Smith, Heather

"After months of living without electricity or parents, Tig and Peter are forced to move in with their Uncle Scott and his partner, Manny. The transition from down-and-out to picture-perfect isn't easy, especially in pristine Wensleydale with the idyllic couple and their beautiful home. Tig, with Peter's support, decides to make their new life messy, starting with daily arguments and her plans to become a competitive cheese racer. She'll run circles around her new guardians, outrun a wheel of cheese, and leave her past buried in her dust. But things don't always go as planned, and Tig must decide what to truly leave behind in order to move forward"--Provided by publisher.

A child helps his grandparents cope with a difficult change in abilities.

"In this magical novel about family, Ewan sets off on a quest to find his father"--Provided by publisher.

"It's 1995. When the Full Tilt Dances give an inspiring performance at the opening of the new bingo hall, twelve-year-old Finbar (Barry) Squires wants desperately to join the troupe. Having watched Riverdance twice, Barry figures he'll nail the audition. And good thing too -- it'd be nice to be known for something other than the large birthmark on his cheek. Barry's journey to stardom is jeopardized not only by his unpredictable temper, but also by parent's refusal to take his dreams seriously"--Adapted from publisher information.

"Annie comes home from school to find her cat, Delilah, has had a terrible day and is quite sad. What do you do when your friend is sad? Cheer them up with all the things they love! Annie tries TV, warm milk, and even yoga! But at the end of the day, no distraction can really make our bad days simply disappear, as Annie knows all too well"--Provided by publisher.

A child helps their grandparents deal with a difficult change in abilities.

"After 'rotten bad year' on the mainland, eleven-year-old Jett returns to Newfoundland to spend the summer with his sprightly Grandma Jo (whose hair is dyed cotton candy blue to match her house), bringing along a shameful secret involving the betrayal of a friend. As summer unfolds, Grandma Jo nurtures in Jett his sense of caring for others while giving him space to breathe. Jett finds himself examining memories of his past like bits of sea glass--arranging them in a way he can make sense of as he struggles to come to terms with past mistakes"--Provided by publisher.

"When the tsunami destroyed Makio's village, Makio lost his father. Sadly, he was not alone. Everyone lost someone the day the big wave came. With the villagers silenced by grief, Makio's anger at the ocean grows. Then one day his neighbor, Mr. Hirota, starts a mysterious project that helps the villagers heal. How? Mr. Hirota builds a phone booth on a hill, giving Makio and the villagers a chance to feel close to their loved ones again. Although the phone is not connected to anything, words are carried on the wind"--Provided by publisher.

A child helps his grandparents cope with a difficult change in abilities.

"A young child can hear color and is enamored with his grandmother's beaded necklace, in spite of the reservations of those around him"--Provided by publisher.