Nix Minus One
Jill MacLean
Pajamas Press @PajamaPress1

I loved the way this story was told in prose.  It reminded me of both Love that Dog by Sharon Creech and Valerie Sherrard's Counting Back from Nine. Those who enjoyed the Travis Keating books by MacLean will also like this one. This young adult novel was well written and I really had empathy for the protagonist Nixon.  Jill MacLean told a sad story well but gives some hope at the end of it.  Although this novel couldn't have a happy ending the various pieces in Nix's life start to come together and I am hopeful that things will get better for him.

Counting Back From Nine
Valerie Sherrard
Fitzhenry & Whiteside

I loved the way Valerie Sherrard tells a teenager's story in prose.  It reminds me of Creech's Love That Cat.  It was easy to read and the dealing with relationships and the teenage uncertainties about who your true friends are is very well done.  I never expected to like the main character as Laren is not a good friend when the story begins.  My grade 7 and 8 girls would really enjoy this story and a lot of discussion would arise from the issues brought up in this novel.

Mick Harte was Here
Barbara Park

Scholastic

This books is a real eye opener for me.  I love the way the author used the voice of the sister to tell a tragic story. It was very emotional but very useful book as a teacher to have in our library because it is a way to discuss bike helmet safety with older students without lecturing.  This books brought me to tears.