Quill and Quire

BOOK REVIEWS

Split

By Lori Weber

Sometimes the young adult category seems unnecessarily arbitrary, as with Quebec writer Lori Weber’s second novel, where the only thing that’s YA is the age of the protagonist. Weber’s spare, sombre, poignant coming-of-age story can ... Read More »

August 22, 2005

Queen of the Toilet Bowl

By Frieda Wishinsky

Bullying, jealousy, and gossip are central themes in this dialogue-driven novel by Toronto author Frieda Wishinsky. Renata, a Brazilian immigrant, inadvertently angers a schoolmate by winning the coveted role of Maria in the high school ... Read More »

August 22, 2005 | Filed under: Awards

The Isabel Factor

By Gayle Friesen

Anyone who’s ever watched Survivor knows that removing people from their everyday lives and thrusting them into competitive situations can trigger chimpanzee-like group dynamics that put the weak and non-conformist at risk. These conditions are ... Read More »

August 22, 2005

The Convicts

By Iain Lawrence

The threatening prison ship on the cover of Gulf Islands author Iain Lawrence’s new novel sets the tone for this Dickensian tale of revenge, betrayal, and transportation. After Lord of the Nutcracker Men and Ghost ... Read More »

August 22, 2005

★ Skybreaker

By Kenneth Oppel

When you buy Kenneth Oppel’s Skybreaker, prepare to clear your schedule: you won’t be able to put down this ripping good yarn. In the sequel to Airborn, we reunite with Matt Cruse, now struggling with ... Read More »

August 15, 2005