The Worst Thing She Ever Did by Alice Kuipers

The Worst Thing She Ever Did

Sophie wonders whether her life will ever be normal again. A horrific accident resulting in the death of her sister has left her mired in grief and guilt. She is truly sick of people asking her if she is ok. Sophie is determined to forget, but soon learns that forgetting is not a healthy way of coping and strives to get her life back on track.

Discussion questions:

• The question of character development shows prominently in this book from Sophie's growth as a person, right down to her relationship with her mom and with Rosa Leigh. Did you find this author developed and "fleshed" out the characters in this book and how they related to each other? Did you find that Sophie lacked the emotional turmoil when it was revealed how her sister died? Was her reaction typical of say, how you would have reacted?


• A great majority of the angst in this book came when Sophie and her mom interacted. Why was Sophie so angry with her mom? They both suffered a loss, so why all the hostility? Was there something to be learned from this?

Swim The Fly by Don Calame

Swim The Fly Matt Gratton and his friends Coop and Sean have an annual summer project. This year's goal is to see a "real live girl, naked". In addition, Matt has committed himself to "swim the fly" for the swim team in an attempt to impress Kelly, the new "hottie" on the school's swim team. This book has been described as a laugh-out loud story about love, friendship, humour and hormones. What can be said about "Swim the Fly", the only book in the White Pine Reads this year that doesn't deal with depressing issues? It is a fun, light-as air read. Discussion Questions:

• Did this book work for you, did you find Matt a character that you could understand or did you find it too light and not believable at all? Fart jokes aside, that is!


• I was not surprised to find out that the author has a long standing career as a movie screenwriter and felt that this book could make a fun summer movie with Michael Cera playing the part of Matt. Did this book leave you with the same impression?

Some Girls Are, The Book Trailer

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

Some Girls are Regina Afton used to be a member of the Fearsome Fivesome, an all girl clique both feared and revered by the students at her school until rumours about her started circulating. Now, Regina has been "frozen out" and her ex brst friends are out for revenge. She takes solace ibn tbe company who used to be a victim of her bullying as Regina works hard to make amends for the past.

Discussion questions:

• The words "brutal", "vicious", "mean", "harsh", "powerful" and "believable" have been used to describe the characters and events in this book. Is this an apt description of real high school life here at Secord or merely a "work of fiction"?


• This book is another example of what bullying can do- the harm it can cause and the people that it can hurt. If you have read "The Monkeyface Chronicles", the issue of bullying is also a theme in this book. Do you find any difference in the level of bullying between the girls involved in this book and the boys who bullied in The Monkeyface Chronicles"?

The Second Trial by Rosemarie Boll

The Second Trial

Enter the life of 13 year old Danny McMillan who finds himself in the middle of a battle that his young mind can't understand. His mom is the victim of domestic abuse and the family has to hide and change their names after a trial that convicts his father of this abuse. Written with the understanding of the Canadian legal justice system, the author brings awareness to the White Ribbon Campaign and the Canadian Women's Foundation who work to increase public awareness, assist victims of domestic abuse and help foster societal conditions that are conducive towards reducing such violence.

Discussion questions:

• Even though Danny understands why his family has to leave, he is still very angry with this mom for breaking up the family and forcing them to change their lives, right down to their names. Even though Mom was not responsible for the violence, Danny still punishes her. Did you learn anything about yourself with this situation with Danny and his family?
• The Second Trial suggests the hopeful possibility that domestic violence victims and others affected can move on and create new lives for themselves. Agree or disagree?

The Monkeyface Chronicles by Richard Scarsbrook

The Monkeyface Chronicles

We meet Philip the day he turns 13. He goes to school that day and he falls victim to the school bullies who deliver a vicious version of the outlawed "Birthday Beats". Reluctantly, Phillip, accompanied by his mom and grandfather turns them in to the school administration. To Philip's surprise, the bullies all confess and are suspended. This is not the end of the bullying, and Philip, because of his facial deformity, learns to handle them. He learns to survive his immersion into public school after years of home schooling that had shielded him from the inevitable cruelty of his peers

Discussion questions:

• Even though well intended, do you feel that Philip's family did him any favours by home schooling him for so many years?
• Why do people bully?
• The theme of families comes through loud and clear in this book. Even though many families are pretty messed up, they can also be the source of our strongest bonds. Please discuss.

Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey

Hearts at Stake

(click on the book title to go to the author's website)

Hearts at Stake (accessed as an e-book through this link) is the first of a new series, The Drake Chronicles that tells the story of Solange Drake, the first female soon-to- be-vampire born in 900 years. Besides being the instrument of a prophesy that would see the elimination of the current vampire queen, she is just your every day teenager. Right?

Discussion questions:

• What makes this book different than any other teen vampire novel, if indeed, it is?


• It seems that everywhere you look, there is a new vampire themed novel for teens. Can you put your finger on the reason for the popularity of vampire novels? Just what is it about them that makes them a "must read" for so many teens?