The Hate You Give cover

Daphne Gordon

The Hate U Give is a must-read for parents of teens

Whether they live in Parkland, Baltimore or Toronto, teens want change

In the first few scenes of The Hate U Give, 16-year-old Starr Carter sees one of her closest friends, Khalil, shot and killed by a police officer. She’ll never be the same. While the world swirls around her in advance of her testimony before a grand jury, Starr fears retribution from a gang leader, defends Khalil on television, speaks through a bullhorn for the first time, and questions every friendship she’s ever had.

Amidst the chaos of riots in her own neighbourhood, Starr is faced with tough choices about how to respond to the injustice of being black and how to honour her friend Khalil’s memory.

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Daphne Gordon

Talking About Death Won’t Kill You is a surprisingly uplifting read

Don’t like talking about death? You’re not alone

You’re going to die. Are you ready?

Okay, my friend, I’m sorry that was abrupt. It’s truly okay if you feel like you’re not ready. I get it! You might need to do a bit of thinking about this, or a bit of reading, and there will always be time later …

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Olga and the Smelly Thing cover

Daphne Gordon

Olga and the Smelly Thing From Nowhere challenges gender stereotypes

Elise Gravel’s absurd graphic novel about a girl who loves animals and science — but not people — is an ode to friendship that will charm readers of all ages

Olga is a budding scientist who keeps an observation notebook like some kids keep a diary, and this book provides a peek into her quirky point of view. She professes to like animals more than people and is delighted when she finds a mysterious and smelly animal in the shed behind her house. Naming the being Meh, she attempts to learn more about this pink, furry, football-shaped species.

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