Small Bones

Gr 8 Up—Each installment in this hi-lo series is based on the experiences of one of the seven oldest girls living at an orphanage. After their home burns down, each teen is given a small amount of money and whatever tokens were with her at the time of her arrival at the institution. While all originate at the home for girls, their paths diverge wildly as they each search for their own origins. In Small Bones, talented seamstress Dot has no problem finding a job and place to live in the Dunbrae Arms resort. She was left on the steps of the orphanage as a baby with just a spoon in her hand and swaddled in an army jacket, clues that lead her to her new home. Soon, with the help of Eddie, a local, Dot figures her origins may be more complex (and threatening) than she ever imagined. Conversely, in Shattered Glass, Toni has physical reminders of her past. She was the victim of a fire as a baby and has the scars to prove it. All she knows is that she needs to get to Toronto, where she knows the fire took place. What she finds is a kindly if troubled landlady and other neighbors who are fighting their own battles. Toni's search for her mother will lead her in unexpected directions and pair her with unlikely allies. With their accessible themes, these short titles are great for reluctant readers interested in the 1960s.