Book Review: Anne by Kathleen Gros

By Larissa Page

We all know the story of Anne of Green Gables and of Anne with an E. In Kathleen Gros’s Anne, she gives us a modern-day adaptation (sort of) of our favourite classic.

Anne is a foster kid in and out of houses thanks to her quick temper. Green Gables is an apartment complex where Matthew (the building’s handyman) and Marilla (an accountant) live in their parents’ old apartment. Diana is a kindred spirit that lives on the top floor and Rachel Lynde is the cranky old lady from the first floor. Gilbert is still a bully, and Anne detests her red hair. So, many of the elements of this adaptation are key points of the story that we already love with some that have been changed. Either way, Anne is the lovably precocious main character everyone comes to love.

One of the reasons this caught my eye is because I wanted to give it a pre-read before deciding if it would be good for my young reader. She is a fan of graphic novels (as am I), and this one is of a story and character she’s already familiar with. I was thrilled for this graphic novel to be filled with inclusivity, 2SLGBTQIA characters, themes of unconditional love, standing up to bullies, and building a home with new people. It had some young crush themes that were presented in a way that I felt appropriate for a tween/pre-teen.

It was a quick read, and I expect will be for some children as well, but in being so it makes it accessible (particularly for kids who may not be as quick of readers) and easy to pick up. It also had a feeling of nostalgia because these are characters we already love.

I will be thrilled to hand this off to my middle-grade reader. I can see us having some discussions surrounding handling bullies, sharing our feelings, getting a handle on emotions, and things like that. Plus, she’ll be excited to see the pictures, and experience Anne in her own generation.

Thank you, HarperCollins Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: My Name is Seepeetza by Shirley Sterling

By Carly Smith

Content warning: residential schools, suicide, child abuse, alcohol abuse, racism

In the 30th anniversary edition of My Name is Seepeetza, Shirley Sterling brings to light the events and emotions that arose from attending residential school. The journal entries which comprise this book are preceded by a beautiful dedication to all residential school attendees, a poem entitled Coyote Laughs, and two maps which readers can reference as the setting changes.  

This autobiographical book begins with Sterling as a young girl at Kalamak Indian Residential School. We learn of her hardships, both minor and significant, as well as periodic moments of joy. Sterling discusses the dispositions of her teachers, their lack of compassion, and their inclination to use shame as a means of rectifying undesired actions and behaviour. Throughout the entries, she weaves in other, less immediate yet still significant outcomes of residential school, like substance abuse, loss of language, and suicide. Sterling breaks up the accounts of attending Kalamak with more positive memories of returning home to the family’s ranch to be reunited with her parents and siblings over holidays. An afterword by Tomson Highway recapitulates Sterling’s life at residential school, the brief visits home during Christmas and summer, and all of the feelings that surround these two very different living situations.

Sterling’s writing is simple yet powerful. She doesn’t rely on an abundance of descriptors or strong words to evoke emotion and reflection. Written in the voice of a young adult, she chronicles her memories and thoughts plainly, but this is not to say her writing is underwhelming. In fact, it’s often quite the opposite. Her crisp, unembellished details of her childhood bring up feelings of disappointment, shame, sadness, and worry, and at times contentment and joy, too. Even more, her words act as a catalyst for deep reflection and necessary conversation about Canada’s dark past regarding the residential school system. In less than 150 pages, Sterling offers a more concise and frank account of the cultural and human rights atrocities caused by residential schools than any textbook I have come across.

This moving book is a must read for any Canadian. Certainly appropriate for adults, this book may also be suitable for young adults at the discretion of their guardians. Heavy and triggering topics are present in My Name is Seepeetza, and this should be considered prior to reading. I strongly recommend this book for those whose understanding of residential schools in Canada is limited.

Thank you to House of Anansi for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Girl from the Attic by Marie Prins

By Christine McFaul

Content warning: death of a child

The Girl from the Attic (2020) is an engaging middle grade time travel novel written by Canadian author Marie Prins.

Everything in twelve-year-old Maddy’s life is changing. She has a new stepfather that she doesn’t get along with, a baby sibling on the way that she’ll probably get stuck looking after, and now her parents are moving her away from her life (and internet connection) in Toronto and into a crumbling octagonal house in the middle of nowhere. Needless to say, Maddy is less than impressed. And no amount of her parents geeking out over the historical aspects of their new home will change her mind. Maddy can’t imagine why her parents are so enamoured with a house that looks like a huge mouldy cupcake until a chance encounter with a mysterious cat leads her to a hidden door in the attic—a door that allows Maddy to step back over a hundred years into the past. There she meets Clare and Eva and begins to finally understand what makes the octagonal house so special.

In Maddy, Prins has created a lovable and highly relatable character with a great middle grade voice. The story grabs readers from the first page and does not slow down, expertly balancing historical elements, modern day troubles, and just the right amount of magic to bring it all together. A number of lovely black and white illustrations by the author’s husband are scattered through the book, cleverly chosen to help young readers (or book reviewers who didn’t pay enough attention during history class!) to visualize scenes from the past, for example a floor plan of the octagonal house from 1904 or what the inside of a soap mill looked like.

The Girl from the Attic is a lovely story. The characters are engaging, the historical elements are informative without feeling didactic, and it has the added bonus of being set here in Canada (Scarborough and Colebrook). A great choice for sparking a love of history in readers both young and old, for use in the classroom, or just to read for pleasure.

Note: Marie Prins wrote a lovely piece titled “Grammy’s Mittens” that can be found in Volume Three of Cloud Lake Literary. So, if your interest in her work was piqued by this review, be sure to check it out!

Thank you to both Marie Prins and Commondeer Press for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Flooded Earth by Mardi McConnochie

By Christine McFaul

The Flooded Earth is an award-winning cli-fi (climate fiction) novel by Mardi McConnochie. It is the first book in her trilogy that also includes The Castle in the Sea and The Skeleton Coast.

Set in a dystopian future still reeling from the effects of a catastrophic flood, a sharp and arbitrary line has been drawn between places in the world where extensive money and effort have been made to restore people back to a prosperous life and those places where it has not. The story follows twin protagonists, Will and Annalie, who live in slums on the side of the line where people have been left to dredge whatever life they can out of the soggy ruins left behind by cataclysmic climate change.

Will, an avid sailor and tinkerer, remains in their home while the bright and bookish Annalie has just moved away to attend a prestigious private school in one of the most beautiful cities in their country. For the first time, there is friction between the siblings. Will is rankled by how easily his sister abandoned their life and family for a snobby school. While, unbeknownst to Will, Annalie is struggling to fit in amongst her privileged peers who have no idea what life is like outside their perfectly insulated world.

However, when their father goes missing under mysterious circumstances, the twins are set on a course back to one other. With only the family boat and a code hidden in one of Annalie’s old novels to guide them, the two embark on a perilous adventure to discover their father’s secrets and, ultimately, try to save him. Soon they find themselves battling extreme weather, modern-day pirates, and all manner of technical difficulties while trying to stay one step ahead of the corrupt Admiralty (the naval branch of the military that seized power during the floods and refuses to give it up).

Like all great adventure stories, The Flooded Earth is plot-y and fast-paced. It starts off at a sprint and never slows down, creating a literary race-to-the finish. The world-building is well-executed, suggesting an eerily possible version of a dystopian future, with just the right amount of tech advances to enhance, rather than impede, the plotting. Despite its fast pace, the story is anchored (pun very much intended!) within themes that are sure to strike a chord with its contemporary readership, exploring issues that range from environmental impact to inequality, refugees, and corruption. The narrative is written in 3rd person point of view that toggles between Will and Annalise but also chooses strategic moments to enter the thoughts and feelings of key characters along the way. The overall effect is a story that feels strong and determined but not yet cynical. 

The Flooded Earth is a tale that is both whimsical and strange, contemporary, and new. A unique read for the upper middle-grade reader (9-12). Sure to suck them in and keep them absorbed until the very last word.

Thank you, Pajama Press, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Grave Thief by Dee Hahn

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warning: violence, grief, death, death of a child

In Dee Hahn’s world of magic stones and cursed monsters, where jewels are a currency you can bring with you when you die, Spade’s family steals from the dead. This arrangement works for Spade; born with a limp, and part of a community looked down on by the people of Wyndhail, being alone in a graveyard is the only time Spade doesn’t feel less than. But when his father comes up with a ridiculous plan to rob a royal grave, things go a little sideways. To save his brother, Spade must use his thieving skills to steal a legendary Deepstone for the queen herself. This gem is supposed to control the Woegan, a deadly creature that hunts each night. With the help of the princess Ember, Spade must unlock the secrets of the Deepstones and solve a puzzle that has been generations in the making.

The Grave Thief’s cover sets the tone for this book perfectly: a spooky middle grade novel filled with mystery, whimsy, and monsters. There’s something magical about middle grade fantasies, and The Grave Thief is an excellent example of a story with a premise that is both simple and creative, the plot moving in ways I couldn’t have predicted, and which filled me with equal parts delight and unease. I feel like the premise is fresh and fun—a grave thief forced to use his talents to fight a monster in the name of the queen. The characters and villain of this story are unique and help keep things fresh and exciting at every turn.

Spade is an excellent main character to go on this journey with; his perspective highlights the flaws of both the Joolies and the royalty, and the magic and mysteries of this story call to him—and through him, to the reader. Every character is well fleshed out, from Spade’s friend Ember, the spoiled princess eager to prove herself, to his little brother and driving motivation, to the queen, a cruel, enigmatic figure. Even the side characters leap off the page and give the story a vividness and voice that helps elevate the somewhat simple plot.

I say simple, but the story is perfect for a middle grade reader. Spade’s tasks are quick and easy to follow, and the quest for the Deepstones and fight against the Woegan are well-paced and exciting. Things are never slow, and there is always something that Spade is uncovering or stealing in this book. But the plot is deceptive, because while the narrative is relatively uncomplicated, this book deals with some darker subject matter in a very eloquent way. Spade’s journey to accept his physical disability, Ember’s fight to be seen as an equal, and even the queen’s struggles with grief and loss are crucial to the development and resolution of this story.

I found The Grave Thief original, quick, fun, and deeper than I was expecting. I think there is something in this book for middle grade readers, and fans of middle grade fantasy no matter their age. The story has a lot of heart, plenty of magic, a great message, and just enough fright to keep you on the edge of your seat.

 Thank you to Penguin Random House for providing a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Burying the Moon by Andrée Poulin and Illustrated by Sonali Zohra

By Christine McFaul

Burying the Moon is a new middle-grade novel-in-verse written by author Andree Poulin and illustrated by Sonali Zohra. The book brings awareness to the lack of sanitation that affects billions of people around the world, impacting the health, safety, and education of girls and women in particular. I was very curious to see how this topic would be approached, especially for the middle-grade age group. I’m excited to dive in and share my thoughts on the reading experience. 

High 

in the shimmering sky

the silver 

moon

gazes

at a 

gloomy

girl. 

The story opens at night shining a literal (moonlit!) spotlight on young protagonist, Latika. With no toilets in her village, the girls and women must wait for dark to do their business in a nearby field. A situation that puts them in danger from snakes, scorpions, disease, and assault. And a situation that creates feelings of shame and frustration for Latika, hence her desire to ‘bury the moon’ that shines too bright a light on the Field of Shame.  

In the verses that follow, Latika emerges as an interesting, plucky, and honest protagonist. The words also paint a picture of her Amamma, Aunty Nita, and older sister, bringing these women to life while weaving in the various effects and challenges posed by lack of sanitation. Within the familial and daily hustle-bustle of her life, it is clear that Latika loves school. Her older sister used to love school too. 

That was before.

Now

everything has changed.

In Padaram

girls

who are almost

women

stop going

to school. 

And Latika is dreading the day that she will also have to stop attending. When a government official visits her town and asks the villagers what they need, she is certain someone will bring up this silent thing that dictates so much of her lived experience. But no one talks about the Field of Shame. No one asks for a toilet. So Latika devises a plan to take action and make a change.

Burying the Moon is short (the perfect length for this topic in my opinion), accessible, and correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts. The verse flows and is very readable; a well-balanced mix of poignant, humorous, interesting, and profound. Poulin, who has worked in international development for decades, includes an author’s note that shares facts and statistics about the lack of sanitation and its effects as well as suggestions for further reading on the topic.

The illustrations are lovely and perfectly compliment Poulin’s verse. They are in colour, which isn’t always the case in middle-grade and help to slow the reader down encouraging them to linger over each page. I love the colour palette, mainly purple with accents in terracotta, brown, and pink, and the night spreads have a lush almost velvety feel. 

A unique, informational, and beautifully illustrated read. I would recommend it for the higher end of the middle-grade age range.  

Thank you, Groundwood Books, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Waiting Under Water by Riel Nason

By Carly Smith

In Waiting Under Water, all Hope wants is enjoy summer vacation with the bittersweet feeling of returning to school in the fall. That’s not possible, though, since her folks told her they are moving to Toronto from St. David’s, a small town in New Brunswick. Even though she has most of the summer to enjoy St. David’s and its small village charm, she can’t help but think about moving provinces, changing schools, and leaving her best friend Willa behind. The big move and the adjustments that accompany it aren’t the only changes that Hope is presented with either when it’s announced that her hometown is in the running to be Canada’s top small community. What may mean more tourism and a stronger economy in the future also means more hustle and bustle as the town works hard to stay in the contest. Riel Nason makes it very easy to follow along with this heartwarming summer read and make space for Hope’s emotions as she navigates the final weeks of life in St. David’s.

Hope is a clever, fairly optimistic young woman. She is wise beyond her years or, as her father describes her, an “old soul.” Her outlook towards moving is one of uncertainty, naturally, but her insight offers a mature and logical perspective on such a significant change. Readers will see Hope grapple with difficult feelings as time moves closer to her departure date. What is more are her tics that appear when she is overwhelmed or nervous; Hope’s tics return in the form of a verbal sound. They are noticeable and an easy target for teasing. The more she thinks about them, the more present they make themselves. Helping her through this emotional time is Willa, another optimistic young woman whose maturity and community spirit add yet another element of comfort to the book. Willa and Hope’s friendship is unbreakable and together the girls are unstoppable. 

Nason writes from the perspective of Hope in the present tense. I typically find these reads very hard to finish, but Nason makes it effortless for the reader to turn the page. Her descriptive writing transports the reader to the east coast. Whether you’ve visited there or it’s on your must-travel list, Nason creates an unequivocal familiarity about this corner of Canada and nearly leaves readers with the taste of saltwater in their mouth. In addition to her detailed writing, Nason ensures a small element of suspense near the end of almost every chapter. An engaging, relatable, and delightful read, Waiting Under Water has me anxiously awaiting Nason’s next book. 

Book Review: The Jigsaw Puzzle King by Gina McMurchy-Barber

By Carly Smith

Content warning: Bullying

Warren is a preteen who recently moved cities with his family, including his twin brother, Bennie. All Warren wants to do is fit in and adjust to his new life by making friends, fitting in at school, and doing some of the activities he did back home. Settling in proves tricky, though, and Warren thinks it’s because of Bennie. Bennie has Down syndrome, and some of Warren and Bennie’s peers have never met anyone with Down syndrome. One new peer, Maya, is keen to build a friendship with both brothers and learns that Bennie has a talent for completing jigsaw puzzles in record time. She encourages Bennie to showcase his skill at the school talent show, but Warren thinks this is a horrible idea. Will Bennie take part in the show? Will Warren stop it? McMurchy-Barber works hard to make a relatable and exciting piece that all ages can connect to. 

We first meet Warren, a boy who like most children his age is starting to care what others think of him. He is constantly on high alert about how others act and react around Bennie. What will others say to him? What will they say about him? On top of this, he sometimes feels like Bennie’s caretaker and not his brother. This feeling is present at home, too; Warren and Bennie’s parents often rely on Warren to be Bennie’s guardian when they cannot. We quickly learn that Warren lacks a sense of autonomy and is very self-conscious. Bennie, on the other hand, is a joyful, optimistic boy who thinks the best of everyone and does not hesitate to march to the beat of his own drum. A kind, funny preteen, Bennie is rarely upset, and when he is, he is keen to find the silver lining. As the book progresses, both boys navigate some difficult feelings, and Warren is faced with confronting his worries and deciding if they are worth more than the strong bond he has with his brother. The Jigsaw Puzzle King is written from the perspective of Warren, which offers many opportunities to empathize with him. Nevertheless, McMurchy-Barber writes the story in such a way that the reader is still able to see the story unfold from Bennie’s perspective. She intertwines both viewpoints beautifully so that the reader is equally pulled towards both boys’ feelings.

Gina McMurchy-Barber’s The Jigsaw Puzzle King touches on several themes, including self-awareness, diversity, and family. We see Warren repeatedly grapple with his role in the family dynamic and how it affects not just his happiness but that of the other members. His initial oblivion to his feelings about how others behave around Bennie plays a significant role in the storyline, keeping the reader captivated with a desire to read on to see if his sense of self-awareness will evolve. These themes, combined with the author’s writing style, makes it hard to put down The Jigsaw Puzzle King; each chapter beautifully compliments the previous one and elegantly sets the foundation for the upcoming one. A nominee for the Silver Birch Fiction Award, I can see myself reading this book again, especially with my son or students. 

Book Review: The Fabulous Zed Watson! by Basil Sylvester and Kevin Sylvester

By Christine McFaul

At the start of this year, the Cloud Lake team asked each reviewer what books we were most excited to read in 2021. The Fabulous Zed Watson was in my top three, so I entered the reading experience with high expectations … and this book delivered! The authors set the “Zed charm-o-meter to 11” and produced pure joy in book form. 

The Fabulous Zed Watson is a middle-grade triumph co-authored by child-parent team Basil and Kevin Sylvester. Amongst the many things that make this work so special, the novel features fantastic sketch-y illustrations by Kevin and an #OwnVoices perspective provided by Basil.

Zed Watson is an irresistibly charming non-binary tween who loves their chosen name, brightly patterned sweaters, their big, exuberant family, and monsters! They are part of a small online community dedicated to solving the mystery surrounding an epic Gothic novel called The Monster’s Castle. The first four chapters of the book are a cult classic amongst monster connoisseurs like Zed, but the rest of the manuscript was buried by its enigmatic author before it could be published. When an unexpected IRL meeting with fellow site member Gabe leads to a breakthrough discovery, the two set off on a rollicking literary scavenger hunt.

At its heart, this is a friendship story. And what better foundation to explore the complexity of human dynamics than stuck in an old clunker with A/C on the fritz and buried treasure on the line? Zed and Gabe soon find out that despite their shared passion for Gothic novels, they are actually very different from one another. Zed is a self-proclaimed “flamboyant and well-regarded drama kwing,” while Gabe is more of a “human Eeyore.” They end up bickering over car snacks, taste in tunes, and most importantly, the meaning behind the cryptic clues they are following. The story provides a humorous, poignant, and very realistic portrayal of what it takes to collaborate as Zed and Gabe navigate their differences, leverage their strengths, and eventually become great friends.

This exploration of human connection continues as the two forge bonds with a myriad of unforgettable people met along their route. These new characters are expertly woven into the fabric of the story and embedded in the reader’s heart. The narrative itself becomes a beautiful celebration of found community, whether it derives from online fan-groups, real-life encounters, library visits (my personal favourite), secret diners, or even, not to leave the reader out, within the pages of a great book.

Perhaps most special is the Sylvesters’ portrayal of the non-binary tween experience. No one is more confident in who they are than Zed! Never teased or tormented, Zed is simply free to be!

My coming out wasn’t what he found funny. In fact, Frank often said it was only the third most interesting thing I’d done that night.

Sure, there are moments that get Zed down, like when people misgender them or when they are required to share sensitive legal information (containing their assigned gender and deadname) with grumpy border guards. But Zed has a myriad of relatable tween ways to cope and move on. Never losing an ounce of their “Zedly charm,” their spirit remains indomitable and their puns on-point.

In an interview with Debbie Redpath Ohi (find it on her website inkygirl.com), Basil Sylvester spoke about the incredible power of books to “open your mind and heart.” Gorgeous! And by that definition, this book is powerful indeed. Buoyant, laugh-out-loud funny, and impossible not to love, I urge you to pick-up The Fabulous Zed Watson for your tweens (or yourself!) and prepare to disappear into the happiest of spring/summer reading!

As always, I encourage interested readers to check out #OwnVoices reviews (Goodreads and Bookstagram are great places to start!) to expand on the thoughts I have shared here. 

Thank you to HarperCollins for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: This Town is Not Alright by M.K. Krys

By Kim McCullough

This Town is Not All Right by Thunder Bay author M.K. Krys is a middle-grade sci-fi novel that blends fast-moving action and sympathetic, captivating characters with a dark, moody setting and surprising plot twists. 

Beacon and his twin sister Everleigh are not thrilled when their father uproots them from their home in Los Angeles to make a new start in the small coastal town of Driftwood Harbor. After the death of the twins’ older brother Jasper, a fresh start may be just what the family needs. Despite his sadness at leaving his friends behind, Beacon hopes the move will shake his sister from the grief and guilt she feels over the tragedy. 

The family has barely arrived when strange events start to occur. The twins meet the too-perfect, mannequin-like Jane, leader of the Gold Stars, a “youth group that aims to promote social responsibility in kids.” 

Beacon, Everleigh and their father settle into a local inn until they find a house of their own. The owner, Donna, is fierce and angry for no reason that Beacon can see. Unable to sleep his first night under her roof, Beacon is staring out his window at the ocean when he sees Jane disappear into the waves. When the local sheriff arrives, he is unconcerned about the drowning girl. Beacon is later shocked to find out that Jane was home, safe in her bed all along.

The next day, Everleigh heads off to the local auto shop. She is a genius at fixing cars—her brother Jasper taught her everything she knows. Beacon, left on his own, heads out on his skateboard to explore. Before long, he finds himself in a dark forest, where he meets Arthur, a science nerd who studies aliens. He tells Beacon about the rumoured UFO that crash-landed in Driftwood Harbor years before. Strange things have been happening ever since.

Once the twins start at their new school, Beacon’s suspicion of the innkeeper and sheriff grows to include the school nurse, and the exceptionally well-behaved students. When Everleigh undergoes an inexplicable personality change and shows up to dinner in a skirt, Beacon knows something is really wrong.

Beacon and Arthur team up to solve the mystery. Their investigation takes them from the nurse’s office to church basements and beyond as they try to outrun danger at every turn.

Krys keeps the plot rollicking along with enough character detail and plot development to keep a middle-schooler engaged, but not so much that the story gets bogged down in wordy descriptions. She’s crafted a mystery where everyone in the town seems to be hiding a dark secret—Jane, the owner of the inn, the sheriff, and even the twins’ father.

What is going on with Jane? What is the twins’ father really doing in Driftwood Harbor? Will Beacon’s sister ever go back to normal? And will they survive the coming battle? Just when it seems these questions will be answered, the twist ending leaves the reader hanging, wanting more. 

Book Review: Jo by Kathleen Gros

By Jodene Wylie

Jo: an adaptation of Little Women (sort of) was written and illustrated by cartoonist Kathleen Gros and published on September 22, 2020. This retelling (sort of) of Little Women brings Jo March straight into the modern age and plops her into eighth grade as an aspiring journalist with her band of sisters.

When done right, a retelling breathes new life into familiar stories and Kathleen Gros’ story does just that. Little Women has had a small resurgence lately (thinking of the recent movie starring Saoirse Ronan) and Gros’ novel, aimed at the middle grade reader, re-envisions this narrative for an audience that may otherwise not be that interested in a story first publish in 1868 featuring their older character counterparts and a society starkly different than our own. Part of her success is the form in which this story is published: a graphic novel. This style of book is a known and useful platform to engage new readers as a transitionary text between the younger picture books and the more adult texts. While aimed at the pre-teen reader, the bones of Jo will be familiar to those that have read the original tale and will be pleasantly reminded of the beautiful relationship between the March sisters. For those new to the story, they will enjoy the interactions between family, the stories of early love and lack-of-love, and of following a passion and growing into it. Gros has done an excellent job translating the bones of Little Women into a set of circumstances and characters more appropriate for 2020.

It’s necessary to point out that Gros has made some strong points of turn in the story - and for the better. The story moves characters through a discussion of preferred pronouns which is becoming more common in our current society: she/her, they, he/him, and so forth. Additionally, Gros underpins complete acceptance and love from family and friends towards one’s sexual orientation which is both beautiful to read and positive to imbue into our society via middle grade stories.

Gros, a cartoonist by trade, is also the illustrator behind Jo making her twice as busy in the development of this book. Her design aesthetic is playful in colour with soft lines and a clear distinction between text and image making it easy to follow. The language is simple and perfect for readers who are becoming comfortable to read on their own.

This story is a delight: both for its nod to the original story and for the modernization of characters, setting, and plot. Pick this up for the young reader in your life and if you’re a fan of the original - be sure to read it yourself.

Book Review: We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly

By Ashliegh Gehl

Prepare to be transported to 1986 in Erin Entrada Kelly’s middle grade novel We Dream of Space. This delightful 391-page read, published by Greenwillow Books (an imprint of Harper Collins Canada), explores the internal and external journey of the Nelson Thomas siblings – Cash, Fitch and Bird – as they navigate middle school, grapple with family life, and look to the stars for answers.

As a whole, the Nelson Thomas family is a solar system. Its members are planets, spinning at their own speed, and passing at different orbital frequencies. 

Fitch and Bird may be twelve-year-old twins, but they’re poles apart. Fitch spends his days in arcades, mastering the fine art of pinball, and struggles to contain his explosive temper (kind of like Venus). Bird is a thinker. She’s curious about the mechanics of everything, creates her own instruction manuals, and dreams of commanding a spaceship. (Sorry, Bird. I mean space shuttle.) And yet, she feels unseen and somewhat isolated, not just from her family but from her friends at school. She’s like Pluto. (Am I a planet? Am I not a planet? What am I?) Cash, the oldest among them, is into basketball and at risk of failing school (again). He’s kind of just floating out there without any sense of purpose, in search of direction, and feeling a little sideways, like Uranus, due to a broken wrist.

The novel’s multi-perspective structure gives Cash, Fitch and Bird their day in the sun by isolating their experiences and putting their worldviews into focus. Despite their differences, they desire the same things. They long for family, friendship, and belonging. They cling to flittering glimpses of hope as they grapple with a sense of self. These easy-to-love characters are relatable, more so during those awkward growing pain moments that are necessary, but uncomfortable to witness.

Entrada Kelly’s crisp, clean writing takes the reader straight into the middle school experience where harsh words are spoken, cliques are formed, and there’s a lesson to be learned around every corner. Sharp dialogue swiftly moves the story along, so much so that 1986 feels as if it’s a character unto itself. 

We Dream of Space is more than just a deep dive into the personal and social lives of Cash, Fitch, Bird, and their self-absorbed parents. It takes the reader through January 1986, the month the space shuttle Challenger was scheduled to launch. It was a time when many school children across the United States were learning about the astronauts, their mission, and the significance of Mission Specialist Christa McAuliffe, who was primed to be the first teacher in space. 

Through satellite, NASA broadcasted the launch into classrooms so America’s youth could have a front row seat to McAuliffe’s space debut. On January 28, seventy-three seconds after lift-off, Challenger disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean. A moment, for students like Bird, which revealed that pursuing your dreams can be dangerous. This emotional journey is a ride in which readers of all ages will most certainly enjoy.  As Bird writes, “The universe is waiting.” So, what are you waiting for?

Book Reviews: Yorick and Bones by Jeremy Tankard and Hermione Tankard

By Jodene Wylie

Hear ye, hear ye! Alas, this is Yorick. But hark! This is Bones.

-       Jeremy Tankard and Hermione Tankard

Yorick and Bones is a graphic novel designed for middle grade readers and is the perfect introduction to some familiar Shakespearean nods and references told through the eyes of Yorick, a skeleton (think back to Hamlet and his wonderful speech with a skull), and Bones – a dog who likes to dig holes and chew on a good bone. This graphic novel is broken down into three acts: Love Bites, Man’s Pest Friend, and Best Fiends Forever and follows a journey of awakening, a small quest, and a realization about life and friendship. 

There is wonderful word play and language reminiscent of Shakespeare – thou, thee, dost, thine, tis’  which makes this book ideal to be read with an older friend or family member who can assist with some of the interpretation. Yorick’s old English language is mixed with the contemporary language of the modern day people he and Bones interact with which makes this book accessible and engaging on a variety of levels. The story line is also whimsical and completely hooks the younger reader which features games of marbles, soccer, and hot dog stands. 

The images are bright and colourful though Yorick and Bones lean towards greyscale except for a pair of bright orange pants and blushing cheeks as all skeletons should feature. The characters are designed with soft edges and there is a playfulness and charm to the composition of the graphic images in each of the cells. At times, you’re bound to laugh aloud.

This novel is written by Jeremy Tankard, author and illustrator of the bird series - Grumpy Bird, Sleepy Bird, Hungry Bird and so on, and his daughter Hermione Tankard. It was developed over many years and in fact began as a sketch when Jeremy was seven years old. He and his teen daughter developed and designed this story to be rich and playful for the young reader and I encourage you to give this a read. 

Book Review: The Tao of Flower by M.S. Lawrence

By Kaylie Seed

The Tao of Flower was written by M.S. Lawrence and he shares a coming of age story about a young girl named Flower Green. Lawrence is a doting father himself and has written The Tao of Flower from the perspective of a father while focusing on Flower’s voice. The book emphasizes important themes such as relationships between a father and his daughter as well as perseverance and striving for your goals. These themes speak to a wide audience and are relatable topics regardless of the reader. The father and daughter feature a special relationship and in some ways portray the close friendships found between a pair of friends rather than a parent and child. Their bond is clear.

            The Tao of Flower first takes the reader into the 2020 Olympics and focuses on Flower’s desire to win a gold medal in Tae Kwon Do. Not only does it focus on the Olympics but is also takes the reader into the mind of a girl on the precipice of her new life and figuring out what she will do with the rest of her life once the Olympics are finished. As The Tao of Flower progresses, Flower dives into a stronger fighting career and moves to China to do so, leaving her father behind but never forgetting the bond that they share.

            Lawrence’s writing style is to the point and tends to inform the reader of the events as they are happening rather than unfolding them through tempered progression. This leads The Tao of Flower to be more plot-based than character driven. Also, the story uniquely shifts through time which while interesting can be a bit jarring.

This is Lawrence’s first novel and his first foray into the publishing world. He published this novel independently and is following his passion for writing and storytelling. Overall, The Tao of Flower offers an interesting look into the world of a Tae Kwon Do fighter while she navigates blossoming into a woman and exploring the relationship she shares with her father along the way.

Thank you to M.S. Lawrence for the gifted copy of this book.