Fagan, Cary

"A winsome middle grade novel about a creative young girl who believes her new neighbor is Hans Christian Anderson.".

One morning Rafe wakes up to discover his bedroom is floating in a vast sea of water. Alone with only his dog for company, Rafe adapts to this strange new world by fishing cans of food out of the water and keeping watch. Boxes float by, as does a woman, playing her cello. Then, one day, Rafe fishes out a young girl, who joins him in his room - they don't speak the same language, but together they will face this uncertain future together.

"When Bear finds a ukulele in the woods, he is inspired to write his own song, but only his best friend Mouse appreciates his endeavor . . ."--BTCat.

When elderly Mr. Tempkin's plan to thwart the squirrels that have been raiding his birdfeeder goes awry, his neighbor Marky learns how special a friendship can be.

"On May 10, 1940, the Nazi Army invaded Belgium, setting into motion the refugee story of Cary Fagan's father, Maurice. Maurice was only 12 at the time, and he and his family had no idea they would never again return to Brussels, the city of his birth. Instead, they would travel through France, Spain, and Portugal, running from war. Every time they thought they might be safe, Maurice would try to restart his studies--he was determined to become a lawyer, convinced it was the law that could make us all equals. But every time, his schooling was interrupted, and the family would have to escape again. Eventually, they found passage on the Serpa Pinto: the Destiny Ship. They travelled all the way to Jamaica and ended up in a refugee camp, worlds away from anything they knew. But this is a story of resourcefulness and resilience! Determined to get an education, Maurice went around finding teachers among the refugees and with their help--plus his trusty Chambers's English Dictionary--Maurice eventually worked his way into a local boys' school, where he was finally able to sit for his exams and earn his diploma. The story ends with Maurice boarding a plane, heading for the University of Toronto--it's the final leg of a long journey and at last, he thinks, 'my new life really was starting.' Quebec illustrator Enzo Lord Mariano brings the story to life in graphic novel format--showing us the family's fear and desperation, but also teasing out the moments of lightness and humour, of which there are many, including a scene in which Maurice's father thinks there is a scorpion in his new trousers, only to drop his pants and find a tailor's pin! The book ends with an Author's Note about Cary's father's journey, and how--unlike much of his family who perished in the Holocaust--Maurice ended up graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School. 'All his life, he kept his Chambers's Dictionary. It rests here on the desk beside me as I write, a treasured possession.' This relatable story about one refugee family's courage and resilience in the face of violence and racism still resonates today"--Provided by the publisher.

"A mouse comes upon a tiny crown in the grass, . . . puts the crown on his head, and when a bear subsequently comes upon him and asks if he's king, the mouse responds 'Yes.' This diminutive monarch settles into his new role very comfortably... until a snake comes upon a crown and claims she is queen. The mouse is not amused, especially when one by one the other animals find crowns and claim they are kings too. But when the bear can't find a crown, King Mouse make a most surprising decision"--Provided by publisher.

It's the winter of 1965 and Norman Fishbein--called 'Wormy' by his two older brothers-- faces just a dilemma after he wins the 'Guess-the-Doozy-Dots Contest." Norman decides that the family needs is their first real vacation--a luxury trip to Miami Beach"--Back cover.

"Benny's little brother is really good at a lot of things--making potions and paper airplanes, building forts, putting on puppet shows, even petting the neighbor's cat (he has a special way of scratching her just behind the ears). But whenever he tries to join in Benny's activities, all Benny ever says is "No." Maybe his little brother can watch him do cool stuff, if he's lucky. What is a little fox to do, except give Benny a taste of his own medicine?"--Amazon.com.

"Hartley Staples, near-graduate of middle school, is grappling with the fact that his older brother has run away from home, when he finds a handmade postcard that fascinates him. And soon he spots another. Despite his losing interest in pretty much everything since Jackson ran away, Hartley finds himself searching for cards in his small town at every opportunity, ignoring other responsibilities, namely choosing a topic for his final project. Who is G.O. and why are they scattering cards about the town?"--Provided by the publisher.

When Danny find himself stranded at the bottom of a giant construction hole, he makes use of the items in his backpack to get through the next few days and befriends a poetry-spouting mole.