Freewalker

My first impression of Vancouver playwright Dennis Foon’s Freewalker, a sequel to The Dirt Eaters, was that it’s derivative of Philip Pullman’s Dark Materials series. Foon’s mystical “dirt” recalls Pullman’s “dust.” The animal forms that ... Read More »

December 13, 2004 | Filed under: Children and YA Fiction

Francesca and the Magic Bike

By Cynthia Nugent

"Hippogriff, don’t fail me now!” is the plea that 10-year-old Francesca (Frankie), on a quest to recover a special ring, makes to her awesome bike. Frankie begins her adventure with frissons of doubt about whether ... Read More »

December 13, 2004 | Filed under: Children and YA Fiction

The Flags of War

By John Wilson

The Flags of War, by prolific B.C. writer John Wilson, takes a hard look at war and its consequences through the eyes of young protagonists. Set during the U.S. Civil War, the novel tells the ... Read More »

November 22, 2004 | Filed under: Children and YA Fiction

The Beckoners

By Carrie Mac

When you’re the new kid in town, you keep to yourself or you make alliances. But if loners are easy targets, joining a group can be even dicier, as often the only one that will ... Read More »

November 10, 2004 | Filed under: Children and YA Fiction

Not So Very Far Away

By Lisa Smith

Sarah is a young girl coping with a recent move to a new city. She misses her old school, her relatives, and her very best friend, who shares her love of bird-watching. Sarah finds it ... Read More »