Book Information

  • Series: Lorimer Streetlights
  • Imprint: James Lorimer & Company Ltd., Publishers
  • Publication Date: 1 September 2010
  • Copyright Year: 2010
  • ISBN: 9781552775363
  • Page Count: 120
  • Dimensions: 5" x 7.75"
  • Interest ages: 8-10
  • Reading level: Grade 4

Purchasing Information

Paperback
9781552775363
$8.95 CAD

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The Witch of Bloor Street

by Beth Pollock

Chosen as one of Resource Links' Year's Best for 2011
This story for pre-teens uses humour and empathy to explore the problems of self-consciousness, being different, and feeling inferior.

Sixth-grader Maggie Ito believes she has been cursed by the Witch of Bloor Street. While her friends all seem to be best at something - Sasha is best at art, Alice is the most musical, and even her nemesis Jarrett Johnson is the fastest runner - Maggie believes the curse is keeping her from being best at anything. Her attempts to break it become increasingly far-fetched, but her luck is still bad.
With the help of her friends and a supportive teacher, Maggie finds confidence in her own abilities and the strength to confront her "witch." Fry Reading Level - 4.0

About the Author

BETH POLLOCK lives in Toronto, Ontario. This is her third book in the Streetlights series. Her Streetlights novel The Next Step was chosen as a Resource Links Year's Best in 2009.

Reviews

"If I was still teaching in the grade six classroom, I would want this book for my girls. I would also expect to hear giggles while it was being read. A fantastic addition to the library or grade 4-7 classroom."
Susan Miller, Resource Links, Volume 16, No. 4
The rich cast of secondary characters, including Maggie's parents and small circle of understanding friends, help flesh out this satisfying story, which is told in Maggie's humorous, self-deprecating voice. Because Maggie is a particularly innocent sixth grader, readers as young as third grade can enjoy this window into the middle-school world and will hope to have friends like Magnolia and Sasha.
Kirkus Reviews, www.kirkusreviews.com

Awards

One of the Year's Best for 2011 - Resource Links
2011

Subjects (BISAC)

JUVENILE FICTION / General, JUVENILE FICTION / Humorous Stories, JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Adolescence & Coming of Age

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