Adult Review June 2026

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Category: Adult Reviews

In Trees: An Exploration by Robert Moor

A wonderfully broad and digressive look at trees in biology, history and culture. This nature writing at its finest, comparable to Charles Bowden, and Barry Lopez, that combines philosophy, biology and reportage, in original ways.

Note that while American by birth, Moor lives in Halfmoon Bay, BC and hopes to stay forever. In Trees includes chapters on an environmental tree-sit protest in Burnaby, as well as at Fairy Creek BC.

Adult Non-Fiction pr8197144

Kids / YA Review July 2026

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Category: Kids Reviews

Finding My Spark by Isabelle Jameson

Alex, the protagonist of this picture book, knows he is a boy. He can’t bring himself to say – out loud – the words in his head. His feelings begin his story – worried, afraid, unhappy. The illustrations convey these very well.

Eventually, Alex writes a letter to his mom. She helps him to draw a picture to show his family, and then he tells his class. He wants people to use he/him pronouns. He wants to be called Alex.

His feelings change - relieved, brave, happy. He had the feelings before he had the words. A picture helps him tell his truth.

I remember an altercation with another child – Marty - when I was small. Grown-up interventions ensued. “What happened” was explained by others. I thought, “That’s not right.” It was so obvious in my head - but I didn’t have the words to clarify the facts or my feelings – also I was crying. Feeling powerless to communicate a correction, is what I remember most. (If I met Marty today, I’d explain the whole thing!)

All kids have felt worried or afraid or unhappy. All kids would rather feel relieved or brave or happy. I think this picture book will support many kids to feel these emotions themselves and/or have empathy for others. It might even help them to find words about a specific truth in their own lives. We hope there is room for this Canadian book in your library.

Picture Book pr8383099

Kids / YA Review June 2026

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Category: Kids Reviews

Young World by Soman Chainani

As a teenager, I can remember imagining who I’d thank if I won an Academy Award. To be clear, I had no ambition then or ever, to be an actor. Still, one daydreams…

Imagine a teenager daydreaming about being in charge… say President of the United States. Then imagine the light bulb moment – why wait? Why not a 17-year-old president?

That is what Soman Chainani imagined. The already extremely accomplished author of The School for Good and Evil series, among others, imagined Benton Young. In a near future, where climate change is worse, and politicians are about the same, Benton decides to try.

A Revolting Youth movement - fantastic name - starts with Benton in the United States and spreads across the G7. Suddenly, the leaders of the free world are all teenagers. They sweep into office on their promises to be different. They promise to think about the planet and future generations, instead of accumulating short-term wealth and power for themselves.

In their first week as leaders, these teenagers gather for a G7 meeting. Huge issues are on the agenda, and President Benton Young is still working out the names of each of the other leaders, and trying to wrest power away from American politicians.

That premise had me reading late into the night, as it was. Then – THEN! – one of the teenage leaders is murdered. The suspects? The other teenage leaders!

As Benton and his team (his two best friends, his poli-sci teacher and one or two trustworthy U.S. government officials) navigate the other G7 leaders, murder charges, impeachment in the U.S., unhelpful parents, and the inevitable international conspiracy – they gradually figure out what’s going on, and what to do. This book is the definition of action packed. It is an ode to the vitality, optimism, authenticity and creativity of young people. And who knows? If they had control, maybe they would rule the world better than grown-up politicians. They probably wouldn’t make it any worse.

Young Adult Fiction pr8246495