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The Cremation of Sam McGee


Robert W. Service - 1986
    Evoking both the spare beauty and the mournful solitude of the Yukon landscape, Harrison's paintings proved the perfect match for Service's masterpiece about a doomed prospector adrift in a harsh land. Harrison's Illustrator's Notes on each page enhanced both poem and illustrations by adding valuable historical background. Upon its original publication, many recognized the book as an innovative approach to illustrating poetry for children. For years The Cremation of Sam McGee has stood out as a publishing landmark, losing none of its appeal both as a read-aloud and as a work of art. Kids Can Press proudly publishes this deluxe hardcover twentieth anniversary edition -- complete with a spot-varnished cover, new cover art and heavy coated stock -- of a book that remains as entrancing as a night sky alive with the vibrant glow of the Northern Lights.

The White Cat and the Monk: A Retelling of the Poem “Pangur Bán”


Jo Ellen Bogart - 2016
    He studies his books late into the evening and searches for truth in their pages. His cat, Pangur, leads a simple life, too, chasing prey in the darkness. As night turns to dawn, Pangur leads his companion to the truth he has been seeking.The White Cat and the Monk is a retelling of the classic Old Irish poem “Pangur Bán.” With Jo Ellen Bogart’s simple and elegant narration and Sydney Smith’s classically inspired images, this contemplative story pays tribute to the wisdom of animals and the wonders of the natural world.

Parvana: A Graphic Novel


Deborah Ellis - 2018
    When soldiers burst into her home and drag her father off to prison, Parvana is forced to take responsibility for her whole family, dressing as a boy to make a living in the marketplace of Kabul, risking her life in the dangerous and volatile city. By turns exciting and touching, Parvana is a story of courage in the face of overwhelming fear and repression. Readers will want to linger over this powerful graphic novel with its striking art and inspiring story.

Nikitta: A Mother’s Story - The Tragic True Story of My Daughter's Murder


Marcia Grender - 2016
    Marcia and her partner Paul, Nikitta’s father, rushed to the scene but there was nothing they could do. Firefighters had already discovered Nikitta’s body in the wreckage of the home she’d lovingly built with her childhood sweetheart. To add to their agony, Nikitta had been eight months’ pregnant. The fully formed yet unborn baby girl she’d already named Kelsey May was gone, too.But it soon became apparent Nikitta’s death was far from an accident. Within hours, the investigation became a murder inquiry and Ryan’s cousin Carl Whant was the prime suspect. Whant had been openly infatuated with Nikitta and boasted that he thought of her every time he had sex.As her world collapsed around her, Marcia could only watch in horror. Shortly after Whant was charged with murder, child destruction, rape and arson, she began charting her feelings in a searingly honest diary, the contents of which are published for the first time in this book.Marcia painstakingly recalls the agony of holding her granddaughter for the first time in a police mortuary, but being unable to see her dead daughter because of the shocking state in which Whant had left her. She charts the pain of laying them both to rest, knowing she will have to face their killer every day in court when Whant’s case comes to trial. For the first time, she opens up about her turbulent relationship with Ryan and the devastating revelations which almost cause her world to shatter for a second time. But, above all, she speaks of the indescribable hell of learning to live without the most important thing in her life.

Tweaking the Dream: A Crystal Meth True Story


Clea Myers - 2009
    She goes from an Ivy League College to Los Angeles Women's Penitentiary in 3 years, emaciated and addicted to crystal meth. How could things go so wrong and in such a short space of time? Myers shares her descent into the hell of crystal methamphetamine dependence. Her story is of An English girl from a privileged background whose addiction journey brings her from an Ivy League College to Los Angeles Women s Penitentiary in only three years, emaciated and addicted to crystal meth. Myers description of her rapid demise is a sometimes uncomfortable read, as she holds nothing back. The lights of Hollywood twinkled briefly but, once introduced to crystal meth, she became addicted. Dumpster diving became a regular pastime: grovelling in large rubbish containers, diving for articles of value or fascination to her hugely disturbed mind. She was reduced to an animal existence, surrounded by dangerous and sometimes violent people. Arrested and jailed, she hit rock bottom and was offered a chance to leave LA immediately or stay in the drug offenders Programme. Helped by a family member, she returned to England still unable to stop completely. Finally, she did get help and discover a recovery path which combined her buddhist faith and reassures her relationship with the 12-step programme. Crystal meth in England has been reported only on the gay club scene. Part of the reason Myers wrote this book is to warn young people of its dangers. This book could be well used as part of a schools drug education programme.' Review from ADDICTION TODAY Magazine