Topic: Family and friendship
List of entries
Kim’s Convenience is a play that follows the lives of the Kimfamily, first-generation Korean immigrants running a conveniencestore in Toronto’s Regent Park. Mr. Kim (Appa) is determined tosecure his family’s future through the store, hoping his daughterJanet will take over the business. However, Janet dreams of acareer in photography and resists her father’s wishes. Meanwhile,the […]
Drawing on her own experiences as the daughter of a Ghanaianmother and a white British father, Afua Hirsch’s Brit(ish): On Race,Identity and Belonging explores the complexities of race,belonging, and identity in contemporary Britain. Hirsch combinespersonal narrative with interviews and broader reflections onBritish history, colonialism, and current social issues. Sheexamines how the legacy of empire, the […]
Smugglers’ Fox is a coming-of-age novel that follows Jonah andhis younger brother Rio, who have always relied on each other,especially during their mother’s unpredictable absences. Whentheir mother disappears after an incident at the beach, socialservices decide to separate the boys, sending Jonah to live with afoster carer named Mimi in Robin Hood’s Bay. Jonah is […]
This graphic novel tells the story of Ebo, a twelve-year-old boy from a small African village. When Ebo’s brother and sister both set out on the journey to Europe in search of safety and a better life, Ebo follows, determined not to be left behind. His epic journey takes him across the Sahara Desert, through the dangerous streets of Tripoli, and onto the treacherous waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Illegal addresses contemporary issues such as forced migration, human trafficking, and the refugee crisis. The story is inspired by real events and provides a resource for discussing migration, human rights, and empathy.
Inspired by the true story of an Arctic fox’s extraordinary 2,000-mile migration from Norway to Canada, the book follows Leila as she travels to Norway to reconnect with her estranged mother, a climate scientist. Together, they join an expedition tracking Miso’s perilous trek across the Arctic, a journey driven bythe need to survive in a world altered by climate change. The narrative draws parallels between Miso’s migration and Leila’s own experience fleeing Syria, exploring themes of displacement, resilience, belonging, and the search for home.
The story follows Ajay, a street child abandoned on the Mumbai railways, who survives by selling newspapers but dreams of becoming a journalist. When Ajay discovers an old printing press, he and his friends launch their own newspaper, The Mumbai Sun. Their reporting leads them to uncover a corrupt scheme by powerful builders and politicians to demolish a neighboring slum, threatening to leave hundreds homeless. This novel addresses themes of ambition, resilience, friendship, and the power of words to create change. It is an excellent resource for exploring social justice and civic responsibility with students aged 8–12. The narrative encourages critical thinking about ethics, corruption, and the role of the media in society. It provides opportunities for discussions on poverty, homelessness, and the importance of community action.
“The Way Home for Wolf” follows the journey of Wilf, a young wolf cub who is as headstrong as he is adorable. The story begins as Wilf’s wolf pack decides to leave their home in search of better hunting grounds. Confident in his abilities, Wilf insists he doesn’t need anyone’s help. However, when a blizzard separates him from his family, the young wolf finds himself lost in the wilderness. “The Way Home for Wolf” is a tale about growing up and learning to rely on others. It gently teaches children that independence is admirable, but there’s also strength in accepting support when needed.
“The Koala Who Could“ tells the story of Kevin, a koala who is afraid of change and prefers to stay in his comfort zone high up in his eucalyptus tree. Kevin’s world is turned upside down when his tree begins to shake, and he’s forced to face his fears. The story follows his journey as he learns to embrace new experiences and overcome his anxieties with the help of his animal friends. “The Koala Who Could” is a tale about personal growth and resilience. It encourages children to step out of their comfort zones and discover the exciting possibilities that await them.
“Grandude’s Green Submarine” is the sequel to Paul McCartney’s children’s book “Hey Grandude!,” continuing the whimsical adventures of Grandude and his grandchildren. The story follows Grandude as he receives a mysterious postcard from his old bandmate, Ringo, who appears to be in trouble. Without hesitation, Grandude and the children hop aboard his newly introduced green submarine to rescue their friend. “Grandude’s Green Submarine” not only entertains but also subtly educates young readers about marine life and the wonders of the ocean.
A Curse So Dark And Lonely is a fantasy retelling of the famous fairy tale Beauty and the Beast set in a modern-day world. The female protagonist Harper, who has Cerebral Palsy, is swept into the parallel fantasy world of Emberfall after witnessing and trying to stop a kidnapping. In this new world, the realm […]
Love Letters to the Dead follows Laurel on her journey of coming of age and grief. The novel’s journey begins with a simple task in her English class where her teacher asks her to write a letter to any dead person of her choosing. Laurel dedicates her first letter to Kurt Cobain telling him about […]
War, love, journalism and the emotional impact of written words. In a magical world with two gods at war, 18-year-old Iris Winnow has to navigate her life after her brother was drafted into the war. With the dream of writing texts that will eventually have an impact, Iris secures a job for the Oath Gazette, […]
Chuck Mullin’s Bird Brain: Comics About Mental Health, Starring Pigeons, as the title already suggests, is a collection of several smaller comics depicting independent situations where pigeons discuss mental health issues. The individual comics range from one to four panels in colour. The book aims to reach a variety of audiences as, on one side, […]
The moving coming-of-age novel tells the story of Kirali Lewis, a young woman from Australia of South East Australian Aboriginal heritage. However, Kirali has no personal connection to her heritage as she did not grow up in its community or with the Aborigines’ traditions- Kiralli was adopted by a white family. Her story begins in […]
This intriguing whodunit follows a group of five students in their investigation concerning the murder of Simon, Bayview High’s resident gossiper. He dies just 24 hours before posting the students’ deepest secrets on his gossip app ‘About That’. But who is the culprit and what were they trying to hide? From resident jock to star […]
This animated short film will tug at your heart strings, no dialogue needed. When a Chinese-Canadian mother’s son leaves the nest, she is heartbroken and lonely. Her heartache is only soothed when she finds an adorable little steamed bun has come alive on her plate. Having something to take care of gives her a new […]
This novella addresses present-day themes and issues wrapped up in a far from realistic scenario. When Esther and her friends are approached by a billionaire, the challenge they were confronted with was not one they expected. In return for a thousand dollars each, they have to give up their smartphones for six weeks. But what […]
In this epistolary novel, the speaker “Little Dog” addresses his mother who cannot read. The letters narrate the complicated story of the speaker’s family history. They are not limited to Little Dog’s life, but instead include themes such as the lasting impact of war and struggles of immigration. Whereas the text’s level of difficulty is […]