Tundra Books is one of my favorite publishers. They focus on children and teens and I've found them to be a particular source of interesting nonfiction. They're also Canadian so the subjects are sometimes a little different from what American pubs release and I find that to be especially refreshing. Here's some of what Tundra has on tap for the fall:
Word Nerd by Susin Nielsen: "In this brilliantly observed novel, author Susin Nielsen transports the reader to the world of competitive Scrabble as seen from the honest yet funny viewpoint of a boy who’s searching for acceptance and for a place to call home."
The Scrabble caught me on this one and also that the protagonist (Ambrose) is homeschooled and makes friends across the spectrum. A "shared love of words" - how can you resist?
Tales From Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan: "Through a series of captivating and sophisticated illustrated stories, Tan explores the precious strangeness of our existence. He gives us a portrait of modern suburban existence filtered through a wickedly Monty Pythonesque lens. Whether it’s discovering that the world really does stop at the end of the city’s map book, or a family’s lesson in tolerance through an alien cultural exchange student, Tan’s deft, sweet social satire brings us face-to-face with the humor and absurdity of modern life."
The Arrival is actually not my favorite Tan book - not by a longshot. I love his work, all of it, and just from the cover alone he has me with this one. (See an interview with Tan about the book and a few images here.)
The Ancient Ocean Blues by Jack Mitchell: "Anyone who thinks ancient history is dry will think again after dipping into these ocean blues. Here, political corruption, intrigue, high-seas adventure, romance, and comedy are all presented in abundance by the likable Marcus Oppius Sabinus, a teenager with a very contemporary attitude. Marcus is unwittingly involved by his cousin in “promoting� the ambitious young Julius Caesar in an upcoming Roman election. When Marcus proves to be even better at bribery than his cousin had hoped, he is assigned a difficult and dangerous mission. He must spy on, and undermine, those who would support Cicero’s control of Rome, so that Julius Caesar can continue his power grab. "
Ancient history, spying, adventure. This sounds very very cool.
The Little Toy Shop by Frances Wolfe: "Come and explore Mr. Kringle’s special little toy shop, where he spends his days helping every customer find just the right toy. When a box arrives at the shop with a small stuffed bunny inside, Mr. Kringle determines to find him a loving home in time for Christmas. Could the little girl who peers through the toy-shop window be the one who provides just the home he seeks?"
These stories get me every damn time. I always cry...and I always come back for more.
Dear Toni by Cyndi Sand-Eveland: "When sixth-grader Gene Tucks moves south, she dreads being the new kid at school and almost everything else about her life as a “nobody.� But what she dreads most is the hundred-day journal-writing assignment her teacher has given the class. His brilliant idea is to have the journals locked in the town museum’s vault for forty years so that future grade-sixers can read them. "
This looks like a nice MG journal-type story about growing up but what I really liked was that Toni's family sounded pretty darn typical: "Gene’s family is in transition to say the least. Her dad is looking for work, they are moving — again, her brother is the bane of her existence, and, more than anything else in the world, Gene wants something she can’t have — a dog. Toni is the first to learn that Gene is moving to a rent-free empty apartment at the back of a gas station, so her dad can manage it. And wonder of wonders, the owner’s dog needs looking after. Not just any dog; a St. Bernard who happens to have three pups."
It might be too overwrought - we'll have to see how the author does. But I'm a sucker for a kid and puppies and do enjoy the journal format.
