Synopsis Julie Tennant's grandmother dies two months before summer vacation. Julie is devastated but like any fifteen-year-old the desire to have fun with friends at times overcomes her sadness. Harris Vane gives Julie her first kiss but that night he takes Meg to the beach party. Although Harris has his arm around Meg, he stares at Julie through the bonfire flames and suddenly asks Julie to sit with him. He then recounts the legend of his Great Aunt Veronica who drowned at the beach sixty years ago.
Synopsis Soft CoverRecommended for ages 8 and upLaurence is a young boy growing up during the Depression. Being poor is the only life he knows. He lives in a haunted house and is bothered by the resident ghost. At school he faces a crabby teacher, and the school bully. A sister who sometimes tattles on him must also be endured. Life isn't all bad. Good friends, a blood brother, a man named Running Bear, and Laurence's dog, Spot, share Laurence's enjoyment of life and exciting adventures.
Synopsis >Recommended for ages 8 and upHappiness and sadness follow the thirteen year-old Laurence through the second book in the series:'The Trapper'.His friends: a new pet named Henrietta; working on Uncle Andy's farm; and a trip to the Toronto Exhibition, bring joy. A father who is out of work; a dog that is costing the family money; the death of a classmate; and the departure of Running Bear, cause sorrow. Then danger appears in the form of two armed and vicious bank robbers: Gunter Hamm and Fred Oxford. Laurence becomes their captive.Follow Laurence?s adventures in the first and last books in the series: Laurence, The Champion and Laurence, The Worker.
Synopsis >Recommended for ages 8 and upIn the final book of the Laurence triogy, Laurence turns 14, moves to town, and begins high school. The move meant Laurence left behind his good friends, and animal pets.His enemy Mitch returns to threaten him. Disappointments and loneliness push him towards a new group of friends who do 'exciting' things. Even though he is a hard-working young man, there is always time for mischief. Will his new friends lead him into serious trouble? A meeting with Grandpa Moses, and Dave Browning, a young man who will die in the War, and the memories of Running Bear help to protect Laurence.The first two books are: Laurence, The Champion and Laurence the Trapper.
Synopsis Recommended for ages 10-1612 year-old Christina (Tissy) Matthews spends four weeks of her summer vacation with her mother's relatives at their newly purchased house in the country. When she arrives she meets Norma, the young girl who lives across the road. Norma tells Tissy about the ghost of Mary O'Hanlan that haunts her cousin's house. As the ghost becomes more and more apparent to Tissy, she and Norma decide to investigate why the ghost is not at rest and to help her. They hold a séance and discover that the ghost of Mary O'Hanlan wants to know the truth about what happened to her father who disappeared without a trace 95 years earlier. The townspeople had started a rumour that Mary's mother murdered her father and buried him on the property and Mary and her mother became life-long outcasts in the community. Tissy and Norma enlist the aid of local reporter, Wade Hemming, and together they discover the truth behind the mystery.
Synopsis Recommended for ages 10-16 Tissy Matthews is excited about beginning grade 7 and hanging out with her friends. But she does worry what kind of teacher Mrs. Ward will be because she's heard that she loves nature a little too much. A new girl joins her class this year named Lara. Although Tracy and Karen immediately decide that Lara tries to act too old for her age, Tissy and Rachel take the time to get to know her. They include her in their activities and quickly discover that Lara is a lot of fun to be around. But signs of a stressed home life soon become obvious. Although Lara is very private about her personal life, Tissy can't help but wonder what is going on that Lara doesn't want to share with her friends. As their friendship strengthens, Lara becomes more comfortable with Tissy and eventually entrusts her with a secret she has never revealed before. As certain events unfold, Tissy's mother also feels it?s the right time to tell her something from the past leaving Tissy with "Secrets I Know."
Synopsis Recommended for ages 10 and upShona does not want to move to Winnipeg, Canada, but at 12 years-old she has little choice. Determined never to forget her home community of Moodiesburn, near Glasgow, she starts visiting all her favourite places including Ballayn Castle with its hand in the stone.Before she is fully aware of what is happening, she and her cousin Davey are drawn back in time to 1567 when Ballayn is being enlarged, political intrigue is rife, and a terrible murder is about to be committed.Unable to return to 1967, Shona and Davey find themselves caught in the past. Will they make it back to the present in time for Shona to go to Canada? Or will they be trapped forever beneath the hand in the stone?
Synopsis Recommended for ages 10-16VOW OF FRIENDSHIP is the story of an 11 year-old girl, Christina ('Tissy') Matthews and her group of five friends, Rachel, Tracy, Anna, Karen, and Cameron. The story follows the group of friends through their grade six school year and how each deals with peer-pressure, an awakening interest in boys, their families and each other. Tissy learns some important life lessons after being mean to a 'nerdy' boy in school, egging a neighbour's house and being pressured to steal some candy. The group of friends manages to work through their many disagreements and although each member of the group is very different from the others, at the end of the school year they all take a Vow of Friendship to remain friends forever.
