Theme: Family problem

River Song

By Yoo Kyung Sung | Published: December 1, 2008

Jessye has each foot in two very different worlds: her grandmothers Nana’s rural village, rooted in Maori tradition, and her irresponsible mom’s city existence. Although she loves Nana fiercely, Jessye misses her flighty mom and decides to give living with her one more chance.

Descriptors: Intermediate (ages 9-14), New Zealand, Realistic Fiction » Other Themes: , , , , , , , , » Leave a comment

Blue like Friday

By Yoo Kyung Sung | Published: December 1, 2008

NOT EVERYONE SEES THE WORLD THROUGH THE SAME LENS.  From the author of Something Invisible comes this funny and poignant novel about the hues of friendship.Spunky Olivia and eccentric Hal are an unlikely pair. While Hal suffers from a neurological condition called synesthesia that causes him to associate things with colors, Olivia tends to see [...]

Descriptors: Intermediate (ages 9-14), Ireland, Realistic Fiction » Other Themes: , , , , , » Leave a comment

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

By Yoo Kyung Sung | Published: December 1, 2008

Johanna’s grandfather founded the largest clothing store in town and built up his wealth with his own hands–at least that’s the family legend. But when Johanna travels to Israel for a class project, she finds out that the family of Meta Levin originally owned the store. She learns that her grandfather legally acquired the company [...]

Descriptors: Germany, Historical Fiction, Israel, Young Adult (ages 14-18) » Other Themes: , , , , , , » Leave a comment

The Mystery of the Martello Tower

By Yoo Kyung Sung | Published: December 1, 2008

Hazel and Ned are home for summer vacation and looking forward to long, lazy days of sleeping late, shooting hoops, building stink bombs, and spending time with their art-dealer father. But when he disappears without saying good-bye, their summer plunges into chaos. The babysitter leaves town, their apartment is burgled, and two menacing thugs start [...]

Descriptors: Canada, Intermediate (ages 9-14), Mystery » Other Themes: , , , , , , » Leave a comment

Wendy

By Yoo Kyung Sung | Published: December 1, 2008

In early twentieth-century London, before Wendy encounters Peter Pan, she is not the perfect girl her parents would like her to be. Intrepid, outspoken, and willful, she’s always getting into trouble. One evening, confined to the nursery by her horrible nanny, she sneaks out to spy on one of her parents’ glamorous parties. She sees her [...]

Descriptors: England (UK), Historical Fiction, Young Adult (ages 14-18) » Other Themes: , , , » Leave a comment

Sketches

By Yoo Kyung Sung | Published: December 1, 2008

After fleeing her home, suburban-bred Dana struggles to survive in the alleys, squats, and subway stations of downtown Toronto. Dana’s graffiti on an underpass catches the eye of a counselor at Sketches, a drop-in center where homeless teens can express themselves through art. As Dana works on a painting, she begins to confront the reason [...]

Descriptors: Canada, Realistic Fiction, Young Adult (ages 14-18) » Other Themes: , , , , , » Leave a comment

Foxspell

By Yoo Kyung Sung | Published: December 1, 2008

Todd is living a very troubled life, which causes him to be involved with a gang and do poorly at school, but after he buries a dead fox, a fox-spirit offers him the chance to become a fox himself and Todd must decide what is the best thing for him to do in his situation.

Descriptors: Australia, Fantasy, Intermediate (ages 9-14) » Other Themes: , , , , , , , » Leave a comment

A Swift Pure Cry

By Rebecca Ballenger | Published: October 29, 2008

Ireland 1984.After Shell’s mother dies, her obsessively religious father descends into alcoholic mourning and Shell is left to care for her younger brother and sister. Her only release from the harshness of everyday life comes from her budding spiritual friendship with a naive young priest, and most importantly, her developing relationship with childhood friend, Declan, [...]

Descriptors: Historical Fiction, Ireland, Young Adult (ages 14-18) » Other Themes: , , , , , » Leave a comment

Scarlett

By Yoo Kyung Sung | Published: June 22, 2007

After being expelled from yet another school in London, twelve-year-old Scarlett is sent by her exasperated mother to live with her father, stepmother, and stepsister in Ireland, where with the help of a mysterious boy, she eventually overcomes her anger and resentment and feels part of a family again.

Descriptors: Europe, Intermediate (ages 9-14), Ireland, Realistic Fiction » Other Themes: , » Comments closed