WINNER
BRINGING UP BEAUTY by Sylvia McNicoll
Maxwell Mcmillan Canada, 1994
Paper 0-02-954257-X RL: 5 IL: 5+
Bathtub floods, messed-up art projects and accidents on neighbours’ rugs are just a few consequences of raising a puppy. The whole family agreed to look after Beauty – a seeing-eye dog in training-but somehow twelve-year-old Elizabeth lands the responsibility.
NOMINEES
ADAM AND EVE AND PINCH ME by Julie Johnston
Lester Publishing, 1994 Paper 1-895555-64-7 RL: 6 IL: 6+
Sara has lived in countless foster homes, and eagerly awaits her sixteenth birthday so she can take to the road. Things become complicated when a woman comes to town in search of her lost daughter.
THE BURNING TIME by Carol Matas
HarperCollins 1994 Paper 0-00-64795-5 RL: 6 IL: 7+
Rose’s life is shattered when her mother, a midwife and healer, is turned over to the authorities and accused of being a witch. She finds herself weighing the terror death with the pain of life on her own.
THE GOLDEN AQUARIANS by Monica Hughes
HarperCollins 1994 Paper 0-00-647963-4 RL: 5 IL: 5+
It is 2092, and Walt, 13, joins his father on the planet Aqua. The Colonel is obsessed with transforming uninhabited planets’ resources for use by the Earth colonists. But when Walt discovers intelligent forms of life, he is pitted against his father in a life and death struggle.
THE INVISIBLE POLLY MCDOODLE by Mary Woodbury
Coteau Books 1994 Paper 1-55050-062-7 RL: 4 IL: 3-7
A series of break-ins have occurred at Polly McDougall’s apartment complex, and the police believe it is an inside job. Sixth-grader Polly decides to investigate the crimes. It takes all of her intelligence and intuition to solve the mystery.
JUST CALL ME BOOM BOOM by Martyn Godfrey
Scholastic Canada 1994 Paper 0-590-73081-9 RL: 5 IL: 5+
Boom Boom’s temper may get him kicked out of the JAWS Mob at John Allen Watson School, but it might come in handy when it’s time to face some nasty criminals. Fun and adventure from a popular author.
OUT OF THE BLUE by Sarah Ellis
Groundwood Books 1994 Oaoer 0-88899-263-X RL: 5 IL: 5+
Megan is shocked when her mother reveals a 24-year-old secret – her first daughter Natalie. How can Megan accept her new half-sister as part of the family? With compassion, poignancy and humour, their problems and adjustments are deftly portrayed.
PAINTED DEVIL by Michael Bedard
Lester Publishing 1994 Paper 1-895555-50-7 RL :5 IL: 5+
In this sequel to A DARKER MAGIC, a job at the library offers teenaged Alice refuge from the turmoil at home. But changes occur and premonitions arise when she and Mr. Dwyer, the librarian, plan to stage a “Punch and Judy” puppet show. A thriller not soon to be forgotten.
PAST TENSE by Ken Roberts
Groundwood Books 1994 Paper 0-88899-214-9 RL: 5 IL: 6+
Max Derbin lives in a household that can only be called eccentric. Strangest of all is Uncle Chuck, a cellular phone addict and segment producer for talk shows. This hilarious, off-the-wall s tory is full of unexpected turns and great compassion.
STOP THE PRESSES, IDA MAE! by Mary Blakeslee
McClelland & Stewart 1994 Paper 0-7710-1537-2 RL: 3 IL: 3-7
The sequel to IDA MAE EVANS EATS ANTS finds the irrepressible sixth grader writing an astrology column for a paper and conducting tarot readings for schoolmates. Investing in mining stocks seems to be Ida Mae’s undoing, but Great Aunt Glory comes to her rescue in this fun-filled read.
THE TIME OF THE WOLF by Thomas MacDonald
Maxwell Macmillan Canada
1994 Paper 0-02-954255-3 RL: 5 IL: 5+
Aaron finds an orphaned wolf pup and nurses it back to health. The two are inseparable until one day, Aaron has to leave. Set in the 1800s, this is a plausible account of two friends who help each other find their own fate.
WANDERER’S FIRST SUMMER by Janice Erbach
Polestar Press 1994 Paper 0-919591-949 RL: 6 IL: 5+
It should be the summer of freedom – for Kee to leave home and wander the oceans with her whalins, the telepathic sea creatures that protect the islands. But island inhabitants watch Kee too closely in this enchanting fantasy-adventure.
WHO’S GOT GERTIE? AND HOW CAN WE GET HER BACK? (A STEVIE DIAMOND MYSTERY) by Linda Bailey
Kids Can Press 1994 Paper 1-55074-217-5 RL: 4 IL: 4-6
Stevie and Jesse are in the thick of things again. While helping Gertie- their 72 year-old neighbor-prepare for a big movie, the detectives find she’s gone missing! Suddenly they have a summer project far more exciting than daycamp.
WHY DID THE UNDERWEAR CROSS THE ROAD?
by Gordon Korman
Scholastic Canada 1994 Paper 0-590-47502-9 RL: 4 IL: 4-8
Justin has big ideas of winning the class Good Deed contest, but one hare-brained scheme after another backfires with hilarious results. In this zany adventure, readers learn a lesson about cooperation and friendship.
WITCH’S FANG by Heather Kellerhals-Stewart
Polestar Press 1994 Paper 0-919591-884 RL: 6 IL: 6+
Three teenagers risk life and limb in order to fulfill their dream, with near-tragic results. As they attempt a first ascent on an unclimbed summit, they realize that the struggle to attain a goal is as important as the goal itself.
WITHIN A PAINTED PAST by Hazel Hutchins
Annick Press 1994 1-55037-989-5 RL: 5 IL: 4-7
Allison’s summer holiday tangles her up in a mystery in a world of one hundred years ago. In a bit test of courage, Allison learns a lot about herself, her present and her connection to the past.