Dufferin-Peel CDSB - Fr. Michael Goetz S.S.

The 2008/2009 White Pine Reading Program

The 10 nominated novels from the White Pine Book Club are available in the FMG Resource Centre, are listed below.

After River by Donna Milner

Natalie grows up on a dairy farm with her family in British Columbia. When River, a draft dodger, comes to work for them, unsettling changes lead to catastrophe. His arrival has impacts on the morals and beliefs of their community even years later.

Chanda's Wars by Allan Stratton

Chanda's courage is tested when her younger siblings are kidnapped and forced to become child soldiers in General Mandiki's rebel army. She is not just fighting to rescue them from the army, but to ensure that they will recover from the experience of brutality.

The Corps of the Bare-Boned Plane by Polly Horvath

When they lost their parents in a train accident, cousins Jocelyn and Meline, are shipped off to live with an eccentric uncle on an island off British Columbia. With crashed planes, packages falling from the sky, and a cast of odd characters, life on this island is anything but normal.

Daughter of War by Marsha Skrypuch

Separated by war and the Armenian genocide, Marta, Mariam, and Kevork struggle to find their way back to each other. The path is perilous. Death lurks around every corner yet love and hope may still prevail.

Dooley takes the Fall by Norah McClintock

Dooley, a teenager with a criminal record, witnesses another teen's violent death. Police suspect he is involved and Dooley is determined to prove his innocence in a suicide that looks like murder.

Gotcha! by Shelly Hrdlitschka

The graduting class has started their annual tradition, the "Bead Game." School administration bans the activity for everyone's safety. When the game goes underground, it takes a turn for the worse.

Gravity Journal by Gail sidonie Sobat

While battling anorexia in rehab, Anise keeps a journal. Her poems, daily accounts and personal reflections reveal the destructive nature of anorexia as well as the amazing strength of the human spirit to survive.

Little Brother by Corey Doctorow

After his city is attacked, Marcus is wrongfully taken into custody by Homeland Security. When he is released, one of his friends is missing, his rights are gone and his city has become a polic state. The only computer the government isn't watching is his XBox.

Mountain Girl/River Girl by Ting-Xing Ye

Pan-pan and Shui-lian leave their small town homes with the hope of finding a better life in a modern Chinese city. They soon realize that only by working together will they have a chance at success.

Tweaked by Kathryn Holubitsky

Gordie Jessup tries to hold his family together as his brother Chase falls deeper into crystal methamphetamine addiction.

The 2007/2008 FMG White Pine Book Club

After months of discussing, debating, sharing and reflecting (as well as of meeting people, laughing, learning and making new friends), the Fr. Goetz chapter of the province-wide White Pine Reading Program met on April 23rd to vote for which of the ten novels, nominated by the Ontario Library Association, should win the prestigious award. Had the FMG White Pine Group been in charge of selecting the winner, it would have been The Droughtlanders, by Carrie Mac.

On May 21st, the group piled into the Gator Van and headed off to Harbourfront, where they attended writing workshops, mingled with thousands of young people from around the province, met six of the nominated authors, listened to bands, enjoyed a barbecue, got copies of the novels autographed, toured the Tall Ships and attended the presentation of the actual award.

And the winners are…

"Honour Books":
1st Runner-up – The Droughtlanders (Book One in Triskelia Series) by Carrie Mac [Penguin]
2nd Runner-up– Grist by Heather Waldorf [Red Deer Press]
3rd Runner-up– Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay [Penguin]

The 2008 White Pine Award™ Winner

Keturah & Lord Death
by Martine Leavitt
Red Deer Press

	After River by Donna Milner Natalie grows up on a dairy farm with her family in British Columbia. When River, a draft dodger, comes to work for them, unsettling changes lead to catastrophe. His arrival has impacts on the morals and beliefs of their community even years later.
	Chanda's Wars by Allan Stratton Chanda's courage is tested when her younger siblings are kidnapped and forced to become child soldiers in General Mandiki's rebel army. She is not just fighting to rescue them from the army, but to ensure that they will recover from the experience of brutality.
	The Corps of the Bare-Boned Plane by Polly Horvath When they lost their parents in a train accident, cousins Jocelyn and Meline, are shipped off to live with an eccentric uncle on an island off British Columbia. With crashed planes, packages falling from the sky, and a cast of odd characters, life on this island is anything but normal.
	Daughter of War by Marsha Skrypuch Separated by war and the Armenian genocide, Marta, Mariam, and Kevork struggle to find their way back to each other. The path is perilous. Death lurks around every corner yet love and hope may still prevail.
	Dooley takes the Fall by Norah McClintock Dooley, a teenager with a criminal record, witnesses another teen's violent death. Police suspect he is involved and Dooley is determined to prove his innocence in a suicide that looks like murder.
	Gotcha! by Shelly Hrdlitschka The graduting class has started their annual tradition, the "Bead Game." School administration bans the activity for everyone's safety. When the game goes underground, it takes a turn for the worse.
	Gravity Journal by Gail sidonie Sobat While battling anorexia in rehab, Anise keeps a journal. Her poems, daily accounts and personal reflections reveal the destructive nature of anorexia as well as the amazing strength of the human spirit to survive.
	Little Brother by Corey Doctorow After his city is attacked, Marcus is wrongfully taken into custody by Homeland Security. When he is released, one of his friends is missing, his rights are gone and his city has become a polic state. The only computer the government isn't watching is his XBox.
	Mountain Girl/River Girl by Ting-Xing Ye Pan-pan and Shui-lian leave their small town homes with the hope of finding a better life in a modern Chinese city. They soon realize that only by working together will they have a chance at success.
	Tweaked by Kathryn Holubitsky Gordie Jessup tries to hold his family together as his brother Chase falls deeper into crystal methamphetamine addiction.