Age Group:
Adult

Genre:
Wilderness Adventure, Canadian Literature, Historical Fiction, Humourous, Mystery, Native, Realistic, Suspense

Summary:
Wow, part murder-mystery, part wilderness adventure, part courtroom drama, part budding romance; this book has it all! Leckie succeeds in skillfully fusing these genres in a story that really keeps the pages turning!

Coppermine tells the remarkable tale (based on true events) of the disappearance of two Catholic priests in a remote Arctic region known as the Coppermine. Determined to solve the case, Northwest Mounted Police officer Jack Creed is joined by Angituk McAndrew, a young Inuit interpretor, on a year-long journey to uncover the mystery.

In a place called Bloody Falls, they discover the dismembered remains of the two missionaries. After some investigation, they track down the two Eskimo hunters responsible for the crime and the four begin the dangerous journey back to Edmonton. When the two hunters are brought to justice, no one can predict their fate, but Jack is determined to save them at all costs.

My Thoughts:
Kudos to Ruthanne for discovering this gem. It’s not usually the kind of book I would pick up to read, but I ended up really getting into it. I loved that it was full of many surprises and twists and turns, right until the very end. It had so much of what makes great fiction: an intriguing plot, charming characters and mysterious, magical surroundings. I highly recommend it!

Borrow Coppermine from your local Vaughan library today! If you’re interested in the true account of the Coppermine case, try Bloody Falls of the Coppermine: madness, murder, and the collision of cultures in the Arctic, 1913.

Share: Have you already heard of the Coppermine murders?Tell us what you know!

Illustrator:
Jillian Tamaki

Age Group:
Adult

Genre:
Canadian Literature, Realistic Fiction, GLBTQ, Graphic Novel, Humourous, Young Adult

Summary:
Kimberly Keiko Cameron, aka Skim, is just your average “not-slim, would be Wiccan goth” who attends a private school for girls. In this glimpse of life story, 16-year-old Skim finds herself at an interesting crossroads of self discovery.

When her classmate Katie Matthews is dumped by her boyfriend John, who later commits suicide, the gossip train starts. Soon rumours suggest that John was gay and suffering from a broken heart.

Alongside this plot, Skim finds herself falling in love. She’s not sure how to deal with all these new feelings, and things are about to get a whole lot more complicated.

My Thoughts:
A fast paced, whimsically illustrated graphic novel by the Tamaki cousins. Confronting many themes ranging from suicide, depression, and love to crushes, cliques and being gay or not, teens and adults alike will relate to Skim as she navigates the treacherous waters of high school.

Borrow Skim from your local Vaughan library today!

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Full Title:
That’s we don’t eat animals: A book about vegans, vegetarians, and all living things

Age Group:
Children

Genre:
Non-Fiction, Animal Welfare, Endangered Animals, Vegetarianism/Veganism, Picture Book

Summary:
Ruby Roth both writes and illustrates this compelling narrative contrasting the natural instincts of animals with the manufactured, industrial lives they are forced to endure.

With a sensitivity toward the subject matter and the tender ages of her young audience, Roth manages to convey a big message with minimal text. Her unique and modern illustrations evoke compassion while conveying the emotions of these sensitive creatures. In simple, straightforward language, Roth succeeds in transmitting a message that can be very complicated to explain to a young child.

My Thoughts:
This book is central to the issues of our times: preservation of the environment, concern for the welfare of animals, and the realization of our consumer power.

I wish I had read this kind of book when I was an 11-year-old child making the choice to become vegetarian. It would have validated my decision and provided me with the confidence and knowledge to defend my choice. This is a meaningful book to teach children about the vegetarian/vegan lifestyle.

Borrow That’s why we don’t eat animals from your local Vaughan library today!

Share: Are you vegetarian/vegan and why?
Have you recently considered becoming a vegetarian/vegan?