Most Popular Books by Sylvia McNicoll

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.

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.

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.

Grave Secrets is published by Fitzhenry and Whiteside.

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.

Paradise Manor is depressing—the smells are bad and the residents are old. Sunny would much rather be doing her volunteer hours at Salon Teo, but her teacher won''t let her. Who says volunteering at a hair salon doesn''t benefit the community? But working with the Alzheimer''s patients has a surprising effect on Sunny. Along with Cole, the grandson of one of the residents, she begins to see that the residents don''t have much more choice about their lives than she does: what they eat, how they are treated by staff, even what they watch on television. So Sunny does what she can to make the residents happy—even if she has to sometimes break the rules to do it. When tragedy strikes at Paradise, Sunny''s left to make the decision about whether or not to honor a promise that Cole made to his grandmother about her life . . . and her death.

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!

"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.

When a faulty accelerator causes eighty-two-year-old Susan hits fifteen-year-old Hallie with her SUV, they return from the dead in each other’s bodies, seeking justice and another chance.

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?

They say he’s been stealing art. But is Attila being framed? Outdoor art is disappearing all over the neighbourhood! From elaborate Halloween decorations to the Stream of Dreams fish display across the fence at Stephen and Renée’s school, it seems no art is safe. Renée’s brother, Attila, has been cursing those model fish since he first had to make them as part of his community service. So everyone thinks Attila is behind it when they disappear. But, grumpy teen though he is, Attila can do no wrong in Renée’s eyes, so she enlists Stephen’s help to catch the real criminal.

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!

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!

As if bathtub floods, chewed homework, and accidents on the floor weren''t enough! Being saddled with so much responsibility for bringing up Beauty only adds insult to injury. With a flapjack tongue and oversized feet, this is the ugliest puppy Elizabeth has ever seen. It will be easy to resist loving her. And since Beauty is only staying until she can be trained as a guide dog, there is no room for love in this relationship... At the age of twelve, with busy parents, a sister who''s too cool for words, and two best friends suddenly dating each other, Elizabeth could use a little unconditional love.

"A Canadian Children''s Book Centre Our Choice, 2005 Manitoba Young Reads'' Choice Award Nominee 2005" Second of the "Bringing Up Beauty" triology! "Bringing Up Beauty" won the 1996 Silver Birch Children''s Choice Award and the 1997 Manitoba Young Reader''s Choice Award. 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?

Noble Dog Walking takes care of pets, even if they slither. When a ball python they’re looking after disappears, Stephen Noble and Renée Kobai join forces with their favourite clients, Jack Russell Ping and greyhound Pong, to find that snake. The local animal shelter proves no help at all. The only thing they care about is their annual cat sale. It’s starting to look like the ball python may have been stolen, when Stephen and Renée get word that more homes have been broken into, all of them clients of Noble Dog Walking. The case turns desperate as one by one, their clients leave. After losing Ping and Pong as clients, too, Stephen and Renée pin their last hope on gathering all the suspects at the animal shelter, and a real Cat-astrophe ensues.

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.

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?