Bill Mosienko was one of Manitoba’s greatest hockey players and athletes. Mosienko became a hockey legend in 1952 when he recorded the fastest hat-trick in NHL history—a record that stands to this day. This biography tells the story of a Manitoba legend, from his childhood spent skating on the rinks of Winnipeg’s North End in the 1920s and 30s, to his illustrious fourteen-year NHL career, to his return to Winnipeg to play with the Winnipeg Warriors, to his post-retirement career as the owner of the iconic Mosienko Bowling Lanes. Through exclusive interviews with Mosienko’s friends, family, and teammates, Dilello paints a vivid picture of Mosienko, a man known for his sportsmanship and community spirit as well as his incredible hockey talent.
Ty Dilello’s beautifully written biographical account of William “Bill”Mosienko also depicts some of the National Hockey League’s other G.O.A.Ts. (Greatest of All Times). We follow their journey from virtually unknown to world famous players. The book chronicles the early days of immigrant families living in North End -- one of Winnipeg’s poorest neighborhoods, plagued by poverty and diseases -- and how they dealt with culture shock, economic hardships and racism.
The family’s initial trip should have taken them to Saskatchewan, but a chance encounter with the Shibickys (NHL star Alex Shibicky’s parents) may have been a blessing in disguise.Roman Shibicky somehow convinced them to go to Winnipeg and this is where Bill was introduced to the sport that would eventually make him a household name.
Daniel Mosienko certainly had it hard -- maintaining his extremely large family on such a minimal salary ($1.25 per hour) from his job as a boilermaker with Canadian Pacific Railroad. The depression certainly made life unbearable, yet amidst all that hardship, the Mosienkos found a way to make it through.
In this pulse-pounding tech-thriller, Jack Heath creates a world where everyone knows when you lie—and telling the truth doesn’t always set you free.
Jarli likes to think he’s an honest guy. He’s a big believer in telling the truth, no matter what. So he develops The Truth App, a mobile application that listens in on your conversations and can tell when someone’s lying. Then his app goes viral and, suddenly, Jarli is an internet sensation. But, soon enough, Jarli realizes that being famous can be dangerous—especially when you’ve just exposed everyone’s deepest, darkest secrets. Now his entire town is out to get him: kids at school, teachers, the police, even his own family.
Also, an underground network of criminals has just added Jarli to their hit list. Sometimes, exposing the truth comes with a price…
This novel loses no time plunging into a high-speed, high-tension chase. It’s a nail-biting drama that rarely lets up. If you like high-tech and you’re into thrillers, this one’s for you. It’s well-told and an easy read. The main character Jarli is well drawn, and you’re right there with him, pulse beating wildly. But the two other featured characters (one who gets her own point of view in occasional chapters) are strong, brave girls. This novel moves. And if you like this Australian author, he’s got more than 25 other thrillers to his name.
-P.W.
Jarli only narrowly escaped death after his world-shattering app made him infamous. Now there’s a new foe afoot and Jarli is far from safe in this thrilling sequel to The Truth App.
When a seemingly unoccupied plane crash lands in the middle of Kelton, Jarli’s attempts to lay low and out of Viper’s criminal crosshairs crash lands along with it.
The cause of the accident is a mystery until his Truth App uncovers a dangerous secret at the crash site—a secret Viper will do anything to keep buried.
Suddenly Jarli is a target again and on the run with his high school tormentor, Doug. There’s no one he can trust, not even the police—and Jarli’s starting to think Doug is hiding something, too. Constantly at odds and left with no other choice, they team up to conduct an investigation of their own. But when Doug’s past comes back to haunt them, Jarli fears that there’s little hope in getting out of this one alive.
Kelton was supposed to be the perfect hiding place. But there’s no hiding from the truth.
This second in the Liars Book series is at least as tense and entertaining as The Truth App. Although it’s possible to read this one as a standalone (given that references to events in the first book are brief and clarifying), it would be better to read them both, in order, given that this one builds on the action and characters of the first.
The writing is great, and I enjoy the bits of humour sprinkled in.
Xander thinks the George Wickerman Hospital would be the perfect setting for Spirits and Specters, a role-playing game where players go on “missions” to find evidence of paranormal activities. According to local legend, tuberculosis patients were used as test subjects in medical experiments that ended tragically, and their disfigured ghosts walk the hallways of this now-abandoned building. What better location to go ghost hunting? Even though they didn’t really believe the rumors, Xander and his friends soon begin to suspect that they are not alone. Is this place actually haunted by ghosts? Or something even more terrifying?
If you like scary, but not too scary, Marty Chan sure knows how to work it. This is a fun horror story, which is not to say it’s humorous. It simply walks a perfect line between spooky and nightmare territory. It’s well written, as in gripping beginning to end. The teens are diverse and authentic, and their dialogue is snappy and entertaining. The group they meet inside the haunted hospital is a little overdone on the Sixties get-up and expressions, but that’s a pretty small quibble. Best of all, it’s a quick, easy read, and as believable as a tale with paranormal can get. Dare you to read it.
-P.W.
American Street meets Long Way Down in this searing and gritty debut novel that takes an unflinching look at the harsh realities of gang life in Jamaica and how far a teen is willing to go for family.
This debut novel by Jamaican-born author Desmond Hall is a thriller that confronts police brutality, racism, gang culture and political deception. Bestselling author Jason Reynolds has said, “It's one of those tales that ties you up, turns you inside-out, wrings you like a wet cloth…. Hall is a hurricane of a writer.” Suffice it to say that this novel is riveting, dark, gutsy and a stark examination of both Jamaica and the kind of poverty that offers few choices for youth. It’s also a coming-of-age tale, and an inside look at gang life, which is certainly does not glamorize. The main character is super-well developed and realistic, and his choices tug at your heart-strings. The Jamaican patois (a sort of dialect) can be hard to follow, but the novel would lose a layer of richness without it. This new author is one to watch, and that’s an understatement. Highly recommended.
- P.W.
We all experience the world in a body, but we don’t usually take the time to explore what it really means to have and live in one. Just as every person has a unique personality, every person has a unique body, and every body tells its own story. In Body Talk, 37 writers, models, actors, musicians and artists share essays, lists, comics and illustrations about subjects including: Size and Shape – Scoliosis – Eating Disorders – Cancer – Sexuality and Gender Identity – Makeup as Body Armor. Together, they contribute to a broad variety of perspectives on what it’s like to live in their particular bodies – and how their bodies have helped inform who they are and how they move through the world.
Body Talk is a compilation of unique and interesting stories by a plethora of authors that provides insight and perspective to many of the issues that children, teens and adults face when talking about body development, diseases and differences. The authors provide personal stories about their lives that speak to various issues related to the human body. Concepts such as deformities, puberty, sexual function, body stereotypes, weight management, hormones, etc., are discussed in ways that allow readers to relate to, and take away something special and informative from, the experiences of the authors.
From acclaimed author Margarita Engle comes a gorgeous novel in verse about Rubén Darío, the Nicaraguan poet and folk hero who initiated the literary movement of Modernismo.
As a little boy, Rubén Darío loved to listen to his great uncle, a man who told tall tales in a booming, larger-than-life voice. Rubén quickly learned the magic of storytelling, and discovered the rapture and beauty of verse.
A restless and romantic soul, Rubén traveled across Central and South America seeking adventure and connection. As he discovered new places and new loves, he wrote poems to express his wild storm of feelings. But the traditional forms felt too restrictive. He began to improvise his own poetic forms so he could capture the entire world in his words. At the age of twenty-one, he published his first book Azul, which heralded a vibrant new literary movement called Modernismo that blended poetry and prose into something magical.
In gorgeous poems of her own, Margarita Engle tells the story of this passionate young man who revolutionized world literature.
What was supposed to be a relaxing ocean crossing for Billy Stuart and his friends after their adventures on the island of Crete quickly transforms into a veritable odyssey. A violent storm throws them off their maritime course and leads to a downpour of events with potentially tragic consequences: mutiny, vicious monster attacks, siren songs and more. The dire situation doesn't get any better when they finally make it to shore. A thousand dangers make the Zintrepids' every waking moment seem like a nightmare. And is Billy Stuart still on the trail of his grandfather, the explorer Virgil Stuart who has traveled through time? Or are the Zintrepids forever lost in an unknown age and strange place?
Sam's grandfather, Pops, always taught Sam that the most important aspects of rugby are sportsmanship and teamwork. Things are not great at home, but Sam's struggles really begin when his school is shut down and he transfers to Rosedale Heights. He has trouble fitting in with the snobby Rosedale team, especially Bittner, who resents Sam's presence. All seems lost when, set up by Bittner, Sam gets kicked off the team under suspicion of stealing. Can Sam prove his innocence and get back in play for the highly anticipated England game? And can he play the kind of rugby that will make Pops proud? Find out in this gripping high/low middle grade sports story.
Most kids don’t have to stress about things like exotic insects with a taste for human flesh when they go to class. But students at this school have to be ever vigilant. You never know when a supernatural pastry or a clay monster bent on revenge might be lurking just around the corner. Even a simple field trip to a local animal sanctuary can have serious consequences. Dragged fresh from the grave and pulled out of the haunted corners of a school locker, these thirteen new stories are a nod to the storytelling style of Tales from the Crypt and The Twilight Zone. They are guaranteed to make you laugh like a hyena, shake your head in wonder or tremble with fear.