In the midst of a heaven-rattling summer storm a young stranger blows into a small prairie town. On the run after taking her latest boyfriend's truck, with a pocketful of stolen money and a heart full of pain, seventeen-year-old Noreen Stall seems to invite trouble.
And trouble comes soon enough, as Noreen's new mistakes trigger calamities that shake the lives of the residents of Pembina Lake. Acclaimed novelist Martha Brooks has written an unforgettable and award-winning story about a terribly complex heroine and the effects she has on those around her.
In the midst of a heaven-rattling summer storm a young stranger blows into a small prairie town. On the run after taking her latest boyfriend's truck, with a pocketful of stolen money and a heart full of pain, seventeen-year-old Noreen Stall seems to invite trouble.
And trouble comes soon enough, as Noreen's new mistakes trigger calamities that shake the lives of the residents of Pembina Lake. Acclaimed novelist Martha Brooks has written an unforgettable and award-winning story about a terribly complex heroine and the effects she has on those around her.
| Published By | Groundwood Books Ltd — Oct 1, 2002 |
| Specifications | 224 pages | 4.31 in x 7.06 in |
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Supporting Resources
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Excerpt |
| Written By |
MARTHA BROOKS is an award-winning novelist, playwright and jazz singer whose books have been published in Spain, Italy, Japan, Denmark, England, Germany and Australia, as well as in Canada and the United States. She is a three-time winner of the Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book of the Year, as well as the Ruth Schwartz Award, the Mr. Christie’s Book Award, the Governor General’s Award, and the Vicky Metcalf Award for her body of work. She lives in Edmonton, Alberta. |
| Written By |
|
MARTHA BROOKS is an award-winning novelist, playwright and jazz singer whose books have been published in Spain, Italy, Japan, Denmark, England, Germany and Australia, as well as in Canada and the United States. She is a three-time winner of the Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book of the Year, as well as the Ruth Schwartz Award, the Mr. Christie’s Book Award, the Governor General’s Award, and the Vicky Metcalf Award for her body of work. She lives in Edmonton, Alberta. |
| Audience | ages 12 and up / grades 7 and up |
Winner, CLA Young Adult Canadian Book Award, 2003
Winner, Governor General's Literary Awards: Text, 2002
Short-listed, Ruth Schwartz Award, 2003
Long-listed, OLA White Pine Award, 2003
“[Brooks] establishes herself yet again as someone who can express the turmoil of adolescence and the difficulty of coping with life when the cards aren't necessarily dealt in one's favour.” —Montreal Gazette
“...a story of the redeeming power of love, with a cast of memorable characters who will have you cheering them on...” —Brandon Sun
“...a wonderful work of realistic fiction, truly a gem.” —Kliatt
“...credible and heart-wrenching...The characters are so real the reader becomes a part of the story.” —Today's Parent
“...reaffirms Brooks' position as Canada's premier writer for the older adolescent...Highly recommended.” —CM Magazine
“What an excellent novel!...sad, tender, poignant, hopeful-and powerful.” —Resource Links
“[Brooks] has created a quietly astonishing work of art....a loving tribute to the big stories in little lives.” —Quill & Quire, STARRED REVIEW
“...bracing, lyrical, prayerful and funny. It's an outstanding read, and not just for teenagers.” —Toronto Star
