, 2008 Highly Recommended. “The language of the book is appropriate for the intended audience, and the pace of the story will keep the reader engaged to the last chapters. The plot development, from out-of-control (as things go from bad to dramatically worse), to rebalance (through the resolution of their quest) is mirrored both in the journey and the characters' personal development. ... I really enjoyed this book.”

War Brothers by Sharon McKay

Regular List Price: $20.00

Suggested Grades: 7 to 12

Pages: 224

Sharon McKay sets her new novel in Uganda, where Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has, since 1987, abducted up to 30,000 children from their villages and homes for use as soldiers and slaves. It is in these nightmarish times that the fates of 5 boys and a girl are entwined. Captured from their school by the LRA, the boys wait for rescue only to discover that if they are to survive they must rely on themselves. But friendship, courage, and resilience might not be enough to save them. Based in part upon interviews with child soldiers in Northern Uganda, War Brothers is a stunning depiction of the human cost of wars fought by children.

Reviewed by Dave Jenkinson. CM: Canadian Review of Materials, August, 2008 Highly Recommended. “Though War Brothers does deal with some “tough” content, especially when the six adolescents are the (Lord's Resistance Army) LRA’s captives, McKay does not treat the events in any exploitive way. No doubt many Canadian middle schoolers have met similar scenes in books about the Holocaust, but it easy for them to think of such terrible happenings as simply belonging to the past. War Brothers speaks to the present! ”

NON-FICTION

Dominant Dany Heatley by Dany Heatley; Lorna Nicholson

and

Unbeatable Martin Brodeur by Andrew Podnieks

Regular List Price: $14.95 (per title)

Suggested Grades: 6 and up

Pages: 80

These titles chronicle the careers of their particular subject from their early childhood playing amateur hockey to their NHL debuts. Both have interesting stories to tell about games played and lessons learned. This informative, clearly written and up-to-date series draws the reader into the world of professional hockey.

From Rocks to Rockets: Arms and Armies Through The Ages by William Gilkerson

Regular List Price: $15.95

Suggested Grades: 6 and up

Pages: 66

William Gilkerson takes the broad, sweeping history of the human race and puts it in story and pictures that are at once meaningful, sometimes profound, and always funny. His pen takes us from cave men with rocks, to modern bombs and rockets, and depicts the chaos throughout. First published in 1963, this amusing and glorious look at arms and armies through the ages is reissued for a new audience. There are laughs on every page, but also wry, though provoking observations, all expressed through Gilkerson’s wonderfully detailed drawings which will enthrall students of all ages.

Inuksuk Journey: An Artist at the Top of the World by Mary Wallace

Regular List Price: $24.95

Suggested Grades: 4 and up

The image of an inuksuk - stones placed in the shape of a person - has become a familiar sight in many parts of North America. But artist Mary Wallace takes us far beyond what we already know in this rich exploration of the inuksuk, Inuit culture, and the Far North. An engaging mix of journal and art, it combines the best of writing with breathtaking paintings showcased in large format across the pages of this book. Young readers are offered an amazing view of the geography, people, and culture of the Far North, both ancient and modern.

Reviewed by Christina Neigel. CM: Canadian Review of Materials, December, 2007 Highly Recommended. “Inuksuk Journey is carefully crafted and beautifully told. The artwork enables this book to stand alone as an aesthetic piece that can be appreciated by older children and adults. Adding to its value, this work can also be a fantastic resource for those who wish to understand aspects of life in the north as seen through the eyes of a non-native. This is a must-have for Canadiana, fine art and native studies collections and is highly recommended for most other non-fiction collections for children.”

Goodbye Buffalo Bay by Larry Loyie

Regular List Price: $14.95

Suggested Grades: 5 to 8

Pages: 142

This book draws on personal experience from a man (Larry Loyie) who found the courage and strength of character to find hope and fulfillment in life after residential school. Themes include friendship, self-esteem, humour, the joy of reading, overcoming anger, endurance, hope, and self-discovery. A wonderful read that is gently and succinctly told.

Reviewed by Tanya Boudreau. CM: Canadian Review of Materials, January, 2009 Highly Recommended. “Goodbye Buffalo Bay is based on the author's life at a residential school. A short epilogue in the back of the book, as well as a three page section entitled, "A Brief History of Residential Schools," explain why these poorly funded schools opened, how they operated, and why they were finally shut down. Other back matter in this book includes a small Cree glossary and a website link where readers can see photographs of students and activities at a residential school.”

Inside Hockey: The Legends, Facts, and Feats that Made the Game by Keltie Thomas

John Kicksee (Illustrator)

Regular List Price: $22.95

Suggested Grades: 3 and up

Pages: 64

This book introduces readers to the wild side of professional hockey past and present. Humorously illustrated and accompanied by exciting photographs, Inside Hockey explores the facts, adventures, and one-of-a-kind anecdotes that continue to make hockey one of North America’s most popular sports. This highly energetic book gives kids an inside look at the facts about male and female hockey superstars, inventions, rules that changed the game, and some of the dazzling science behind the sport. Perfect for diehard hockey fans and those new to the game, Inside Hockey has something for everyone. With insider information about the game and behind the scenes profiles on players and their incredible experiences, Hockey Night will never look the same way again.

A Native American Thought of It: Amazing Inventions and Innovations by Rocky Landon; David MacDonald

Regular List Price: $19.95

Suggested Grades: 4 and up

Pages: 48

Everyone knows that moccasins, canoes and toboggans were invented by the Aboriginal people of North America, but did you know that they also developed their own sign language, syringe needles and a secret ingredient in soda pop? With descriptive photos and information-packed text, this companion to A Inuit Thought of It explores eight different categories in which the creativity of First Nations peoples from across the continent led to remarkable inventions and innovations, many of which are still in use today.

NOTE: The term Native American refers to tribes of all of North America not just the USA.

Reviewed by Ian Stewart. CM: Canadian Review of Materials, November, 2008 Recommended. “Every chapter offers attention-grabbing facts that will intrigue students and inspire new learning. ... The unique archival images included in the volume have clearly been chosen with great care and add immensely to the book's worth to both students and teachers.”

One Peace: True Stories of Young Activists by Janet Wilson (Illustrator)

Regular List Price: $19.95

Suggested Grades: 4 and up

Pages: 32

One Peace celebrates the "Power of One," and specifically the accomplishments of children from around the globe who have worked to promote world peace. Janet Wilson challenges today's children to strive to make a difference in this beautifully illustrated, fact-filled and fascinating volume of portraits of many "heroes for today." Individual portraits feature the accomplishments of children from Sarajevo, Japan, the United Kingdom, Cambodia, Afghanistan and the United States. These moving testaments to the courage and initiative of youth will inspire readers young and old. Liberally illustrated throughout.

Reviewed by Elizabeth Walker. CM: Canadian Review of Materials, October, 2008 Highly Recommended. "Wilson includes enough information to give young readers the important facts, but she still leaves them wanting more. One Peace is an excellent starting point for research. ... One Peace is an outstanding addition to any teacher's or librarian's bookshelf and will no doubt be popular for its beautiful design and inspirational message."

Reviewed by Laurel Smith . Quill and Quire, December, 2008 "Wilson has provided a much-needed call to action for adults and children alike. The theme of this collection is clear: feeling powerless is no longer an excuse for inaction, and the fact that one person – of any age – can indeed make a difference is not a cliché, but rather a necessary way of living if we are to have a future."

When Elephants Fight: The Lives of Children in Conflict by Eric Walters; Adrian Bradbury

Regular List Price: $19.95

Suggested Grades: 7 to 10

Pages: 96

When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. This ancient proverb is as true today as when the words were first spoken, perhaps thousands of years ago. Its essence is simplicity-when the large fight, it is the small who suffer most. And when it comes to war, the smallest, the most vulnerable, are the children.

This book presents the stories of five children from five very different and distinct conflicts. Along with these very personal accounts, the book also offers brief analyses of the history and geopolitical issues that are the canvas on which these conflicts are cast.

Reviewed by Marilynne V. Black. CM: Canadian Review of Materials, August, 2008 Highly Recommended. “Since children continue to suffer, the authors emphasize that "For the future to be better than the past, better than the present, we must help equip our children with the awareness and understanding of the world around them and their ability to bring about change." Used with novels with a similar theme, the opportunities for understanding and possible change are greatly enhanced. When Elephants Fight is a solid vehicle for discussions about the effects of war on children.”