Orca Book Publishers Fall 2013 US Catalog

1. eaching
more
eaders
Fall 2013Reaching More Readers
Middle-School Fiction for Reluctant Readers

2. Cover photography credit: Ian McAllister (from The Great Bear Sea)
Contents
Highlights...........................................................................................................................................................1
Board Books • Ages 0–3..................................................................................................................................2
Picturebooks• Ages4–10................................................................................................................................5
Orca Echoes • Ages 7–9..............................................................................................................................11
Orca Young Readers • Ages 8–11..............................................................................................................13
Orca Footprints • Ages 8–12......................................................................................................................15
Juvenile Nonfiction • Ages 7+..................................................................................................................16
Orca Limelights • Ages 11–14.....................................................................................................................24
Juvenile Fiction • Ages 9+.........................................................................................................................26
Lorimer Sport Stories • Ages 10–13..........................................................................................................29
Lorimer Podium Sports Academy • Ages 13+.........................................................................................30
Teen Fiction • Ages 12+...............................................................................................................................31
Orca Currents • Hi-Lo • Ages 10–14........................................................................................................42
Orca Audio—GoReaders • Hi-Lo • Ages 10+.........................................................................................44
Orca Sports • Hi-Lo • Ages 10+................................................................................................................45
PathFinders • Ages 13–16.............................................................................................................................46
Lorimer SideStreets • Ages 13+................................................................................................................47
Orca Soundings • Hi-Lo • Ages 12+..........................................................................................................48
Rapid Reads Fiction • Adult..........................................................................................................................50
Polestar Planners and Calendars................................................................................................................52
Ordering
Terms & US Retail Sales Representatives...............................................................................................55
Frontlist Order Form...................................................................................................................................56
Orca Book Publishers gratefully acknowledges the support for its publishing programs provided by the following agencies:
the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund and the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Province of British Columbia
through the BC Arts Council and the Book Publishing Tax Credit.

3. Highlights
Fall
2013
Ian McAllister and Nicholas Read have partnered
again to create The Great Bear Sea: Exploring the
Marine Life of a Pacific Paradise. Filled with McAllister’s
gorgeous photography, this book celebrates the
unique fauna and flora of the northeast Pacific
Ocean. For full details, see page 16. All three titles
by this successful duo have been converted into
epub format so our readers can enjoy these books
on ereading devices.
Connect with us here
facebook.com/OrcaBook
@orcabook
the orca blog
orcabook.com/blog
Remember customer service?
We do too! At Orca, a real live person
always answers the phone.
Got questions? Give us a call.
1-800-210-5277
We continue to see success with
Seven (the series). As of April
2013, all of the titles in the series
are in their third print run with
more than 70,000 copies sold.
We thank all of our customers
for supporting this project. We know readers want
more of their favorite characters,and we plan to deliver
in Fall 2014 with Seven (the sequel).
The Orca Footprints series launched last season and
was well received. We anticipate a warm reception
for the latest entry in the series, Brilliant! Shining a
Light on Sustainable Energy by Michelle Mulder. See
page 15 for details.
in the limelight
Fall 2013 marks the launch of the Orca Limelights,
our new series featuring characters with a passion
for the performing arts. See page 23 for an interview
with the editor of the series about the development
of this exciting new endeavor. The inaugural titles
in the Orca Limelights series are Attitude by Robin
Stevenson, Cut the Lights by Karen Krossing and
Totally Unrelated by Tom Ryan.
got marine life?
This season we’ve got lots of great new
content, including new nonfiction, an exciting
new series and an update on the wildly
successful Seven (the series).
SEVEN
SERIES
THE

4. 2 www.orcabook.com
Board Books
These little hamsters
are crazy for color!
October 2013
9781459804104
$9.95 bb
5.5 x 7
24 pages
ages 0–3
pdf 9781459804111
This Little Hamster
Kass Reich
These little hamsters love everything red
They have a hat, a cherry and a spool of thread
These little hamsters prefer items in pink
They have cupcakes, a wand and something to drink
This Little Hamster is a spirited playful board book for babies and toddlers. Rhyming couplets and
cheerful illustrations will capture the interest of both child and adult readers.This follow-up to
Kass Reich’s bestselling debut,Hamsters Holding Hands,is a charming introduction to basic colors that
will fascinate little ones.
Kass Reich is an educator and artist who was born in Montreal, Quebec. She earned a degree in
art education from Concordia University in 2010. She loves traveling and is currently spending time
in Hong Kong working on new projects.
Keywords: colors, hamsters, humor, babies
Praise for Hamsters Holding Hands
“This charming counting book features spunky, pear-shaped hamsters…engaging in simple yet unex-
pected fun…Debut talent Reich brings subtle,off-kilter humor—with props like balloons,pinwheels,
and snorkel gear—and an understated style to her spreads, with the hamsters' citrus hues playfully
smudged outside their outlines. It's hard not to smile at images of the happy hamsters jumping rope
or working on their tans.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Counting books are a dime a dozen,but few attain the outright adorableness of Montreal artist Kass
Reich's first board book. Rendered in earth tones with hints of hot pink, Reich's splay-toed rodents
frolic in the sun, eat some rice, and, yes, hold hands. The text is simple and fun, a combination that
will no doubt strike a chord with wee ones.”—Quill and Quire
Also by Kass Reich
Hamsters Holding Hands
9781459801233 • $9.95 bb
ages 0-3

5. Baby’s First Bookshelf
From ABCs to lullabies—the perfect gift for baby!
Introduce the new arrival in your life to the exciting world of books with Orca’s Baby’s First
Bookshelf.This packaged set, wrapped in an inscription band for personalizing your gift, features
three of our bestselling board books.
Titles include: Alligator Bear Crab, Kiss Tickle Cuddle Hug and Welcome Song for Baby
Keywords: babies, poetry, parenting, interaction
Sea Otter Pup
Victoria Miles
Illustrated by Elizabeth Gatt
Pup may be little, but he has big lessons to learn.
Follow along as Pup learns how to eat spiky sea urchins, somersault beneath the waves and
groom himself. He still needs lots of help from Mother, but one day Pup will be old enough to
dive down below the waves and search for food on his own.
Accompanied by beautiful illustrations and set in the North Pacific, this heartwarming tale is
perfect for little ones who still have lots to learn themselves.
Victoria Miles is the author of numerous award-winning books for children,including Old Mother
Bear, which received a Henry Bergh award from the American Society for the Protection of
Animals.Victoria lives in North Vancouver, British Columbia, with her husband and two daughters.
Elizabeth Gatt was born in London, England, and has an ma in graphic design from the Central
School of Art and Design. She worked for a number of years at the Natural History Museum in
London and began illustrating children’s books after her two children were born. Elizabeth now
lives in Burlington, Ontario.
Keywords: sea otters, North Pacific, nurturing, independence, baby animals
3www.orcabook.com
September 2013
9781459804678
$9.95 bb
7 x 7
26 pages
ages 0–3
pdf 9781459804685
Available now!
9781459804470
$24.95 three board books
7 x 7
3 x 24 pages
ages 0–3
Board Books
NEW in
Board Book
Format

6. 4 www.orcabook.com
Board Books
Encourage Baby’s
first words.
September 2013
9781771080002
$8.95 bb
6.5 x 6.5
14 pages
ages 0–3
Nimbus
Baby Talk
Shanda LaRamee-Jones and Carol McDougall
Baby Talk is the third book in the Baby Steps series. Each book in the series focuses on a key
developmental stage in baby’s first year. Babies love to communicate with the ones they love.
With its modern twist on classic nursery rhymes, Baby Talk gives families the opportunity to have fun
with sounds and words that are the building blocks of early language. Baby Talk will encourage baby’s
first words in a fun and playful way.
Carol McDougall is a writer,editor and former librarian for the Canadian Children’s Book Centre.
She is also director of the Read to Me! Nova Scotia Family Literacy program and lives in Halifax.
Shanda LaRamee-Jones is the provincial coordinator of the Read to Me! Nova Scotia Family
Literacy Program. She has a passion for supporting early learning and has a master’s of education in
literacy.
Keywords: early childhood development, baby book, language, babies
Also by Shanda LaRamee-
Jones and Carol McDougall
Baby Play
9781551099026 • $9.95 bb
ages 0-3
Baby Look
9781551099378 • $9.95 bb
ages 0-3

7. 5www.orcabook.com
In a land
not-so-far away…
October 2013
9781459803244
$19.95 hc
8.75 x 10.75
32 pages
ages 4–8
pdf 9781459803251
Once Upon a Balloon
Bree Galbraith
Illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant
Theo tried to hold on,he really did. He stared at his hand and told it to stay closed,but it didn’t want to listen.
He clenched his fist so tight, his knuckles turned white, but his fingers had other plans. Theo watched the
string slip from his hand. The balloon drifted upward, slowly at first, and then in a hurry.
Zeke is brokenhearted when he accidentally lets go of the string of his party balloon. As he
watches it float out of sight, Zeke wonders where his balloon might have gone. Luckily, his older
brother Theo knows everything about everything.Theo explains that it is a little-known fact that all
lost balloons end up in Chicago, the Windy City.Then he tells Zeke about Frank, who is responsible
for collecting all the balloons in the world. Zeke is so touched by Frank's story that he decides to
send him a message of hope the only way he knows how.
A unique story filled with the magic and whimsy of childhood imagination, Once Upon a Balloon
will delight young readers and reawaken the child in all of us.
Bree Galbraith is a graduate of the Emily Carr University of Art + Design. She uses narrative in
much of her work and was thrilled when a class project became her first published children’s book.
Bree is surrounded daily by her amazing family, which includes her two children/muses, her husband
and the family dog. She draws inspiration from the little things in life that bring people closer together.
Bree works as a graphic designer in Vancouver, British Columbia.
For Isabelle Malenfant, illustration is like cooking and is always evolving, so she loves to try and
mix new mediums. Her miracle recipe: a pinch of watercolor, a dash of pencil, a big spoon of pastel
and a drop of numeric colors. Isabelle has illustrated more than a dozen children’s books, including
Maggie’s Chopsticks (Kids Can), which was nominated for the Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s
Literature Prize. Isabelle lives and works in Montreal, Quebec, with her family—a red bear, a sweet
dreamer and a little tiger. According to her girls, she has the best job in the universe.
Keywords: imagination, pursuing your dreams, childhood fantasy, balloons, Chicago
Picturebooks

8. Time for Flowers, Time for Snow
Glen Huser
Illustrated by Philippe Béha
Composer: Giannis Gergantelis
A retelling of the legend of Demeter and Persephone.
The Greek goddess of harvest Demeter loves her daughter Persephone more than life itself.
So after Persephone is kidnapped by Hades, ruler of the underworld, and taken as his bride,
Demeter’s sorrow covers the earth in winter snow.The crops fail, and Zeus sends his messenger
Hermes to bring about Persephone’s release. But things get complicated when Persephone takes a
liking to her captor.The book includes a CD of the lyrics performed as an opera choral by school
children of Montreal.The Monty Python Terry Jones narrates the text on the CD.
Glen Huser has written many novels for children, including The Runaway for Tradewind Books.
He has received several awards, including the Governor General’s Award. He lives in Vancouver.
Philippe Béha is an internationally acclaimed artist and has won the Governor General’s Award
for his illustrations three times. He has illustrated over 125 books for children, including the prize-
winning The King Has Goat Ears for Tradewind Books.
Giannis Gergantelis has composed and arranged music for theatrical plays, multimedia proj-
ects, festivals and musical ensembles. His two previous children’s operas received great critical
acclaim in Greece.
Keywords: Hades, Persephone, Demeter, seasons, love, Greek mythology
Aesop’s Fables
Michael Rosen
Illustrated by by Talleen Hacikyan
An amusing take on the classic Aesop’s fables.
Michael Rosen and Talleen Hacikyan join forces to portray some of Aesop’s most famous
fables in this beautifully illustrated picture book. Loyal dogs, tricky foxes and powerful lions
are only a part of the large cast of animals that helps teach children age-old life lessons.
Michael Rosen has written more than fifty books for children. He is a former UK Children’s
Laureate. He lives in London, UK.
Talleen Hacikyan is an artist, art teacher and writer based in Montreal, Quebec. Aesop’s Fables
is her first picture book.
Keywords: Aesop, morals, animals, fables
6 www.orcabook.com
Picturebooks
September 2013
9781896580814
$16.95 hc
11.25 x 11.875
32 pages
ages 4–8
Tradewind
September 2013
9781896580265
$18.95 hc
9 x 11.8125
54 pages
ages 5–11
Tradewind
CD
enclosed

9. Hoogie in the Middle
Stephanie McLellan
Illustrated by Dean Griffiths
Being a middle monster can have its ups and downs; sometimes
Hoogie feels like the hole in the middle of a donut.
Sometimes Hoogie feels like the hole in the middle of a donut. She isn’t big and dependable like
her sister,Pumpkin. She isn’t tiny and sweet like her brother,Tweezle. She’s just…Hoogie. Every
day she hears,“You’re too big for this” and “You’re too small for that” until there’s such a big little
pain inside of her that she doesn’t know what to do. Luckily, Mom and Dad are there to show her
what a very special place the middle can be.
Stephanie McLellan’s rhythmic text uses exuberant rhyme, alliteration and spot-on simile to
affirm and celebrate the middle child.
Award-winning author Stephanie McLellan wrote Hoogie in the Middle for her own middle
child, whose family nickname is “Hoogie.”
Dean Griffiths was a comic-book artist and computer graphics designer before he discovered
picture books. Twenty-one books later, he is an award-winning illustrator who divides his time
between fatherhood and art.
Keywords: siblings, middle children, families, parents, emotions, belonging, monsters, children,
relationships
7www.orcabook.com
Picturebooks
August 2013
9781927485286
$17.95 hc
8.5 x 7.5
32 pages
ages 3–7
Pajama Press
August 2013
9781927485279
$19.95 hc
10.5 x 9
32 pages
ages 4–7
Pajama Press
Community Soup
Alma Fullerton
What do you get when you combine young gardeners, their
tasty vegetables and a herd of mischievous goats—a recipe for
disaster or a bowl of delicious soup?
In a garden outside a Kenyan schoolhouse, children are working together to harvest the vege-
tables they have grown and make them into a soup for everyone to share. But Kioni is having
trouble: her mischievous goats have gotten into the garden and are wreaking havoc on the vegeta-
bles! Luckily, the resourceful children find a solution that ensures a tasty soup while saving Kioni’s
four-legged intruders at the same time.
Using rollicking verse with echoes of “Mary had a Little Lamb,” Alma Fullerton tells a lively
story about communal projects and finding creative solutions that help everyone contribute.This
tale for young readers is graced with Alma’s striking mixed-media collage art.
A portion of the proceeds of this book will be donated to the Creation of Hope Project,
which supports schools in Kenya in the building of community gardens. Learn more at
http://creationofhope.com.
Alma Fullerton has written award-winning free-verse novels for juvenile readers (Walking on
Glass, Libertad) and, recently, the critically acclaimed picture book A Good Trade. Community Soup is
the first picture book Alma has chosen to illustrate herself.
Keywords: community, problem solving, creativity, school, Kenya, Africa, children, teachers, goats,
gardens, soup, food, cooking, rhyme, mixed media

10. Tallulah the Theatre Cat
Jennifer Brown
A village cat follows her dreams in this humorous tale.
Tallulah the village cat is passionately drawn to the theater in Victoria-by-the-Sea,Prince Edward
Island. Her search to fit in takes readers on a humorous behind-the-scenes tour of a theater.
Her rise from being most unwelcome to greatly appreciated is a story of the values of persistence,
loyalty and following one’s bliss.
Jennifer Brown is a Fine Arts graduate of Concordia University, Montreal. She taught art for
thirty years, developing her love for children’s creativity and children’s literature. She now makes
her home in Prince Edward Island, where she creates handmade books and explores a wide range
of media in her studio. Tallulah the Theatre Cat is her first children’s book.
Keywords: cats, theater, persistence, strength, adversity, acting, Prince Edward Island
What’s Going On at the
Time Tonight?
Gerald Mercer
Illustrated by Holly DeWolf
A merry and carefree tale about an undersea party.
What’s Going On at the Time Tonight? is a sweet and rollicking rhyming book about a
Newfoundland “time” (party) with a twist: it’s underwater! The sea lice are boogying, the
jiggly jellyfish are riding the wave, and everyone is having a good time tonight.
Gerald Mercer has been an educator in Newfoundland and Labrador for twenty-eight years. He
is the author of two previous books for children, Emma’s New Game and Emma’s Treasure. Gerald
lives with his wife, Daphne and three children, Rebecca, Andrew and Simeon in Mount Pearl,
Newfoundland and Labrador.
Holly DeWolf is an illustrator, published author, artist and blogger. She creates work for the
editorial, children’s and stationary markets. She currently lives in New Brunswick and illustrates
daily, happily!
Keywords: ocean, seaside, beach, rhyming, marine life, Newfoundland
8 www.orcabook.com
Picturebooks
August 2013
9781771080040
$19.95 hc
9 x 9
32 pages
ages 3–9
Nimbus
September 2013
9781894838986
$9.95 pb
8 x 8
24 pages
ages 4–9
Acorn

11. Evangeline for Young Readers
Hélène Boudreau
Illustrated by Patsy MacKinnon
A vital interpretation for children of this classic poem.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s epic poem Evangeline tells the story of two young people
deported from beautiful Acadie just before they are to be married—and their search for
each other that lasts the rest of their lives. First published in 1847, the poem has been important
to Acadian identity ever since. In Evangeline for Young Readers, the tragic story of Evangeline and
Gabriel’s deportation is recounted to a new generation. In simple prose true to Longfellow’s poem,
Hélène Boudreau describes the utopian village of Grand-Pré where Evangeline grows up, the trau-
matizing deportation and Evangeline’s relentless search across America for her true love. Patsy
MacKinnon’s stunning illustrations bring the story to life in full color.
Hélène Boudreau is a Canadian writer and artist. A native of Isle Madame, Nova Scotia, she
writes fiction and nonfiction for children and young adults from her home in Markham, Ontario.
Patsy MacKinnon is the illustrator of A Day with You in Paradise, Heartsong and The Voyage of
Wood Duck. A member of the prestigious Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour, Patsy lives
in New Waterford, Nova Scotia.
Keywords: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Evangeline, classics, poetry, young readers
Morgan’s Boat Ride
Hugh MacDonald
Illustrated by Anna Bald
A child’s river adventure results
in the coming-together of a community.
Morgan and her dog take an accidental journey down the river that flows past the summer
cottage where they holiday with Morgan’s mother. As they float along, they observe land-
scapes, life on the water, various birds and people enjoying the activities the river has to offer.The
story is about not only their adventure but also community, and how the people who see them
drifting past make sure they come to no danger.The story ends at the local wharf,where the entire
community celebrates the pair’s adventure and safe return.
Hugh MacDonald is a poet,editor,children’s author and novelist. He was Prince Edward Island’s
poet laureate from January 1,2010,to December 31,2012. He has received several awards,including
the L.M. Montgomery PEI Children’s Literature Award for Chung Lee Loves Lobsters. In 2004,he was
presented with the Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Literary Arts on Prince Edward
Island. He lives near Montague, PEI, with his wife, Sandra.
Anna Bald was born in Montague, PEI, and lived in a little farmhouse there for three winters
before her parents moved her to the southern shores of Nova Scotia. Anna has studied art and
politics on both coasts of Canada, returning home to throw pots, paint pictures, tattoo sailors and
draw the world around her. Morgan’s Boat Ride is her first book.
Keywords: community, togetherness, adventure
9www.orcabook.com
Picturebooks
August 2013
9781894838962
$12.95 pb
9 x 9
24 pages
ages 4–9
Acorn
September 2013
9781771080101
$11.95 pb
8.5 x 11
40 pages
ages 8–12
Nimbus

12. 10 www.orcabook.com
Picturebooks
Get a taste of Nova
Scotian revelry
in this energetic
retelling.
October 2013
9781551099385
$17.95 hc
9.25 x 9.25
32 pages
ages 4–8
Nimbus
A Bluenose Twelve Days
of Christmas
Bruce Nunn
Illustrated by Doretta Groenendyk
“The Twelve Days of Christmas” gets a taste of Nova Scotian revelry in this energetic retelling by
storyteller Bruce Nunn.With Doretta Groenendyk’s charming and funny illustrations,readers
young and old will want to read—and sing!—this version of the carol every Christmas.
Bruce Nunn, aka “Mr. Nova Scotia Know-It-All” on CBC Radio’s Information Morning, is the author
of four books about Nova Scotia history. He dreamed up the Buddy for a Christmas food-bank
broadcast in 2004. His last children’s book was The Magical Christmas Light of Old Nova Scotia.
Doretta Groenendyk is a graduate of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University and
an author and illustrator of several books for children, including Fiddles and Spoons (illustrator) and
Thank You for My Bed (author/illustrator). She lives in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia with her
husband and three children.
Keywords: Bluenose, maritime, holiday, Christmas, yuletide, carols,“Twelve Days of Christmas”

13. Orca Echoes
Messy Miranda
Jeff Szpirglas and Danielle Saint-Onge
Illustrated by Dave Whamond
What’s inside Miranda’s desk?
Miranda has one messy desk. It’s full of books, pencils, science projects and…other stuff. Too
much stuff,says her teacher,Ms. Basil. On a family visit to her Uncle Aldo’s one night,Miranda
wonders if some of his magician’s tools might offer a solution to her messy-desk problem. Sneaking
off to the magic room,Miranda finds Uncle Aldo’s impressive collection of top hats. Miranda knows
that magic top hats can hold lots of things—why not the mess from her desk? At first, the hat
seems to do the trick, but soon things start to go horribly wrong. As Uncle Aldo says, you have to
be careful with magic.
Jeff Szpirglas and Danielle Saint-Onge live together in Toronto, Ontario, and teach
in classrooms with students of diverse cultural backgrounds. Jeff has written several books,
including the award-nominated You Just Can’t Help It! and a terrifying new novel called Evil Eye.
Danielle has a master’s degree in social anthropology and is a crusader for equity in the class-
room. Besides teaching, they spend their time writing stories like Something’s Fishy and taking
care of their twin babies.
Keywords: magic, problem solving, messy desks, classrooms, humor
November 2013
9781459801172
$6.95 pb
5.25 x 7.625
64 pages
ages 7–9
pdf 9781459801189
epub 9781459805187
Orca Echoes Collection
9781554692613
$298.85
Price valid until July 31, 2013
collection of 43 paperbacks
ages 7–9
Orca Echoes Resource Guide
9781554697991
$45.00 cd
9781554692408
$45.00 coil-bound

At-level fiction for ages 7 to 9

Free teachers’ guides online for
individual titles

Complete resource guide available

Guided Reading selections

15 black-and-white illustrations

64 pages each
Early chapter books
11www.orcabook.com

14. Pirate Island Treasure
Marilyn Helmer
Illustrated by David Parkins
Heave ho, and away we go, to look for pirate treasure.
Charlotte and her brother,Jacob,are thrilled to head off on an adventure in their grandpa’s boat,
The Seawind. As they set sail for Pirate Island, they look forward to a day of beachcombing,
playing pirates and storytelling.There are plenty of great treasures to be found,but Charlotte,who
can be very bossy, is having trouble sharing with Jacob. When Charlotte accidentally loses one
of Jacob’s best finds, a piece of driftwood that looks just like a pirate’s cutlass, it’s the final straw.
Feeling horrible for upsetting her brother, Charlotte is determined to set things right.
Marilyn Helmer is the author of many books for children,including picturebooks,early readers,
novels, riddle books and retold tales. She discovered a knack for storytelling at a very young age
when she made up wild and creative excuses for the occasional bout of mischief. Pirate Island
Treasure is her sixth book with Orca and her fifth in the Orca Echoes series. Marilyn and her
husband live near Belwood, Ontario. For more information, visit www.marilynhelmer.com.
Keywords: pirates, adventure, sharing, treasure hunting, siblings
Justine McKeen
and the Bird Nerd
Sigmund Brouwer
Illustrated by Dave Whamond
Justine’s not the only one with green ideas!
Meet Justine McKeen, the Queen of Green. She’s trying to save the planet, one person at a
time, and when she decides to get something done, it’s a lot of fun.
When a small bird is injured after flying into the school window,the students are shocked and
upset. But they are even more shocked when school bully Jimmy Blatzo rescues the bird and nurses
it back to health. Blatzo may have saved one bird, but the problem is much bigger and not confined
to the school grounds. Birds are flying into the windows at the town hall too. With the help of
Justine, green activist extraordinaire, Blatzo gets the courage he needs to approach town council.
Getting over his fear of public speaking will be one challenge. Getting used to his new nickname,
“Bird Nerd,” will be another matter entirely.
Sigmund Brouwer is the bestselling author of many books for children and young adults,
including the popular Justine McKeen, Queen of Green series. Justine McKeen and the Bird Nerd is
the fifth book in the series. Sigmund lives in Red Deer, Alberta, and Nashville,Tennessee. For more
information visit www.rockandroll-literacy.com.
Keywords: birds, animal conservation, community, activism, humor, environmentalism,“green”
projects and activities
12 www.orcabook.com
Picturebooks
November 2013
9781459803947
$6.95 pb
5.25 x 7.625
64 pages
ages 7–9
pdf 9781459803954
epub 9781459803961
November 2013
9781459801653
$6.95 pb
5.25 x 7.625
64 pages
ages 7–9
pdf 9781459801660
epub 9781459805194
Orca Echoes
Includes
green project
ideas for the
classroom!

15. The Great Bike Rescue
Hazel Hutchins
To track down a bike thief, you’ve gotta think like one.
The summer is off to a lousy start when Levi’s bike is stolen from outside the corner store. He
feels even worse because he didn’t lock it. But when his best friend Riley’s locked bike is stolen
the very next day, the boys are determined to get both bikes back. Upon discovering there have
been a string of bike thefts in the area, the friends hatch several plans to find the culprit.There are
so many potential suspects—Steve Morrow and his gang,the tattooed guy who sits at the bus stop,
the owners of the secondhand bike store. There’s also Emily Grimshaw, Levi’s childhood nemesis,
who keeps popping up and showing a peculiar interest in the thefts. Does she really want to help
or is she involved somehow? And will Levi and Riley ever see their beloved bikes again?
With a long list of publishing credits, Hazel Hutchins writes novels and picture books that
reveal thoughtful twists on everyday life.The plots play out with humor, warmth and the strength
of a good story well told. Awards include the Shining Willow Young Readers’ Choice Award, the
Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award and the R. Ross Annett Award for Children’s Literature. Her
books are found on reading lists, in journal reviews and in translation in interesting corners of
the world. A popular presenter at schools and libraries across Canada, Hazel lives in the Rocky
Mountain town of Canmore, Alberta.
Keywords: bicycles, mystery, crime, theft, friendship
13www.orcabook.com
Picturebooks
October 2013
9781459804784
$7.95 pb
5 x 7.5
112 pages
ages 8–11
pdf 9781459804791
epub 9781459804807
October 2013
9781459804036
$7.95 pb
5 x 7.5
112 pages
ages 8–11
pdf 9781459804043
epub 9781459804050
Orca Young Readers
Seconds
Sylvia Taekema
Jake is through with being runner-up.
When it comes to cross-country running,Jake does everything right. He eats all the right foods,
trains like crazy and reads articles about running in his spare time. There’s nothing easy
about running, but the hardest part for Jake is that, at the end of the day, Spencer Solomon always
wins first place. Determined to take the lead for once, Jake continues to push himself even more.
His rigorous training schedule leaves no time for friends, family, pizza or joking around. When Jake
is invited to join the Diamond Running Club, he thinks he’s found an opportunity to train harder.
Instead, with the help of his coach, Jake begins to rediscover what he used to love about running
in the first place.
Way back when she was in grade school, Sylvia Taekema was asked to write about what she
would like to do when she grew up. She answered that she didn’t know exactly, but that it would
probably have something to do with children. She was right. In addition to all the fun she and her
husband have with their own children, Sylvia enjoys working as a supply teacher and as a volunteer
in programs for children at school, church and in the community. She loves to read, bake cookies
and go on camping adventures with her family. She lives in Chatham, Ontario.
Keywords: running, cross-country, competition, self-esteem, family, self-acceptance

16. Nonfiction
Series for Young Readers
Pedal It!
How Bicycles are Changing the World
Michelle Mulder
9781459802193•$19.95hc•48pages•Ages8–12
Down To Earth
How Kids Help Feed the World
Nikki Tate
9781459804234•$19.95hc•48pages•Ages8–12
“In a bouncy, friendly tone...Mulder twines the
mechanics of bicycles with cultural phenomenon,
the environmental benefits of cycling and even
the change in women's fashions...A smart, tangy
history of our two-wheeled friend.”
—Kirkus Reviews
food production (Spring 2013)
cycling (Spring 2013)
sustainable energy (Fall 2013)
water (Spring 2014)
Series themes include:
Reaching More Readers
www.orcafootprints.com
Kids today inhabit a world full of complex—and often mystifying—environmental issues.
The Footprints series aims to help kids answer their questions about the state of the natural world with
well-researched, simply-expressed information and powerful images. With topics such as food production,
water, cycling and sustainable energy, these books will inspire kids to take action.

17. 15www.orcabook.com
Orca Footprints
Harnessing the
power of innovation.
October 2013
9781459802216
$19.95 hc
8 x 9.5
48 pages
ages 8–12
pdf 9781459802223
Brilliant!
Shining a Light on Sustainable Energy
Michelle Mulder
Did you know that cars can run on french-fry grease or that human poop can be used to provide
power to classrooms? Kids in Mexico help light up their houses by playing soccer, and in the
Philippines, pop-bottle skylights are improving the quality of life for thousands of families. Brilliant! is
about what happens when you harness the power of imagination and innovation: the world changes
for the better! Full of examples of unusual (and often peculiar) power sources, Brilliant! encourages
kids to look around for new and sustainable ways to light up the world.
Michelle Mulder travels mostly by bicycle because she loves the idea of being her own engine.
She is the author of Pedal It!, Not a Chance, Out of the Box, After Peaches and several other books for
young people. Friends and family in Victoria, British Columbia, are used to her showing up every-
where wearing a helmet and a reflective vest. For more information, visit www.michellemulder.com.
Keywords: sustainability, energy, innovation, power, light, heat
Also by Michelle Mulder
Pedal It!
9781459802193 $19.95 hc
ages 8–12

18. 16 www.orcabook.com
Juvenile Nonfiction
Explore the relationship
between the
Great Bear Sea and the
rainforest it nourishes.
September 2013
9781459800199
$19.95 pb
7.5 x 9
128 pages
ages 8+
pdf 9781459800205
epub 9781459805217
The Great Bear Sea
Exploring the Marine Life of a Pacific Paradise
Written by Ian McAllister and Nicholas Read
Photographs by Ian McAllister
Following up the success of their first two books about the Great Bear Rainforest, The Salmon
Bears and The Sea Wolves, Ian McAllister and Nicholas Read take readers on an expedition into
the wondrous and mysterious underwater world of the Great Bear Sea. This amazing part of the
northeast Pacific Ocean is home to some of the planet’s mightiest and most beloved residents:
whales, sea lions, dolphins, orcas, sea otters and wild salmon. Filled with spectacular images of this
largely unknown part of the world, the book also explores the uncertain future of the Great Bear
Sea in this age of climate change, overfishing, pipelines and oil tankers. Can a rainforest full of rare
spirit bears,fishing wolves and great grizzlies survive without a Great Bear Sea to feed and nourish it?
Ian McAllister,a founding director of the wildlife conservation group Pacific Wild,is an award-winning
photographer and filmmaker. He has spent more than twenty years working to preserve Canada’s
temperate rainforest. Ian lives with his family on an island in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest.
Nicholas Read, a lifelong animal lover and former journalist, has written about environmental and
animal issues for publications in both Canada and the UK. He is the author of five books with animal
themes. He currently teaches journalism at Langara College in Vancouver, British Columbia, where
he lives with two rescued cats.
Keywords: Great Bear Rainforest, marine life, the environment, ecology, conservation, Pacific coast,
marine mammals, whales, orcas, dolphins, porpoises, salmon, sea otters
Also by Ian McAllister
and Nicholas Read
The Salmon Bears
9781554692057 • $18.95 pb
ages 8+
The Sea Wolves
9781554692064 • $19.95 pb
ages 8+

19. A Collection of
Charlie D Mysteries
Gail Bowen Bundle
Listen your way
through the world
of Charlie D with
unabridged audio
on a preloaded mp3
player. Perfect for
schools and libraries,
Orca GoReaders
come with batteries
and headphones. No
downloads, CDs or
cassettes, just hit
Play and go.
9781459805637 • Set of four books for $34.95
Charlie D is the host of a successful late-night radio call-in show, “The World According
to Charlie D.” His listeners have a particularly intimate relationship with him and often
reveal much about themselves, confident that he will honor their trust and that he can
save them. In their minds, he is perfect: one of life's winners. But Charlie D’s easy confi-
dence on-air belies reality for a man born with a wine-colored birthmark that covers half
of his face. Each of these novels features mysteries that are played out in a race against
time as Charlie D fights for the lives of his listeners and his own well-being.
Gail Bowen
GoReader
An Unabridged Audio Collection
of Charlie D Mysteries
9781459805644 • $49.95

20. 18 www.orcabook.com
Juvenile Nonfiction
September 2013
9781771080125
$14.95 pb
8 x 8.75
56 pages
ages 8–12
Nimbus
October 2013
9781927513156
$14.95 pb
5 x 7
140 pages
ages 13+
Sumach
Be a Wilderness Detective
Peggy Kochanoff
The perfect book for budding naturalists.
Why is that tree lumpy? How do insects stay alive in the winter? What are tides, anyway?
In Be a Wilderness Detective, biologist and artist Peggy Kochanoff answers these and many
more questions. With simple language and beautifully accurate paintings, Kochanoff walks young
readers through many nature puzzles, including identifying different types of animal scat and
understanding how maple trees can be tapped without being harmed. Clear, precise and engaging,
Be a Wilderness Detective is the perfect book for budding naturalists—and will also convince couch
potatoes to get outside. Science and nature have never been more fun!
Peggy Kochanoff is a writer and illustrator who has a degree in vertebrate zoology.
Keywords: nature, activities, science, biology, animals, wildlife, plants
Letters Lived
Radical Reflections, Revolutionary Paths
Edited by Sheila Sampath
An accessible new collection that reminds us we all have the
power to shape the world.
In this accessible new collection, Shameless magazine editorial director, activist designer and
educator Sheila Sampath has invited an incredible group of contributors, all committed to social
justice work, to share letters they have written to their teen selves.
These candid, powerful and relatable letters tackle the tough process of learning how to trust
and love ourselves as well as navigate our bodies,families,identities and communities. Contributors
from around the globe,including Rae Spoon,Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha,Rozena Maart and
Nina Power share how they have created their own paths—personally and politically—from very
different starting points.
Letters Lived reminds us that political work is a process and, although it isn’t always easy, that
we all have the power to define how we shape our world, and we never know exactly what that’s
going to look like.
Sheila Sampath is an educator and an activist designer who has been working toward social
good since 2003. She is the editorial and art director of the award-winning magazine Shameless,
a Canadian feminist voice for young women and trans youth.
Keywords: letters, activism, growing up, teen years, social change

21. Last Airlift
A Vietnamese Orphan’s Rescue from War
Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Tuyet wonders who would ever choose to adopt a girl like her?
Tuyet used to dream of being adopted. But it is the end of the Vietnam War, and Tuyet’s Saigon
orphanage is full of perfect babies and toddlers. Who would want an eight-year-old girl with a
leg weakened by polio? Even when the city is invaded and strangers rush her onto a plane bound
for North America,Tuyet is sure she is only there to care for the fifty-six babies on board. She
couldn’t possibly be bound for a family of her own…could she?
Last Airlift is the true story of one girl’s escape from war-torn Vietnam. School Library Journal
said,“The author tells Tuyet’s story with respect and dignity, introducing readers to a brave girl
caught up in the turbulent times of her country, her fears of leaving what she knew, and the joy
of finding a new life. Archival and family photos are included throughout, as are a historical note
explaining the circumstances surrounding the airlift and an author’s note with follow-up informa-
tion about Tuyet. Her story will appeal to a broad range of readers.”
Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch is the award-winning author of more than a dozen books,including
picture books, chapter books and juvenile and young-adult novels. Last Airlift is Marsha’s first work
of narrative nonfiction.
Keywords: Vietnam,war,adoption,family,physical disabilities,polio,refugees,immigration,biography
No Shelter Here
Making the World a Kinder Place for Dogs
Rob Laidlaw
Become a “Dog Champion.”
Be inspired by “Dog Champions,” people around the world who have dedicated their lives to
helping homeless and exploited dogs. Kirkus Reviews says,“Dogs' mistreatment…is addressed
frankly but gently.” School Library Journal says,“Canine lovers will discover a broad array of topics
useful for caring for dogs and becoming an advocate for their humane treatment. Chapters are
brief but chock-full of information…Children will come away from this book educated and inspired
to become ‘Dog Champions.’”
For more than thirty years, Rob Laidlaw has devoted his life to protecting animals, as an advo-
cate, a WSPA project manager, the founder of a wildlife protection group and a writer.
Keywords: dogs, pets, animals, Dog Champions, activism, social justice, nonfiction
19www.orcabook.com
Juvenile Nonfiction
October 2013
9780986949517
$12.95 pb
5.75 x 8
120 pages
ages 8–12
Pajama Press
September 2013
9780986949524
$14.95 pb
7 x 9
64 pages
ages 8–12
Pajama Press
New in
paperback!
New in
paperback!

22. 20 www.orcabook.com
Juvenile Nonfiction
Jewish refugees
in the Shanghai
Ghetto—
a true story.
September 2013
9781927583104
$14.95 pb
6.5 x 8
204 pages
ages 9–13
Second Story
Shanghai Escape
Kathy Kacer
Shanghai, China, seems an unlikely destination for Jewish refugees trying to escape the cruel anti-
Semitic laws of Adolf Hitler and his Nazi party before the Second World War. But while most
countries were unwilling to give refuge to Jews,China was one place that did. More than twenty thou-
sand European Jews found refuge in Shanghai between 1937 and 1939.
Lily Toufar and her family arrive in Shanghai in 1938, having fled from Vienna on the eve of
Kristallnacht. Shanghai is a strange place for this bright young girl. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor,
and under pressure from Hitler, the Japanese government in Shanghai has ordered Jewish refugees
to move into a ghetto in an area of Shanghai called Hongkew. There is little food to eat and poor
sanitation, and disease is rampant. For Lily, life becomes gruelling after her family is forced into the
ghetto. Lily endures the difficult conditions, always hopeful for an end to the war and a return to
normal life.
Kathy Kacer is an award-winning author of Holocaust stories for young readers. She began by
writing her own mother’s story in The Secret of Gabi’s Dresser and continued with seven other stories
in the Holocaust Remembrance Series for Young Readers: The Underground Reporters,Clara’s War,The
Night Spies, Hiding Edith,The Diary of Laura’s Twin,To Hope and Back and We Are Their Voice:Young People
Respond to the Holocaust.
Keywords: The Holocaust, intolerance, bravery
Also by Kathy Kacer
We Are Their Voice
9781926920771 • $16.95
ages 9–14
To Hope and Back
9781897187968 • $14.95
ages 8–13

23. 21www.orcabook.com
Juvenile Nonfiction
Women who
changed the face of
business.
September 2013
9781927583128
$10.95 pb
6 x 9
128 pages
ages 9–13
Second Story
Phenomenal Female
Entrepreneurs
Jill Bryant
This collection of biographies profiles ten creative business leaders who have proven that entre-
preneurial women can not only succeed in business but can also bring about positive change.
Against all odds, African-American Madam C.J. Walker, born in 1867, became a self-made
millionaire who promoted civil rights and opposed racism. Designer Dorothy Shaver, Body Shop
founder Dame Anita Roddick and high-finance expert Naina Lal Kidwai built businesses based on
integrity, responsibility and respect. Among the growing number of young female entrepreneurs now
in their thirties and forties are Sheryl Sandberg, Sue Chen, Susan Mashibe, Nicole Robertson, Kelsey
Ramsden and Jodi Glover.
Jill Bryant is always on the lookout for stories of trailblazing women. She is the author of two
other books in the Women’s Hall of Fame Series: Dazzling Women Designers and Amazing Women
Athletes. A writer and freelance editor, Jill lives in Ontario.
Keywords: activists, business, entrepreneurs, feminism
Also by Jill Bryant
Amazing Women Athletes
9781896764443 • $10.95
ages 9–13
Dazzling Women Designers
9781897187821 • $10.95
ages 9–13

24. Homophobia
Deal with it and turn prejudice into pride
Steven Solomon
Illustrated by Nick Johnson
A timely resource for helping kids understand and resolve
conflicts stemming from homophobia and bullying.
That’s so gay! It’s a phrase commonly heard in school halls and on playgrounds. But when used
as a put-down, it’s also homophobic. With plenty of quizzes, Q+As, comics and scenarios, this
interactive and highly visual new book in the Deal With It series helps kids determine what is—
and what isn’t—homophobia and what they can do to make their schools,homes and communities
more safe and inclusive for everyone.
Steven Solomon is the school social worker forToronto District School Board’s Human Sexuality
Program. He provides counseling for students who are bullied because of their sexuality and
delivers anti-homophobia workshops for K-12 students. In 2012 he was awarded a TDSB Excellence
Award, in part for his work helping students to establish Gay-Straight Alliances in schools.
Nick Johnson is a writer and illustrator who co-founded the independent comic book label
Vicious Ambitious.
Keywords: conflict resolution, homosexuality, bullying, gay and lesbian identity, adolescence
Real Justice:
Convicted for Being Mi’kmaq
The story of Donald Marshall Jr.
Bill Swan
How wrongfully convicted Donald Marshall Jr. forced the justice
system to confront its racism.
When a black teen was murdered in a park late one night, his young companion, Donald
Marshall Jr., became a prime suspect. Police coached two teens to testify against Donald,
which helped convict him of a murder he did not commit. He spent eleven years in prison before
he finally got a lucky break. Not only was he eventually acquitted of the crime, but an inquiry into
his wrongful conviction found that a non-Aboriginal youth would never have been convicted in the
first place. Donald became a First Nations activist and later won a landmark court case in favor of
Native fishing rights. He was often referred to as the “reluctant hero” of the Mi’kmaq community.
Bill Swan is the author of nine Sports Stories novels and another Real Justice title on Steven
Truscott, which is shortlisted for the 2013 Red Maple Non-Fiction Award. Bill is retired from
Durham College and teaches online courses in journalism and business writing.
Keywords: criminal law, justice, racism, rights and responsibilities
22 www.orcabook.com
Juvenile Nonfiction
October 2013
9781459404427 • $12.95 pb
9781459404410 • $24.95 hc
8.5 x 11
32 pages
ages 9–12
Lorimer
September 2013
9781459404397 • $12.95 pb
9781459404380 • $18.95 hc
5.5 x 8.5
184 pages
ages 13–18
Lorimer

25. Reaching More Readers
Announcing the Fall 2013 debut of
Where did the idea for the
Limelights series come from?
I loved books about ballet and music
when I was a girl, and I noticed that there
weren’t many recent books about kids
involved in performing arts, even though
there has been an explosion of interest in
performing. Kids who want to make their
performing dreams a reality will love the
Limelights series.
How many books will there
be in the series?
I have signed enough titles to take us
through 2015, and I expect to sign more
as time goes on. A lot of writers have
experience in the performing arts—and
they want to write about it!
How did you choose which
performing arts to feature first?
I put out a call for submissions and was
pleasantly surprised by the positive
response. For the first season, I wanted
there to be variety (music, dance, theater)
and I wanted the subject matter to appeal
to both male and female readers.
Did you do any performing
arts as a kid?
Yes, I played the violin and piano, and I
danced. My son is a professional musician
and my daughter studied acting and dance
for many years.
When all the world's a stage
Interview
with series
editor
Sarah
Harvey

26. 24 www.orcabook.com
Orca Limelights
October 2013
9781459803824
$9.95 pb
4.75 x 7.25
128 pages
ages 11–14
pdf 9781459803831
epub 9781459803848
Attitude
Robin Stevenson
There’s more to ballet than pink pointe shoes and tutus.
When Cassie comes to Vancouver from Australia for an intensive summer program at a pres-
tigious ballet school, she finds it hard to fit in. A clique of girls who have been at the school
a long time don’t want the newcomers to get any attention. At first Cassie tries to go along to
get along, but when she realizes that some of the visiting summer students are being bullied and
threatened, and that she herself is being sabotaged, she finally speaks out—and finds out how far
some girls will go to succeed.
Robin Stevenson is the author of more than a dozen books for children and teens, including
four novels in the Orca Soundings series. Robin spends most of her time writing, hanging out
with her son and teaching creative writing to adults, teens and kids. She lives in Victoria, British
Columbia, with her family. For more information, visit www.robinstevenson.com.
Keywords: competition, excellence, ballet, friendship, cliques, honesty, fitting in
~ At-level novels for ages 11–14.
~ Each book focuses on one performing art such as
music, theater, dance, circus, slam poetry, magic or
stand-up comedy.
~ Three new books each season, featuring ballet, theater
directing and music for Fall 2013.
~ Lots of performance action, drama and passion!
When all the world's a stage
A new ongoing series
of performing arts novels
www.orcalimelights.com

27. 25www.orcabook.com
Orca Limelights
October 2013
9781459804586
$9.95 pb
4.75 x 7.25
128 pages
ages 11–14
pdf 9781459804593
epub 9781459804609
October 2013
9781459804135
$9.95 pb
4.75 x 7.25
128 pages
ages 11–14
pdf 9781459804142
epub 9781459804159
Totally Unrelated
Tom Ryan
When you step into the spotlight, you have to expect some heat.
Neil plays guitar with his family’s band, the Family McClintock, even though he can’t stand the
Celtic music they play, he doesn’t dance, he hates the outfits, and every single performance
reminds him that he isn’t as talented as the rest of the family.
When his buddy Bert convinces him to form a rock band and enter a local talent show, Neil’s
playing improves and everyone notices, including a girl who shares his musical interests. He starts
to think that all those years of practice might come in handy after all. But it all comes to a head
when Neil has to choose between an important gig with the family band and the talent show. He’s
only sure of one thing: whatever he decides to do, he’s going to be letting someone down.
Tom Ryan was born and raised in Inverness on Cape Breton Island. Like most transplanted
Cape Bretoners, he spends a lot of time wishing he was back on the right side of the causeway.
He currently lives in Ottawa, Ontario, with his partner and dog. He can be found online at
www.tomwrotethat.com.
Keywords: family, loyalty, talent, Celtic music, friendship, rock and roll, guitar
Cut the Lights
Karen Krossing
Is the play cursed or is Briar just a lousy director?
Briar has a vision for the one-act play she’s been chosen to direct at her performing arts high
school. She’s going to create a masterpiece. If only everyone involved in the production shared
her vision. Her leading lady is gifted but troubled,her leading man has a crush on the leading lady,her
stage manager doesn’t have a clue, and her best friend, who wrote the play, is worried that Briar’s
production is cursed. As Briar struggles to motivate her cast and crew, she learns some important
truths about the fine art of directing—and about herself.
Karen Krossing is addicted to stories. She studied English and drama at university before she
began to write novels and short stories for children and teens. Karen also encourages new writers
through workshops for kids, teens and adults. She lives with her family in Toronto, Ontario. Cut the
Lights is her fifth novel. For more information, visit www.karenkrossing.com.
Keywords: theater, directing, acting, ego, depression, empowerment, cooperation, leadership

28. The Unmaking
The Last Days of Tian Di, Book 2
Catherine Egan
Eliza is growing in her magical powers, but can she learn enough
to stop the horrid Kwellrahg from killing her mother?
Eliza, now fourteen, has been studying magic and gaining a reputation for her power. She has
much yet to learn—although she understands things like the Ancient Magic, by which things
are made and unmade, she cannot yet affect it herself. She is strong-headed and independent,
chafing at the boundaries the Mancers have set for her. Ravens continue to gather around Eliza and
the Citadel,and nobody is sure if they are Eliza’s guides or a trick sent by the evil xia sorceress Nia.
The Mancers create magic daily to keep Nia in her prison, but she escapes, turning them all to
stone except Eliza’s grandfather, Kyreth, the head Mancer. Why on earth would she do that? Nia
also summons Ancient Magic to create a horrid Kwellrahg, with which to threaten Eliza’s mother.
Eliza,her friends Nell and Charlie,the witch Swarn and the Faerie Lord Jalo must stop Nia from
wreaking further destruction. The key to victory is Eliza’s mastery of the Ancient Magic. Can she
make it work in time? Will they learn the true story of Eliza and Nia’s common heritage?
Catherine Egan has fashioned another thrilling fantasy tale of magic, of good battling evil, of a
young woman discovering her true nature and realizing her own powers.
Catherine Egan made her publishing debut as a fantasy novelist with the bestselling first book
in this series, Shade and Sorceress. Her short fiction has appeared in many literary journals in the
United States and Canada. Readers can follow Catherine’s experimental Twittertales—stories told
in three tweets a day—on Twitter: @ByCatherineEgan.
Keywords: fantasy, good versus evil, dragons, sorceresses
26 www.orcabook.com
Juvenile Fiction
August 2013
9781771030090
$11.95 pb
7 x 5
175 pages
ages 8–12
Tuckamore
September 2013
9781550505597
$12.95 pb
5.5 x 8.5
256 pages
ages 9–12
Coteau
Buried Truths
Alice Walsh
A great mystery for young adults.
After her mother dies, fourteen-year-old Zoe is whisked away to Newfoundland to live with a
father she has never met. In the tiny village of Port au Choix, she gets caught up in solving the
mystery of finding the habitation site of the Maritime Archaic Indian,an ancient culture that lived in
the area more than four thousand years ago. At the same time, Zoe has her own mystery to solve.
Going through her mother’s journals,she discovers secrets that baffle and confuse her. Could Zoe’s
life have been nothing more than an elaborate lie?
Alice Walsh has written numerous articles and short stories for newspapers, magazines and
literary journals, as well as educational material for various publications. Alice graduated from
St. Mary’s University with a degree in criminology and English, and from Acadia with a master’s
degree in children’s literature. She has worked as a preschool teacher, probation officer, creative-
writing instructor and hospital ward clerk.
Keywords: adventure, mystery, history

29. Sam Swallow and the
Riddleworld League
William New
Illustrated by Yayo
The ultimate book for young puzzle lovers.
All Sam Swallow wants is to join the Little League baseball team. But on the way to the park he
stumbles, hits his head and falls into Riddleworld, a land where birds talk in puzzles and cats
wait to pounce. Nothing is what it seems to be in Riddleworld. Sam himself has been transformed
into a bird.To get back to this world,Sam needs to solve some difficult puzzles,make a few unlikely
friends, and avoid the cats at all costs.
William New is a recipient of the Governor General’s Award for his poetry and is a member of
the Order of Canada. He recently received the George Woodcock Lifetime Achievement Award
for his contribution to Canadian literature. Sam Swallow and the Riddleworld League is his first novel.
Nominated for the highly esteemed Governor General's Award and winner of the Mr. Christie's
Book Award, Yayo has illustrated many children's books, including Night Sky Wheel Ride. He lives
in Montreal with his wife and family.
Keywords: riddles, baseball, fantasy
Mimi Power and the
I-don’t-know-what
Victoria Miles
Illustrated by Marc Mongeau
Big sisters, little sisters. Fireworks in the house!
Artist, animal lover and would-be swimming sensation Mimi Power knows what it’s like to live
under the tyranny of a three-year-old sister. Things have never been the same in the Power
household since “The Waby” arrived. Finding creative space in all the chaos is getting harder by
the minute for Mimi.
But with the school art show looming and a prize at stake that’s too good to give up on, Mimi
devises a plan that’s three-year-old-proof. Or is it? To know for sure, Mimi will have to tap into her
big-sister power and find her own little piece of the sky. Recently nominated for the Sheila A. Egoff
Children’s Literature Prize.
Victoria Miles is the award-winning author of Magnifico, Old Mother Bear and numerous other
books for children. She lives in North Vancouver, British Columbia, with her husband and two
daughters.
Marc Mongeau lives in Montreal, Quebec. He has illustrated more than thirty-five children’s
books, including There Were Monkeys in my Kitchen! by Sheree Fitch, which was a finalist for the
Governor General’s Children’s Literature Award.
Keywords: sisters, family, art, school
27www.orcabook.com
Juvenile Fiction
October 2013
9781896580982
$12.95 pb
5.9375 x 8.6875
144 pages
ages 9–11
Tradewind
September 2013
9781896580654
$12.95 pb
5.375 x 8.1875
224 pages
ages 9–11
Tradewind

30. 28 www.orcabook.com
Juvenile Fiction
September 2013
9781459404502 • $12.95 pb
9781459404519 • $18.95 hc
5 x 7.75
136 pages
ages 9–12
Lorimer
September 2013
9781771080187
$12.95 pb
5 x 7.25
192 pages
ages 8–12
Nimbus
Street Kings
Brad V. Cowan
Cale Finch’s plans for spring break? EAT. SLEEP. SKATE.
Cale’s determined that this time he’ll successfully ollie the set of seven stairs that marks initia-
tion into the Seven Stair Crew, a group of older, junior-high skaters. But Cale soon finds that
not all local skaters are welcoming to grommets (new skaters) like him. He has to find his voice,
learn to stand up for himself and believe in his own ability to skate in order to find his rightful place
in this youth subculture.
Growing up, Brad V. Cowan was no stranger to the best places to skateboard in his neighbor-
hood. He works in television and film and was a producer of the West 49 Ambition Skatecamp tele-
vision series, in which eight skaters went head-to-head in a skateboarding competition.This is his
first novel.
Keywords: skateboarding, confidence, spring break
Buried Secrets at Louisbourg
Jo Ann Yhard
Can Fred find the jewels buried by his ancestor
in time to save his family?
Fred has had a rough summer. His secret crush on Mai is going strong, his mother has barely
recovered from a battle with cancer, and his unreliable father’s diving business has gone
completely underwater. Now Fred,Mai and Grace,extraordinary fossil hunters,are at the Fortress
of Louisbourg hunting a different kind of treasure. They are secretly excavating the historic site,
trying to find a mass of jewels Fred’s ancestor may have buried there—jewels that could save
Fred’s family. But Fred uncovers far more than he bargained for, including a dangerous plot that
could leave Fred’s family in even more serious trouble. The young detectives from the bestselling
The Fossil Hunter of Sydney Mines shine in this fast-paced mystery for middle readers.
Jo Ann Yhard’s first novel, The Fossil Hunter of Sydney Mines, is a Canadian bestseller. Jo Ann lives
in Halifax,Nova Scotia,with her husband,James,where she writes on her yellow laptop,Bumble Bee.
Keywords: mystery, treasure, detectives, buried treasure, history, Canada, Louisbourg

31. Game Face
Sylvia Gunnery
Basketball player Jay has to focus on
what’s weak and make it strong.
Jay Hirtle is back in Rockets territory, and he’s determined to help his former teammates win
the basketball championship. But some of his teammates aren’t very welcoming,including Colin,
Jay’s former best friend and last season’s MVP. When Jay wins out in a close vote for team captain,
Colin’s behavior becomes even more hostile. Jay has to think of a way to fix their strained relation-
ship—and the effect it has on the team’s showing—even if it means giving up the captaincy.
Sylvia Gunnery, an award-winning educator, is the author of two previous Jay Hirtle novels,
Personal Best and Out of Bounds, which was a Hackmatack Children’s Choice Award nominee.
Keywords: basketball, leadership, teamwork, self-sacrifice
29www.orcabook.com
Lorimer Sports Stories
September 2013
9781459403758 • $9.95 pb
9781459403765 • $16.95 hc
5 x 7.75
128 pages
ages 10–13
Lorimer
October 2013
9781459403819 • $9.95 pb
9781459403826 • $16.95 hc
5 x 7.75
128 pages
ages 10–13
Lorimer
Replay
Steven Sandor
Warren’s dreams of being a football star are within reach—but
does he have to cheat to win?
Growing up above his parents’ Chinese family restaurant in a small town, Warren Chen has
always dreamed of being a football star. At ninety pounds and five feet tall, he’s not exactly
built like a linebacker, but even short kids from tiny towns have big dreams. At first the coach is
reluctant to even let him try out, but soon he sees Warren’s strengths—he is small and slippery,
and no one can catch him. Warren is named the team’s new running back.
In their first game of the season,Warren and the team face their biggest rivals. With a breath-
taking dash along the sideline, Warren reaches the end zone to score the game-winning touch-
down—almost. But Warren celebrates anyway, and the referee buys it.The losing streak is broken,
and Warren has proven himself worthy to be on the team,a genuine football star! But he knows it’s
not quite the truth and that sooner or later, someone will find out. Warren has to decide whether
to come clean and cost his school the victory, or continue living the small-town football dream.
Steven Sandor is a professional sportswriter and magazine editor. He also draws on his experi-
ence as a color commentator for FC Edmonton broadcasts to write Sports Stories novels.
Keywords: football, honesty, overcoming obstacles, cheating

32. 30 www.orcabook.com
Lorimer Sports Stories/Podium Sports Academy
September 2013
9781459403789 • $9.95 pb
9781459403796 • $16.95 hc
5 x 7.75
128 pages
ages 10–13
Lorimer
September 2013
9781459403727 • $9.95 pb
9781459403734 • $16.95 hc
5.5 x 8.5
144 pages
ages 13–18
Lorimer
Double Play
Sara Cassidy
Allie’s invited to play on the boys’ baseball team, but then her
step-brother announces he wants to play on the girls’ team!
Allie loves baseball. It’s the one thing that has been consistent in her lately complicated life.
Allie’s father left recently,and now Allie has a new family—her mother’s new girlfriend,Phyllis,
and Phyllis’s son, Miles, have moved in. It’s taking some adjustment, mostly because Miles seems
determined to get under her skin.Things start looking up when Allie gets invited to join the boys’
baseball team as their new pitcher. But then Miles announces that he’s quitting the boys’ team and
trying out for Allie’s old team—a girls’ team!
Allie is sure he’s doing it just to annoy her, but Miles insists that he just likes the girls’ style of
play better. As Allie struggles to find her place on the boys’ team,she starts to see that Miles is just
trying to fit in as well, and that it may be even harder for him than it has been for her.
Sara Cassidy teaches creative writing at Camosun College and is the director of the Victoria
Writers Festival. She has published two previous novels for teens as well as dozens of newspaper
and magazine articles and short stories. She lives in Victoria, British Columbia, with her family.
Keywords: baseball, gender roles, stepfamilies, same-sex parenting
Forward Pass
Lorna Schultz Nicholson
Parmita Kapoor: the soccer player who won’t
keep a secret that crosses the line.
Podium Sports Academy’s star goalkeeper wants nothing more than to play on Canada’s
National Team. Parmita works hard at school and on the pitch,so if it seems like she’s avoiding
boys, she hopes everyone will think it’s because she wants to be the best, and not because she’s
secretly attracted to girls.
The team’s new assistant coach may actually have the pull to get Parmita a National Team
tryout,but Parmita is uncomfortable with her coach’s constant flirting and accidentally-on-purpose
touching. After the coach guesses Parmita’s secret about her sexuality and corners her in the
locker room, Parmita has to decide how far she’ll go to get a tryout.
Lorna Schultz Nicholson is an experienced sports writer. Her books have been nominated
for the SYRCA Diamond Willow Award and the Golden Eagle Children’s Choice Book Award. She
is a full-time fiction author who works from her home in Calgary, Alberta, which she shares with
her husband, senior hockey official Bob Nicholson, and their three children. For more information,
visit www.lornaschultznicholson.com.
Keywords: soccer, sexual abuse, gay and lesbian identity, high school

33. 31www.orcabook.com
Teen Fiction
Self-portrait
of the artist as a
teenage girl.
October 2013
9781459805309
$19.95 hc
5.5 x 8.25
288 pages
ages 12+
pdf 9781459802650
epub 9781459802667
Audacious
Gabrielle Prendergast
Sixteen-year-old Raphaelle says the wrong thing, antagonizes the wrong people and has the wrong
attitude. She can’t do anything right except draw, but she draws the wrong pictures. When her
father moves the family to a small prairie city, Raphaelle wants to make a new start. Reborn as “Ella,”
she tries to fit in at her new school. She’s drawn to Samir,a Muslim boy in her art class,and expresses
her confused feelings in explicit art. When a classmate texts a photo of Ella’s art to a younger friend,
the fallout spreads throughout Ella’s life,threatening to destroy her already-fragile family.Told entirely
in verse,Audacious is a brave,funny and hard-hitting portrait of a girl who embodies the word audacity.
Gabrielle Prendergast is a UK-born Canadian/Australian who lives in Vancouver,British Columbia,
with her husband and daughter. She holds an mfa in Creative Writing from the University of British
Columbia. A part-time teacher and mentor, Gabrielle blogs and rants at www.angelhorn.com and
www.versenovels.com.
Keywords: sex, bullying, religion, censorship, art, family dynamics, fresh starts
Advance praise for Audacious
“Beautifully written, thoughtfully layered, and occasionally disturbing…Audacious is a book just as
powerful as its title.” —Margarita Engle, Newbery Honor-winning author of The Surrender Tree

34. 32 www.orcabook.com
Teen Fiction
Danny has
more lives than the
proverbial cat.
October 2013
9781459804340
$12.95 pb
5.5 x 8.25
216 pages
ages 12+
pdf 9781459804357
epub 9781459804364
Who I’m Not
Ted Staunton
Danny has survived everything life has thrown at him: being abandoned at birth, multiple abusive
foster homes, life as a con man in training. But when his latest “protector” dies suddenly, Danny
has to think fast or he’ll be back in foster care again. He decides to assume the identity of a boy who
disappeared three years before. If nothing else, he figures it will buy him a little time. Much to his
astonishment, his new “family” accepts him as their own—despite the fact that he looks nothing like
their missing relative. But one old cop has his suspicions about Danny—and he’s not about to declare
the case closed. Inspired by a true story, Who I’m Not is a powerful portrait of a boy whose identity
is as fluid as a river and as changeable as a chameleon’s skin.
Ted Staunton is a writer, speaker, workshop leader, story teller and musical performer. His novel
Jump Cut was part of Seven (the series) and he is the author of many other books,including the Morgan
series for young readers, the picture book Puddleman, and two titles in the Orca Currents series. He
lives in Port Hope,Ontario.To learn more about Ted,visit his web site at www.tedstauntonbooks.com.
Keywords: deception, abuse, grifters, family, loyalty, identity
Also by Ted Staunton
Jump Cut
9781554699476 • $9.95
ages 10+
Power Chord
9781554699032 • $9.95
ages 10–14

35. 33www.orcabook.com
You can’t be a hero
every day.
October 2013
9781459802865
$12.95 pb
5.5 x 8.25
216 pages
ages 12+
pdf 9781459802872
epub 9781459802889
If Only
Becky Citra
Fifteen-year-old Pam is assaulted when she and her twin brother,Danny,are walking home through
the woods. Danny is frozen with fear and does nothing; luckily, Pam is rescued by a woman out
walking her dog. Pam deals with the trauma by isolating herself while Danny struggles with the shame
of not protecting his sister. His shame is compounded by their father’s contempt, and Danny decides
to redeem himself by finding Pam’s attacker. In the process, he discovers a family secret, and Pam
connects with new friends who help her regain her confidence.
Becky Citra is the author of many books for children and teens, including Missing, After the Fire and
Never to be Told. Becky lives on a ranch in Bridge Lake, British Columbia, where she has ridden and
trained horses for thirty years.
Keywords: courage, twins, old age, family secrets, assault, friendship
Also by Becky Citra
Missing
9781554693450 • $9.95 pb
ages 9–12
After the Fire
9781554692460 • $9.95 pb
ages 9–12
Teen Fiction

36. 34 www.orcabook.com
Teen Fiction
Best. Prom. Ever.
October 2013
9781459802971
$12.95 pb
5.5 x 8.25
240 pages
ages 12+
pdf 9781459802988
epub 9781459802995
Tag Along
Tom Ryan
It’s junior prom night. Andrea is grounded for getting her older brother to buy booze for her, Paul
is having panic attacks, Roemi has been stood up by his Internet date, and Candace is busy tagging
a building (before she gets collared by a particularly tenacious cop). By happenstance, the four near-
strangers end up together, getting into more trouble, arguing and ultimately helping each other out
over the course of eight madcap hours.
Tom Ryan was born and raised in Inverness on Cape Breton Island. After high school, he studied
English at Mount Allison University and then moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he studied film
production. Tom’s first novel, Way to Go, has been nominated for numerous awards. He lives in
Ottawa, Ontario, with his partner and dog. He can be found online at www.tomwrotethat.com.
Keywords: friendship, randomness, bonding, sexuality, loyalty, integrity
Also by Tom Ryan
Way to Go
9781459800779 • $12.95
ages 12+

37. 35www.orcabook.com
Teen Fiction
Becoming a statistic
was never part of
the plan.
September 2013
9781459801363
$12.95 pb
5.5 x 8.25
288 pages
ages 12+
pdf 9781459801370
epub 9781459801387
So Much It Hurts
Monique Polak
Iris is an aspiring actress, so when Mick, a well-known visiting Aussie director, takes an interest
in her, she’s flattered. He’s fourteen years older, attractive, smart, charming and sexy—in other
words, nothing like her hapless ex-boyfriend,Tommy. But when Iris and Mick start a secret relation-
ship, she soon witnesses Mick’s darker side, and his temper frightens her. Before long, she becomes
the target of his rage, but she makes endless excuses for him. Isolated and often in pain, Iris struggles
to continue going to school, where she is preparing for her role as Ophelia. When her family and
friends begin to realize that something is terribly wrong, Iris defends her man, but she also takes the
first tentative steps toward self-preservation.
So Much It Hurts is Monique Polak’s fourteenth novel for young adults. Her historical novel,
What World is Left, won the Quebec Writers’ Federation Prize for Children’s and Young Adult
Literature. In addition to writing fiction, Monique teaches English and Humanities at Marianopolis
College in Montreal, Quebec. She is also an active freelance journalist. For more information, visit
www.moniquepolak.com.
Keywords: domestic violence, acting, deception, self-preservation
Also by Monique Polak
What World is Left
9781551438474 • $12.95
ages 12+
Miracleville
9781554693306 • $12.95
ages 12+

38. 36 www.orcabook.com
Teen Fiction
It’s always
“beer o’clock”
at Kit’s house.
September 2013
9781459802742
$12.95 pb
5.5 x 8.25
288 pages
ages 12+
pdf 9781459802759
epub 9781459802766
Baygirl
Heather Smith
Growing up in a picturesque Newfoundland fishing village should be idyllic for sixteen-year-old
Kit Ryan, but living with an alcoholic father makes Kit’s day-to-day life unpredictable and almost
intolerable. When the 1992 cod moratorium forces her father out of a job, the tension between Kit
and her father grows. Forced to leave their rural community, the family moves to the city, where
they live with Uncle Iggy, a widower with problems of his own. Immediately pegged as a “baygirl,” Kit
struggles to fit in, but longstanding trust issues threaten to hold her back when a boy named Elliot
expresses an interest in her.
Originally from Newfoundland, Heather Smith now lives in Waterloo, Ontario, with her husband
and three children. Her Newfoundland roots inspire much of her writing. For more information,
visit www.heathertsmith.com.
Keywords: alcoholism, loyalty, family, first love, death

39. 37www.orcabook.com
Teen Fiction
July 2013
9781927485248
$21.95 hc
5.5 x 7.5
296 pages
ages 12+
Pajama Press
September 2013
9781927485323
$19.95 hc
5.5 x 8
232 pages
ages 12+
Pajama Press
Nix Minus One
Jill MacLean
A powerful YA novel about a boy,
a dog and the way they save each other.
Nix Humbolt doesn’t talk much. Though at fifteen he’s taller and leaner than he was in his
“Fatty Humbolt” days, he still lies low at school. At home, Nix finds refuge in his father’s
workshop, where he builds intricate boxes and tables—and avoids arguments with his polar-oppo-
site older sister. Roxy is so alive the air around her vibrates. Nix would slay ten dragons for her,
but she drives him crazy—especially when she decides to go after Bryan Sykes.The guy is seriously
toxic,but Roxy won’t listen,so what can Nix do? The only battles he ever fights are on his Xbox—
until the day he finds the guts to fight for Swiff Dunphy’s neglected dog,Twig. She won’t win any
beauty contests, but Nix is determined to save her. And when things start to spiral out of control,
she might just be the one who saves him.
Award-winning author Jill MacLean divides her time between writing in her East Coast home,
presenting in school classrooms and pursuing her love of nature.
Keywords: dogs,pets,animal abuse,siblings,grieving,introversion,woodworking,high school,self-
confidence, parents, family, Newfoundland, free verse
“This is an absorbing, emotionally resonant book.” —Quill Quire
Namesake
Sue MacLeod
Jane’s project on Lady Jane Grey is really drawing her in. Literally.
It started with a history project. Mr. Gregor assigned a research paper on a figure from the
Tudor era, and of course Jane Grey had to pick her namesake—Lady Jane Grey, the fifteen-year-
old girl whose parents schemed to place her on the throne of England, then abandoned her to
face the executioner. The project is engrossing from the start, but when Jane opens a mysterious
prayer book and finds herself in the Tower of London in 1554, she ends up literally drawn into her
namesake’s story. Soon Jane is slipping into the past whenever the present becomes too unbear-
able, avoiding her mother’s demands, her best friend’s fickleness, her crush’s indifference. In the
tower she plays chess with the imprisoned Lady Jane and is awed by her new friend’s strength and
courage. And in the tower,keeping vigil as the day of the execution draws near,Jane learns that she
too must have the courage to fight for her own happiness.
Sue MacLeod has filled her career with the written word,working as a writer,an editor,a library
assistant and even a poet laureate. Sue wrote Namesake, her first novel, out of a desire to honor
Jane Grey for “who she was—not only a victim, but also courageous, strong and full of life.”
Keywords: Tudor England,time slip,Jane Grey,history,relationships,alcohol abuse,friendship,high
school, self-confidence, courage, mothers, daughters,Tower of London

40. 38 www.orcabook.com
Teen Fiction
November 2013
9780986949500
$14.95 pb
5.5 x 8
240 pages
ages 12+
Pajama Press
October 2013
9781894838993
$12.95 pb
5.25 x 7.75
128 pages
ages 12+
Acorn
True Blue
Deborah Ellis
How long can Jess remain loyal to a friend arrested for murder?
Stephanie was the brattiest camper in Jess and Casey’s cabin, but Casey couldn’t really have
murdered her—could she? With her best friend arrested and the town turning against her,
Jess’ moral dilemma might be too much for her to handle.
Known for her novels about courageous young people in developing countries,award-winning
author Deborah Ellis has produced an incisive story about a different kind of courage. Booklist says,
“This intelligent mystery is a complete 180 from the author’s leprosy-in-India tale, No Ordinary Day
(2011), but is similar in how its impact sneaks up on you…The unreliability of Jess’ first-person
account becomes increasingly obvious as we learn the depths of Jess’ jealousy and the dubious-
ness of her morals.The mystery here is not just a whodunit but how loyalty and betrayal can rest
along such a razor’s edge.” Kirkus Reviews says,“Jess…grabs readers’ attention and never lets it go.”
Deborah Ellis is a peace activist, feminist, humanitarian and award-winning author. True Blue, like
all of Deborah’s books, was written out of her fascination with courage—“when we have it, when
we don’t, and how we make the decision to be brave or cowardly.”
Keywords: mystery, moral courage, peer pressure, mental health, friendship, values, crime, teen-
agers, high school, summer camp
The Sewing Basket
Susan White
Dealing with a parent’s illness is difficult at any age.
It is the late 1960s, and the world of twelve-year-old Ruth Iverson pretty much revolves around
her friends, a boy she likes,The Monkees and spending time with her dad, doing special stuff like
watching the Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup. But she is soon to realize that her mom’s
strange behavior, which has become an embarrassment, is a symptom of a disease that will affect
her family’s life and possibly Ruth’s future. While she watches major events like the marriage of
John Lennon and Yoko Ono, the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy and
Neil Armstrong’s walk on the moon, Ruth faces some major life events of her own and struggles
to come to terms with the changes they bring.
Susan White is grateful to have the time, since retiring, to work on her writing and the freedom
to regularly visit her new granddaughter in Alberta. Her previous books include Ten Thousand Truths
and The Year Mrs. Montague Cried, which won the Ann Connor Brimer Award. Visit her website at
www.author-susan-white.blogspot.ca.
Keywords: illness, family, coping, coming of age
New in
paperback!

41. 39www.orcabook.com
Teen Fiction
September 2013
9781927583142
$12.95 pb
5.5 x 8.25
250 pages
ages 12+
Second Story
September 2013
9781927583166
$12.95 pb
5.5 x 8.25
200 pages
ages 13+
Second Story
Rachel’s Promise
Shelly Sanders
Two strong young hearts ahead of their time make
their way in 1904 from Russia to Shanghai.
The story that began in the novel Rachel’s Secret continues in Rachel's Promise.With his drunken
father out of work,fifteen-year-old Sergei leaves for a factory job in St. Petersburg. But factory
life in 1904 Russia is unimaginably difficult,and Sergei soon joins the workers rebelling against inhu-
mane conditions.
Forced to leave Russia because of continuing riots against Jews, Sergei’s sweetheart, Rachel,
takes the Trans-Siberian Railway across Russia to board a ship to Shanghai. Like Sergei,Rachel must
abandon her studies and work to support her family.
Rachel and Sergei are both working to save enough money to move to America for a better
life. Rachel’s dream of becoming a journalist is encouraged by an unlikely friend in Shanghai, and
Sergei becomes ever more embroiled in the politics of revolutionary Russia. Separated by thou-
sands of miles, Sergei and Rachel cling to each other through letters, which become the brightest
parts of their lives. Both hope for a future that will see them reunited and their dreams fulfilled.
Shelly Sanders has worked as a freelance writer for almost twenty years. The character of
Rachel in Rachel’s Secret and Rachel’s Promise was inspired by Shelly’s grandmother, a Russian Jew
who fled to Shanghai to escape persecution.
Keywords: European history, intolerance, refugees
Until Today
Pam Fluttert
A portrait of loss, betrayal and courage in the face of abuse.
Kat is alone with a secret she doesn’t want to keep but can’t risk telling. A victim of longtime
sexual abuse at the hands of her family’s trusted friend, Kat is torn between trying to protect
herself and safeguarding her little sister, whom she fears might be next.
Greg is a clever and manipulative abuser who has Kat convinced that she is as much to blame
for his behavior as he is. Caught in a tangled web of deception and self-loathing, Kat believes Greg
when he says that no one will accept her word over his.Thanks to him,Kat is already isolated from
her parents and at risk of losing her best friends.
With no one to turn to, Kat keeps a secret journal where she writes the truth about every-
thing that has been going on since she was a little girl. But now the journal is missing, and Kat’s
secret is about to unravel.
Pam Fluttert lives in New Hamburg, Ontario, with her husband and two daughters. In addition
to writing and drawing in her spare time, she works at the University of Waterloo. Pam spends as
much time as possible with her human family, two dogs and two horses.
Keywords: sexual abuse, friendship

42. Reaching
Reluctant
Readers
Hi-Lo books from Orca Book
Publishers are short, high-interest
novels, written at a lower reading level but
with age-appropriate plots and characters.
These books feature linear storylines,
limited vocabulary and contemporary topics.
Short, high-interest
novels for ages 10 to 14
• Reading levels from grade 2.0–4.5
• 112–136 pages each
• Accelerated Reader selections
• Lexile levels available
• Free individual teachers’ guides online
• Resource Guides available, both print (coil-bound) and CD
• 70 titles now available
Mystery stories with sports
themes for ages 10+
• Reading levels from grade 2.0–4.5
• 144–192 pages each
• Accelerated Reader selections
• Lexile levels available
• Free individual teachers’ guides online
• Resource Guides available, both print (coil-bound) and CD
• 38 titles now available
Contemporary, compelling
stories for ages 12+
• Reading levels from grade 2.0–4.5
• 112–144 pages each
• Accelerated Reader selections
• Lexile levels available
• Free individual teachers’ guides online
• Resource Guides available, both print (coil-bound) and CD
• 92 titles now available
Engaging, short novels
for adults
• Reading levels from grade 2.0–6.0
• 128–144 pages each
• Great storytelling
• Easy-to-read format
• Free individual teachers’ guides online
• 33 titles now available
The Spider BiTeSMedora Sale
Reading level: 2.0
Interest level: Adult
Themes: mystery, suspense, literacy978-1-55469-282-8 pb
Summary
After being suspended from the force on suspicion of corruption, Detective Rick “The Spider”
Montoya knows his career as a police officer is over. It doesn’t matter that he was framed. Even if
Rick can prove it was a setup, the mark is still on his name, like a stain. Not only that, but Rick’s
drinking has driven away Angela, his wife and best friend. Their marriage is in shambles.
Rick returns home from five months away working on a farm. He discovers someone living in
his basement apartment. but before he can find out who it is, the house goes up in flames. Two
people die in the fire. One is Rick’s landlord, Cheryl. The identity of the other victim isn’t so
clear. At first many people believe it’s Rick who has died. After all, it was his suite.
The night of the fire, Rick goes over to the house to check things out. He’s attacked and
knocked unconscious. When he comes to, he’s really interested in figuring out who set the fire
and killed two people. He’s pretty sure he was supposed to be one of them.
As Cheryl’s daughter, Susanna, grieves the loss of her mother, the number of suspects mounts.
A young electrician; an insurance guy; Rick’s own wife (an ex-cop turned insurance investigator);
one of his colleagues; even Rick himself.Independent of the investigating officers, Rick weaves a thoughtful web of possibilities as he
sorts through different people’s connections to the people who died in the fire. The conclusion?
Susanna arranged to have her mother killed so she could collect on her sizable insurance policy.
Rick is offered a job as an insurance investigator, and he and Angela take one more crack at
making their marriage work.
READINGGUIDE
The Middle GroundZoe WhiTTall
Reading level: 4.2
Interest level: Adult
Themes: relationships, trust, literacy978-1-55469-288-0 pb
Summary
Missy Turner’s son has gone to summer camp for six weeks, leaving behind an empty house—
and a mother who realizes her only child will soon leave home. Missy heads for work, only
to learn that the hardware store is closing and she’s out of a job. Naturally upset, she returns
home—and walks in on her husband Dale making out with their next-door neighbor.
Shocked, Missy heads to the café in town. Her day turns from bad to worse when, moments
later, she finds herself being held at gunpoint—even if it is by a sexy Jude Law lookalike who
smells like wood chips and soap.
but the robbery goes wrong, and the police show up. Right there, Missy makes a choice. Her
son is growing up. Her husband is a beer-bellied cheater in sweatpants. Maybe her sister is right:
maybe she does need some adventure in her life.Missy helps the thug escape and eventually agrees to join him on a road trip to New York.
Enthralled by her sudden freedom—and uncharacteristic badness—Missy camps out with her
renegade outlaw in a tawdry motel. She buys his stories about how he’s really not a criminal, just
a guy who’s been dealt a bad hand. but hours later, the guy pulls a gun on yet another cashier—
and Missy finally connects the dots.Missy and her husband spend the summer apart. but her dangerous fling with the gunman has
helped her see what matters most—and where she needs to make changes. As the
summer draws to an end, Missy and Dale are back together, preparing to welcome their son
home. There is a good chance they will work things out.
READINGGUIDE
Love You To DeaTh
GaiL Bowen
Reading level: 4.2
Interest level: Adult
Themes: mystery, suspense, literacy
978-1-55469-262-0 pb
Summary
When radio host Charlie D hits the airwaves at 11:00 every night, he leaves behind Charlie
Dowhanuik: heartbroken, unable to trust, a blood-red birthmark covering half his face. behind
the mic, Charlie D is a charismatic, wise-cracking stud who holds people together as their lives
fall apart. His show, The World According to Charlie D, has a huge following. It’s where people
turn when they don’t know where else to go.
but lately, several among Charlie’s faithful flock of listeners have turned up dead. Clues have
been arriving in the station mail—clues that point to one of Charlie’s listeners as the killer.
Charlie and his producer, Nova, agree to help the police flush out the killer during tonight’s
broadcast. He or she will be listening; there’s no doubt of that.
All night, Charlie probes his callers for clues about who’s behind the violence. Every fan is a
suspect. Charlie is forced to dig deep within himself to keep his cool when he has to listen to
what seems to be the death of one of his most loyal followers. The pressure’s on: he’s got to
pinpoint the perpetrator before anyone else gets killed.
but true to her obsession, the suspect can’t stay away from Charlie for long. In a surprise
maneuver that puts Nova’s life at risk, the murderer reveals herself at the radio station.
In person.
When the killer learns the man behind the voice is no match for the perfection she’d
envisioned, her dream is shattered. but in bringing Charlie to the edge, she helps him realize he
has nothing to hide.
READING
GUIDE
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The Middle Ground
Zoe WhiTTall
Reading level: 4.2
Interest level: Adult
Themes: relationships, trust, literacy
978-1-55469-288-0 pb
Summary
Missy Turner’s son has gone to summer camp for six weeks, leaving behind an empty house—
and a mother who realizes her only child will soon leave home. Missy heads for work, only
to learn that the hardware store is closing and she’s out of a job. Naturally upset, she returns
home—and walks in on her husband Dale making out with their next-door neighbor.
Shocked, Missy heads to the café in town. Her day turns from bad to worse when, moments
later, she finds herself being held at gunpoint—even if it is by a sexy Jude Law lookalike who
smells like wood chips and soap.
but the robbery goes wrong, and the police show up. Right there, Missy makes a choice. Her
son is growing up. Her husband is a beer-bellied cheater in sweatpants. Maybe her sister is right:
maybe she does need some adventure in her life.
Missy helps the thug escape and eventually agrees to join him on a road trip to New York.
Enthralled by her sudden freedom—and uncharacteristic badness—Missy camps out with her
renegade outlaw in a tawdry motel. She buys his stories about how he’s really not a criminal, just
a guy who’s been dealt a bad hand. but hours later, the guy pulls a gun on yet another cashier—
and Missy finally connects the dots.
Missy and her husband spend the summer apart. but her dangerous fling with the gunman has
helped her see what matters most—and where she needs to make changes. As the
summer draws to an end, Missy and Dale are back together, preparing to welcome their son
home. There is a good chance they will work things out.
READING
GUIDE

44. 42 www.orcabook.com
Orca Currents
September 2013
9781459803718 • $9.95 pb
9781459803725 • $16.95 hc
4.25 x 7
136 pages
ages 10–14
rl 3.1
pdf 9781459803732
epub 9781459803749
September 2013
9781459803565 • $9.95 pb
9781459803572 • $16.95 hc
4.25 x 7
136 pages
ages 10–14
rl 3.8
pdf 9781459803589
epub 9781459803596
Destination Human
K. L. Denman
As if girls aren’t alien enough already.
Chloe thinks of herself as a normal teenage girl—if there’s any such thing—until a formless
alien being inhabits her body.The being is named Welkin and claims to be a Universal. Welkin
has entered Chloe’s body as part of a school project. Chloe agrees to let this weirdo observe her
life for three days as long as Welkin doesn’t interfere.Welkin tries to respect the non-interference
portion of the agreement. But Welkin’s stream of alien commentary as Chloe deals with boys, her
coach and math homework has a comic, and sometimes enlightening, impact on Chloe’s life.
K.L. Denman has never been inhabited by an alien being, but she found Welkin’s perspec-
tive to be a great way to explore the challenging teen experience. K.L. Denman lives in Delta,
British Columbia. For more information visit www.kldenman.com.
Keywords: aliens, science fiction, humor, physicality, running, image, romance, magic realism
Tampered
Michele Martin Bossley
Care for a spider with your grapes?
Trevor has started his first job at Ashton’s Fresh Marketplace, where someone has been
tampering with the food. Cayenne has been sprinkled on cookies, garlic put in coffee, and
plastic insects hidden in fruit displays to terrify customers.Trevor and his friends Nick and Robyn
decide to find out who is out to destroy the store’s reputation. Is it Mattie, the disgruntled
ex-employee? Or perhaps the competition? Or is it Alex, their schoolmate who doesn’t know
when a joke has gone too far? Their snooping makes the kids themselves seem suspicious,and soon
they realize they have to solve the mystery before Trevor gets fired for a crime he didn’t commit.
Michele Martin Bossley is the author of eighteen novels for young people. A frequent speaker
at writing conferences and schools, Michele divides her time between writing and parenting her
four sons. She lives in Calgary, Alberta.
Keywords: grocery stores, food tampering, mystery, careers, nutrition, employment, sleuthing

45. 43www.orcabook.com
Orca Currents
October 2013
9781459804371 • $9.95 pb
9781459804388 • $16.95 hc
4.25 x 7
128 pages
ages 10–14
rl 3.8
pdf 9781459804395
epub 9781459804401
October 2013
9781459804968 • $9.95 pb
9781459805101 • $16.95 hc
4.25 x 7
128 pages
ages 10–14
rl 3.4
pdf 9781459804975
epub 9781459804982
Ace’s Basement
Ted Staunton
When bullying backfires.
Following the demise of his first band, Ace has started a duo called Two with Lisa, a girl he has
a huge crush on. As Ace and Lisa get serious about their music, Denny, Ace’s hapless friend,
tries to help out by filming their every move so that he can create the ultimate music video. As a
joke, Denny puts together a Two video capturing all of the embarrassing moments—moments that
Lisa in particular doesn’t want shared. Somehow, the video gets posted on YouTube. Lisa and Ace
find themselves starring in the latest comedic viral video. Lisa is humiliated and refuses to talk to
Ace—until their fame turns out to have positive results.
Ted Staunton divides his time between writing and a busy schedule as a speaker, workshop
leader, storyteller and musical performer for children and adults. Ted lives in Port Hope, Ontario.
For more information, visit www.tedstauntonbooks.com.
Keywords: Internet bullying, rock and roll, social media, humor,YouTube, guitar, singing, romance
Caught in the Act
Deb Loughead
Cottage life is not always tranquil.
Dylan and his friends attract the attention of the police when a summer bonfire gets out of
control. Dylan almost loses a job opportunity at a local inn because of his antics, but he is
saved by the lies of Heather, an employee of the inn. When he is caught on camera stealing towels
from a summer cottage after a skinny-dipping prank, Dylan and his friends become suspects in a
number of cottage robberies. Dylan learns everything he can about the robberies,with the hope of
clearing his name, and finds himself in more than one sticky situation in the process.
Deb Loughead is the author of more than twenty-five books for children and young adults. She
has written and directed children’s plays and taught creative-writing classes for adults in Toronto.
Deb likes to spend her non-writing time reading, knitting or hanging around horses as a thera-
peutic-riding volunteer. Deb lives with her family in Toronto, Ontario.
Keywords: cottages, summer jobs, mystery, sleuthing, holidays, troublemaking, pranks, crime