Last Stop Sunnyside by Pat Capponi
A resident of a rooming house is murdered and her housemates set out to solve the crime. The first book in the Dana Leoni series. I liked the book a lot and appreciated Capponi's original band of detectives.

The Garneau Block by Todd Babiak
The residents of an Edmonton cul-de-sac join together in an effort to save their neighbourhood. I loved all of the characters, even the ones I didn't like, and I really enjoyed this book.

The Chicken Doesn't Skate by Gordon Korman
Henrietta is supposed to be part of a science fair project but she may be needed elsewhere. JB enjoyed the book and he especially liked the way the author made it clear which character was speaking.

Wenda the Wacky Wiggler by Christopher Aslan
Even grumpy townsfolk can't stop Wenda from dancing. An inspiring message with great illustrations. A fun book to read.

One Hand Screaming by Mark Leslie
Collection of short stories and poems. If you like horror that (for the most part) isn't too graphic, you should give this one a try. At the very least, I'm pretty sure you'll never look at snowmen the same way again.

Step Closer by Tessa McWatt
Emily tells the tragic story of Gavin and Marcus while dealing with relationship issues of her own. If there was anything to take away from this book, I think it was that we never know people as well as we think we do. Not those we love and not even ourselves.

Mistress of the Sun by Sandra Gulland
The story of Louise de la Vallière, mistress of Louis XIV of France. This book had everything from love and betrayal to grand parties and frightening medical practices. It was an excellent read and I recommend it.

Megiddo's Shadow by Arthur Slade
In 1918, sixteen-year-old Edward Bathe lies about his age and joins the army to avenge the death of his brother. Surprising and surprisingly sad. You may want to keep the tissues handy.

Amuse Bouche by Anthony Bidulka
Private detective Russell Quant investigates the disappearance of one of the grooms at a gay wedding. The first book in the Russell Quant series. There were a few things I wasn't crazy about but I liked Quant a lot and I will be looking for a chance to read the other books in the series.

Angel Wing Splash Pattern by Richard Van Camp
Collection of nine short stories. I thought all of the stories were remarkable. Highly recommended.

Snitch by Allison van Diepen
A girl is branded as a snitch at her inner city high school. van Diepen did an excellent job of showing that the decision to join a gang isn't always easy and that, while gangs are not good, they aren't completely evil either.

Wicked Woods by Steve Vernon
Collection of twenty-five ghost stories. Fun stories to read around the campfire or to take on a ghost tour of New Brunswick.

Miss Smithers by Susan Juby
Alice enters a beauty pageant. The second book in the Alice MacLeod series. My daughter liked this one just as much as the first.

No Time for Goodbye by Linwood Barclay
A fourteen-year-old girl wakes up one morning to find that her entire family has vanished. This book hooked me right from the beginning. If you're looking for something to keep you up at night, this would be an excellent choice.

The Trade Mission by Andrew Pyper
A trade mission to Brazil turns into a fight for survival. Also published as Dark Descent. Reviewed by PB. He thought it was an excellent thriller.

Alice, I Think by Susan Juby
A teenager returns to school after years of being taught at home. An interview-style review, this time with my 17-year-old daughter. She thought the book was a fun, light read.

Advice for Italian Boys by Anne Giardini
Nicolo Pavone isn't sure where his life is going but his grandmother is always ready to offer advice. A lovely book with interesting characters, an engaging story, and a satisfying ending.

Darkness at the Stroke of Noon by Dennis Richard Murphy
Two members of a group of researchers are found dead in a remote part of Nunavut and RCMP Sergeant Booker Kennison is sent to investigate. Overall, it was an entertaining book with a tense, if slightly odd, climax. It's a shame that Murphy died shortly after completing this, his first book, (and before its publication) because I would have loved to read more.

Waiting for Sarah by Bruce McBay and James Heneghan
An accident took Mike's family and his legs. Life seems pretty miserable until he meets a young girl while working on a school project. I tried something different with this review. K and I sat down and I interviewed her about the book, then I transcribed the recording. I kinda like the way it turned out but I'd be interested in hearing if others think it works. It's been edited for clarity and to remove the many instances of "like". :)

The Plague by Clem Martini
A plague has killed many crows and Kym has been captured by humans. Book two of Feather and Bone: The Crow Chronicles. Reviewed by my daughter. She highly recommends it.

Touched By Venom by Janine Cross
Book one of the Dragon Temple Saga. Reviewed by my husband. It made him angry but he wants to read the rest of the series.

The Gravesavers by Sheree Fitch
A young girl helps her grandmother protect the graves of people lost in a shipwreck. Reviewed by my daughter. She thought it had a unique storyline.

The Way Lies North by Jean Rae Baxter
During the American Revolution, Charlotte and her Loyalist family are forced to flee from their home. Another review from my daughter. She recommends it to kids who are looking for a book about war that is aimed at young adults.

Y in the Shadows by Karen Rivers
Yale discovers that she has the ability to disappear. Reviewed by my 14-year-old daughter. She liked it but recommends it for older teens.

Dooley Takes the Fall by Norah McClintock
Seventeen-year-old Ryan Dooley is suspected of murdering a kid from his troubled past. My daughter reviewed this one. She said it was different from the other McClintock books she's read but she liked it.

The Colour of Lightning by Paulette Jiles
In 1864, captives were taken after the Comanche and Kiowa raided a community in Texas and one man vowed to do whatever was necessary to get them back. Jiles did a good job of bringing to life some lesser-known people and events from that part of American history.

Scarlet Rose by Julia Madeleine
Fiona's stepfather has been murdered and the cops think she did it. Well-defined characters, a good sense of place, and a couple of surprises in the story.

The Slow Fix by Ivan E. Coyote
Collection of thirty-one short stories. The stories are funny, touching, insightful, and the perfect length.

No Such Creature by Giles Blunt
A pair of thieves — one old, one young — spend the summer travelling across the American southwest, visiting unusual tourist spots and robbing Republicans. Terrific characters, amusing dialogue, and, although it's very different from Blunt's John Cardinal series, long time fans will not be disappointed.

A Scientific Romance by Ronald Wright
A man learns of a time machine and uses it to go to the future. While he explores the future and tries to learn its past, we learn about his own. Reviewed by my husband. In short, he liked it.

Inside Out Girl by Tish Cohen
An overprotective mother meets a widowed father and his unusual daughter. A heartwarming story that made me laugh often.

Marked by Norah McClintock
Colin gets a summer job cleaning up graffiti in the neighbourhood but strange marks keep appearing where he cleans. Reviewed by my 14-year-old daughter. If it's not clear yet, she likes Norah McClintock a lot.