Set in France in the sixteenth century, The Burning Time tells the story of a young girl whose mother is accused of being a witch. In her village, everyone is suspect. An accusation is enough to bring arrest, shame, even torture. Rose Rives cannot understand how the authorities–from the magistrate to the village priest–can encourage the villagers to denounce their neighbours as witches. Rose's simple life is shattered when her mother, who has been a midwife and a healer to half of the families in town, is turned over to the authorities. Struggling to free her mother, Rose finds herself pitted against some of the people she trusted the most.

The Burning Time, is an unrelenting examination of the cruelty and injustice committed against women through all ages and the courage some women have found to speak out.

Now from Orca Books Publishers

Gotcha!

At age eleven, Rose Lepidus's main concerns are winning at ring-a-levio, going to school, and staying out of trouble. But when Mama falls ill with pneumonia and Papa throws all the family savings into the nickelodeon business, the burden of caring for her family falls on Rosie's shoulders.

Tall for her age, Rosie is able to pass for sixteen and take Mama's place sewing sleeves at a shirtwaist factory. Her family needs the money. But working conditions are horrible and the factory boss is incredibly strict. The girls are fined for nearly everything—even talking or humming! Within days of starting work, Rosie hears the buzz about a huge strike of twenty thousand shirtwaist workers. It's the strike that Mama's been working toward for ages: a huge push for change in the workplace. Rosie wants to join in, but as the streets become more dangerous, Papa asks his daughter to return to school. And Rosie must choose: follow Papa's orders … or fight with everything she's got.

Play Ball!

Life in Chicago sure is busy for Rosie. Between school and working as an usher in her father's nickelodeon, she has little time for play. She hears all about the Chicago baseball scene, though, from Abe, one of her younger brothers. He's alway talking about the fierce rivalry between two teams, the Tigers and the Chavarim. Things really heat up when the Chavarim's top player gets hurt, with only one deciding game left in the season. The team's in a bind and they need help … fast!

With an arm and a spirit stronger than most boys', Rosie seems to her brothers an obvious choice for a substitute player. Maintaining her disguise as a boy to play with the all-male Chavarim is a big enough challenge without having to deal with bullies on the other team — and the sidelines — who are standing between her and a win. But fortunately for the Chavarim, nothing can stop this girl!

Action!

With the success of Papa's latest baseball film, Rosie and her family move to beautiful Los Angeles to shoot more films starring Rosie. And there's no wasting time; within days of unpacking, Papa brings home an entire Wild West show so he can make authentic Westerns! Rosie's so excited about riding a horse for the first time that she forgets to watch her step — and before she knows it, she's caused a terrible accident for the show's best trick rider. Oy vey! Where will Papa's Western movies be without a real trick rider … and with a star who doesn't even know how to get on a horse?

Enter Zach, the son of the injured rider. Rosie finds him simply irritating! And just when Rosie thought it couldn't get any worse, she and Zach get hopelessly lost in the hills. All they have to get past the mountain lions, rattlesnakes, and other enemies in the wild are their wits, their skill, and each other. Can Rosie and Zach set aside their differences and brave the challenges ahead so that this story has a happy ending?

Rosie's adventures are published by Aladdin Books in the United States and Key Porter Books in Canada.

Footsteps in the Snow
The Red River Diary of Isobel Scott
Rupert's Land, 1815

November 3, 1815 We arrived today at The Forks! So much has happened since my last entry, and weeks have passed. Near the end of the journey we had to endure another trial. We ran out of food. The hunters were only finding small game, not nearly enough to feed such a large group. At times all I could think of was my empty stomach. This morning when we arrived the sun shone. On the rough wooden dock, waiting for us, were thirteen families — the only settlers who had not been driven away by the North West Company. It was chaos as news was exchanged. I looked around anxiously to get a good view of our new home, but it all looked similar to the landscape we had just travelled. I was anxious to go exploring. I was about to suggest this to James and Robbie when Father hurried over to us and stated, "We cannot even unpack. The settlers have not had a chance to rebuild since the attack. Apparently there is not enough food for us to spend the winter here." I cannot yet believe it. Such a long and difficult trip, only to discover home is still beyond out grasp.

Published by Scholastic Canada Ltd.

The War Within

The Green family own a general store in this small Southern town where they have lived for many years. But ever since the Union army occupied her beloved town, Hannah Green has been furious. Her sister, Joanna, has fallen in love with Captain Mazer of the Union — the same Union that has been fighting against her brothers in the Confederate army to destroy the Southern way of life.

Now General Grant has issued General Order #11, which commands all Jews to evacuate the territory under his command. The Greens are forced to follow the Union army to Memphis. For the first time Hannah and her family face discrimination simply because of their religion. She begins to realize that not everyone believes the basic truths she has always accepted. While the battles rage around her, Hannah begins to fight another war — the war within — which could destroy everything she has ever believed.

With the historical accuracy for which she is known, best-selling author Carol Matas turns her attention to an unexamined chapter of the Civil War and creates a thought-provoking and heart-racing masterpiece.