The stories in the leaving will really help you in life, most of them will make you laught. It is a great book and worth the money.

If you are looking for a book of short stories that will keep your sixth to eighth grade students and readers debating about what the characters' true motives are all about, this is a perfect book of short stories with fiesty female protagonists. I have taught The Leaving for six years and I am still haunted by the characters, especially Lysandra and Elaine. Because Wilson uses first person "unreliable" narrators, she forces the readers to wonder about what the other characters are thinking. We never know why the brilliant Miss Hancock left seventh grade to teach tenth grade, consequently losing control of her class. The title story is a perfect excuse to tell students about Betty Friedan and life for women before The Feminine Mystique. What happened between the mother and Manuel Jenkins that caused her to cry alone at her dresser after he left and changed her family forever? I first read The Leaving with a faculty book discussion group and have been giving friends copies ever since.Each story is a gem.

I liked this book because it was written very well. The writer wasn't afraid to say things bluntly and to be honest about things. I also liked how the stories told about life and what things happen during these young girls growth into adulthood in Canada

There is something very magical about a child's first connection -- not exposure, mind you, but real connection -- with music. Children's writer Budge Wilson captures the feeling, as well as the frustration children can feel while grappling with techniques beyond their abilities.

Ages 6-9 will find A Fiddle For Angus to be a captivating story of a young boy's determination to learn the fiddle. Susan Tooke's art is realistic and appealing as they tell of a young boy born into a musical family who learns how to participate.

This is a marvellous story about growing up and dealing with anger and helplessness. Sharla is a teenager who has had to move to Churchill, Manitoba because her father lost his plush Ottawa job. She's angry most of the way through the book, but Wilson doesn't take any easy outs with sitcom-like resignation to her fate at the end of the book. Instead, Sharla figures out how to deal with her anger without denying the underlying causes. Her relationships with other people figure prominently, especially with a boy at school and an adult photographer who hires her. The descriptions of the bears in Churchill are eery and wonderful.

Budge Wilson tells the story of two girls growing up in different times. Lorinda, who is in a bucnh of other books by Wilson including Mystery Lights at Blue Harbour and The Best/Worst Christmas Present Ever, is turning thirteen when her grandmother dies. Her grandmother leaves her all of her diaries, and the book chronicles both the grandmother at thirteen (through the diary), growing up during World War II, and Lorinda's own life. The historical detail is marvellous, and I liked the characters very much. A good young adult novel.

Oliver's wars is a pretty good book.It is really interesting because his father is in Saudia Arabia in the Gulf War. It is a really scary time for him just watching the bombs being shot.His mother was always so scared with her fists crumpled to her chin. His twin brother Jerry is so mad at his father that he went to the war. The school bully is after him and makes fun of Oliver for his dad being a nurse. Olivers grandfather is a grouch. Oliver feels that he might blowup but he dosen't know how to get it out. I really enjoyed this book and I hope you read it.

When i read Oliver's wars I thoght that it was an amazing book! It cought my attention when i read the back. After I read the back I couldn't wait to read it! When I started reading it I thought that it could of been better, but in the end it turned out great! When I read that Oliver and his family had to go from Moose Jaw to Halifax to live with their mom's parents. His grandpa was so mean and cranky that it was like whenever someone did anything he would always get mad and say something in a grouchy voice. While on the on other hand Oliver's gandma was always so kind and caring but never told anything that bothering her on the inside, kind of like oliver. I don't really like that they did that though. Oliver always kept his feelings inside him and says everything is fine. on the inside he feels not that great since his dad is in the war as a nurse, and in the new school that he goes to the bully named Gus's dad is also in the war but he fights and gus keeps on saying, "sissy nurse". I would feel like crying if someone called my dad sissy nurse. His jim teacher Mr. Hennigar keeps on putting him down. I thought it was a really good book.

When I first started reading the book Oliver's Wars I thought it was bad and it would not be good,but as I read the book it got better and better. The story took place in Halifax Olivers Dad was a nurse in the army and was at the Gulf war.Oliver Moved to Halifax to live with his Grandma and Grandpa he didn't think it was great,but if I got to live with mine I would be very happy. Oliver met a kid named Harry and they were good friends. Then he met Gus the school bully. When Oliver started to understand Gus they became friends.I can see that happening because there is a school or class bully everywhere and my friends and I are friends with him. Friends are very importent people in your life because you can talk to them, and playwith them, and tell them how you feel. Oliver's Wars Shows just how hard it can be to have to miss old friends and someone like your dad or mom and have to make new friends and become closer to your parents or family when someone is gone.