Don Aker – författare

All 11-year-old Jared St. George can think about is making his school basketball team. What Jared refuses to think about is math, and the fact that he’s failing it. The problem is tough: a poor math grade plus an unsympathetic coach equals no basketball team. Jared’s only hope is peer tutoring from Ellie Brejovic, the weirdo classmate whom everyone teases. To his surprise, Ellie makes math make sense, except that Jared would rather admit to cheating than let the guys know about her. Turns out that’s the really big mistake, one that could cost Jared not just a spot on the team, but something far more valuable. One on One is Don Aker’s new novel for middle readers, a story that taps into the classic "making the team" dilemma with authentic characters, intelligent plotting and terrific writing. Kids who live to play basketball will love this book; kids who live to read will love it too.

Reef is an embittered young offender, hardly able to contain his anger at the world over the death of his grandmother, the only person who had shown him any love. Seventeen-year-old Leeza is mourning the death of her older sister. A stone hurled in rage shatters both their lives and throws them together in the most unexpected way—and offers them a chance at healing.

Reef is back in Halifax for the funeral of Frank Colville, his former mentor. Memories of Frank compete with memories of Leeza and the terrible way their relationship ended. Mindful that the restraining order against him has been renewed by Leeza’s mother, Reef has no intention of staying in Halifax for long.

Leeza, in the meantime, is feeling stifled by her mother’s “concern.” A first-year student at Dalhousie, she is kicking herself for not attending university out of town.

Despite Reef ’s best efforts to stay away, circumstances push him and Leeza ever closer to each other. An eager political crusader wants to close Reef ’s former group home, and he will stop at nothing to get media attention, including manipulating news items. Reef is shocked to discover that he has been photographed outside Leeza’s house and, therefore, in violation of the restraining order. Finding himself at the centre of growing controversy, Reef is pushed to his limits.

Before he leaves town, Reef must face his demons and make some tough choices or else risk losing everything he has worked for, including the only girl he has ever loved.

All Ethan Palmer wants is wheels of his own, and he’s finally saved enough money to buy his dream car . . . when he accidentally rams his dad’s Volvo into their garage. It’s not like his lawyer/politician father can’t afford to pay for the damage, but of course his old man is going to turn this into another Big Life Lesson.

With all of his hard-earned cash going into repairs, Ethan won’t be sliding behind the wheel of that Mustang Cobra any time soon. Or will he? He thinks he’s found a way to make some easy money, and suddenly nothing is more important. Not school, not the girl he loves, not even the secrets that divide his family. For Ethan, it’s all about payback. But he has no idea what his choices will cost him.