When a surge of electricity wakes up the mummy, Alex and his best friend Freddie fall through a door into the night sky and find themselves on a mission to help a cadaver named Costas to cross the river Styx and clear his name from a false accusation for murder. Kids Can Press 2005 1-55337-709-5 IL: 5-7ġ2 year old Alex’s mother died three years ago and his still grieving father is opening a museum of oddities that features an ancient Greek corpse. Oliver soon becomes involved, with his new friends, in a fight to save the pond, for creatures that he had never before given a second thought. Suddenly, he enters the pond world where he becomes friends with a salamander named Mooch and crow named Antoine. Amazing things start to happen when Oliver finds a magical gem, which allows him to change into what ever pond creature he is touching. Then his family moves to a run down house near a pond. Oliver is a lonely 10 year old boy who loves to watch TV and pull the wings off flies just to hear them snap. However, healing comes about in some unexpected ways… Things become even more complicated when her mother hires Angus, a patient from the local mental hospital to work their fields, despite the neighbors’ disapproval. (Apr.Groundwood Books 2005 0-88899-695-0 IL: 5-8įor 12 year old Emaline, losing her father, her dog and her health because of a terrible farm accident seems like an insurmountable tragedy.

The main characters’ devotion to the arts enriches the drama the conclusion, while somewhat facile, is nevertheless satisfying. Rocchelli combines with despair at her parents’ separation and the ups and downs of her new friendships. Hrdlitschka (Sister Wife) realistically depicts teenage emotional turmoil as Allegra’s growing obsession with Mr.

Meanwhile, Allegra’s rock-star father realizes, a little too late, that his life on the road has estranged his wife, a classically trained harpist.

The composition takes over Allegra’s life, as she uncovers her talent, skill, and excitement for the art form, which comes hand in hand with a budding infatuation with Mr. Rocchelli, who challenges her to compose a complex piece of music. But the most important relationship she starts to build is with the young, handsome, and charismatic music teacher, Mr. Even Allegra’s lifelong social anxiety seems to be improving, since friendships come more easily at the new school, including a potential romance. In Hrdlitschka’s absorbing exploration of contemporary teen life, aspiring dancer Allegra Whitford, daughter of two musicians, is allowed to focus on her passion by spending her senior year at a performing arts high school, Deer Lake.

Sun Signs by Shelley Hrdlitschka