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Thursday, January 14, 2010

Let's Visit Canada!!


I was browsing through my current Book Links magazine and came across some really great suggestions for books that take place in Canada. I have several blogging friends that reside in Canada and I know that my reading doesn't take me there near enough. So, just in case any of you are thinking about visiting Canada in your reading here are some titles to consider!



Middle-Grade Fiction

The Crazy Man by Pamela Porter
** Setting: rural Saskatchewan in the 1960's
When a freak farm accident cripples 12-year-old Emaline and her father abandons the family, her mother hires a patient from the local mental hospital to help with the farm work. Porter's free-verse narrative explores prejudice, fear, and disability with quiet grace.





Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
** Setting: Ontario's Buxton Settlement, a community established for for escaped and freed slaves.
In 1860, 11-year-old Elijah struggles to not be so "fra-gile" and to make sense of the scam artists he encounters in the adult world.




A Perfect Gentle Knight by Kit Pearson
** Setting: Vancouver in the late 1950's
Struggling to come to terms with the death of their mother, the Bell children become involved in an intricate role-playing fantasy in which oldest brother Sebastian takes on the role of Sir Lancelot. Eleven-year-old Corrie recounts the siblings' story, conveying her growing concerns as she watches Sebastian lost his grip on reality.




YOUNG ADULT FICTION

Another Kind of Cowboy by Susan Juby
** Setting: Vancouver Island
Note- I'm going to read this one for my YA Challenge and GLBT Challenge
Sixteen-year-old Alex, who hides his homosexuality from his macho father, meets spoiled, rich-girl Cleo when the two share a dressage trainer, and their unlikely friendship helps both teens realize their identities and strengths.



The Landing by John Ibbitson
** Setting: Muskoka District of Ontario
In 1934, 15-year-old Ben works as a handyman for Ruth Chapman, a wealthy American widow who comes to summer in the Muskoka District of Ontario.






Mistik Lake by Martha Brooks
**Setting: Mistik Lake in Manitoba








Skim by Mariko Tamaki
Setting: private girl' school in Ontario
Note- I read this last year...great book for the Graphic Novel Challenge. Would also cross over to GLBT Challenge.





Would You by Marthe Jocelyn
** Setting: small-town Ontario
Note- I will be requesting this book to read sometime this year.







I have only listed Middle-Grade and YA books, but if you're interested in picture books and non-fiction click on my link in the first sentence.

11 comments:

  1. Great idea, and these look like some good books too. I don't read all that much about Canada- but I do read a few every now and then.

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  2. I'd like to visit Canada! Well, okay, maybe when it's warmer :)

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  3. Wow, that's a lot of books set in Canada. I got so excited when I saw the title of the post. I thought you were coming to Canada! lololol

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  4. What a great post! I am intrigued by all these posts.

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  5. Hey Staci, I came a'calling because I saw your title 'visiting Canada'. Had to come and see what you were posting. What a great list.... I shall have to scout around for some of these titles.

    BTW, I like your new look... the banner photo is especially endearing. And I enjoyed seeing you in the new photo!

    Happy Reading!

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  6. What a great list of books! I'm going to keep this in mind for myself and my son.

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  7. As a matter of fact, I am looking for some Canadian books for my Global Reading Challenge. I'm going to check out a couple of the YA's. Thanks, Staci, for doing my research for me.

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  8. How timely! I was just looking at some travel literature and figuring out if my husband and I could get to Quebec without spending a zillion dollars! But we can't! So of course the next best thing is books! Thanks for the list!!!

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  9. These books look so good. I look at these covers and title and wonder where were these awesome reads when I was growing up? Maybe I missed them because I had my nose stuck in a Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys book. :)

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