EDUCATION

Lucky’s Mountain by Dianne Maycock, Orca Book Publishers, paperback $7.95. Maggie must leave the British Columbia mountain town she loves when her father is killed in a mining accident. Before she leaves though, she must find a home for her best friend, Lucky, the three-legged dog her father gave her.

Ghosthunters and the Muddy Monster of Doom! by Cornelia Funke, Scholastic Canada, paperback $6.99. Eleven-year-old Tom has to battle the deadly Twelfth Messenger to earn his Ghosthunting Diploma. His studies take a lethal turn when he stumbles upon a Muddy Minotaur with a deadly plan and a host of ghosts in tow.

Sister Magic: The Trouble with Violet by Anne Mazer, Scholastic Canada, paperback $4.99. Life will never be the same for tidy Violet after her mysterious Uncle Vartan pays a visit — and Violet discovers that her little sister’s wild ways have something to do with magic.

Chocolate River Rescue by Jennifer McGrath Kent, Nimbus Publishing, paperback $8.95. As darkness falls, three boys become trapped on an ice floe speeding toward the Atlantic. This fast-paced story of their rescue by a 12-year-old girl is inspired by a true story.

Tween fiction, ages 8–12

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick, Scholastic Canada, hardcover $27.99. Twelve-year-old Hugo secretly lives behind the walls of a Paris train station, determined to uncover the secrets of an invention left by his late father.

Just J by Colin Frizzell, Orca Book Publishers, paperback $8.95. After her mother dies of cancer, 13-year-old Jenevieve (who is nicknamed J) is angry with the world. J finds a way to rebuild her own life while spending the summer with her eccentric aunt reconstructing a dilapidated old house.

Gemini Summer by Iain Lawrence, Random House, hardcover $23.99. Young Danny River has always wanted a dog. When family tragedy strikes, a stray dog comes along whom Danny believes embodies the spirit of someone he’s lost and loved.

Baboon by David Jones, Annick Press, hardcover $21.95. Gerry survives a plane crash on the African savanna, where his parents study baboons. But while his broken body lies comatose in the hospital, his mind and spirit now live inside a baboon!

Young-adult fiction, ages 12+

Pure Spring by Brian Doyle, Groundwood Books, paperback $14.95. Fifteen-year-old Martin O’Boy lies about his age to get a job with a soft drink company and is blackmailed by his partner. Readers learn about Martin’s past as Martin learns about love and hope. (This is the sequel to Boy O’Boy.)

Payback by James Heneghan, Groundwood Books, paperback $9.95. Coping with his mother’s death and a move to Canada from Ireland, 13-year-old Charley has troubles of his own and does nothing to stop the bullying of his classmate Benny. When Benny commits suicide, Charley is consumed by guilt and seeks a way to atone for the injustice.

Waves by Sharon Dogar, Scholastic Canada, hardcover $20.99. Hal’s family has decided to spend the summer at the beach in Cornwall while his older sister, Charley, lies in a coma. Charley’s voice reaches inside Hal’s head to help him solve the mystery of the accident that claimed her the summer before.

Exploits of a Reluctant (But Extremely Goodlooking) Hero by Maureen Fergus, Kids Can Press, paperback $8.95. In this funny male entry to the self-absorbed diary genre, the 13-year-old unnamed narrator finds himself begrudgingly developing a social conscience when forced to volunteer at a soup kitchen.

Shore picks for moms

Shopaholic & Baby by Sophie Kinsella, Dial Press, hardcover $30. Becky Bloomwood’s back and this time she’s expecting. While her shopping seems to have slowed down, her paranoia and tendency to stretch the truth haven’t.

Taming the Spirited Child by Michael Popkin, Fireside, paperback $16.99. People say if you have a “spirited child” you know it. What you may not know is how to deal with the inevitable tantrums, power struggles and challenges that child will throw your way.

Good-Enough Mother by René Syler, with Karen Moline, Simon Spotlight Entertainment, hardcover $27.99. Finally, a book that says it’s OK not to be a perfect mom. A series of essays that are short enough that you might even finish one before one of the kids starts screaming!

Originally published in Today's Parent, July 2007