Taking the Lead
Taking the Lead

Author: Karen Spafford-Fitz

Publisher: Lorimer

Published: 2020-01-01

Total Pages: 130

ISBN-13: 1459414659

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As captain of his school track and field team, Jonas runs only to win. His specialty is the 100-metre sprint. When the team's first track meet does not go as he hoped, Jonas turns his anger on his teammates. He ends up in the office, where the principal also notices that Jonas has failed to complete his required volunteer work. She kicks him off the team and strips him of his captaincy, but later makes him a deal: Jonas can compete at the final track met if he finishes his volunteer hours. To do so, he must train Darien, a vision and mobility impaired teen, for a 5k race. Through working with Darien, Jonas gains a new appreciation for his sport and for what it means to be a true winner.

Jamilah at the End of the World
Jamilah at the End of the World

Author: Mary-Lou Zeitoun

Publisher: James Lorimer & Company

Published: 2021-08-03

Total Pages: 154

ISBN-13: 1459416481

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Set against the backdrop of a brutal Toronto summer heatwave, seventeen-year-old Jamilah Monsour makes plans for what she’s certain is the beginning of the climate change catastrophe that will end the world. Luckily, Jamilah knows what has to be done to save her family: transform the back alley garage into a bunker. Reluctantly her parents allow the bunker, but they draw the line when she announces she’s going to skip university and instead use the money they had saved for her education to buy solar panels and a generator. When an electricity blackout strikes, Jamilah’s climate change anxiety kicks into high gear and she ends up staying out all night, infuriating her Palestinian-born conservative father who is done with all this doomsday nonsense. Tension at home erupts and Jamilah runs away and joins a climate change protest where she learns about solidarity and agency, giving her hope for the future. When she returns home, her parents see just how deep Jamilah’s climate change convictions run and the family discusses her attending university to study environmental science, a plan they can all agree on. But Jamilah still plans on buying a generator, just in case.

The Player
The Player

Author: Paul Coccia

Publisher: James Lorimer & Company

Published: 2021-02-05

Total Pages: 186

ISBN-13: 1459415760

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Set in the traditionally homophobic world of amateur hockey, this book follows gay goalie Cooper in his struggle with his feelings for a teammate and coming out to his team. Cooper has been hooking up with teammate Pesh in secret, and has to play along when Pesh dates a girl and even tolerate locker-room homophobic talk. When Pesh outs Cooper online, trying to better his own chances at playing pro, Cooper chooses self-esteem and honesty over sex. With a strong and relatable main character, this book is a realistic, positive look at teen relationships — gay or straight.

Open Secrets
Open Secrets

Author: Jennifer Manuel

Publisher: James Lorimer & Company

Published: 2021-02-16

Total Pages: 194

ISBN-13: 1459415892

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The #MeToo movement has revealed the prevalence of sexual assault in society, especially as committed by powerful men. But it is an issue that also affects the lives of teen girls. This book tells the the story of seventeen-year-old Ana Santos, who has ambitions to make it big in music and signs a contract with the owner of a music café without knowing there are sexual strings attached. It looks at the darker side of the music industry, including sexual harassment, lyrics that degrade and demean women and social media trolling as backlash for speaking up, all while presenting a strong, realistic main character who overcomes her feelings of shame to find a voice for herself and her music.

Creeboy
Creeboy

Author: Teresa Wouters

Publisher: James Lorimer & Company

Published: 2022-02-08

Total Pages: 130

ISBN-13: 1459416791

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Sixteen-year-old Josh is no stranger to gang life. His dad, the leader of the Warriors, a gang on their reserve, is in jail, and Josh’s older brother has taken charge. Josh’s mom has made it clear the Warriors and their violence aren’t welcome in her home — Josh’s dad and brother included. She wants Josh to focus on graduating high school. Josh is unsure whether gang life is for him — that is until gang violence arrives on his doorstep. Turning to the Warriors, Josh, now known as “Creeboy,” starts down the path to becoming a full gang member — cutting himself off from his friends, family and community outside the gang. It’s harder than ever for Creeboy to envision a different future for himself. Will anything change his mind?

Denial
Denial

Author: Lorna Schultz Nicholson

Publisher: James Lorimer & Company

Published: 2022-02-08

Total Pages: 178

ISBN-13: 1459416724

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It’s Nova’s final year of high school and everything is on track for an amazing year. She’s going to ace all her studies and go on to be a doctor. She’s got a spot on the swim team. And she’s in love for the first time — with Leo, the captain of the swim team. But things don’t turn out quite like Nova had planned. As her relationship with Leo intensifies, so does her obsession with him and her jealousy over his so-called friendship with another girl. The tighter she tries to hold on to him, the more he seems to pull away. The constant worry about the future of their relationship sends Nova spiralling into depression. Even she can’t believe how badly she’s handling things now. But could there be another reason for it, one she doesn’t even want to admit to herself?

Volleyball Vibe
Volleyball Vibe

Author: Karen Spafford-Fitz

Publisher: James Lorimer & Company

Published: 2020-09-15

Total Pages: 122

ISBN-13: 1459415507

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Highlighting girls' volleyball, a sport that has overtaken girls' basketball in popularity, Volleyball Vibe shows how engagement in sports can boost self-esteem, confidence, and foster responsibility and teamwork. The main character, Ria, is a teen girl living in Edmonton, Alberta, whose obsession with beauty and fashion leads her mother to insist that she either get a job or join a team sport. At an age when too many girls stop competing athletically, Ria discovers her own capabilities as well as the rewards of challenging herself and connecting with others on a team.

Easy Out
Easy Out

Author: Steven Sandor

Publisher: James Lorimer & Company

Published: 2020-02-04

Total Pages: 122

ISBN-13: 1459414888

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Westlock is an hour north of Edmonton, a prairie town with a long baseball history. But registrations are down, and there are only enough kids in town to fill one team. So Mo Montpetit's team is entered into the Baseball Alberta AA league. All the kids registered will be playing rep ball. No tryouts needed. Mo's dad is a baseball legend in Westlock. And that's Mo's problem. Mo isn't very good. He can't hit a rep-level fastball. And as the season starts, the strikeouts and errors mount. The Westlock team loses game after game. How can these kids, not ready for rep ball, compete in a league well above their heads? And how can Mo step out of his dad's long shadow?