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Annotated Award-Winning Titles

White Pine Award 2006
(Ontario Library Association)
For the best Canadian children's book, as chosen by Ontario students, Grade 10
The Blue Girl
Charles de Lint
New York: Viking,
2004. 368 p.
ISBN 0670059242
Ages 12 and up

The Blue Girl
Source

How will punkish Imogene fit in at her new high school? She could lay low and try to join a crowd of popular girls. Instead she befriends Maxine, a smart but shunned student, and deliberately mocks Valerie, the most popular cheerleader. Imogene attracts the attention of Valerie's brutish boyfriend, and Adrian, the school ghost, falls in love with her. Redding High School hosts not only students, but a ghost, several house fairies and various other creatures from the other world.

To entice Imogene's interest, Adrian asks the fairies or "little people" for some help. She is unaware that attracting the attention of fairies can be very harmful to humans. Imogene and her new friend Maxine not only have to fight bullies at school, but they are engaged in a dangerous dispute with scary, unfairy-like creatures. Because of Maxine's detective work and Imogene's insight, the two girls succeed at distracting their "good neighbours" with gifts, protection devices and sheer courage.

This vibrant urban fantasy, which takes place in a high-school setting, will appeal to fantasy readers and resonate with those who have ever encountered bullies.

–JP