• I love this book. The only thing that disapoints me is that he never gets to see Leeza again. I mean, I understand Leeza's mother's first reaction, this is the guy that did this to her baby. But why can't she see how happy he made Leeza, that Reef was the reason that Leeza improved as fast as she did? My mom usually asks for good books to read, and normally, I would pass this one onto her except for the language, she'd flip. Around here, it's not so much my parents censor what I see as it is that I censor what my parents know. The other thing that I like about this book is that what would have happened if there had been even the slightest inkling to the other one that their new friend was the reason that they were each in the situation that they were in? What would have happened had they found out for themselves, instead of because of Leeza's mother? Books that leave questions after the final page is turned are very, very good. 4Q 4P. CS, 14.

• The back of this book made you think that it would be about this guy named arthur who is trying to find this girl from the future, but that was a very, very small part of the book. The rest talked about all these people and their experiences growing up bu they didn't relly have anything to do with Arthur. The book didn't really have any type of plot. 2Q 3P. EW, 15.

Mary Harelkin Bishop. Tunnels of Treachery .

Kristin Butcher.  The Trouble with Liberty

Edgar Danny Desjarlais. The 'Tobanz.

KC Dyer. Secret of Light.

Deborah Ellis. Mud City. (sequel to Breadwinner & Parvana's Journey)

L.M. Falcone.  The Mysterious Mummer

Priscilla Galloway. Courtesan's Daughter

• This book was BORING. Maybe I didn’t like this book because I only read to page 28 but I think that after the first couple of pages of book there should be an interesting conflict or something to keep you reading. All this book talked about was fishing. I don’t care about fishing and the names of all the hooks used to catch fish. This book was simply boring. Oh and the characters went by more then one name which drives me nuts because you never know who is talking about who. 2Q 1P EH, 17.

• [ed censor.] Sarah is worked marvelously into this. ... And those little parts you forget about during the book, like Mike wanting to fly & the deal with Ben Packard, they're not forgotten, which nothing should ever be. For some odd reason, I'm thinking this would make a great book report book. 5Q 5P. Gr. 8-9. CS, 14.
• SPOILER WARNING.
  I can honestly say that I liked half of this book. Basically, there are two stories going on in this book. One is about Mike while he's trying to come to terms with and recover from a horrific car accident that killed his family. The second, a ridiculous story about this ghostly little girl and her contributions to Mike's life. Needless to say, I liked the part about Mike's rehabilitation. It seemed realistic and it turns out positively. The part about Sarah, though, is total and utter nonsense. This is not a sci-fi book, so it should not have a sci-fi sub plot. The good half should make the list. 3Q 4P. Below gr 7 - gr 9. JI, 18.

• At first I thought this book sounded kind of dumb but I really got into it. I liked it because it wasn't your typical teen book. The people in this book did things different then everyone else, which was nice to read for once. All though this book is a light read and has humor it dose make a good statement on being your self. I would definitely recommend this book. I couldn't put this book down. I think younger people would like this book too. EH, 16. 5Q 4P.
• The Canning Season is a wonderfully quirky yet simple story of a young girl, Ratchet, who is shipped off by her seemingly uncaring mother to the backwoods of Maine to spend the summer with her aging twin relations (they are actually second cousins removed a couple of times, but Ratchet refers to them as "aunt" for simplicitie's sake). This book has the absolute ugliest cover I have ever seen, and this did deter me from reading it for a while, but once I picked it up, I was hooked. Obviously much more time was spent on the contents of this book - which are excellent - than on the cover. The characters in this book are so extreme and kooky, but they are always entertaining and heartfelt at the same time. Don't let the repulsive cover deter you and soon Ratchet, Tilly, Penpen, and the host of other characters will be near and dear to your heart too. 5Q 4P. Gr 7-11. JI, 17.

Greg Jackson-Davis. Digging for Philip.

• Murder and mayhem, all summed up in concise, easy to understand language. What are orca soundings books good for if not that? Not really to my taste, but them I like thick, meaty books so I could be a little bit biased. 3Q 3P. JI, 18.

• Lesia's Dream is an amazing look into one of the more unknown and painful parts of Canadian history. I come from a proud Ukrainian Canadian background myself, and the hardships that Lesia Magus and her family faced were almost identical to those that faced my ancestors. Laura Langston has done an astonishing job portraying the pain and impossible difficulty that faced families who chose to immigrate to Canada. The nightmare that the early Ukrainian and eastern European immigrants had to live through could not have been better explained except perhaps by the few survivors of the times.
  Many Canadians know much about the horror of the building of the B.C. railway by underpaid workers, and about the participation of Canada during the two world wars, but very few know the history behind the farms and families that populate the prairies today. The immigration of countless thousands, even millions, is almost forgotten in the history books and minds of today. The things that the immigrants of the time faced cannot be forgotten, and this book has helped to immortalize that fact.
  Anyone who is interested in Canadian history, or history of any kind, should read this book. I recommend it to readers of ages 12 and up. I also recommend it as a valuable resource to Elementary school teachers, as it is an easier way to look at history than simply through dates and charts.
  This book is not only about history - it is about life through a young girl's eyes. She faces all the trials and hardships that any girl faces today, and she has a unique perspective on the past.
  This book is far too well written to be ignored and forgotten on a book shelf. It deserves an award for Canadian historical literature! 5Q 4P. Gr 7-12+. L, 15.
• I thought I would just read a little bit and read the rest later. Well, I read from Saturday evening well into Sunday early morning. Fascinating. The grandmother's voice is special (sounds like the babas in Manitoba today). This is a book for all ages, and tells a powerful story very well. Very much detail based on good research. I felt she had wanted to say much more, but the length of the book was limited. Definitely a prize contender. 5Q 5P. OT.
• After all the hype that I've heard about this book, I'm kinda disappointed, but I'm still happy with the book. I think that the major thing that I don't like is that there isn't enough detail, or something along the lines of telling more. You can't be with Lesia in the story, it's more like you're hearing it secondhand. So you get the general idea, and what's happening, and maybe a little bit of the other senses (smell, touch) but not as if you were right there besides Lesia, watching her fight in this new land. I had to smile when she mentionned pyrohy (perogies) and the bread, cause I'm Ukrainen myself and love that food. If there was one thing that I could change, it would be that she talked more about how different her culture is from the Canadian culture. Example: Ukrainen Christmas isn't celebreated until January 6, the day of the Roman Catholic Ephiphany. Although there is slight reference to that, that their Christmas is later, there is no real explanation of culture, just ...time arises for an explanation. However, after all that, I still liked the book, mostly because of the way that it was written, to her great grandaughter.  4Q 4P. CS, 15

• Since it was based in Calgary, I think I have a more biased opinion. I loved how I could relate to this book. For example, the book mentions the Calgary Tower and I feel a special connection because I know where that is, I've seen it and been there before. I think this is a good book in general but would probably do better where it is based, in Calgary and so would probably not have as high an appeal with other places. 4Q 4P. Gr 7-11. SJ, 14.

TOP

Dianne Linden. Peacekeepers.

Kevin Major. Ann and Seamus.  Shortlisted for the 2003 Governor General's Award

Shirlee Smith Matheson. Fastback Beach.

Norah McClintock. Hit and Run.

Norah McClintock. No Escape.

• This book doesn't seem to have the same feel of suspense I usually get from a mystery. It certainly has this feel in certain places, like when Levesque [ed censor] but not the overall feel. The character Chloe was well done. I get the perfect image of the older sister who doesn't like her stepfather that much. You also get the sense she's very curious and loves mysteries. Levesque's character was also very well put together. The stepfather trying to protect his family, be a good police chief and gain the love of his eldest daughter. The mystery was well put together and thought out. Gr 6-9. 4Q 3P.ES, 15.

• I didn't like the book, and only read to about chapter two. I really enjoy the authors first two books of the series, Hunters Moon and The Summer King, I didn't like the third one, and I really disliked this one. It was way too environmentalist for me. But if you like fantasy and faeries, and agree with the idea that people should stop building sky scrapers because birds run into them and kill themselves, you'll probably enjoy this book. 3Q 3P. H, 15.

• This book was odd. I must admit I only read to page 50 but that is because I was completely lost. There where so many people and places and plots in this book I had no idea what was going on and quiet frankly I didn’t care. And there where talking mice. I couldn’t bring my self to read a book with talking mice. 1Q 2P EH, 17.

Nancy-Lou Patterson. The Haunted Bed & Breakfast.

Jaclyn Pearce. Weeds.

Karen Rivers. The Healing Time of Hickeys.

• Not a good book to read during class time. I mean, it's an excellent book, but it's that you do not know how many people looked at me weird when they saw what I was reading. I kept having to tell them not to take the title literally (this was before I got to the part where she got the hickeys) and even after I got to that part, I kept telling people not to take the title literally because I didn't want to have to explain the plot to them. Speaking of the plot, is there even plot to this story? Thinking about it now, I'm not sure that there is, it's just Haley and her misfortunes a-plenty, yet, for some weird reason, I enjoyed this book. Normally journal formatted books drive me crazy. I thought that this one was hilarious (I especially like the cat scratch fever thing, as my friend has an evil cat of her own and comes to school with new scratches from the above party daily. She thought that the mention of cat scratches in the book was funny too.) All in all, it's a pretty goos book.... it was written was so that all teens realize that things don't only happen to them. They happen to other people too. Except....... who was the mysterious ghost that loved Haley? Was Kiki just messing with the board? It never says who that was that told Haley that even though he was dead, he loved her.Actually, now I'm thinking that it was Kiki, to show her friend that she should go out with Brad.If it should make the final list, I don't know. It's funny, but not too light hearted that you want to gag (*ahem cough cough how to be famous in two weeks *cough cough*)but not boring or serious enough to be used as a cure for insomiacs. Gr 7-11. 4Q 3P. CS, 14.
• I loved how you could take any situation and make the end result a happy ending. Just like this book, while being humorous about a "typical" teenage girls life the author also goes into hard emotional aspects like [ed censor.] 4Q 4P. TC, 13
• Very funny, the descriptions of what happened to her and the way she put things were so funny. Haley has the normal problems of a teenage girl (friends, boys, hair, white teeth, etc.) but she is also in an unusual situation (ie her dad's grow-op) The situations she gets herself into are very humourous. The ending was very good - finished the story but left room for the imagination. 5Q 5P. KB, 17.
• The way the main character described everything in her laptop journal gave you details and insights that were quirky, loveable and hilarious. This book was just fun to read, I laughed the whole way through. 5Q 4P. JB, 19.

• Most books about Native Americans describe the battle between the Europeans and the natives or a lost but wonderful and peaceful way of life. This book tells the story of the Kwakiutl, the salmon people, and the Salish. The ways of the Kwakiutl are comparative to the way of life in The Handmaid's Tale. They treat women like nothing, and people are forced through life to appease the Spirits by following the Way. This story shows a more violent and strict side of some Native American cultures. But the focus on magic and spirits gives a new twist to the historical fiction label that most books of this type fit under. Other than a few slow parts, this book is an emotional, spiritual and factual rollarcoaster! 4Q 4P. Gr 7-11. CG, 13.
• Initiation was definately like no other book that I have ever read before. The writing was sort of poem-like; and it was fun to read about all of the different rituals, myths... of a native tribe. Though I really enjoyed this book, I still found it too slow-moving and not everyone would like it as much as I did. The description of the characters was great, but the dialogue (though maybe realistic) seemed much too formal. 5Q 3P. VM, 13.
• This book was, not the best, but still in the good category. I enjoyed the writing style, and thought that the book was exactly the right lenghth. The characters were actually beleivable, unlike other fantasy stories, and in general I liked the book. 4Q 3P. AR, 16.

Valerie Sherrard. In Too Deep.

Valerie Sherrard. Kate .

Marsha Skrypuch. Nobody's Child .

Kathy Stinson. Becoming Ruby. Shortlisted title

Cora Taylor. The Deadly Dance .

Denis Thériault. The Iguana.

Duncan Thornton. The Star–Glass.

Marnell Tokio. More Than You Can Chew. Shortlisted title

• I loved the was that this book was written. I couldn't put it down until it was read. 5Q 4P. Gr 7-11. C, 14.
• I loved this book because it was so graphic that you felt you were standing just off in the shadows watching. It was very heartwarming at times, funny and sweet too. 5Q 3P. T.
• More Than You Can Chew was an OK book, but not amazing. Though the author definately gave me a peek into an anorexics head, the book still wasn't anything special. I didn't really feel like I knew the characters, and the setting could've used a look more description. This was a nice book about transmorming into a better person, but there is a lot of improvement needed. I've also read quite a few books about the same kind of subject matter, so the writing didn't exactly take a ton of creativity. 3Q 3P. Gr 7-9. VM, 13
• Whoa. This just happened to be the book that I read right before I went to bed, and let's just say that I couldn't sleep after that. I love this book though, it is so very real. Anorexics and buliminics, as soon as they're admitted to somewhere where they can get better, it's not like everything is all rosy again. Like this book portrays, it's an uphill battle, the nurses teaching their charges how to eat again, and the paitents HAVING to learn to eat again. I like the way that the book ends, everything is very neatly tied up, and although life often doesn't get neatly tied up, it works okay in the book. I love what is written on Lily's grave, not the date that she died, only that she died too soon. Definitely something to dwell upon. That was probably the reason that I couldn't sleep, because of the very real book that I had just read. 4Q 3P Gr 7-11. CS, 14.

Eric Walters. Run .

• As Canadian school children, we all know who Terry Fox is. We run each September, because, even though we know his name and his feat is recognized, we don't care. We run because it's wasting class time and the teachers make us. However, when this book is published, everyone will have a reason to RUN. 4Q 5P. All grades - each grade would get something different out of it. CS, 14.

John Wilson. And in the Morning.

John Wilson. Flames of the Tiger.

Maggie Wood. The Princess Pawn.

Mary Woodbury. The Ghost in the Machine .

Ting-Xing Ye and William Bell. Throwaway Daughter. Shortlisted title

Paul Yee. The Bone Collector's Son.