Fourteen-year-old Skye Richardson had to leave her home, school and friends when she and her mom moved across the country to a small town on the East Coast. She’s not happy about it. Then she gets a part-time job at a local coffee shop and meets Digby Jones. Digby lives in a group home. He loves Ping-Pong and watching his favorite TV shows. He likes things done in a certain way. One day, Digby tells Skye he has the winning million-dollar lottery ticket everyone in town has been talking about. At first, all Skye can think about is how she’d love to have that money to buy her old life back. Soon, however, she begins to worry that people are going to take advantage of her new friend.
Jason is sure his sister, Becca, was murdered, but he’s the only one who thinks so. After finding a photograph Becca kept hidden, he decides to infiltrate a boxing gym to prove that she didn’t die accidentally. As a transgender kid, Jason’s been fighting for as long as he can remember, and those skills are going to come in handy as he investigates. Quickly invited into the inner circle, Jason must balance newfound friendships with the burning hate that drives him. Jason soon feels torn between two worlds, determined to discover what happened to his sister but struggling with the fact that this is the first time he’s ever felt like he belonged somewhere.
Psycho. Sick. Dangerous. Réal Dufresne's reputation precedes him. When the mangled body of his best friend, Shaun, turns up in a field just east of town, tough-as-hell Réal blames himself. But except for the nightmares, all Ré remembers is beating the living crap out of Shaun the night of his death. Shaun's girlfriend, sixteen-year-old Evie Hawley, keeps her feelings locked up tight. But now she's pregnant, and the father of her baby is dead. And when Réal looks to her to atone for his sins, everything goes sideways. Fast. The tighter Evie and Réal get, the faster things seem to fall apart. And falling in love might just be the card that knocks the whole house down.
Transgender teen Ichiro enters a drag contest in hopes of earning enough money to live off the grid. Ichiro is a transgender youth in his final year of high school. He has a job as a dishwasher to earn money to help support his single mother. But it's not enough. Ichiro dreams of buying a camper van for the two of them so they can escape and live off the grid and not have to worry about money anymore. A budding drag queen, he takes a second job performing drag at a local club and learns of an upcoming contest where the prize money would be enough to pay for a camper van. But nobody knows he does drag. So when some of his friends find out what he’s really doing in the evenings, Ichiro is worried about what they will think of him. Will they still accept him?
Lou spends every Saturday with Grandad and Pops. They walk to the library hand in hand, like a chain of paper dolls. Grandad reads books about science and design, Pops listens to rock and roll, and Lou bounces from lap to lap. But everything changes one Saturday. Pops has a fall. That night there is terrible news: Pops will need to use a wheelchair, not just for now, but for always. Unable to cope with his new circumstances, he becomes withdrawn and shuts himself in his room. Hearing Grandad trying to cheer up Pops inspires Lou to make a plan. Using skills learned from Grandad, and with a little help from their neighbors, Lou comes up with a plan for Pops.
Jack’s a star player on an elite soccer team along with his brother, Alex. The Lancers are on top of the league, even favored to win the National Championship. But the game’s about to change. A slick bookie wins Jack’s friendship and introduces him to illegal betting. Before long, Jack is hooked on the adrenaline rush, and early wins convince him that gambling could make him rich. Meanwhile, an ever-widening rift is forming between the two brothers. Suddenly, Jack’s “system” fails and his luck runs out. How could a few losses pile up to a gut-kicking ten grand? When he can’t pay, the bookie gives Jack one way out - throw the National Championship. But can he betray his brother, his team and himself?
Angus loves sparkly things, so much so that he can hear them. To Angus, shiny objects not only look beautiful; they also crackle, buzz and go whiz-bang-POP! His unique ability is lost, however, when Angus wears his grandma's beaded necklace to school, and his classmates tease him for his atypical choice. Saddened by their laughter, Angus stops hearing the sparkle. A gentle story of acceptance, generosity and friendship, Angus All Aglow reminds us that it only takes one kind gesture to restore your sparkle, and returning the kindness can make you glow from the inside out.
Dez and Jax love sky watching for their school. They’re talented, and they take pride in their work. But can they chase down thieves and return a special item back to its owner before it’s too late?
At Carmichael High, the bullies always get their way. Would it be a different story if their victims joined forces?
Jen Conrad has a life many dream of. She’s a popular model and comes from a famous Hollywood family, but soon, her life starts to crumble. Wrongfully accused of murder, Jen is hounded by reporters and tabloids. All she wants is peace and quiet. That’s what she hopes to find while staying at her grandmother’s beach house. Yet even there, danger lurks. Jen soon discovers that the people closest to her may be in trouble. Can she protect her family, or will she lose them and herself?
Nikki blames her brother, Derek, for their parents' death in a house fire, but when Derek gets involved with a gang, Nikki knows she is the only one who can save him. Enlisting the help of a girl named Rain, who uses her athletic abilities to carry out acts of petty thievery, Nikki uses all her gymnastic and free-running skills to stay ahead of the gang and keep her brother from being killed.
Canada's relationship with its Indigenous people has suffered as a result of both the residential school system and the lack of understanding of the historical and current impact of those schools. Healing and repairing that relationship requires education, awareness and increased understanding of the legacy and the impacts still being felt by Survivors and their families. Guided by acclaimed Indigenous author Monique Gray Smith, readers will learn about the lives of Survivors and listen to allies who are putting the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission into action.
I Read! You Read! books are designed for shared reading between a beginning reader and an adult. What does voting mean? Who can vote? Young Americans will find the answers in this early civics book that will help them understand how their country works. Includes a support page of teaching tips for caregivers and teachers. Downloadable Teacher's Notes available.
Bruno had seen it all. Five foster homes in his short life. He hoped he could stay with the Browns. They were cool people. He knew he was too old at 10 to be adopted and find his forever family. But Eva and Martin were so nice plus since he had been beaten by a few foster parents. Plus, Martin was helping him with his baseball skills. Everything seemed to be going well until a stranger started lurking around the baseball field.
Wes notices that his neighbor can't use her treehouse because she's in a wheelchair. What will he do to help her?
Students who fail to turn in their assignments on time will get a zero, Mr. Lee has decreed. Tyler and Malik had fun all weekend. Now they have to stay up all night to write their papers. Their classmate, Darcie, finished her paper days ago. And she agrees with Mr. Li's "no exception" policy. But now she can't find her paper...
Kenyan orphans, Kitoo and Nigosi, spend their days studying, playing soccer, helping their elders with chores around the orphanage and reading from the limited selection of books in their library. When the librarian gives Kitoo a copy of Sports Around the World he becomes fascinated by an image of the Canadian national men's ice hockey team. Then one day the fates align and Kitoo finds a pair of beat up old roller blades, he teaches himself to skate and dreams of one day playing hockey like the men in his book. But you can’t play ice hockey in Kenya, can you?
Miryam's body doesn't fight off germs like it should. While doctors figure out how to make her better, Miryam needs to stay home for online classes. Trouble is: Miryam struggles to focus on her teacher and schoolwork. She likes in-person learning at school much better! Plus, she misses her friends! When Miryam's dad hears about the Helper Hounds, everything changes. Brisket the Helper Hound knows all about learning to focus and about staying in touch with friends.
Ajani loves having a dad from Denmark and a mom from Jamaica. Ajani speaks three languages and gets to spend summers with his grandparents in the coolest places. But when a classmate overhears dark-skinned Ajani speaking Danish, the boy makes a hurtful, racist comment. Ajani is crushed. Until a chance encounter with Louis the Helper Hound helps Ajani feel proud of his heritage and helps him and his classmates fight racism.
After losing her first two forever homes, Noodle the golden doodle knows all about the sadness of goodbyes. But in her new home with Andrea and as an official Helper Hound, Noodle helps Gabriel deal with the loss of his grandfather and to discover that our loved ones can be found in the little things all around us even when they’re gone.
Ming often gets teased for being “weird.” His curious mind and wild imagination make him extra nervous for his school’s upcoming lockdown drill after a deadly dance hall shooting. His teacher calls the Helper Hounds to help calm his nerves—and King Tut comes to the rescue! King Tut knows all about being weird. she’s been in some scary situations herself after being abandoned under a bridge as a puppy. King Tut helps Ming and his classmates through the lockdown drill. Discover how King Tut helps Ming and his friends see the beauty in being “weird.”
Danny is scared to tell the truth. After he saw someone steal some bikes, now he has to see that person in court and tell what he did. To help calm Danny’s fears on the big day, his parents call the Helper Hounds—and there’s no better pup for the job than Spooky. Spooky was involved in a crime herself—she lost her leg after being shot by a police officer who thought she was dangerous. Will Spooky’s best calming tricks give Danny the courage to tell the truth in court?
Max and his sister Lily are staying with relatives while their Mom is away getting her own emotional help. Max and Lily are being teased and bullied at school. Their Aunt Eileen calls the Helper Hounds – and soon Robot, an endearing Rottweiler who knows all about bullies, comes to give support. A lot of people think Rottweiler's are bullies, but that's because they don't really know how cuddly they can be. Robot and his handler Samuel help the kids at Max and Lily's school deal with bullies while Max and Lily gain new friends.
Mary’s new in town. She’s worried about starting classes at her new school. That’s why her mom called the Helper Hounds – and why Sparkplug, the wildly handsome, wickedly smart, card-carrying, world famous Helper Hound is on the scene. Sparky knows a thing or two about moving. He moved four times as a puppy, and learned to make new friends along the way. Sparky knows he can teach Mary all his best tricks and help her meet new friends, too. At least Sparky thought he could until he met Custard, Mary’s persnickety cat. Will Sparky’s best tricks be enough to win over Custard and show Mary making friends is nothing to fear?
