Olemaun is eight and knows a lot of things. But she does not know how to read. Ignoring her father’s warnings, she travels far from her Arctic home to the outsiders’ school to learn. The nuns at the school call her Margaret. They cut off her long hair and force her to do menial chores, but she remains undaunted. Her tenacity draws the attention of a black-cloaked nun who tries to break her spirit at every turn. But the young girl is more determined than ever to learn how to read.
A trinket-seller thinks he has found the son of his dead employer who owned the jewels of Samarkand. He hopes the boy will lead him to the jewels and tells him to beware of the House of Pigeons. The boy’s sister and friend think the old man is crazy as he always calls Parvez by the wrong name.
Twelve-year-old Barney Willow gets his wish to be a cat but soon discovers that not all felines are cute and cuddly–some are downright evil–and his life is in grave danger, but his missing father may be able to help.
Fifteen-year-old, Standish Treadwell risks all to expose the truth about a heralded moon landing. On the other side of the wall there is a dark secret. And the devil. And the Moon Man. And the Motherland doesn’t want anyone to know. But Standish Treadwell–who has different-colored eyes, who can’t read, can’t write, Standish Treadwell isn’t bright–sees things differently than the rest of the “train-track thinkers.” So when Standish and his only friend and neighbor, Hector, make their way to the other side of the wall, they see what the Motherland has been hiding.
Featured in Volume VI, Issue 2 of WOW Review.
Life is good for Jack. He’s a great photographer, he wins at handball, and time at home with his family is never boring. But when big George Hamel starts calling Jack “Butt Head,” school becomes a little less great. And when everyone starts calling him “Butt Head,” it gets outright dangerous.
Susanne Gervay’s thoughtful story sheds light on the contagious and destructive nature of school bullying, and the power of humor, love, and community to overcome it.
Thirteen-year-old Henry’s happy, ordinary life comes to an abrupt halt when his older brother, Jesse, picks up their father’s hunting rifle and leaves the house one morning. What follows shatters Henry’s family, who are forced to resume their lives in a new city, where no one knows their past. When Henry’s therapist suggests he keep a journal, at first he is resistant. But soon he confides in it at all hours of the day and night.
In spite of Henry’s desire to “fly under the radar,” he eventually befriends a number of oddball character, both at school and in his modest apartment building. And even though they know nothing about his past–at least, not yet–they help him navigate the waters of life after “IT.”
Antonia is sick of being bullied by Rosie, a mean girl at school. So when new girl Clarissa joins the school, Ant wishes Rosie would pick on her instead. in Ant’s seaside village, however, they have a special way of making wishes…children write down their wish, put it in a lobster creel, and row it out to Wishcatchers Point. Any wishes that disappear really do come true. Is it just coincidence? Or do the Wishcatchers really exist?
When Rosie starts to bully Clarissa, Ant realizes her mistake and tries to help. If they can discover why Rosie is such a bully and then make her wishes come true, maybe they can all become friends. Will the strange shell necklace that Ant has found help them finally to uncover the mystery of the Wishcatchers?
A debut novel set in the early 1980s at a boy’s boarding school in the newly formed country of Zimbabwe.
Within Cole Matthews lie anger, rage and hate. Cole has been stealing and fighting for years. This time he caught Alex Driscal in the, parking lot and smashed his head against the sidewalk. Now, Alex may have permanent brain damage’and Cole is in the Biggest trouble of his life.
Cole is offered Circle Justice: a system based on Native American traditions that attempts to provide healing for the criminal offender, the victim and the, community. With prison as his only alternative, Cole plays along. He says he wants to repent, but in his heart Cole blames his alcoholic mom his, abusive dad, wimpy Alex — everyone but himself — for his situation.
Cole receives a one-year banishment to a remote Alaskan island. There, he is mauled by Mysterious white bear of Native American legend. Hideously injured, Cole waits for his death His thoughts shift from from Anger to humility. To survive, he must stop blaming others and take responsibility for his life. Rescuers arrive to save Cole’s but it is the attack of the Spirit Bear that may save his soul.
Ben Mikaelsen paints a vivid picture of a juvenile offender, examining the roots without absolving solving him of responsibility for his actions, and questioning a society in which angry people make victims of their peers and communities. Touching Spirit Bear is a poignant testimonial to the power of a pain that can destroy, or lead to healing
Sarah is strolling through the jungle, singing a happy song, when Lion pounces. How dare she trespass on his turf? He is King of the Jungle–where nobody strolls and sings: They lumber and grunt, sprint and squeak, slither and harrumph! Lion makes an executive decision to eat the little girl for lunch. But Sarah thinks fast: True, she can’t wallow like the hippo or wriggle like the snake, but she can draw. She paints a portrait of Lion. “I don’t look that grumpy!” he protests. “Yes, you do!” all the animals chorus. Soon Sarah is the jungle’s artist-in-residence! In the tradition of Aesop’s classic fable about the lion and the mouse, LION’S LUNCH? is the tale of a little girl who thinks fast on her feet to get herself off the menu! With a gentle message about the difference between being a good boss–and just being bossy. Plus fabulous depictions of an entire menagerie–parrots, crocodiles, porcupines, antelopes, zebras, monkeys, leopards, frogs–by Margaret Chamberlain, illustrator of PINK!