Canada Books

In BITE THE STARS, Eliza Clark draws her characters with bold strokes. Grace and her son, Cole, could be members of your own family, or perhaps the neighbors down the street. Though they don't speak of it, you know they've got troubles, and things don't seem to be getting any better. It would be easy to turn your back on them, tell yourself they're not worth the effort. But take a good look, because by knowing Grace you'll feel better about yourself. And maybe the next time you see her you'll stop and say hello.

Canadian author Eliza Clark's Bite the Stars is a gripping and emotional novel about Grace Larson, the mother of a brutal and violent criminal. Forced into premature labor by the violence of a tornado, Grace finds herself unable to cope with or understand her son Cole, a child who grows up to be as destructive as nature at its worst. As Grace watches her son's trail of destruction, she looks for answers in nature itself. Bite The Stars is recommended to a serious readership as being a poignant, gut-wrenching, compellingly thoughtful and thought-provoking narrative that will not soon be forgotten.

I really enjoyed this book; while there is a number of books about warbrides who travelled to the US, whis books gives a rare insight into the experiences of warbrides that travelled to Canada.

I read this book in about 4 nights straight. I couldn't put it down. I wasnt around back then, but this book made me realize just how lucky I am and how easy we have it in todays world compared to those times during and after the second world war. The stories of their experiences made me laugh one moment and cry in another.

How Marie Martin, a widow, left her son to become an Ursuline and one of the first nuns to bring the Faith to Canada. The heartaches, the hardships, the savage Iroquois, the successes - told for children 10 and up.

Blessed Marie of New France is about the first missonary nuns of New France. When Blessed Marie gets to New France(Canada). She has many adventures!

Excellent book. Loads of valuable info and packed with humor.
Definitely earns two thumbs up!!!

This short guidebook to the West Coast Trial was a great asset to read before and during the hike. It takes you through all the stages of this 75Km hike, complete with suggestions of route choice, campsites, gear advice, and good general information for tackling this technically challenging hike. In addition, the authors have several humorous illustrations that will make you laugh (or cry) about the stages after you have completed them. I would strongly recommend giving this a look over before starting the WCT, and keep it along with your map during the hike.

If you liked the movie FARGO, well, that probably won't have any bearing on whether you like the Blood Girls. It will however help you gain some understanding as to how odd life can become in the ridiculously small towns that pepper the vast expanse of Northern US and Canada.

The town's denizens are a confusing mix of the painfully placid (spending way too much time waxing reminiscent about the old flour mill or a pot of delicious honeybutter), and religiously zealous (those characters in the book who are the Blood Girls and claim to be affected by stigmata - Jesus' bleeding wounds on the hands and feet). They only thing they all have in common is that they have gone crazy from living in what is the closest equivelant to a modern reincarnation of a Siberian outpost.

Cooke's poetic style (she has had at least 2 books of poetry published so far) makes for a narrative richer than a black forest fudge cake. Even details that others might consider excrutiatingly minute are dressed in their finest prose. This means that the story moves at the pace of maple syrup. But Cooke isn't here to rush you. There is after all no hurry.

This doesn't mean she can't surprise you now and again - and trust me there are a few big ones. In all, if you are a "gentle reader" (as Cooke wants you to be) and are patient, you are in for a potent dose of rural intrigue that may have you thinking twice before you take that next road trip....

If you liked the movie FARGO, well, that probably won't have any bearing on whether you like the Blood Girls. It will however help you gain some understanding as to how odd life can become in the ridiculously small towns that pepper the vast expanse of Northern US and Canada.

The town's denizens are a confusing mix of the painfully placid (spending way too much time waxing reminiscent about the old flour mill or a pot of delicious honeybutter), and religiously zealous (those characters in the book who are the Blood Girls and claim to be affected by stigmata - Jesus' bleeding wounds on the hands and feet). They only thing they all have in common is that they have gone crazy from living in what is the closest equivelant to a modern reincarnation of a Siberian outpost.

Cooke's poetic style (she has had at least 2 books of poetry published so far) makes for a narrative richer than a black forest fudge cake. Even details that others might consider excrutiatingly minute are dressed in their finest prose. This means that the story moves at the pace of maple syrup. But Cooke isn't here to rush you. There is after all no hurry.

This doesn't mean she can't surprise you now and again - and trust me there are a few big ones. In all, if you are a "gentle reader" (as Cooke wants you to be) and are patient, you are in for a potent dose of rural intrigue that may have you thinking twice before you take that next road trip....

This biography is a work of art: it's tough to blend this much biographical data, anecdotes, photos, and clippings into a coherent and interesting story. Yet, teacher-librarian-author Dublin has done just that; the book is engaging enough to pull in even reluctant young researchers. Kids who are sports fans will find it particularly interesting and inspirational, as Rosenfeld was an amazing athlete who had a wonderful sense of humor, team work, and fair play. The text is rich in ethnic (Rosenfeld was a Russian Jew) and feminist themes, as well. Book has T of C, timeline, suggestions for further reading, bibliography, and index.

An excellent biography of Jewish Canadian athlete Bobbie Rosenfeld. The writing is clear, simple, and interesting. Dublin deftly creates context so that readers understand the historical significance of Bobbie's achievements, including her impact on the women's movement. The book is chock-a-block with interesting quotes and amusing anecdotes that keep the reader engaged. Sidebars contain intriguing tidbits that are relevant to nearby text, usually providing background information or expanding on a topic mentioned in the body of the text.

The book comes from a strongly Canadian point of view, and will be particularly popular there, where the places and people named will be commonly familiar. However, the text is quite accessible to non-Canadian readers as well.

The list of resources at the back of the book is very thorough, and includes a timeline, lists for further information in print, video, and online formats, a bibliography of the author's sources, photo credits, and an index.

The large black and white photos are clearly reproduced and intelligently captioned.

This title was named a 2004 Sydney Taylor Honor Book. You can listen to an interview with the author on the podcast The Book of Life at www.jewishbooks.blogspot.com. Listen to the February 2006 episode to hear the interview with Anne Dublin.

Grades 3-7

We are indebted to people such as Bogi Bjarnason who have recorded their life's experiences and present us with a living history of their time. This collection of Bjarnason?s writings spans a half century, from life in the trenches during World War I, through the tumultuous years of the ?30s and 40?s, and into the ?50s and ?60s. He writes as a soldier, a newspaper editor, a poet, and a keen observer of life.

Of Iclandic heritage, Bjarnason was an American citizen (born in South Dakota) and living in Saskatchewan when he was called up by the U.S. Army in 1918. His letters from the front, written to his brother but meant for publication, are stark testament to the miseries and brutality of war on both sides. His descriptions of terrifying, wet, cold, hungry and rat-infested daily life are immediate, and not without some gallows humor. That ?war is an exceedingly stupid business? he learned first-hand, and it was a theme that ran throughout his career as a journalist.

Bjarnason ran several prairie newspapers during his career, in small Saskatchewan communities, and later in Winnipeg and Traherne, Manitoba. He was a journalist in the tradition of H.L. Mencken, with a keen intelligence, a biting wit, and the ability to present a convincing argument on a wide range of topics. His editorial pieces and essays in this collection, selected by his son Brian Bjarnason, are both practical and philosophical, covering history, religion and politics. The chronological arrangement of the editorials highlights the major issues of the day, from the early 1920s through the Second World War. Many of these issues are echoed by our journalists today: western alienation, American-Canadian relations, free trade, anti-Semitism, and excessive taxation. He writes with clarity and wit about the absurdities of government and the odiousness of irresponsible capitalism. Among Bjarnason?s writings as a ?moralist? are poems and tales on biblical themes, and on the author?s observation of life, large and small. They too are written with grace and wit.

This is a collection of universal appeal. The writing is crisp, thoughtful and wide-ranging. It is a delight to read and a fine contribution to Canadian literature.

Sylvia Crooks
Author of Homefront and Battlefront: Nelson, BC During World War II

We are indebted to people such as Bogi Bjarnason who have recorded their life's experiences and present us with a living history of their time. This collection of Bjarnason?s writings spans a half century, from life in the trenches during World War I, through the tumultuous years of the ?30s and 40?s, and into the ?50s and ?60s. He writes as a soldier, a newspaper editor, a poet, and a keen observer of life.

Of Iclandic heritage, Bjarnason was an American citizen (born in South Dakota) and living in Saskatchewan when he was called up by the U.S. Army in 1918. His letters from the front, written to his brother but meant for publication, are stark testament to the miseries and brutality of war on both sides. His descriptions of terrifying, wet, cold, hungry and rat-infested daily life are immediate, and not without some gallows humor. That ?war is an exceedingly stupid business? he learned first-hand, and it was a theme that ran throughout his career as a journalist.

Bjarnason ran several prairie newspapers during his career, in small Saskatchewan communities, and later in Winnipeg and Traherne, Manitoba. He was a journalist in the tradition of H.L. Mencken, with a keen intelligence, a biting wit, and the ability to present a convincing argument on a wide range of topics. His editorial pieces and essays in this collection, selected by his son Brian Bjarnason, are both practical and philosophical, covering history, religion and politics. The chronological arrangement of the editorials highlights the major issues of the day, from the early 1920s through the Second World War. Many of these issues are echoed by our journalists today: western alienation, American-Canadian relations, free trade, anti-Semitism, and excessive taxation. He writes with clarity and wit about the absurdities of government and the odiousness of irresponsible capitalism. Among Bjarnason?s writings as a ?moralist? are poems and tales on biblical themes, and on the author?s observation of life, large and small. They too are written with grace and wit.

This is a collection of universal appeal. The writing is crisp, thoughtful and wide-ranging. It is a delight to read and a fine contribution to Canadian literature.


Sylvia Crooks
Author of Homefront and Battlefront: Nelson, BC During World War II

Bonechiller is amazing! I have always been a fan of McNamee's other books (Acceleration and Hate Me), so I was expecting this book to be fabulous, but...wow! I won't do a plot summary, but if you choose this book, be ready for thrills and real, honest-to-god chills! Take speeding snowmobiles, a mysterious monster, a pyromaniac, a girl who could out-box Ali and big old sticky bombs and you have a sure-fire hit with almost every reluctant and non-reluctant reader out there! As with Acceleration, you can't stop!!!! Read it, and share it, and buy it for every young adult that you know!!!

Danny and his father have spent a lot of time moving from town to town after the death of his mother. This time, they are in an icy, barren town in Canada known as Harvest Cove. There may not be much here in the dead of winter, but Danny has managed to find a few friends he feels close with. There is Pike, the troublemaker, Howie, Pike's shy younger brother and then there is Ash, the girl that literally knocked him out when they first met. This may be the first time he feels like he might want to stick around. His father is even reluctantly making friends.

One freezing cold night in the misty darkness, Danny is making his way home when he is attacked by a horrifying creature. As he fights for survival he is knocked into a ditch and he is sure this will be the end of him. Except that the creature only stings him in the hand and lets him go. This mark is the only thing that assures him that what happened was real and not a terrifying nightmare. Danny begins to feel strange and disconnected after his ordeal, leading him to research the creature in the darkness. He finds out that he is not the only one this has happened to and it goes back much further than he could ever imagine. It appears that something is hunting the teens of Harvest Cove, and so far nobody has been able to stop it. Danny is running out of time for himself and he will have to decide if he is willing to risk his life to break this cycle of evil that is plaguing the town. Danny will have his friends to help him, but he may be too late. How can you kill the unkillable, or hunt what should not exist?

Bonchiller is just that. A spooky, scary, pulse-pounding supernatural thriller that will chill you to the bone. The monster in this story is based on the Native American Windigo legends, but Mcnamee leaves enough to the imagination so that readers can create a truly nightmarish creature on their own. The characters are relatable and you will be cheering them on as they do their best to fight the beast and survive another day. You will hope for the best so that Danny and Ash will perhaps find happiness together. This book will make you think twice about walking home alone in the dark.

This book is Historical information on both the area I grown up in and family bacvkground. I greatly enjojed not only ready this book, but found that being about to see many of the places and items mentioned in the bok added to my enjoyment. Please note that "Boy Captive of Old Deerfield" proceeds this and "Boys of the Border" follows this. All 3 are excellant and contain much interesting information on the settlement of Western Mass.

This is the first in a series that cronicles young Stephen's life in an early American, frontier town and capture by indians from Canada. The book was not only hard to put down because of continual actions, but I was always learning a little bet here and there about early colional life and Native American life.

The first chapter was a little tough getting used to some of the Olde English spelling an phrases. But soon I no longer noticed them at all. I would recommend this book to anyone from about 5th grade and up.

I won't spoil the ending, but do yourself a favor and order "The Boy Captive in Canada" at the same time because the story doesn't end in this book. It continues into the next.

Perhaps you have your own Brady Brady at home. I know I have a couple. Like a lot of boys, Brady Brady loves hockey. He loves hockey so much that he tends to get a little distracted. In fact, his family got so used to calling him- Brady, Brady- that his name just became Brady Brady.

In this instalment of the Brady Brady series, Brady Brady decides that he's going to make the greatest outdoor rink ever in his backyard. It's a lot of hard work. Be sure to read the book to see if his efforts pay off.

I got the books of the Brady Brady series primarily to read to my grandson. I wanted to encourage a love of reading early in his life and I remember how difficult it was to find books that would keep his uncle's attention at that young age. The Brady Brady series was a perfect fit. We had a great time reading Brady Brady and the Great Rink together. However, I knew we had a real winner when Uncle and Nephew started to read together.

I love all of these books they all have a great message and I love the fact there is a set of books for boys in hockey that they can learn good sportsmanship, being a great teammate, friend, all with a little twist with a good moral ending. I love these books and the picutres are outstanding.There is even one about a girl who plays hockey and how she overcomes the fear of being the only girl on the team. Buy all these books you will not be sorry.