Eight Days By: Teresa Toten

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Recommendation: Grade 7/8

Eight Days is a Red Maple 2023 nominee.  This is the story of Samantha, known as Sami, and her life in Toronto's culturally diverse Thorncliffe Park apartment complex.  Sami has lived in Thorncliffe Park since she was four years old and her grandfather, who she calls Carl, brought her there to live with him.  Sami doesn't remember much about her life before living with Carl and doesn't want to ask Carl.  Carl is a recovering alcoholic and Sami doesn't want to do anything to upset the balance of their relationship and his sobriety.  But when Sami is 13 years old a phone call from Chicago changes everything she thinks she knows about her past.  Sami, Carl, and their elderly neighbour, Aggie, embark on a life changing trip to Chicago.  Sami worries that her friends in Thorncliffe Park will drop her after this new information about her past comes to light, but she discovers that she has a true family in the people of Thorncliffe Park.  This is a touching and sad realistic story.  It is a story meant for mature audiences.