The Forest of Reading is a Canada-wide program designed to promote a love of reading and promote books by Canadian authors.
The "forest" is made up of several different "trees" (book lists) for different grades and ages. Each tree features 10 books nominated as "the best" of Canadian literature. Visit the program website to learn more about the Forest of Reading.
The trees for our Middle School students are Red Maple (fiction) and Yellow Cedar (nonfiction).
Scroll down on this page to find links to Red Maple and Yellow Cedar books in our library catalogue (Destiny Discover). Scroll down further to watch book talk videos prepared by our book ambassadors.
Students choose which they'd like books to read from a "tree." If you read at least 5 of the books listed on the tree, you are eligible to vote for your favourite in April. In May 2024, the Festival of Trees will be held, where the winners of each Forest of Reading program will be announced. Students participating in the program can go!
To get started, visit the library circulation desk or Ms. Warren's office to grab a Reading Passport so you can document the books you've read from each tree. All of the Red Maple and Yellow Cedar titles are available in the MS/SS Library's print collection, with eBook editions also available on Sora. Once you've finished a book, check in with its book ambassador to get their signature before Voting Day.
Our MS Voting Day at The York School will be held on Tuesday, April 23rd. Make sure that you have all of your books read by then, and that they are signed off by our book ambassadors so that you're ready to vote. We will be holding a Book Ambassador Signing event one week before Voting Day (Friday, April 14th) at lunch so you can meet all ambassadors in one place.
Two kids from different worlds form an unexpected friendship.
Cody’s home life is a messy, too-often terrifying story of neglect and abuse. Cody himself is a smart kid, a survivor with a wicked sense of humour that helps him see past his circumstances and begin to try to get himself out.
Autumn is, quite literally, on the other side of the tracks from him. Her home life is loving and secure, and she is “in” with the popular girls at school, even if she has a secret life as a glasses-wearing, self-professed comic book nerd at home. And even if the pressure to fit in at school requires hours of time spent making herself look “perfect.”
Book Ambassador: Ms. Currier & Ms. Lemieux
Beatrice, a young girl of uncertain age, wakes up all alone in a tree house in the forest. How did she arrive in this cozy dwelling, stocked carefully with bookshelves and oatmeal accouterments? And who has been leaving a trail of clues, composed in delicate purple handwriting?
So begins the adventure of a brave and resilient Black girl’s search for identity and healing in bestselling author Lawrence Hill’s middle-grade debut. Though Beatrice cannot recall how or why she arrived in the magical forest of Argilia—where every conceivable fish, bird, mammal and reptile coexist, and any creature with a beating heart can communicate with any other—something within tells her that beyond this forest is a family that is waiting anxiously for her return.
Book Ambassadors: Ms. Porter & Ms. Wolfe
A story of two kids trying to save the world they know and heal the families they have. It’s the summer of 2003 and thirteen-year-old astronomer Noah Cooper has just moved to Queensport, a small town with a vast amateur sky full of stars. There he meets Tara Dhillon, a lonely girl and aspiring filmmaker. When the two team up to produce an astronomy movie and enter a film contest, they discover a secret plan to turn their rural hamlet into a huge subdivision. Noah and Tara must use their unique skills to identify the culprits who plan on paving over the historic county ― and try to save the infinite beauty of the stars. As if that’s not enough to have at stake, Noah needs to win the prize money to buy a new telescope for his unemployed father ― an ex-astronomer who’s almost given up on the stars, as well as life on Earth. Touching on themes of activism, environmental anxiety and mental health, A Bucket of Stars will have readers cheering for Noah, a boy whose head is in the stars, and Tara, a girl who lives in a world of digital images ― and their special bond that just might mend the world around them.
Book Ambassadors: Ms. Prevedello
For as long as she can remember, Doric has felt alone. Abandoned by her human parents, she wandered for years before being taken in by a community of Neverwinter Wood-elves. But her horns and tail proclaim a tiefling heritage, and even among the kindest of elves, her fledgling druidic abilities mark her as different from the rangers around her. As humans begin to encroach farther and farther into the once pristine woods, Doric knows she needs to master her druidic capabilities if she is to be any help to her adopted family. With no means of helping Doric themselves, her guardians see no choice but to send her somewhere she can come into her own.
Book Ambassador: Mr. Cooper & Mr. Tan
From the bestselling author of RESTART, the story of a middle-school “band of brothers” — five friends who need to stick together after they set up a hideout in an abandoned bomb shelter and discover that the only way to be true friends is to reveal their secrets and help each other out.
The morning after Hurricane Leo rips through the town of Canaan, residents awaken to widespread destruction — power outages, downed branches, uprooted trees, broken windows and damaged roofs. Four eighth-grade friends — Evan, Jason, Mitchell, and CJ — meet to explore the devastation. The tight-knit group is dismayed to find that Evan has brought along a stray — Ricky, who is new to their town and school and doesn’t have any friends yet.
Book Ambassador: Ms. Wolfe, Mr. Grant & Ms. Walker
In the Remixed Classics series, authors from marginalized backgrounds reinterpret classic works through their own cultural lens to subvert the overwhelming cishet, white, and male canon. This queer YA reimagining of The Secret Garden subverts the cishet and white status quo of the original in a tale of family secrets wonderful and horrifying.
Mary Lennox didn’t think about death until the day it knocked politely on her bedroom door and invited itself in. When a terrible accident leaves her orphaned at fifteen, she is sent to the wilderness of Georgian Bay to live with an uncle she’s never met.
Book Ambassadors: Ms. Walker & Ms. Brandes
Life is progressing normally for sixteen-year-old Dan Renfrew when he accidentally transports himself to England in the year 1066. He soon realizes that he’s trapped there, and that’s not his only astonishing discovery. Dan learns that he’s descended from a long line of time jumpers—secret heroes who travel to the past and resolve glitches in the time stream that threaten to alter subsequent history. The only way Dan can return home is to set history back on its proper course in the Anglo-Saxon age. This is no easy task. A Viking horde is ravaging England in the north while a Norman army threatens to invade from the south. In between and desperately struggling to hold on to his throne is Harold Godwinson, the newly-crowned English king. Dan is fighting to ensure that events play out correctly when he finds himself plunged into an even more lethal conflict. To save history, Dan must battle a band of malevolent time jumpers whose lust for wealth and power threatens the entire future of the world.
Book Ambassadors: Mr. Regner
A dying friend, a terrible bargain, an underwater quest, and dangerous magic . . . this adventure picks up right where Children of the Fox leaves off.
Rule number one: Never mess with magic. Even so, a life-or-death situation calls for Callan and his criminal friends to make a deal with the Eye—the sinister, sentient artifact they stole from a sorcerer. Something precious in exchange for a future task, and the gang has no choice but to agree. The cure—and their part of the deal—lies with the Dragon’s Teeth, a pair of swords with extraordinary powers, and the search for them leads the thieves on a quest that will unravel the mystery of the Eye.
Book Ambassador: Mr. Deighton & Ms. Maybee
Simon O’Keeffe’s biggest claim to fame should be the time his dad accidentally gave a squirrel a holy sacrament. Or maybe the alpaca disaster that went viral on YouTube. But the story the whole world wants to tell about Simon is the one he’d do anything to forget: the story in which he’s the only kid in his class who survived a school shooting.
Two years after the infamous event, twelve-year-old Simon and his family move to the National Quiet Zone—the only place in America where the internet is banned. Instead of talking about Simon, the astronomers who flock to the area are busy listening for signs of life in space. And when Simon makes a friend who’s determined to give the scientists what they’re looking for, he’ll finally have the chance to spin a new story for the world to tell.
Book Ambassador: Mr. Grosman & Ms. Currier
Aiza has always dreamt of becoming a Knight. It’s the highest military honor in the once-great Bayt-Sajji Empire, and as a member of the subjugated Ornu people, Knighthood is her only path to full citizenship. Ravaged by famine and mounting tensions, Bayt-Sajji finds itself on the brink of war once again, so Aiza can finally enlist in the competitive Squire training program.
It’s not how she imagined it, though. Aiza must navigate new friendships, rivalries, and rigorous training under the unyielding General Hende, all while hiding her Ornu background. As the pressure mounts, Aiza realizes that the “greater good” that Bayt-Sajji’s military promises might not include her, and that the recruits might be in greater danger than she ever imagined.
Book Ambassador: Ms. Bairos
Imagine being able to see in ultraviolet wavelengths, locating your next meal in near darkness, or being able to rotate your eyes independently so you can see nearly everything around you without moving your head. These are just a few examples of the incredible adaptations animals’ eyes have made to help them survive and thrive in their habitats.
Animal Eyes introduces young readers to the wonderful, wide-ranging and sometimes downright weird eyes that make up the animal kingdom. The book starts with a crash course in how eyes and vision work — covering everything from the biology of eyes to the physics of light to the features that protect eyes and keep them clean. Following this is a survey of 40 of the world’s most interesting animal eyes, replete with gorgeous full-bleed and inset photos and detailed captions.
Book Ambassador: Ms. Goodwin & Ms. Walker
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Fly like Shazam? Turn invisible like Violet Parr? Or maybe have the super strength of the Hulk? Believe it or not, many of the extraordinary abilities we see in comics and movies are already a reality—or could become one soon!
This middle-grade nonfiction book uses superheroes to explore how science is transforming our bodies and our experiences. Engaging text, detailed timelines, and intricate diagrams break down how superhero traits have been reflected in technological innovations throughout history, and how they could appear in the future. Jetpacks and rocket belts can help us fly like Superman. Prosthetic limbs and lab-grown human tissue mirror the regenerative powers of Wolverine and Ms. Marvel. But readers are also invited to think critically about these incredible, and sometimes controversial, advancements—after all, with great power comes great responsibility!
Book Ambassador: Ms. Wolfe
At many official events or spiritual Ceremonies among First Nations across the country, a song is sung by the participants. This song was born in the heart and mind of George Paul, a Mi’kmaw from Metepenagiag, after an arduous journey. This illustrated album tells the story of the birth of this song and its importance to First Nations.
Book Ambassador: Ms. Pielsticker
IsThisAnOlogy? is a journey of discovery! Andie interviews different “ologists” and learns all about different types of science.
IsThisAnOlogy? explores big jobs, big science, and the biggest questions. Learn about fossils, bird migration, beekeeping, the science behind making food delicious, and the chemistry involved in cheese making… IsThisAnOlogy? features illustrations, interviews, comics, photographs, charts, recipes, and experiments you can try at home. Science can be a fun hands-on activity!
Book Ambassador: Ms. Walker
As a musician, Buffy’s songs have inspired three generations of fans, garnering international acclaim and many awards. She’s a peace activist, an advocate for Indigenous-focused education, and a tireless supporter of Indigenous rights.
Buffy Sainte-Marie is not exactly sure where or when she was born, but it was likely the Piapot Reserve in the Qu’Appelle Valley, Saskatchewan. As a baby, she was adopted out to a white family in the United States. But nothing would stop Buffy from connecting to her roots and sharing the power and the beauty of her heritage with the world.
Book Ambassadors: Mr. Biagiarelli
For thousands of years, the Mi’kmaq have been closely observing the natural world and the cycles of the moon and the stars to track the passage of time. Each full moon in an annual cycle was named by the Mi’kmaq to relate to a seasonal event, such as tomcod spawning, birds laying eggs or berry ripening.
For the past decade, Mi’kmaw Elders and Knowledge Keepers have shared stories of the traditional night sky calendar with authors Cathy LeBlanc and David Chapman. In this book, Cathy relays this knowledge in stories told to her young relation Holly.
Book Ambassadors: Ms. MacDonald
Take a trip around the world (and beyond) to discover the science, myths and stories behind iconic volcanoes.
Krakatoa. Kilimanjaro. Vesuvius. The destructive power of volcanoes has claimed more than 250,000 lives since the beginning of civilization. Whether as objects of worship or of terror, they have shaped our world and fed the human imagination. And they can be found just about everywhere, from ancient Pompeii to the geysers of Yellowstone to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean and the surface of Jupiter. Teaming up with award-winning illustrator Aless MC, volcanologist Julie Roberge takes us on a journey to the heart of the earth to discover the most famous of these geological monsters.
Book Ambassador: Ms. Pielsticker
Hoarders. Scavengers. Clever foragers. Bringers of new life.
Ravens have many roles, both for the land and in Gitxsan’s story and song. The sixth book in Hetxw’ms Gyetxw (Brett D. Huson)’s Mothers of Xsan series transports young readers to Northwestern British Columbia, where they will learn about the traditions of the Gitxsan, the lives of ravens, and why these acrobatic flyers are so important to their ecosystem.
Follow along as Nox Gaak, the raven mother, teaches her chicks what they need to survive with the help of her flock.
Book Ambassadors: Ms. Robertson
Young readers will be delighted to learn about the wonderful, watery world of seaweed, where emerald-green kelp forests grow as tall as trees and rainbow seaweeds shimmer like gemstones in the sunlight. Seaweed can be fun too, providing tasty snacks like nori crisps and cool things to do: hunt for dead man’s fingers to squeeze like a squirt gun, have a popping contest with rockweed or make seaweed art. Seaweeds are also critical to the health of the planet—they produce most of the oxygen we need to breathe, help to keep the earth cool and provide habitat for sea creatures. And they’re full of healthy vitamins and have more minerals than any other food!
Book Ambassador: Ms. Walker
With a growing global population, we will need more and more space to live, learn and work in. But what does that mean for the health of the planet? Can we do it sustainably? Tall buildings may be part of the answer. From the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Leaning Tower of Pisa to the Burj Khalifa and the Shanghai Tower, Why Humans Build Up asks why and how we build higher and higher, and what that means for the planet.
Book Ambassador: Ms. Pankiw
Book talk video by Ms. Robertson
Book talk video by Ms. Pielsticker
Book talk video by Ms. MacDonald
Book talk video by Mr. Deighton
Book talk video by Ms. Pielsticker
Book talk video by Mr. Biagiarelli
Book talk video by Ms. Pankiw
Book talk video by Mr. Cooper & Mr. Tan
Book talk video by Ms. Bairos
Book talk video by Mr. Grosman & Ms. Currier
Book talk video by Ms. Wolfe, Mr. Grant & Ms. Walker
Book talk video by Ms. Porter & Ms. Wolfe
Book talk video by Mr. Regner
Book talk video by Ms. Goodwin & Ms. Walker
Book talk video by Ms. Wolfe
Book talk video by Ms. Currier & Ms. Lemieux
Book talk video by Ms. Prevedello.
