Category: Fall 2019

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2020 BC Book Prize Winner

The BC and Yukon Book Prizes, established in 1985, celebrate the achievements of British Columbia writers and publishers. We would like to congratulate Kyo Maclear and Julie Morstad whose beautiful book It Began With a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way won the Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize!

It Began With a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way
By Kyo Maclear
Illustrated by Julie Morstad
48 Pages | Ages 5-9 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781101918593 | Tundra Books
Growing up quiet and lonely at the beginning of the twentieth century, Gyo learned from her relatives the ways in which both women and Japanese people lacked opportunity. Her teachers and family believed in her and sent her to art school and later Japan, where her talent flourished. But while Gyo’s career grew and led her to work for Walt Disney Studios, World War II began, and with it, her family’s internment. But Gyo never stopped fighting — for herself, her vision, her family and her readers — and later wrote and illustrated the first children’s book to feature children of different races interacting together. This luminous new book beautifully and openly touches on Gyo’s difficult experiences and growth. Through Julie Morstad’s exquisite illustrations, alternating between striking black-and-white linework and lush colour, and Kyo Maclear’s artful and accessible writing, the story of this cherished figure is told at last.

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Hamilton Public Library Junior Teen Top Novel 2020 Winner

The Hamilton Public Library Summer Reading Club has voted for their favourite novel from a set of four options. We would like to congratulate Eric Walters and Kathy Kacer whose novel, Broken Strings, is the Junior Teen Top Novel Winner.

Broken Strings
By Eric Walters and Kathy Kacer
288 Pages | Ages 10-14 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780735266247 | Puffing Canada
It’s 2002. In the aftermath of the twin towers – and the death of her beloved grandmother – Shirli Berman is intent on moving forward. The best singer in her junior high, she auditions for the lead role in Fiddler on the Roof, but is crushed to learn that she’s been given the part of the old Jewish mother in the musical rather than the coveted part of the sister. But there is an upside: her “husband” is none other than Ben Morgan, the cutest and most popular boy in the school. Deciding to throw herself into the role, she rummages in her grandfather’s attic for some props. There, she discovers an old violin in the corner – strange, since her Zayde has never seemed to like music, never even going to any of her recitals. Showing it to her grandfather unleashes an anger in him she has never seen before, and while she is frightened of what it might mean, Shirli keeps trying to connect with her Zayde and discover the awful reason behind his anger. A long-kept family secret spills out, and Shirli learns the true power of music, both terrible and wonderful.

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2020 The Christophers Award

First presented in 1949, the Christopher Awards honors outstanding books that encourage people to pursue excellence in creative arenas. We would like to congratulate Mireille Messier and Kass Reich whose book, Sergeant Billy: The True Story of the Goat Who Went to War, won a Christopher Award in the Books for Young People Category.

Sergeant BillySergeant Billy: The True Story of the Goat Who Went to War
By Mireille Messier
Illustrated by Kass Reich
40 Pages | Ages 4-8 |  Hardcover
ISBN 9780735264427 | Tundra Books
During World War I, a goat named Billy was adopted by a platoon of soldiers and made his way across the ocean to be part of the war effort. This charming true story follows Sergeant Billy from his small prairie town to the trenches of World War I and back, through harrowing moments, sad moments, moments of camaraderie and moments of celebration. This unforgettable goat and the platoon that loved him will capture your heart!

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2020 Boston Globe-Horn Book Nonfiction Award Honor Book

Since 1967, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards has been celebrating excellence in chidren’s and young adult literature. Last week, they announced the 2020 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winners and we would like to congratulate Kyo Maclear and Julie Morstad. Their beautiful book, It Began With a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way has been named an non-fiction honor book.

It Began With a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way
By Kyo Maclear
Illustrated by Julie Morstad
48 Pages | Ages 5-9 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781101918593 | Tundra Books
“Author Maclear lucidly outlines a remarkable life of art and creativity, of struggle and perseverance…The telling makes smooth transitions between stages in Fujikawa’s life, culminating in the publication of Babies in 1963…Morstad’s illustrations – in liquid watercolor, gouache, and pencil crayons – effectively vary in style and coloring to match events…During scene of Babies‘s creation, the art capably mimics Fujikawa’s own, with a diverse cast of frolicsome tots dotting an open layout.” — The Horn Book

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Putting the YA in FRIYAY: Penguin Teen Social Trivia Night

Today we’re hosting our third #PenguinTeenSocial event – trivia night! We’ll be joined by four very special authors: Katie Heaney, Marie Lu, Jo Treggiari, and Rory Power. Scroll down for a list of their most recent releases and RSVP here if you want to join us tonight!

Girl Crushed
By Katie Heaney
352 Pages | Ages 12+
ISBN 9781984897343 | Knopf BFYR
Release date: April 7, 2020
 
Before Quinn Ryan was in love with Jamie Rudawski, she loved Jamie Rudawski, who was her best friend. But when Jamie dumps Quinn a month before their senior year, Quinn is suddenly girlfriend-less and best friend-less.
 
Enter a new crush: Ruby Ocampo, the gorgeous and rich lead singer of the popular band Sweets, who’s just broken up with her on-again, off-again boyfriend. Quinn’s always only wanted to be with Jamie, but if Jamie no longer wants to be with her, why can’t Quinn go all in on Ruby? But the closer Quinn grows to Ruby, the more she misses Jamie, and the more (she thinks) Jamie misses her. Who says your first love can’t be your second love, too?
 
The Kingdom of Back
By Marie Lu
336 Pages | Ages 12+
ISBN 9781524739010 | Putnam BFYR
Release date: March 3, 2020
 
Born with a gift for music, Nannerl Mozart has just one wish–to be remembered forever. But even as she delights audiences with her masterful playing, she has little hope she’ll ever become the acclaimed composer she longs to be. She is a young woman in 18th century Europe, and that means composing is forbidden to her. She will perform only until she reaches a marriageable age--her tyrannical father has made that much clear.
 
And as Nannerl’s hope grows dimmer with each passing year, the talents of her beloved younger brother, Wolfgang, only seem to shine brighter. His brilliance begins to eclipse her own, until one day a mysterious stranger from a magical land appears with an irresistible offer. He has the power to make her wish come true–but his help may cost her everything.
 
The Grey Sisters
By Jo Treggiari
228 Pages | Ages 12+
ISBN 9780735262980 | Penguin Teen Canada
Release date: September 24, 2019
 
D and Spider have always been close friends, and they are further united in their shared heartbreak: they both lost siblings in a horrific plane crash two years earlier. A chance sighting of a beloved cuddly toy in a photograph of the only survivor spurs D to finally seek closure. She and Spider and their friend, Min, set off on a road trip to the mountainside site of that terrible crash.
 
Ariel has lived on the mountain all her life. She and her extended family are looked down upon by neighboring townsfolk and she has learned to live by her wits, trusting few people outside of her isolated, survivalist community. A terrifying attack sends her down the mountain for help; on her way, she comes upon the three girls — a chance encounter that will have far-reaching consequences for them all.
 
Burn Our Bodies Down
By Rory Power
352 Pages | Ages 14+
ISBN 9780525645627 | Delacorte Press
Release date: July 7, 2020
 
Ever since Margot was born, it’s been just her and her mother. No answers to Margot’s questions about what came before. No history to hold on to. No relative to speak of. Just the two of them, stuck in their run-down apartment, struggling to get along. But that’s not enough for Margot. She wants family. She wants a past. And she just found the key she needs to get it: A photograph, pointing her to a town called Phalene. Pointing her home. Only, when Margot gets there, it’s not what she bargained for.
 
Margot’s mother left for a reason. But was it to hide her past? Or was it to protect Margot from what’s still there? The only thing Margot knows for sure is there’s poison in their family tree, and their roots are dug so deeply into Phalene that now that she’s there, she might never escape.
 

Can’t make it tonight? Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of chances to catch up with the Penguin Teen Canada team and talk YA books – check out our full schedule of #PenguinTeenSocial events coming up this month!

Tundra Book Group