Greenslade, Frances. Red Fox Road. Toronto: Puffin Canada, 2020. Thirteen-year-old Francie and her parents are on a road trip, travelling from B.C. to Arizona. They are supposed to be having fun, but her parents can’t stop arguing. Her mother wants to use a road map; her father insists on using a GPS. He turns onto an […]
Realistic Novels of Extreme Environments Earthquakes and Tsunamis Kehret, Peg. Escaping the Giant Wave. New York: Aladdin, 2003. When an earthquake creates a tsunami while thirteen-year-old Kyle is babysitting his sister during a family vacation at a Pacific Coast resort, he tries to save himself, his sister, and a boy who has bullied him for […]
Looking for a story about the indigenous people of North America? Here are some you might like to try! (* = my favourites) NOVELS SUITABLE FOR CLASS SETS * Bruchac, Joseph. Peacemaker. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2021. Can you think of someone sent by the Creator to bring peace? Can you think of someone […]
Looking for a story set in one of the American states? Here are some of my favourites! Gemeinhart, Dan. Coyote Lost and Found. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2024. How do you write a humorous story about grief? Ask Cynthia Rylant. In Missing May, a girl and her uncle go on a road trip to find […]
“At times the world may seem an unfriendly and sinister place, but believe that there is much more good in it than bad. All you have to do is look hard enough and what might seem to be a series of unfortunate events may in fact be the first steps of a journey.” – Lemony […]
Looking for picture books for children aged 4 – 9? Lots of great books are listed on this page: Books for Babysitters Find ways of categorizing picture books: Picture Book Patterns Find examples of stylistic devices: Picture Books for Writers Find examples of artistic techniques: Picture Books for Artists Find stories for older readers: Sophisticated […]
Sometimes children – and teenagers – have to take care of themselves. Click HERE to learn how to write about these stories. Click HERE to see an example by a grade eight student. Balliett, Blue. Hold Fast. Scholastic Press, 2013. On a cold winter day in Chicago, Early’s father disappeared, and now she, her mother […]