National Network for Equitable Library Service

Noah Thorpe is spending the school term in George River, in Quebec's Far North, where his dad is an English teacher in the Inuit community. Noah's not too keen about living in the middle of nowhere, but getting away from Montreal has one big advantage: he gets a break from the bully at his old school. But Noah learns that problems have a way of following you -- no matter how far you travel. To the Inuit kids, Noah is a qallunaaq, a southerner, someone ignorant of the customs of the North.

Ben is determined to learn to surf. In the rough North Atlantic waters near his home, only the tough can make it on the waves. His first attempt is a disaster. Then he meets Ray, a surfing veteran from California. Ray promises to teach him to surf, and to face his inner demons. As Ben becomes more comfortable with his board, he learns to face his fears and prove that he has what it takes to become a Wave Warrior.

Seventeen-year-old Daniel gets caught up in a postgame riot. And then he and his best friend escape police by breaking into a store. They only intend to cut through to the alley, but rioters follow and trash the place. Daniel prevents an arsonist from torching the store. The next day, he’s a hero while his friend is outed as a rioter. Can Daniel save face, and will it cost him his friend?

Ever since he watched his little brother drown last summer, Dylan has felt like he's losing it. He can't shake the nightmares that plague him, dreams from which he wakes up screaming every night. Dylan takes a summer job at a remote wilderness hotel, hoping to leave his problems behind. But when he volunteers to help close up the resort for the winter, things only get worse. Edward, the hotel manager, seems to be out to get him. A freak snowstorm blocks the road to the resort, leaving them trapped for days.

Kat is thrilled to be competing in a junior tennis championship at Melbourne Park for the first time. But things are off to a horrible start. Her doubles partner, Miri, is sneaking around at night and asking Kat to cover for her. She's also playing terribly, almost costing them their match. Miri's boyfriend, Hamish, one of the top competitors, seems unaware of her unusual behavior. When strange things begin happening to throw off Hamish's game, Kat suspects that Miri may be involved. Who is trying to sabotage Hamish? And can Kat put a stop to the plot before it's too late?

Jake has finally got his driver's license, and tonight he has his brother's car as well. He and his friend Mickey take the car out and cruise the strip. When they challenge another driver to a street race, a disastrous chain reaction causes an accident. Jake and Mickey leave the scene, trying to convince themselves they were not involved. Jake finds he cannot pretend it didn't happen and struggles with the right thing to do. Should he pretend he was not involved? Or should he go to the police?

Sam’s grandfather vanished from his life the day Sam’s father was buried. Now, ten years later, Grandpa Max wants to make amends. He sends letters that lead Sam on a scavenger hunt. Sam follows his grandfather’s bizarre instructions even though he’s still not ready to forgive. Sam copes with his anger at his grandfather by climbing onto roofs and leaving his tag, a spray-painted symbol for the planet Aquarius. It doesn’t take long for Sam to learn that the way of the rebel has a price.

When sixteen-year-old Hannah gets stung, she rises out of her body, where she's greeted by her dead boyfriend, Logan, and a loving but unseen presence. She wants to stay with them. They say no. She must go back. There's something she must do. But Hannah can't figure out what it is. Nor can she make sense of the weird things happening around her. Since the sting, she seems to have the ability to heal. Hannah doesn't know what to think. And then she faces another challenge: Logan has a purpose in mind for her new gift. And it's a purpose Hannah can't bear to face.

Calvin is the smallest guy in his high school, and a perfect target for Rozelle and her girl gang. His mother is dead, his father is long gone and his only remaining relative, his grandmother, is getting too sick to run her dry cleaning business. The only time Calvin feels in control is when he's working his yo-yo. When he takes up street performing, Rozelle demands a cut and insists on being his manager.

Danny thinks he must be the only seventeen-year-old guy in Cape Breton – in Nova Scotia, maybe – who doesn't have his life figured out. His buddy Kierce has a rule for every occasion, and his best friend Jay has bad grades, no plans and no worries. Danny's dad nags him about his post-high-school plans, his friends bug him about girls and a run-in with the cops means he has to get a summer job. Worst of all, he's keeping a secret that could ruin everything.