Most Popular Books by Sylvia McNicoll

Leaving behind England (and the graves of his mother and baby sister) 12-year-old William sails to Canada with his father, where he joins the campaign to eradicate flies in cities and stop the spread of deadly diseases.

The journey to conquering your fears starts with 1,776 steps. Starting sixth grade after years of homeschooling, Ella is tired of being known as Allergic-to-Everything Girl. She just wants to eat pizza without breaking into hives, convince her mom to adopt a Whoodle dog, and get over her stage fright so she can perform her poem to her class. When her best friend signs up for a CN Tower climb for charity, Ella knows she has to join. If she can climb to the top and summon the courage to recite her poem over the city, she’s convinced she’ll finally be cured of her fears.

Inspired by the true story of a teen who was killed at a railway crossing, the author weaves the tale of fourteen-year-old Paige, who, taking a shortcut alongside the tracks to avoid the school bullies, is tragically hit by a train and transported to a surreal world where she encounters Kim, who died seven years before. Convinced she is only dreaming, Paige must discover a way to return to her former life. Poignant, gripping, and full of unexpected twists and turns, Best Friends through Eternity will resonate with readers who have struggled with cultural identity, a sense of belonging, and the real meaning of home.

Last year, Sunny served forty hours volunteer time on an Alzheimer''s ward, where she developed a crush on Cole, another volunteer. Now she is on trial for manslaughter.

Anxious young Stephen Noble and his friend Renée are the dogwalking detectives! This special three-book bundle collects the first three book in The Great Mistake Mysteries. Includes The Great Mistake Mystery Dogwalker Stephen Nobel has a habit of overanalyzing things. When the bomb squad searches his school and a car crashes into the building, Stephen can’t leave it alone. But now his new friend Renée and his furry clients Ping and Pong are wrapped up in a dangerous mystery with a real criminal! The Artsy Mistake Mystery Renée and Stephen team up when Renée’s brother Attila is accused of stealing the outdoor art that’s been disappearing all over the neighbourhood. Convinced that Attila is innocent, Renée and Stephen set out to find the truth about the missing art. The Snake Mistake Mystery In the third Great Mistake Mystery, Stephen and Renée investigate a recent robbery that has been pinned on the Noble Dogwalking Agency. The crime involves a missing python and a key that Stephen says he lost. Stephen and Renée need to solve this case or the Noble Dogwalking Agency will go under!

2019 Hamilton Literary Award for Fiction — Winner A fatal collision — who’s to blame? Two bodies, two souls switch in search of justice. When fifteen-year-old Hallie gets knocked flying by a Hurricane SUV, her life ends without her ever having kissed a boy. At an otherworldly carnival, she meets and argues with the eighty-two-year-old driver, Susan. Both return to life, only with one catch — they’ve swapped bodies. Now Hallie has wrinkled skin and achy joints while Susan deals with a forehead zit and a crush on a guy who’s a player. Hallie faces a life in a long-term care residence. Susan gets picked up for shoplifting. As they struggle with technology, medications, and each other’s fashion foibles, they start to understand and maybe even like each other. But can they work together to prove that a defect in the Hurricane caused the deadly crash? Or will their time run out?

Grave Secrets is published by Fitzhenry and Whiteside.

Renée and Stephen team up when Renée’s brother Attila is accused of stealing the outdoor art that’s been disappearing all over the neighbourhood. Convinced that Attila is innocent, Renée and Stephen set out to find the truth about the missing art.

Fourteen-year-old Kim hates school, but she''s sure her good looks and great fashion sense will get her out of her boring life and into a world of glamour! All she can think about is becoming a model. Why can''t she ace school tests the way she handles the friendship and dating quizzes in her favourite fashion magazines? How will studying help her escape the kind of boring life her parents lead? Why will she need school once she gets a lucrative modeling job? By the time Kim discovers that all the glamour is just hype, she has lied to teachers and her parents, raided her "untouchable" education bank account, alienated her best friend, lost her boyfriend, and been caught shoplifting. A true-to-life look at what a teenager encounters as she becomes obsessed with her image, Caught in a Lie traces Kim''s growth to understanding.

In Bringing Up Beauty, Elizabeth had her heart broken over the lab puppy she raised for - and returned to - a guide dog program. In A Different Kind of Beauty, she''s trying again. But this time, she vows, she won''t fall in love. She''ll have fun, sure, but she won''t surrender to those big soulful eyes and goofy puppy love. Hmmm... is it Beauty II she''s resisting, or Scott, the former" boyfriend who just keeps hanging around?

In the third Great Mistake Mystery, Stephen and Renée investigate a recent robbery that has been pinned on the Noble Dogwalking Agency. The crime involves a missing python and a key that Stephen says he lost. Stephen and Renée need to solve this case or the Noble Dogwalking Agency will go under!

2020-21 Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award — Shortlisted Five-year-old Pearl claims that a pirate stole the rare Blushing Diamond. But everyone’s a pirate on Halloween. Dogwalker Stephen Noble has been recruited to walk his five-year-old reading buddy, Pearl Lebel, to and from school while her mother is away and her father is ill. He’s sure that this will be easier than walking canine clients Ping and Pong — until Pearl locks herself in the house, runs away from home, and loses her family’s rare pink diamond ring. When Pearl claims that a pirate took the ring, Stephen and Renée are on the case. But the more they discover, the more it feels like everyone is a suspect. With Pearl annoying them every step of the way, will they be able to solve the mystery before the ring''s scheduled appearance at the Brilliant Diamond Show?

Anxious Stephen Nobel has a habit of overanalyzing things. When the bomb squad searches his school and a car crashes into the building, Stephen can’t leave it alone. But now his new friend Renée and his furry clients Ping and Pong are wrapped up in a dangerous mystery with a real criminal!

Elizabeth has the responsibility to raise Beauty, a Labrador retriever puppy, for the guide dog program.

Neil really wants a dog, but all he has is his goldfish Fido, a bratty five-year-old sister named Tara, and a brand new baby brother. When Fido dies, Neil has to find a new pet to show at school -- and fast! His grandfather helps him come up with a new pet, and takes him for rides in his lucky sports car. But then Neil wrecks his grandfather''s beloved Firebird. Will the family ever forgive him? By the end of the worst week in his life, Neil comes to understand everyone in his family a bit better, and even ends up with the best school pet project ever!

Owen has just three days to prove to his father that Hero will be no trouble - or back to the shelter he goes. The odds are against Hero. He''s got problems with a monster cat, chews up Owen''s homework, and makes messes on the floor. Can Hero live up to his name? A book that''s both fun and funny, exciting and warm hearted. Interest Level: Grades 4-6+ Reading Level: Grade 2.4 (Lexile 390L) HIP JR novels feature preteen characters in exciting, realistic situations. Written for readers in Grades 4-7, reading at Grade 2-3 level.

"A story about a boy who is forever competing with his classmate - a girl who''s great at everything she does - and the consequences of his jealousy. Ideal for discussions about competition and acceptance" Cf. Our choice, 1996-1997.

Lauren knows if she loses twenty pounds Jay will finally notice her. And it can''t be that hard, can it? Andrea lost ten pounds in less than a month. But Andrea''s starting to act weird. Today she even fainted in class. Lauren''s worried. Andrea says she''s dying to be thin...but just how far will she go?

In her worst summer ever, Naomi’s life falls apart. Her dog Diesel dies, Dad loses his job, her parents split, and she’s stuck babysitting instead of taking swimming lessons. Then Naomi drowns. Naomi wakes to an alive, talking Diesel, who knows why her watch keeps resetting to 4:30 on July 1. Can his knowledge save her?