National Network for Equitable Library Service

Nobby, short for Zenobia, meets an older girl, Zilla, when her family goes on holiday. Zilla is developmentally disabled, but much more fun than the average teenager. The friendship grows until Uncle Chad shows up. He is snooty and sometimes unthinkingly cruel to Zilla. Prejudices and attitudes take a surprising turn when Uncle Chad gets hurt during a storm and it is Zilla who generously comes to the rescue.

The Trillium Award-winning autobiographical novel "La mauvaise mere" by Marguerite Andersen is now in English. Prolific author Marguerite Andersen traces the important moments of her life in this honest and harrowing examination of motherhood. She gives an unflinching account of her relationship with her three children and her years spent following her caprices and lovers, trying to regain the agency she lost when she became a mother. Born in Germany, Andersen was fifteen years old when World War II began.

After losing her job and learning she might also lose her house because of a bad investment, Jess, a fiercely independent and hilariously wry BC grandma, resorts to growing pot in her basement to make ends meet. She then has to juggle her public life as a grandmother and member of the town’s senior women’s group – The Company of Crones – with her secret life as a pot grower. The unusual characters she meets along the way include Swan, the enigmatic young woman who introduces her to the grower’s world, and Marcus, the socially awkward “gardener” who shows her the tricks of the trade.

Rose decides to have a sleepover party for her birthday. What she thought was a great idea turns into a nightmare when the two most popular girls in the class declare they won’t attend if Rose insists on inviting her best friend, Stacy.

Ezzie has friends and a loving family who never maker her feel that she is "fat." But sometimes schoolmates tease her. Ezzie's bravery makes others realize she is more than simply "the fat girl." For ages 6-10

My name is Lee Mets (honest), and this is my book I’m part of the writing club, which is fantastic, since what I want to be most is a writer. My mother says that girls don’t grow up to be writers, they can only be nurses or teachers. But it’s the 1960s, not the 50s or 40s, and I think she may be wrong. Mrs. Gowdy, who is my writing teacher, says that I have a gift. I’m going to use it to tell you the story of my summer. It was a summer that was both wonderful and terribly sad. The sad part is still painful for me to write about, but I will because that’s what writers do.

Poppy isn't very pleased. Her father is a pain. And the worst of it is that she is stuck with him for a whole weekend while her mother and brother are away. Suddenly, the monster on the cereal box miraculously comes to life. He is wonderfully understanding, ready to make her problems all disappear -- literally -- including her father!

Tory has been bumped from foster home to foster home for most of her nine years. Living with yet another new family, this time on a horse ranch for the summer, she falls in love with Lucky, the friendly pony she is allowed to ride. A nearby forest fire forces the family to evacuate, and Tory is devastated when Lucky has to be left behind. With no choice but to stay in town until it’s safe to go back to the ranch, Tory feels as out of place as ever, and her worry for Lucky’s safety makes matters worse. Like Tory, Lucky is a survivor.

Thirteen-year-old Rabia, along with her mother and younger brother, flee Afghanistan and the brutal Taliban for Pakistan. Relocating to North America, their flight falls on the fateful morning of 9/11. After the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City, their plane is diverted to Gander, Newfoundland. Also on the plane is an American boy named Colin, who struggles with his prejudices against Rabia and her family.

Her name is Sadie, but she might as well be called Fostergirl. Grouphomegirl. That’s how everyone thinks of her. Sadie doesn’t care. In fact, she’d be happier if they didn’t think of her at all. Her goal is to go unnoticed, to disappear. After living in twelve different foster homes, Sadie’s learned that nothing good comes from being noticed. Now here she is again, this time in a small town. There’s a new high school, another new group home to get used to – lucky number 13. But Sadie’s not finding it easy to stay beneath the radar.