K.L. Denman's Blog, page 6

Perfect Revenge

ISBN: 9781554691029

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Pages: 112

Pub Date: April/01/2009

Lizzie Lane is used to life at the top of the food chain. Her near-perfect life is ruined when Rachel, a girl she socially destroyed, exacts her revenge by getting Lizzie in trouble for cheating on a test. Friendless and facing detention, Lizzie obsesses over finding the perfect revenge. When Stella, Lizzie’s strange new neighbour, teaches Lizzie about magick, Lizzie can’t resist creating a revenge spell. But she forgets the “rule of three,” that whatever spell you cast comes back on you three-fold, and her zit spell backfires with dramatic results. When she asks for help from Stella’s Baba, the only advice she gets is to “write the lesson of the zit on her heart.” Can Lizzie find a way to teach Rachel a lesson without causing permanent disfigurement to herself?

La revanche parfaite: (Perfect Revenge)

ISBN: 9781554698530

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Awards

2009  Resource Links “The Year’s Best”

Reviews  

CM Magazine – March 6, 2009

“Denman has constructed more than a light-hearted diversion for readers. There is a literary sophistication to her story that will introduce readers to elements such as foreshadowing and metaphor…Good-natured and well-written, Perfect Revenge is a solid antidote to the sensational works for teens spawned in this Gossip Girl era. Recommended.” 

 Resource Links – June 1, 2009

“Dripping in humour and satire, Perfect Revenge shows that revenge isn’t the best way to solve a problem…High appeal for the adolescent female audience with its teen angst, relationships issues, and humorous approach to conflict resolution.”

Spiral

ISBN: 9781551439303

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Pages: 112

Pub Date: October/01/2008

When fifteen-year-old Abby is seriously injured, her wounds go far deeper than her broken back. Rehabilitation therapy teaches her to cope with her new physical reality but once she’s home with her family, she refuses to participate in life and withdraws into a world of drugs.

Abby’s family discovers her addiction, and she is sent to a farm that specializes in Equine Assisted Therapy. She must still do battle with her cravings, but when she witnesses the connection between another young patient and a pony, she decides that if this girl can heal, she too can learn to be present in life again.

Awards

2010  Canadian Children’s Book Centre Best Books

Reviews:

  CM Magazine – November 21, 2008

“An excellent addition to Orca’s high interest, low vocabulary “Soundings” series…a realistic and thoroughly gripping read. Highly recommended.”

 Tucson Unified School District – November 1, 2008

“Highly recommended.”

 Tri State Young Adult Book Review Committee – January 1, 2009

“Strongly recommended for school libraries…The emotional yet believable plot is deftly told with honesty and freshness. The focus on what is possible may cause some students to review their choices and set a new focus.”

 Southwestern Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group – September 1, 2008

“Succeeds with a strong plot and suitably empathetic characters to attract a teen audience…Contains a surprisingly realistic and positive message about dealing with life’s challenges.”

CBC Radio One – All Points West – March 1, 2009

“Surprisingly touching…captures something about the near-mystical quality of the connection between horses and people.”

Powell River Living Magazine – Winter 2008 (Review by Hailey Sacree)

“Spiral is a really cool book. Denman’s writing shows you how beautiful a person’s recovery can be. The journey is difficult but it is rewarding in the end.”

The Shade

ISBN: 9781551439310

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Pages: 112

Pub Date: March/01/2008

Safira doesn’t believe in ghosts, but the girl in her cabin at camp was not a living person, so what was she? Her friend Trinity is convinced Safira’s seen a ghost and sets out to discover who the ghost girl is. Safira is too busy dealing with her family to help solve the mystery. Safira has never gotten along with her sister, Mya, and now that Mya’s pending marriage dominates the family there seems to be no hope for friendship between them. But when Trinity discovers the death of a girl named Myra, Safira starts to wonder if the ghost-girl has an important message about her own sister.

 

Reviews:

 Resource Links – June 1, 2008

“Denman has written an interesting, well-paced story for reluctant middle school readers.”

 Middler Books and More blog – May 8, 2009

“My students will appreciate the suspense of the story, and Safira’s voyage of self-discover is the coming-of-age passion play that every [middle school student] experiences at some point in her young life.”

 

Rebel’s Tag

ISBN: 9781551437408

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Pages: 112

Pub Date: October/01/2007

Sam’s grandfather vanished from his life the day Sam’s father was buried. Now, ten years later, Grandpa Max wants to make amends. He sends letters that lead Sam on a scavenger hunt. Sam follows his grandfather’s bizarre instructions though he’s still not ready to forgive. To alleviate his anger at his grandfather, Sam turns to his favorite stress release: climbing onto roofs and leaving his tag, a spray painted symbol for Aquarius. When he gets caught by an elderly couple, Sam learns a valuable lesson about forgiveness. He’s ready to forgive his grandfather, but is he too late?

Awards

2009  Chocolate Lily nominee

2008  CCBC Best Books

2008  OLA Best Bets

Reviews:

 CM Magazine – January 12, 2007

“A wonderful novel that will draw reluctant readers in from the get-go and hold them captive until the bittersweet end. Denman’s writing is clean and the voice brilliant. Highly Recommended.”

 VOYA – February 1, 2008

“The book addresses weighty concepts succinctly, comprehensibly, and without pretense, and those looking for a hi-lo story with more depth will find it here.”

 The Horn Book Guide – April 1, 2008

“Written for reluctant readers, this text tackles such heavy topics as forgiveness and death while using accessible, age-appropriate vocabulary.”

 Resource Links – October 1, 2007

“This book has a story that keeps the reader interested, with short chapters and easy-to-read vocabulary.”

 Quill & Quire – November 1, 2007

“It’s no small feat to engage and hold the interest of reluctant readers. With Rebel’s Tag, Denman does the job.”

Mirror Image

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ISBN: 9781551436654

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Pages: 112

Pub Date: March/01/2007

 

Sable wears only black and has always felt that doom is near. Lacey wears pink and seeks beauty everywhere. A sadistic art teacher pairs Sable and Lacey together for their final project. The girls have to get to know one another and select a suitable poem for the back of each other’s decorative mirror. Sable is less than thrilled at having to spend time with Lacey, who she believes to be nothing more than a brainless doll. As the project progresses, and Sable gets past her resentment, she learns some surprising truths about who Lacey really is. All of Sable’s images begin to change, including the one she holds of herself.

Awards

2008  CCBC Best Books

2007  Resource Links “The Year’s Best”

Reviews

 CM Magazine – February 1, 2007

“A character-driven gem that is contemporary without being trendy or superficial…a sophisticated insightful novel that appeals to youthful idealism…A work of art. Highly recommended.”

 Booklist – March 1, 2007

“An enjoyable glance at what’s beneath stereotypical images of popularity and failure…Fast and funny.”

 Teensreadtoo.com – March 1, 2007

“[Will] work well for reluctant readers and also for reading aloud and class discussion activities.”

 Resource Links – April 1, 2007

“A story with the potential to empower anyone who has doubts about their identity and their place in the world. Highly recommended.”

Battle of the Bands

ISBN: 9781551435404

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Pub Date: September/01/2006

The smell in the garage is lousy. Old bulbs coated with years of dust and cobwebs don’t cast the best light either. But when I pick up my guitar and my fingers find the strings, and that first riff comes screaming out of the amp, the only thing that matters is sound.



Jay, Kelvin and Cia are The Lunar Ticks, a dedicated band who are convinced they are on their way up. They hope to win an upcoming battle of the bands where the first prize is a full day in a recording studio. Jay is struggling to write new material but finds he lacks the experience to come up with a truly original song. Going up against Indigo Daze, a band from another school, Jay finds himself falling for Rowan, the leader of the other band. When Rowan’s guitar is trashed right before the contest The Lunar Ticks are the prime suspects.

Spanish Translation:La guerra de las bandas

ISBN: 9781551439983

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Pages: 112

Pub Date: March/01/2008

Awards

2007  CCBC Our Choice

2007  YALSA Quick Picks

Reviews  

 CM Magazine – January 1, 2007

“Filled with humour, first crushes and break-ups…Recommended.”

 School Library Journal – March 1, 2007

“The short chapter and fast-paced, rock-themed action will appeal to reluctant and struggling readers.”

 Teen Book Review – January 1, 2007

“It’s powerful and attention grabbing, telling a fascinating story of love, life, and music. The characters are wonderful.”

 Canadian Book Review Annual – June 15, 2008

“In her first novel, K.L. Denman has created engaging and realistic characters. Recommended.”

Welcome – to my sketchy site!

It’s under construction (again) but I plan to have it functioning soon. Please check back.

Characters

[image error]They’re everywhere. I went for a sunny winter walk yesterday (a rare thing, that, for Vancouver winters) along the dike that follows Boundary Bay in Delta. The general idea was bird watching and I did try, but soon became more interested in the serious bird watchers. I suspect they are a species unto themselves. They communicated with others via walkie-talkie and wore camouflage clothing. They easily identified birds by species and gender, knowing instantly that buff feathers on that particular hawk meant male then adding FYI about the  plumage that would have meant female. Most astonishing was the camera gear, with lenses the size of legs and such rapid-fire shooting that camera clicks sounded like the staccato pops of popcorn over high heat.

I didn’t mind being told that my ordinary camera was “no good” because the comment was stated as simple fact as it came from a friendly chap in an ear-flap toque who followed up by declaring his own monster lens inferior – when compared to the $10,000 model his friend was packing.

The most astonishing visual I saw wasn’t captured by any photographer, occurring as it did on the road out. A pair of bald eagles swooped in front of our car, one of them flipped under the other, and they locked talons. It lasted only a second or two, then they broke apart and flew on, leaving us wide-eyed and marvelling. That “photo” exists in memory only and that’s okay; I can retrieve it and enjoy again, anytime, anywhere. No batteries required.

If I go again I know people watching will trump bird watching. I love seeing birds out and about their lives, love that they are with us, but the stories? They’re all about us.

 

Foul Play

Or as Captain James Hook would say, “Bad Form.” Somehow, my former website account was hacked and since I’m not a tech savvy Webmaster (more like a Webserf) I didn’t create a back-up of all my files so… Poof! All vanished.

I’ve begun to re-build. This quote from A.A. Milne seems fitting:

“Pooh had wandered into the Hundred Acre Wood, and was standing in front of what had once been Owl’s house. It didn’t look at all like a house now, it looked like a tree that had been blown down; and as soon as a house looks like that, it is time you tried to find another one.”

And it’s time I attempt to employ one of Owl’s special qualites; making back-up files would be wise.

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Agent Angus

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ISBN: 9781459801035

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Pub Date: April/01/2012

The lie happened. But I’ve liked Ella for eons. Possilby as long as five months. In all that time, I never got up the nerve to talk to her.

Agent Angus has gone mental(ist) for Ella.

Angus and his best buddy, Shahid, share a love of science and their robot, Gordon. But recently, the artistic Ella Eckles has had a peculiar effect on Angus. When a stink bomb at the school provides a chance for him to talk to her, he claims to share her interest in reading facial expressions and declares his ambition to become a crime-solving mentalist. He impresses Ella by identifying the stink bomber, but fails to mention he witnessed a scrawny kid setting off the bomb. When Ella’s treasured sketchbook is stolen, she asks Angus to find the thief. Shahid thinks Angus should confess that he’s not a mentalist, but Angus is certain he can learn to read people and recover Ella’s sketchbook. He asks Shahid to help him investigate the suspects: Gaga Girl; the art teacher, Mr. Wilder; and finally, “scrawny kid.” Equipped with rearview sunglasses and an informant who lurks in the washroom, the duo bungles their way through a series of encounters that alarm Shahid and provide Angus with some unfamiliar exercise.

Reviews

CM Magazine – February 10, 2012

“With relatable emotions and well placed moments of humour, Denman slips readers easily into Angus’s head. Best friend Shahid acts as an excellent foil and also creates spots of tension that give their relationship a realistically rocky trajectory…With plenty of wit and seamless movement…Agent Angus reads fluidly enough for any reluctant reader to sail through.”

Booklist – May 1, 2012

“Fast and funny, with many surprising twists and turns, this short, clever mystery in the Orca Currents series will grab avid and reluctant readers with the contemporary drama of secrets, sleuthing, and romance…The tension will hook readers to the last page.”