(4) K-3 Illustrated by Qin Leng. After his parents' death, Maiko moves from Africa to North America to live with his aunt and uncle. He misses his baobab tree but finds solace in a small spruce growing (too) close to his relatives' home. When his uncle decides to cut it down, Maiko runs away. The story is wordy but heartfelt. Expressive, uncluttered illustrations help convey emotion.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) YA The summer before thirteen-year-old Roxanne enters high school is a difficult and confusing one. There's an incident with the class bully that her parents are afraid may become a racial incident since they're one of the few black families in Calgary; brother Joel runs away; and Roxanne finds herself preoccupied by a budding romance. Strong characters and believable situations help create a realistic story of a loving but fractured family overcoming problems.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.