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Ebb and Flow

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One summer,~after a long plane ride~and a rotten bad year~I went to Grandma Jo’s.~It was my mother’s idea.~Jett, what you need is a change of scenery.~I think she needed a change of scenery, too.~One without me.~Because that rotten bad year?~That was my fault.#Thus begins the poignant story, told in free verse, of eleven-year-old Jett. Last year, Jett and his mother had moved to a new town for a fresh start after his father went to jail. But Jett soon learned that fresh starts aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. When he befriended a boy with a difficult home life, Jett found himself in a cycle of bad decisions that culminated in the betrayal of a friend – a shameful secret he still hasn’t forgiven himself for. Will a summer spent with his unconventional grandmother help Jett find his way to redemption?#Writing in artfully crafted free-verse vignettes, Heather Smith uses a deceptively simple style to tell a powerful and emotionally charged story. The engaging narrative and the mystery of Jett’s secret keep the pages turning and will appeal to both reluctant and avid readers. This captivating book offers a terrific opportunity for classroom discussions about the many ways to tell a story and how a small number of carefully chosen words can have a huge impact. It also showcases the positive character traits of empathy resilience, courage, and responsibility.

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One summer,~after a long plane ride~and a rotten bad year~I went to Grandma Jo’s.~It was my mother’s idea.~Jett, what you need is a change of scenery.~I think she needed a change of scenery, too.~One without me.~Because that rotten bad year?~That was my fault.#Thus begins the poignant story, told in free verse, of eleven-year-old Jett. Last year, Jett and his mother had moved to a new town for a fresh start after his father went to jail. But Jett soon learned that fresh starts aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. When he befriended a boy with a difficult home life, Jett found himself in a cycle of bad decisions that culminated in the betrayal of a friend – a shameful secret he still hasn’t forgiven himself for. Will a summer spent with his unconventional grandmother help Jett find his way to redemption?#Writing in artfully crafted free-verse vignettes, Heather Smith uses a deceptively simple style to tell a powerful and emotionally charged story. The engaging narrative and the mystery of Jett’s secret keep the pages turning and will appeal to both reluctant and avid readers. This captivating book offers a terrific opportunity for classroom discussions about the many ways to tell a story and how a small number of carefully chosen words can have a huge impact. It also showcases the positive character traits of empathy resilience, courage, and responsibility.

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Hardcover, eBook, Paperback

AWARDS & REVIEWS

Reviews

"Heartbreaking—but uplifting."

Kirkus Reviews, 05/02/2018

"... a powerful and poetic story of emotional endurance."

School Library Journal, starred review, 01/03/2018

"… one of the year’s best books."

Quill & Quire, starred review, 01/04/2018

"Smith’s sparse language exposes the heart of Jett’s anguish and destructive anger; he’s a realistically complex character whose emotional development unfolds organically through Smith’s quiet storytelling."

Publishers Weekly, 14/03/2018

"Exquisite and heartbreaking ..."

Canadian Children's Book News, 27/08/2018

"... a warm-hearted, compassionately observed novel that demonstrates that redemption is a quality we can achieve for ourselves."

Resource Links, 29/10/2018

"… a book that will engage, challenge, and trouble, upper-elementary and middle-school readers … it will uplift and inspire them."

CM Magazine, 24/02/2023

Awards

  • 2020 - Northern Lights Award, MYRCA, Commended

  • 2020 - Rocky Mountain Book Award, Bank Street College, Commended

  • 2019 - Best Children's Books of the Year, Saskatchewan Young Readers' Choice Awards, Outstanding Merit Selection

  • 2019 - Diamond Willow Award, WSRA Children’s Literature Committee, Finalist

  • 2019 - Just One More Page! Recommendation List, USBBY, Listed

  • 2019 - Outstanding International Books, Ontario Library Association, Listed

  • 2019 - Silver Birch Fiction Award, Canadian Children's Book Centre Awards, Nominated

  • 2019 - TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, Troy School District, Winner

  • 2019 - Troybery Award, IODE, Finalist

  • 2019 - Violet Downey Book Award, International Youth Library, Commended

  • 2019 - White Raven Award, International Literacy Association, Winner

  • 2019 - Young Adults' Choices Reading List, The Canadian Children's Book Centre, Listed

  • 2018 - Best Books for Kids and Teens, Quill & Quire, Winner

  • 2018 - Best Books of the Year, Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council, Winner

  • 2018 - BMO Winterset Award, Canada Council for the Arts, Winner

  • 2018 - Governor General's Literary Award, Young People's Literature – Text, National Council of Teachers of English, Commended

  • 2018 - Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts, International Literacy Association, Listed

  • 2018 - Award, , Listed

  • - Teachers' Choices Reading List, , Commended

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