Special Collections
High Interest Y. A. Novels
Description: High Interest, Low Vocabulary books are for teenagers looking to advance their reading capabilities. Perfect for emerging teen readers. #teens
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Dead in the Water
by Robin StevensonDespite his father's opposition, Simon "Spacey" Drake is determined to become a long-distance sailor, so he signs up for a week-long live-aboard sailing course. The trip gets off to a rough start, but the real trouble begins when Simon and Olivia, another student, get curious about a nearby cabin cruiser in an anchorage. They investigate and stumble upon an abalone poaching operation, but the poachers have far too much at stake to let a couple of kids get in their way. Simon has always believed that the only person you can count on is yourself, but when he and Olivia find their lives in danger, he knows they will have to work with the rest of the crew if they are to survive.
First Time
by Meg TillyHaley and Lynn are best friends. When Lynn meets Chad, a player several years older, Haley feels left out. She tries to be happy for her friend, but when her mother's new boyfriend starts making unwanted advances, Haley finds she has no one to tell. Not wanting to upset her mother's happiness and finding that Lynn is drifting away, Haley has to face her tormentor alone and face up to some very hard truths.
Never to be Told
by Becky CitraAsia has lived with elderly Ira and his wife Maddy on their farm for as long as she can remember. When Ira has a heart attack Asia's world is turned upside down. Faced with the possibility of losing the only family she has ever known, Asia is frightened but fascinated by the appearance of a ghost that only she can see and hear.
Warden of Greyrock
by K. V. JohansenIn this third volume of the Warlocks of Talverdin series, Maurey must make an impossible choice while Annot, Baroness of Oakhold, fights for freedom; should either fail, Talverdin will fail.
Runaway
by Becky CitraMax is horrified when he sees Sam Black, a new neighbor, strike a boy who is in his charge, but Max still shouts, "Thief," and tries to catch the boy when he sees him steal from the General Store in The Landings. When the abused boy runs away and takes refuge in Max's secret fort in the woods, Max must decide where his loyalties lie.
Out
by Sandra DierschAfter several shocking events, Alex must decide where his loyalties and beliefs lie.
Every Move
by Peter McpheeEdgy and suspenseful young adult fiction that explores topics teens want to read about. It begins with a chance encounter: teenage Emily and her friends come to the aid of a stranger who is being bullied by a gang. Emily forgets about the incident, but the young man she helped becomes fixated on her. Only when her real love interest is attacked does she begin to understand that the stranger's interest in her has become a full-blown obsession. Every Move is a realistic but chilling look at this threatening and all-too-common form of harassment.
Home Ice
by Beatrice VanderveldeTori is staying with family near Toronto while her parents deal with troubles back home. To keep a sense of normalcy, she joins the Rangers--the worst hockey team in the league.
Me, Myself and Ike
by K. L. DenmanSeventeen-year-old Kit is paranoid, confused and alone, but neither he nor his family and friends understand what is happening to him.
The Solstice Cup
by Rachel Dunstan MullerOn a visit to Ireland, twin sisters are lured into the "Otherworld," where a dangerous enchantment threatens to separate them.
Kat's Fall
by Shelley HrdlitschkaDarcy's mother is getting out of jail. Ten years ago Darcy's mom was convicted of throwing Darcy's baby sister off a fifth-floor balcony. Kat survived, but Darcy has spent the last decade raising his sister, giving her the love and support she has been denied by an absent mother and an uncaring father. Now, with their mother about to be released, their father has decided he has had enough of parental responsibility and is determined to return the children to their mother's care. Darcy is horrified, and adamant that he will not subject his sister to the woman who once tried to murder her. Struggling to understand and control the anger and resentment that has consumed him, Darcy is forced to confront his feelings and engage with the outside world. With newfound friendships and the unflagging support of his teacher, Darcy is able to understand some of the pain of the past and accept that he cannot control everything. As he grudgingly re-establishes ties with the mother he thinks he hates, he is accused of a horrific act. It will take incredible strength—his own and others—to fight the charges, but he finds that truth is often an elusive concept and that trust—and love—are powerful allies.
One More Step
by Sheree FitchFourteen-year-old Julian's parents separated when he was a baby and he is still angry and hurt. His mother has had relationships since -- all of which have ended disastrously -- but this time it seems serious. Jean-Paul looks like he might be the real thing. Julian is wary and critical as he comes to terms with the fact that he and his brother may have to let down their defences and allow their mother to find happiness. On a road trip with his mother and her new beau, Julian finds that love and happiness come in many guises. In the end, he realizes that it is not blood that determines true family, but the willingness to stand together.
Thunderbowl
by Lesley ChoyceJeremy's band, Thunderbowl, is hot, and they have had their first big break -- a long-term gig at a local bar. The problem is that while Jeremy should be keeping up with his school work, he is spending most nights in a rowdy club, trying to keep the band together. Balancing dreams of success with the realities of the music business force Jeremy to make tough choices.
The Hemingway Tradition
by Kristin ButcherShaw is trying to outrun his father's ghost. (Orca Soundings)
Dead End Job
by Vicki GrantFrances works the night shift at a local convenience store, dividing her time between restocking shelves and working on her art. Her routine is broken one night when Devin comes into the store. He claims to be the son of a famous local artist and offers her advice on her drawings. Although he seems to know way too much about her, Frances decides, against the advice of her boyfriend, that he is odd but harmless. By the time she realizes the danger she is in, Devin is completely obsessed with her and convinced that if he can't have her, no one will. Frances will be forced to use all her strength to escape from Devin.
Nightwalker
by K. V. JohansenIn this otherworld fantasy, Maurey receives hints of his true ancestry and must flee for the land of the Nightwalkers or burn in the philosophers' fire.
Spoiled Rotten
by Dayle Campbell GaetzJessica loves her yearly backpacking trip with her father, but this year everything has changed. This year Jessica has to share her vacation with her new stepmother and her spoiled new stepsister, Amy. Jessica tries to salvage her holiday by sneaking off for a day hike alone, but Amy follows. Jessica is certain that Amy will ruin the day. Amy rises to the challenge of the rigourous hike and Jessica learns that Amy is not as spoiled as she thought. When Amy is injured and night falls, Jessica must face the challenge of hiking through bear country in the dark.
Klepto
by Lori WeberKat's sister Hannah is about to return from a home for troubled teens. Her parents can't wait for the big day, and everyone is determined to find out what went wrong with Hannah and make things right -- everyone except Kat, that is. Kat dreads going back to a life dominated by here sister's tantrums and wild escapades. The only place she feels in control is at the mall, where everything she wants is at her fingertips and no one is better at the art of stealing. As Hannah's return nears, Kat's shoplifting escalates into a full-blown addiction -- with dangerous consequences.
The Bonemender's Oath
by Holly BennettIn this sequel to the Bonemender, Gabrielle and her brother Tristan fight to keep safe those they care for and to find a place for love in their lives.
Stuffed
by Eric WaltersWhen Ian and his classmates watch a documentary about the health concerns of eating fast food, Ian decides to start a boycott and stop everyone he can from eating at Frankie's, a huge fast-food chain with a questionable menu. The boycott takes off and Frankie's gets concerned. The company's lawyers threaten Ian and his friends and try to force them to stop the boycott. Ian must convince others that the boycott is a good idea. Can Ian stand up for what he believes in? Can you take on a corporate behemoth and win?
Rooster
by Don TrembathRooster Cobb is in trouble--with his school, with his mother, with his girlfriend. He smokes too much and he hates his stepfather. In fact, he might not graduate from high school. But he just doesn't seem to care. That is until the guidance counselor and the principal come up with a plan to get Rooster through grade twelve, out of their lives forever and possibly on the right track with his life. The last thing Rooster wants to do is coach The Strikers, a bowling team of special-needs adults, especially when he finds out he's going to be mentored by the most unpopular girl in school, the principal's daughter, Elma. When he starts to take coaching seriously, his friends make fun of him, and his girlfriend accuses him of taking the easy way out. But when one of The Strikers dies unexpectedly, Rooster discovers there are as many ways to be a hero as there are ways to mess up.
All In
by Monique PolakTodd Lerner's never been much of a student, but he's got plenty of street smarts and he's a mean poker player. Todd's always had a thing for Claire, the most beautiful girl in grade eleven -- but Claire likes nice things. If Todd wants to date her, he'll need cash and plenty of it. Soon, a weekly poker game turns into a costly and dangerous obsession, and Todd's luck begins to change. Inspired by true events, All In journeys into the high-stakes worlds of gambling, addiction, and fraud.
Sticks and Stones
by Beth GoobieJujube is thrilled when Brent asks her out. She is not so happy when the rumors start flying at school. Pretty soon her name is showing up on bathroom walls and everyone is snickering and sniping. When her mother gets involved, Jujube's reputation takes another hit. Deciding that someone has to take a stand, Jujube gathers all the other girls who are labelled sluts -- and worse -- and tries to impress on her fellow students the damage that can be done by assigning a label that reduces a person to an object.
Suspended
by Robert RaynerShay and his pal Toby are among the players on the school soccer team who fall foul of the "fair play contract" introduced by the new school administration.
The Big Dip
by Melanie JacksonJoe and his friend Skip are enjoying the thrill of the Big Dip, a famous rollercoaster, until they learn the old man in front of them has been shot. The old man mutters with his dying breath something about getting a Margaret Rose to the police. Joe leaves the crime scene to get on with his life. But someone is desperate for the Margaret Rose and thinks Joe has it. When his sister is kidnapped, Joe is in a race against time to solve the puzzle.