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Book titleAuthor/illustratorISBN number LevelDescription Available in English/French?
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Death at Morning HouseMaureen Johnson9780063255951Sec. 3, Sec. 4, Sec. 5This book has a fabulous cast of characters and a great plot that takes the reader into the past and back to the present to solve mysteries deaths in an eerie island setting.Not at this time
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The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global CelebrityNicholas Day9780593643846Sec. 1, Sec. 2Narrative non-fiction at its best! On a hot day in Paris in August 1911, a guard at the Louvre realizes that the Mona Lisa is missing! What follows is a deep dive into the circumstances around the theft, the police investigation, the life of the Leonard DaVinci, and the story of the most famous smile in the world.Not at this time
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Le petit astronauteJean-Paul Eid9782897771034Sec. 1, Sec. 2, Sec. 3, Sec. 4, Sec. 5Une bande dessinée d'une grande beauté qui raconte l'histoire d'une adolescente qui visite son ancienne maison à l'occasion d'une journée portes ouvertes. Au fil des pièces, elle se souvient de son petit frère, né avec une maladie grave. J'en ai pleuré !Not at this time
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The Summer of Bitter and SweetJen Ferguson9780063086173Sec. 3, Sec. 4, Sec. 5The main character, Lou, is a Métis teen with a lot happening in her life. As she enters the summer months, working at her family's creamery, she needs to navigate the ups and downs of family and friend relationships. She is a compelling and courageous character! Not at this time
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By Chance Alone, The Young Readers' Edition: A Remarkable True Story of Courage and Survival at AuschwitzMax Eisen9781443469425Sec. 1, Sec. 2Max Eisen was a young boy when we and his family were sent to a concentration camp in 1944. His story of survival is inspiring and heartbreaking. It is a well written memoir of a dark chapter in history that will make young readers think about and reflect on the past.Not at this time
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Plain Jane and the MermaidVera Brosgol9781250314857Sec. 1, Sec. 2A graphic novel reminiscent of an old folk tale - good vs evil, beauty and self-worth, an underwater adventure, a quest to save a possible fiancé, and villainous mermaids. I loved it!Yes
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How it All EndsEmma Hunsinger9780063158146Sec. 1Fantastic graphic novel about figuring out high school and deciding who you want to be as a person. 13-year-old Tara loves to live in her imagination, and when she gets bumped up to high school, her new reality challenges her identity and self-worth.Not at this time
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The Starlight ClaimTim Wynne-Jones9781536222913Sec. 1, Sec. 2, Sec. 3A fast-paced, suspenseful, survival story set in a remote winter wilderness. This book will appeal to students who like the outdoors, adventure, and bad guys.Not at this time
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Rick Riordan Presents a Drop of VenomSajni Patel9781368092685Sec. 3, Sec. 4, Sec. 5I recommend this book because it is a beautiful blend of different mythologies and creative thoughts.Not at this time
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The Invisible Life of Addie LaRueVictoria E. Schwab9780765378561Sec. 1, Sec. 2, Sec. 3 The plotline is interesting. It follows a French girl born in 1714 who is learning to deal with immortality and love. This book has amazing imaginary. It is a fun and easy going book.Yes
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The Mistborn TrilogyBrandon Sanderson9781250318541Sec. 1, Sec. 2, Sec. 3, Sec. 4, Sec. 5If you are a fan of fantasy I recommend this book. It has a dark and rich plotline with twists through out the book and lots of adventure.Not at this time
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The CrossoverKwame Alexander9780544935204Sec. 1, Sec. 2, Sec. 3, Sec. 4, Sec. 5It is a profound, relatable read regarding relevant topics for teenagers like sports, relationships, family and changes. The book keeps things fun, while plucking the emotional heart-strings.Yes
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Heartstopper seriesAlice Oseman Sec. 2, Sec. 3, Sec. 4, Sec. 5Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. Our SORA version has been popular and checked out a lot. Yes
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Jason Reynolds's Track SeriesJason Reynolds 9781534462434Sec. 1, Sec. 2, Sec. 3, Sec. 4, Sec. 5Ghost. Patina. Sunny. Lu. A fast but fiery group of kids from wildly different backgrounds, chosen to compete on an elite track team. Our sec 1, 2 students liked the series. Not at this time
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House ArrestK.A. HoltSec. 1, Sec. 2, Sec. 3, Sec. 4, Sec. 5Novels in verse are excellent for expanding students' view of poetry as creative expression, for whatever it is we want to express. In this book, it's our main character's fear, anger, and frustration as he navigates an incredibly difficult situation, one that forces him into levels of responsibility beyond his years. Underneath it all though, what also comes through is his deep love for his family and his desperate need to be heard. And even though it's told in verse, it's realistic fiction, very much of this world - with all its sadness, hurt, and profound joy.Not at this time
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Finding LangstonLesa Cline-RansomeSec. 1, Sec. 2, Sec. 3, Sec. 4, Sec. 5It's a middle grade book, but it's a book I think older students could enjoy as well. It's relatively short, but it's a full and beautiful story. Set in 1946, it's the story of Langston, a young black boy from Alabama who moves to Chicago with his father after his mother dies. A new city, a new school, a new home - and all while navigating his own grief, and living with and around his father's, is all a lot for young Langston. But things shift when he discovers the library and the work of a black poet named Langston Hughes. This book could be paired with Langston Hughes' poetry: for younger students "That is My Dream!," which is a picture book version of Hughes' poem "Dream Variation," beautifully and powerfully illustrated by Daniel Miyares, and for older students, "The Weary Blues," Langston Hughes' first book, published in 1926.Not at this time
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Swim Team A Graphic NovelJohnnie Christmas 9780063056763Sec. 1, Sec. 2Sports, African American A splashy, contemporary middle grade graphic novel from bestselling comics creator Johnnie Christmas! Our sec. 1 students enjoyed it.Not at this time
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FakerGordon Korman 9781338826753Sec. 1Funny realistic fiction as usual by the Canadian author. We have an audio book version and the younger secondary school students enjoyed it. Not at this time
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SquireSara Alfageeh/ Nadia ShammasSec. 3, Sec. 4, Sec. 5A stunningly beautiful graphic novel that examines colonialism and racism, and the question of who writes the history books, all set in a fictional world called Bayt-Sajji. At 305 pages, it's a longer graphic novel, but the creators struck an excellent balance of art and text, so it's not too dense visually. The story is powerful; an examination of what it's like to confront the realities of a dream one always thought they wanted, to confront the reality of self in the world, and ultimately to embrace it.Yes
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AloneMegan E Freeman Sec. 1, Sec. 2Perfect for fans of Hatchet and the I Survived series, this harrowing middle grade debut novel-in-verse from a Pushcart Prize–nominated poet tells the story of a young girl who wakes up one day to find herself utterly alone in her small Colorado town. Our sec. 1, 2 students read it. Not at this time
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So Let Them BurnKamilah ColeSec. 3, Sec. 4, Sec. 5If you have some avid readers in grades 7 & 8, who also love fantasy, this one could be good for them as well. It's fantasy, in a Jamaican-inspired world, and the story centres around the story of two sisters, Faron and Elara who are separated by a tragic situation. It's a situation that could force them to fight on opposite sides of the coming war, unless they can find a way back to each other. There's some great character work in this book, the world-building is vivid and compelling, but I think this would definitely qualify as a plot-driven novel - and what a plot! Oh, did I forget to mention there's also dragons? :)Yes
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The 57 Bus Dashka Slater Sec. 1, Sec. 2, Sec. 3, Sec. 4, Sec. 5LGBTQ+ A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives. Some of our teachers read it to the students in class. The students liked it.Not at this time
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SadieCourtney SummersSec. 3, Sec. 4, Sec. 5Sadie is the compelling and heartbreaking story of a young girl who has gone missing. She was last seen getting into a pick-up truck one night and was never heard from again. The book is told in multiple perspectives, but with a twist: one voice is Sadie herself, and another is the podcast host, West McCray, who is investigating her story years later. Sadie's chapters are presented in narrative prose, but West's are in the form of transcripts of the podcast and interviews. Perfect for teen readers who want a thriller. Yes
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The Remnant Chronicles (series)Mary E. PearsonSec. 3, Sec. 4, Sec. 5Some teens may ask you about a duology: "Dance of Thieves," and "Vow of Thieves," by the same author, which are fantastic - but they are books set in the world of the Remnant Chronicles, which is a trilogy that starts with the book "Kiss of Deception." While the duology is set 6 years later, there are some spoilers as there is character crossover, so I always recommend my teens read the Remnant Chronicles first - and no one has ever regretted it :) The world-building in these books is something very special, and the story stands out in the genre of YA fantasy; I started the books a little skeptical when I read them, but they quickly became one of my favourite series. 5 book recommendations in one :)Yes
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Funeral Songs for Dying GirlsCherie DimalineSec. 3, Sec. 4, Sec. 5A ghost story, a love story, a story of grief and of Indigenous identity. Winifred lives in the apartment above the cemetery office. It's just her and her Dad now, after her Mom's death. It's summer, and Winifred wanders the cemetery as she tries to understand herself, her grief, her crush on her best friend, her future now that her Dad's job might be outsourced. When she is mistaken for a ghost by a ghost-hunting tour, things get complicated - and even more so when a real ghost shows up. A beautiful and unique story.Not at this time
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