True Confessions of a Heartless Girl

True Confessions of a Heartless Girl

Written by: Brooks, Martha
ages 12 and up / grades 7 and up
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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
Supporting Resources
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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

“A clear-eyed and clarifying look at power of community...” —School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

“Brooks has a masterful hand at description.....she shares her vision of the richness of ordinary life in all its pain and glory.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“Grace, insight and transcendence are three words this book brings to mind.” —Globe and Mail

“Share this book with older readers and younger ones too. You won't be sorry. It'll become one of those literary experiences that you'll truly savour.” —Books in Canada