Ethan can barely believe it. Until now, his biggest problems have been trying to stay in one school without getting expelled … and finding his next drink. But after Ethan’s drunken imitation of the school’s headmaster goes up on YouTube, his father steps in with a shockingly drastic measure. Now Ethan is sprawled in the sand … in the Sahara Desert. Alone. According to his father’s letter, Ethan must trek 200 kilometres across the desert to the city of Tunis, with the help of a guide and three other young people. Confused, hungover, and—if he is truthful—more than a little scared, Ethan has no choice. He will face sandstorms, vipers, and agonizingly painful blisters … but, most painful of all, he will confront his inner demons and come to a true realization of who he really is.

Thirteen-year-old Robbie leads a double life. It's just Robbie and his dad, but no one knows that his dad isn't like most parents. Sometimes he wakes Robbie up in the middle of the night to talk about dying. Sometimes he just leaves without telling Robbie where he's going. Once when Robbie was younger, he was gone for more than a week. Robbie was terrified of being left alone but even more scared of telling anyone in case he was put into foster care. No one can know. Until one day when Robbie has to show the tough new girl, Harmony, around school. Their first meeting ends horribly and she punches Robbie in the face. But eventually they come to realize that they have a lot more in common than they thought. Can Robbie's new friend be trusted to keep his secret?

Sam Campbell's school team, the Laggan Lairds, always loses. When someone suggests that their name be the Laggan Lard Butts, Sam thinks the team should change its name. What is a Laird anyway? The basketball coach agrees, and soon the whole school is involved in an election for a new team name. Sam and his friends nominate the name Lard Butts. When the basketball team starts winning games after a warm-up cheer of "Go Lard Butts!" it seems the Lard Butt campaign might actually win the election.

When Nick and Kia arrive for try-outs for the basketball team they played on the previous year, they are surprised to meet their new coach. Coach Barkley is a former college star known for his fierce desire to win. Though the coach has been away from the game for many years, his competitive instincts are as strong as ever and his aggressive coaching techniques are a new experience for these kids. Suddenly making the rep team no longer seems the sure thing that Nick and Kia expected when they came to try-outs. This is hard on Nick and Kia, but especially difficult for the coach's son, L.B., who is also trying out for the team. When the coach matches them up against a team of older players and then refuses to accept their loss, the kids begin to wonder if they even want to make this team. Nick, Kia and L.B. finally have to decide whether to play for a tyrant or to take a stand on principle and face the consequences.

Becky James lives in a small town where nothing ever changes. But there's something very different about the new student, Gene Newman. Brilliant, talented, and socially awkward, Gene is like nobody else Becky has ever known. Little does she know just how different he actually is. Gene confides in Becky that he has a secret. More than that, he is a secret. And, apparently, it's a secret worth killing for.

Kioko had been watching the matatus come and go for as long as he could remember. But today, for his fifth birthday, he climbs aboard one with his grandfather. As the matatu pulls away from the market, the village dogs chase after them. When Kioko asks his grandfather why the dogs always bark and chase after matatus, his grandfather tells him an entertaining tale about a dog, a goat and a sheep. Set in East Africa, The Matatu is a colorful story filled with many unexpected turns and twists along the way.

What happens as soon as Sam sets foot on Oak Island to visit his grandfather is more exciting than he could have hoped for. As if the discovery of a human skull and a dangerous run-in with a monstrous digging machine weren't enough, Sam also discovers that even though his grandfather is losing his memory, he hasn't forgotten about what's important-like taking risks and refusing to let mysteries go unsolved.

Based on the life of a real boy, this warm-hearted, beautifully illustrated book tells the story of Baraka, a young Kenyan boy with a physical disability. Baraka and eight cousins live with their grandmother. She gives them boundless love, but there is never enough money or food, and life is hard --love doesn't feed hungry stomachs or clothe growing bodies, or school keen minds. Baraka is too young, and, with his disability, needs too much, and she is too old. A difficult choice must be made, and grandmother and grandchild set off on a journey to see if there is a place at the orphanage for Baraka. The story begins by looking at Baraka's physical disability as a misfortune, but ends by looking beyond the disability, to his great heart and spirit, and the blessings he brings.

Having won a photography contest that he doesn't remember entering, for a photo that was the result of a shutter glitch, Kevin Spreekmeester is off to Churchill, Manitoba, to photograph polar bears with a renowned wildlife photographer and to have the adventure of his young life.

Basketball-loving Nick and his friend Kia visit Nick's cousin Ned in a remote national park in the mountains of British Columbia during a very dry summer when the danger of fires is everywhere.

In this high-interest novel for middle readers, fourteen-year-old Dylan, sent to live on a remote island with his estranged grandfather, discovers a stranded orca.

"You're going to spend some time on the power play, on penalty kill, and start right off as the second line centre," he told me. I didn't question why he was putting me on the second line. I'd show him the first line was the place I belonged. "The important thing is that you've been drafted," he said. "You're going to play Junior A, and you're going to be on my team. You're my player." No one is tougher than Cody: not his hockey teammates, not his rivals on the ice, not even his old man after he's been drinking. Cody only wants one thing-to make it to the NHL-and he won't let anything get in his way. When a Junior A league scout helps Cody make the draft and becomes his coach, Cody can hardly believe it. Finally, someone who sees his potential! But he soon learns that his new champion will take as much as he gives. And, before long, Cody's lucky break has transformed into a nightmare of secrets, lies and a terrible abuse of power.

An asteroid has hit the Earth: the end of the world is just beginning. Billy and his companions have been taking refuge in outer space to avert this catastrophe. But what will it take to survive? This dramatic second book in an electrifying duology will have readers at the edges of their seats as they discover that survival above is as difficult as survival below."

Ricky has always been more comfortable around animals than people, so he is devastated when vandals break into the school and kill many of the animals kept in his classroom, including Bogart, the boa constrictor. Inspired by real events in the author's own life, Ricky is one of Eric Walters's most personal novels.

Nick, Kia and their Mississauga Magic teammates are on the road, heading off to an elite hoop tournament in the Midwest. Feeling outmatched by many of the high profile teams, the kids are still looking forward to a good time. However, Coach Barkley, who played college ball in the area and is still regarded as a hero, has other ideas. As usual, nothing but winning will be good enough for Coach. As the tournament progresses, the Magic players learn to believe in themselves and come to realize that they can hold their own against the opposing teams.

One ordinary afternoon, every single machine in sixteen-year-old Adam’s high school computer lab stops working. At first the problem seems to be an electrical outage, but it quickly becomes apparent that it is far more serious. Outside, cars won’t start, phones are down, and a blackout is widespread. Adam is surprised to find that his ancient, cyber-free car is one of the only vehicles to function. And he senses a rising storm tide of anger and fear as he drives home past hundreds of stranded motorists. Soon Adam will discover that the problem has paralyzed not just his town but the whole region if not the whole country and beyond. Soon—as resources dwindle, crises mount, and chaos descends—he will see that his suburban neighborhood must band together for protection. Soon violence will erupt and Adam will understand that having a police captain for a mother and a retired government agent living next door are not just the facts of his life but the keys to his survival. 

The world keeps getting darker in this frightening sequel to The Rule of Three       After sixty-six days of a catastrophic global blackout, life in the suburbs is not what it used to be for Adam and his fortified neighborhood of Eden Mills. Although an explosive clash has minimized one threat from outside the walls, Adam's battle-hardened mentor, Herb, continues to make decisions in the name of security that are increasingly wrenching and questionable. Like his police chief mom and others, Adam will continue to follow Herb's lead. But when the next threat comes from an unexpected direction, nobody is ready for it. And someone is going to pay the price--because of Adam's mistakes and mistaken trust.     Brace yourself for more edge-of-your-seat survival adventure in a sequel that picks up the action right where the first book left off.

Now in paperback, the final book in Eric Walters' explosive Rule of Three trilogy!      After the shocking personal attack on Herb and Adam, the citizens of the fortified neighborhood of Eden Mills are realizing their worst fears: while the power remains off, desperation will grow, leading to more violence. And now it's personal. The rogue militaristic group they had hoped to have vanquished is not only back, but has a new leader, one who is seeking revenge on the neighborhood--especially on Adam. In preparation for an attack they know is coming, the committee members make new alliances and grow in strength, but Adam knows it's up to him to dig down deep within himself, to think like the enemy--to become the enemy--in order to save his family, his neighborhood, and himself.

The explosive ending to the Rule of Three trilogy!      After the shocking personal attack on Herb and Adam, the citizens of the fortified neighborhood of Eden Mills are realizing their worst fears: while the power remains off, desperation will grow, leading to more violence. And now it's personal. The rogue militaristic group they had hoped to have vanquished is not only back, but has a new leader, one who is seeking revenge on the neighborhood--especially on Adam. In preparation for an attack they know is coming, the committee members make new alliances and grow in strength, but Adam knows it's up to him to dig down deep within himself, to think like the enemy--to become the enemy--in order to save his family, his neighborhood, and himself.

Winston MacDonald is in trouble. He’s been suspended from school and he’s run away from home. After the police pick him up, he is sent to spend time with his father—a newspaper columnist who hasn’t been around much since the family split up a year ago. Travelling to Nova Scotia with his father, who is covering what he thinks is just a human interest story about a young man trying to run across Canada, Winston spends some time with Terry Fox and Terry’s best friend, Doug. Their determination to achieve what seems like an impossible goal makes a big impression on Winston and he takes courage and inspiration from Terry’s run. He is overjoyed when his father’s article about the Marathon of Hope ignites public interest across the country.

After Morgan's backyard is flooded by the nearby river, her dog, Shire, finds a baby beaver that has been washed out of its den. Realizing that its parents aren't coming back, Morgan must quickly learn to care for the beaver, which she names Sammy. Morgan's parents warn her that he can't stay with them forever. Will Morgan be able to find a safe home for Sammy?

A funny, heartfelt novel about one high school boy's quest for a prom date, perfectly time for the surge in realistic YA. Sam is not exactly what you'd call a regular guy: while his IQ is stratospheric, his social skills don't quite rank as high, and his dating history: well, there's no history to speak of . . . yet. But Sam has set out to finally fit in. He's resolved to get some answers wrong in class; to stop getting perfect marks on his assignments; to get to know some people other than Ian and Brooke, his two closest (okay, only) friends--and find himself a prom date. And the prom is on everyone's mind: Sam's school has become swept up by promposals--in other words, very elaborate, very public scenes in which someone is asked to the prom. Sam thinks he might have found the inspiration he needs to ask the girl dreams out for a perfect night at the prom--as well as the unforgettable way to do it.