An insightful and funny new collection of short stories from award-winning author Tim Wynne-Jones.
In “War at the Snow White Motel,” Rex and his family are vacationing in Vermont. A thoughtless act launches him into war with an older teenager at their motel, but a much bigger conflict — the Vietnam War — looms large on the horizon.
Ant wants to join the #FridaysForFuture movement — and impressing the new girl at school is only one good reason why. Joseph and Danny are determined to right an old wrong, no matter the consequences. Michel takes a road trip to spot a rare bird, and along the way learns what his father is really afraid of. Robin has to battle her anxiety when her great-grandfather sends her in search of an old stuffed toy with a storied past. Walker is home for the summer, in time to help his little sister expose a local company’s dubious environmental practices. A boy can’t figure out why the class bully won’t leave him alone — it’s not anything he could have foreseen.
Tim Wynne-Jones brilliantly captures pivotal moments small and large as these characters fight for understanding, courage and a better future. This new collection features six brand-new stories and three that have been previously published.
Key Text Features
author’s note
humor
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.6
Compare and contrast the point of view from which different stories are narrated, including the difference between first- and third-person narrations.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.6
Describe how a narrator's or speaker's point of view influences how events are described.
An insightful and funny new collection of short stories from award-winning author Tim Wynne-Jones.
In “War at the Snow White Motel,” Rex and his family are vacationing in Vermont. A thoughtless act launches him into war with an older teenager at their motel, but a much bigger conflict — the Vietnam War — looms large on the horizon.
Ant wants to join the #FridaysForFuture movement — and impressing the new girl at school is only one good reason why. Joseph and Danny are determined to right an old wrong, no matter the consequences. Michel takes a road trip to spot a rare bird, and along the way learns what his father is really afraid of. Robin has to battle her anxiety when her great-grandfather sends her in search of an old stuffed toy with a storied past. Walker is home for the summer, in time to help his little sister expose a local company’s dubious environmental practices. A boy can’t figure out why the class bully won’t leave him alone — it’s not anything he could have foreseen.
Tim Wynne-Jones brilliantly captures pivotal moments small and large as these characters fight for understanding, courage and a better future. This new collection features six brand-new stories and three that have been previously published.
Key Text Features
author’s note
humor
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.6
Compare and contrast the point of view from which different stories are narrated, including the difference between first- and third-person narrations.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.6
Describe how a narrator's or speaker's point of view influences how events are described.
| Published By | Groundwood Books Ltd — May 1, 2020 |
| Specifications | 248 pages | 5 in x 7.5 in |
| Keywords | climate change; activism; crush; middle school; coming of age; parents and children; anxiety; autism spectrum disorder; nature; short stories; justice; respect for environment; courage; citizenship; responsibility; narration from different points of view; child as narrator; figurative language; metaphors; simile; imagery; onomatopoeia; writing stories; writing workshop; first person narration; third person; visualizing; connecting; inferring; Common Core aligned; |
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Supporting Resources
(select item to download) |
Excerpt |
| Written By |
TIM WYNNE-JONES is one of Canada's foremost writers for children. The author of over thirty-five books, he is a two-time winner of the Governor General's Award, as well as a two-time winner of the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award and of the Arthur Ellis Award. His short-story collections include Some of the Kinder Planets, Book of Changes and Lord of the Fries. He is also known for his Rex Zero series. Recently, he wrote the young-adult novels The Ruinous Sweep; Emperor of Any Place, which earned seven starred reviews; and Blink & Caution, which won the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award. Tim is also the recipient of the Edgar Award and the Vicky Metcalf Award for a Body of Work. In 2012, he was made an Officer to the Order of Canada. He lives in Perth, Ontario. |
| Written By |
|
TIM WYNNE-JONES is one of Canada's foremost writers for children. The author of over thirty-five books, he is a two-time winner of the Governor General's Award, as well as a two-time winner of the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award and of the Arthur Ellis Award. His short-story collections include Some of the Kinder Planets, Book of Changes and Lord of the Fries. He is also known for his Rex Zero series. Recently, he wrote the young-adult novels The Ruinous Sweep; Emperor of Any Place, which earned seven starred reviews; and Blink & Caution, which won the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award. Tim is also the recipient of the Edgar Award and the Vicky Metcalf Award for a Body of Work. In 2012, he was made an Officer to the Order of Canada. He lives in Perth, Ontario. |
| Audience | ages 9 to 12 / grades 4 to 6 |
| Reading Levels |
Fountas & Pinnel Text Level X
Guided Reading X |
| Key Text Features | author's note; humor |
| Common Core |
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.6
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.6 |
“Readers familiar with Wynne-Jones’ previous short-story collections … will come to this one expecting originality, wit, and humanity. They’ll find all that and more in these often surprising, always rewarding stories.” —Booklist
“With a nostalgic, wholesome feel, these stories offer tales of quiet courage.” —Publisher's Weekly
“Clever dialogue and genuine, messy relationships among kids and their parents and friends as well as with older relatives who are dealing with dementia will ring true for readers who share these experiences… An intelligent, emotionally resonant collection.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Varied, funny, and often very touching, this is a fine collection, perfect for reading aloud.” —Horn Book
“A delightful collection of stories from one of Canada’s best writers for children and teens. It’s full of Wynne-Jones’s wonderful sense of humour and ability to make characters come to life.” —Globe and Mail