Series: Dear Canada

Summary:

Looking for a fun way to teach or learn Canadian history? This series is the way to go. Each author creates a fictional character and imagines what it would be like for that person to go through a true Canadian event. Some events include residential schools, the Turtle Mountain landslide in AB, the Spanish Flu epidemic, the Holocaust, and many more. There are around 40 books. Each is written like a diary allowing the reader to see into the thoughts of the character and experience history first hand.

Word of Caution:

Some of the books contain things like, crushes, boyfriends, puberty, and other "girl" stuff. Other books contain graphic details, for example, the destruction after a bomb with live and dead bodies. However, the Dear Canada books are well edited for young girls most of the time.

Positive Notes:

This series is a great and fun way to learn Canadian history. Each book feels like you are in that character's life and witnessing the events with her. Each character has their own personal life also that you get to witness along with the historical event. This series teaches girls that history is not boring. Every girl who loves reading diaries will love these books.

Who:

Great for girls aged 11-14 who enjoy reading diaries.

Some to Start With:

By Jean Little

By Julie Lawson

By Barbara Haworth-Attard

For more information and a full list of books go to http://www.scholastic.ca/dearcanada/books/.