Blending humour and poignancy, Katherine Applegate has crafted a narrative voice that is both heartbreaking and striking; using brief, vignette-like chapters that might be short in words, but are rich in imagery and evoke big feelings. Ivan’s simple, curious, and often naive observations of humans will open up rich conversations about the treatment of animals in captivity, particularly for entertainment, and what it means to be humane and kind.

What is better than reading a memorable and captivating story that invites us into the experiences and perspectives of a time, a culture, or place? For us it is reading a well curated collection of stories that capture a variety of experiences and perspectives of a variety of times, cultures, or places. 

The short stories that make up the anthology, Flock: First Nations Stories Then and Now, edited by Ellen van Neervan, showcases perspectives of First Nation peoples across generations through memorable characters and experiences.

The House on the Cerulean Sea is a masterly example of how fantasy narratives metaphorically represent big ideas and questions we have about the world we live in, written in a style that is hopeful and whimsical that brings a smile to readers’ faces. As a friend of ours commented, “It is the perfect read if you are looking to be transported to another world and be uplifted!” 

What stands out about Sophia Thakur’s collection of poetry, Somebody give this heart a pen, is her voice. The strength of it cuts straight through to the heart of an experience, while also exuding deep empathy and understanding; valuing the rich tapestry of life experiences as well as honouring the growth and learning that comes from it. A voice that is reflective yet seems to be speaking directly to you.

Fog a Dox is one of those stories that may initially seem like a simple and gentle narrative of 112 pages, but it is one that leaves a deep impression that hangs around long after you have finished reading it.

‘Ghost Bird’ by Lisa Fuller is a gripping page turner for young adults, which was one of the most original and compelling books we had the pleasure to read in 2020. It is a tense, suspenseful and heart-warming tale that immerses readers in one sister’s quest to save her twin.

‘Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy’ is a modern retelling of Little Women in graphic novel form that takes the essence of Louisa May Alcott’s classic and drops it in Brooklyn, New York, in 2019. It follows a year in which the four sisters face challenges in wanting to fit in, health scares, questioning identities, and finding their place while their father is overseas with the military and their mother working to make ends meet.

We’re a sucker for stories that sound poetic when read aloud, which are rich in little clues that add up to something greater. Kirli Saunders’ and Matt Ottley’s ‘Incredible Freedom Machines’ achieves both of these, as it takes readers on a lyrical journey through a dream-like landscape that resembles the Australian outback. Click here to read more about possibilities for using this text in the classroom.