The Top-10 Young Adult Novels

Over the past 5-years

Saving Armpit

By Natalie Hyde

When vandals deface the Harmony Point sign, the town does indeed seem to become the "arm Pit" of the region. The baseball team hasn't won a game in two seasons and the town itself is falling into disrepair. But when the new postmaster becomes the ball coach, Clay and the rest of the Terriers finally seem to stand a chance of winning a game. Until they overhear a bureaucrat from the city say that the post office will close unless the "numbers" work out.

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Egghead

By Caroline Pignat

Three young teens are struggling to find their way out of one of the classic dilemmas of life: how not to be a bystander to bullying, how to stand up for your friends, and how to deal with consuming rage. Young readers will find lots to think about as they turn the pages of this crisp and compelling story by 2-time GG winner, Caroline Pignat. Each character takes a turn at telling the story.

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A Hare In the Elephant's Trunk

By Jan Coats

When civil war strikes Jacob Deng's Southern Sudanese village, seven-year-old Jacob embarks on a seemingly endless journey. Jacob and his young friends are confronted with war, starvation, dehydration, raging rivers, crocodile and lion attacks, and the evil Majok - the constant thorn in Jacob's side - as they struggle to survive on their own. Inspired by the real life experiences of a Lost Boy of Sudan, this novel is about an extraordinary journey of courage, perseverance, and hope.

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The White Bicycle

By Beverly Brenna

The White Bicycle follows the adventures of Taylor Jane, a young woman with Asperger's Syndrome. Taylor travels to the south of France with her mother and her friends. She is going to be working for the summer babysitting for the Phoenix family. While on this journey Taylor will embark on another quest for independence both personal and universal as she casts her mind back to her earliest memories.

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September 17

By Amanda West Lewis

In July 1940, a British government-sponsored program called CORB was set up to send children from Britain to other countries, in order to rescue them from the bombings of Britain. In mid-September a liner with 90 of these children set off from Liverpool for Canada. Approximately 600 miles out the ship was torpedoed by a German U-boat and sank. Only 13 of the CORB children survived. September 17 is a novel that tells the story of 3 of the children.

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The Hidden Agenda of Sigrid Sugden

By Jill MacLean

Sigrid Sugden is a member of one of the toughest group of girls in school. They are experts at blackmail, extortion and bullying their classmates. One day they go too far. Sigrid realizes that their victim, Prinny Murphy, is in real danger. She decides to save Prinny but will turn the group's anger and bullying against her.

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The Glory Wind

By Valerie Sherrard

A young boy must come to terms with the moral prejudices of his small town in the prairies in the 40's when he befriends the daughter of a young widow who moves in next door. Gracie is unlike anyone Luke has ever met - fun, charming, imaginative and full of life. But when the townsfolk discover that her mother's past is less than completely honourable, they set out to isolate both mother and daughter.

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The Mcgillicuddy's Book of Personal Records

By Colleen Sydor

This is an extraordinary story about a 13-year-old boy named Lee who loves setting personal and odd records. He's obsessed by them in fact - from tracing the annual public marathon with his dog Santiago to bouncing a basketball in the school playground for 12 hours straight with no one around - but he's not interested in going public with them.

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Counting Back From Nine

By Valerie Sherrard

Laren Olivier knows the rules, but her attraction to a friend's ex-boyfriend is strong. She tells herself that if she and Scott can keep their new romance a secret, no one will get hurt. But Laren is not the only one with something to hide. A novel in free verse by award-winning author Valerie Sherrard.

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Bifocal

By Deborah Ellis and Eric Walters

A student arrested on suspicions of terrorism. A high school torn apart by racism. Two boys from two different sets of circumstances forced to choose sides. Two bestselling authors, Deborah Ellis and Eric Walters, join forces to write a powerful novel about racism.

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Nov. 28, 1975 (40-years ago)

Members of Parliament gave approval in principle to a private member's bill, proposed by Ken Robinson, requiring railways, trains and buses under federal jurisdiction to provide non-smoking areas for its passengers.

From the Fitzhenry & Whiteside Book of Canadian Facts and Dates