· 2006
A compelling novel that touches upon the hardships that refugees face and their resilience in the most dire of situations, “celebrat[ing] the human spirit and inherent kindness” (School Library Journal). My story starts the day that my parents told me we must leave our adopted home forever. Because of the soldiers and the drought we barely had enough to eat and we could no longer stay to help the people in our village. The journey would be hard—to cross the mountains and get to the safety of the border and the people there who could help us. But right before we were leaving, I saw a fish in a small brown puddle and I knew I had to take it with me. Yet when I put the fish in the pot, I never realized what we would have to face. It never occurred to me to leave Fish behind. A subtle and sophisticated exploration of life, the strength of humanity, and survival in an unforgiving world, Fish is a story that will teach those who doubt that, when hope is almost extinguished, miracles can happen. ALA Notable Children's Book Choice Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year Winner of the Fidler Award [STAR] “Matthews allows just enough detail—and heart—to make miracles feel possible.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review “An amazing book.”—The Washington Post “Exciting and filled with crises and adventure… it is a story that celebrates the human spirit and inherent kindness.”—School Library Journal “Matthews is a compelling new voice.”—VOYA
· 2008
This is the true story of the journey of John Hawkins and his dog, Mouse, from way up north to way down south. Mouse has been John and his brother Tom's dog for life. They got her as a puppy when they were just little themselves, and they very quickly discovered that they could understand everything Mouse said and she could do the same. She was just a person like everyone else--though maybe a bit cleverer than most. You've maybe heard that John "ran away with his pet dog." But the truth about this story is that John and Mouse made the journey to save Tom. It's hard to pinpoint when Tom became truly ill, but when the doctors said they had to send Mouse away for fear of infection, the boys knew they had to do something. Without Mouse, Tom would never recover. The journey began to find a temporary home for Mouse, but once they'd set off, nothing turned out the way they'd planned.
· 2008
THE FIRST THING I remember is waking up in the woods. I didn’t know where I was, or how I got there. I didn’t know my own name. All I knew was that the little silver key hung round my neck had always been there. This is how Lexi’s story begins. She is taken into a shelter where there are clean clothes, warm food, and, most importantly, a woman who remembers her. Safe from the wars and the dangers of the street, Lexi begins to rebuild her identity with the small pieces of the past she can fit together. Then the silver key around her neck unlocks the secrets of a life she never knew she had. This is Lexi’s story. This is how she finds her way home.
· 2011
Iz and Joe never get to go on school trips, especially not residential ones. They don't mean to get themselves excluded, but still no one ever wants to take them. Mia isn't usually included in anything. She just doesn't see the world in the same way that other people do. Helen doesn't know if she'll be able to go on the trip. Her brothers and sisters often don't leave her any time to herself. And Chris wouldn't have gone, either, if he'd known what he was letting himself in for. This particular trip will take them further than any of them had imagined ...
· 2011
Set in a future where the effects of climate change begin to take hold, the story follows Jack and Michael as they try to cope with a new existence. After a dramatic escape from the approaching floods, Jack and his family relocate to the country, where they meet Michael, ill and cared for by his sister. United by their love for horses, Jack and Michael hatch a plan to save a wild young horse from destruction. But they're in for a rough ride ... Warm and full of heart, this is a hugely enjoyable story with a thought-provoking twist in its tail.
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· 2008
This is the true story of the journey of John Hawkins and his dog, Mouse, from way up north to way down south. Mouse has been John and his brother Tom's dog for life. They got her as a puppy when they were just little themselves, and they very quickly discovered that they could understand everything Mouse said and she could do the same. She was just a person like everyone else--though maybe a bit cleverer than most. You've maybe heard that John "ran away with his pet dog." But the truth about this story is that John and Mouse made the journey to save Tom. It's hard to pinpoint when Tom became truly ill, but when the doctors said they had to send Mouse away for fear of infection, the boys knew they had to do something. Without Mouse, Tom would never recover. The journey began to find a temporary home for Mouse, but once they'd set off, nothing turned out the way they'd planned. "From the Hardcover edition."
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· 2009
" Tu vas guérir, ai-je affirmé à Tom. Le traitement sera dur, je suis désolé, mais tu verras, ça va marcher. " Tom est gravement malade, et John, son petit frère, le réconforte comme il peut. Mais quand leur mère leur annonce que, pour des raisons d'hygiène, il faut se séparer de Mulotte, leur chienne bien-aimée, leur monde s'écroule un peu plus. Sans Mulotte, Tom n'aura jamais la force de se battre contre la maladie ! Les deux frères mettent au point un plan dans le plus grand secret : John va confier Mulotte à leur oncle, qui habite très loin, tout là-bas, dans le sud. Commence alors pour John un voyage inoubliable...
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· 1936