Ghosts Of Gastown By: Jessica Renwick

Genre: Mystery/Ghosts
Age Recommendation: Grade 5+

"Ghosts of Gastown" is a Silver Birch 2026 nominee.  This is the story of twelve-year-old Grace.  Grace was in a serious car accident with her father.  Unfortunately, her father passed away because of this.  Ever since the accident, Grace has been able to see ghosts.  Grace's mom doesn't believe in ghosts and does everything she can to help Grace believe this is just her imagination.  When Grace and her mom move from Edmonton to Vancouver's Gastown, Grace meets Oliver.  Oliver can also see ghosts.  At first, Grace is reluctant to become friends with Oliver, but the two quickly form a friendship, and Grace learns more about her ability. Will the two of them be able to help the ghosts of Gastown into the light?  How will they deal with the demon that is terrorizing the ghosts? Read the book to find out!

The Dark Won't Wait By: David A. Poulsen

Genre: Realistic Fiction/Thriller
Age Recommendation: Grade 7/8

"The Dark Won't Wait" is a Red Maple 2026 nominee.  This is the story of high school student, Dom.  Dom is decent at school, loves cars, and plays baseball.  When his friend Mia, asks him to watch her audition for the school play, he finds himself taking on a role in the play.  Farhad is the other member of the gang and he works lighting and sound for the play.  Riding his bike one day, Dom sees a beautiful girl looking out a window.  Eventually, he meets her and learns her name is Callie.  The shocking news comes when someone is murdered at Callie's home.  Add to that the break-in at Farhad's family pharmacy and a couple of mysteries need to be solved.  The events in this story are a little unbelievable, but if you suspend that you will find an interesting story that keeps you turning the pages.  I recommend this book to fans of mystery and action/adventure.

Death By Whoopee Cushion By: Vicki Grant

Genre: Mystery
Age Recommendation: Grade 5+

"Death By Whoopee Cushion" is a Silver Birch 2026 nominee.  This is the story of 12 year old Manya who is serious about her love of science.  Manya loves her parents, but wishes they could be less silly.  Her parents own a joke shop and are always pulling pranks.  Manya is mortified when she learns her parents will be demonstrating some of their products at her school.  Unfortunately, something goes terribly wrong with one of the items her parents brought to the school and the custodian dies.  Manya knows her parents are goofy, but they are very cautious about what they do and would never hurt anyone.  With the help of her best friend, Isaac, Manya sets out to prove her parents' innocence and uncovers some surprising things about them along the way.  This is an interesting story that will have the reader putting the clues together to find out what is really going on.

The Time Keeper By: Meagan Mahoney

Genre: Mystery
Age Recommendation: Grade 7/8

"The Time Keeper" is a Red Maple 2026 nominee.  This mystery is set in 1902 Scotland where twelve-year old orphan, Malcolm, works as an apprentice time keeper to Jack.  Malcolm is best friends with Jack's son, Peter.  Sadly, Peter is very sick and doesn't seem to be getting any better despite the efforts of Dr. Fiona MacIsaac.  One morning, Malcolm arrives to find the workshop has been broken into and Jack is missing.  He finds a note from Jack that tells him which clocks he should visit.  Malcolm assumes these are priority jobs, until he reaches the first location and finds his master dead. This begins Malcolm's journey to discover a cure for Peter and to find out who is responsible for Jack's death.  This is a story that will keep the reader guessing. It's a story of friendship and family and will be enjoyed by those who like mystery and historical fiction.

The Factory By: Catharine Egan

Genre: Science Fiction
Age Recommendation: Grade 7/8

"The Factory" is a Red Maple 2026 nominee. This is a fast-paced, futuristic story where climate challenges have left many people in climate refugee camps. The main character, Asher, lives with his Nan.  His mom is in his life, but she tends to be impulsive and isn't a stable figure.  When she gets herself into big financial trouble with dangerous people, Asher's father suggests that Asher would be the perfect candidate for a top-secret experiment.  The pay is more than enough to cover his mom's debts and improve life for his whole family.  Asher doesn't want to go, but does as he sees no other way out for his mom.  Asher soons makes friends at the research facility and they begin to unravel what is really happening there.  I am not typically a fan of this genre, but found this story to be engaging.  I enjoyed trying to figure out what was really happening at The Factory.

If We Tell You By: Nicola Dahlin

Genre: Mystery
Age Recommendation: Grade 7/8

"If We Tell You" is a Red Maple 2026 nominee.  Cameron and Lewis are identical twins who live in a rural small town with their seemingly wonderful parents.  The twins' world goes into upheaval when some people they've never seen before show up at a neighbourhood barbecue. Their parents hand them backpacks and tell them to go to the airport.  This begins a journey filled with unknowns and dangers.  Will they ever see their parents again?  Will they survive?  Read this exciting book to find out.

Spirit Service By: Sarena and Sasha Nanua

Genre: Realistic/Fantasy Fiction
Age Recommendation: Grade 5+

"Spirit Service" is a Silver Birch 2026 nominee.  This is the story of four good friends who live in a small town that has an interesting history of being connected to the spirit world.  When the girls meet up at the local antique shop, a retro phone gives off a glow and the girls find themselves connecting to the spirit world through the old phone.  This book would be enjoyable for those who like stories about ghosts or magic, as well as fans of realistic fiction.  The book involves friendship, family, and overcoming challenges. 

Benny On The Case By: Wesley King

Genre: Realistic Fiction/Mystery
Age Recommendation: Grade 5+

"Benny On The Case" is a Silver Birch 2026 nominee.  In this story, Benny, who has Mosaic Down Syndrome and lives at the retirement home his mother runs, is anxiously awaiting the new school year when he will placed in a mainstream classroom.  His best friend, 86 year old, Mr. Tom does his best to help Benny prepare for this transition.  Fortunately for Benny, it turns out he isn't the only new student in his class.  Salma, whose grandmother lives at the retirement home Benny's mother runs, has just moved to Newfoundland.  Salma and Benny become fast friends.  The pair, unfortunately, face bullying and discrimination from their classmates.  Add to this recent thefts at the retirement home and there's plenty to deal with.  Salma and Benny are on the case.  As they uncover clues their friendship becomes stronger.  This is a great story about friendship, family, and acceptance.  Those who enjoy mystery will love trying to figure out who is behind the thefts.  

The Discovery of Finnegan Wilde By: Caroline Pignat

Genre: Realistic Fantasy Fiction
Age Recommendation: Grade 7/8

"The Discovery of Finnegan Wilde" is the first Red Maple 2026 nominee I've read and it's going to be difficult to top this book.  The story is set in 1913 Dublin and includes the voices of Finnegan, Eddie, and Tomas.  Finn is a young girl living on the streets who has no memory of her past.  Eddie is an apprentice archaeologist who works at the local museum with his father.  Tomas, a ninth-century monk, is the subject of Eddie's recent investigations. Through an unfortunate incident, Eddie and Finn's paths become entwined and the two work together to uncover the story of Tomas and Ireland's mythological past. Their journey is filled with adventure, magic and the unravelling of Finn's past.  This is a fantastic read and I highly recommend it to lovers of realistic fiction, historical fiction and fantasy. 

40 Days In Hicksville By: Christina Kilbourne

Genre: Realistic Fiction/Mystery

Age Recommendation: Grade 7/8

"40 Days In Hicksville" is a Red Maple 2025 nominee.  This story is told from the perspectives of 15-year-olds, Kate and Zach. Kate has just moved to the small town of Clarendon with her mom. They are going to try living in the home her mom inherited from her parents.  Kate is a city girl and is not keen on this.  Zach has lived all his life in Clarendon and can't quite believe his luck when he and Kate form a friendship.  Shortly into their meeting, Kate convinces Zach to go on a late-night exploration of some caves where the pair find two skeletons.  This leads to the opening of a cold case from long ago involving the disappearance of Kate's uncle and his friend.  This is an entertaining mystery, that will keep the reader turning the pages as Zach and Kate uncover more details about the cold case.  I recommend this book to fans of mystery and realistic fiction.

Scarewaves By: Trevor Henderson

Genre:  Fiction - Horror
Age Recommendation: Grade 5+

"Scarewaves" is a Silver Birch 2025 nominee.  This is the story of the small town of Beacon Point where people, especially children, go missing regularly and strange creatures are often seen.  The book includes chapters about the supernatural experiences of some of the residents and the mysterious radio show transcripts of Alan Graves.  These chapters help the reader to better understand the experiences of newcomer, Mary, and the group of kids she meets and who work together to end the mysterious happenings of Beacon Point.  This is not a book that I would typically select, but it is a real page-turner and I think it will be enjoyed by fans of the "Haunted Canada" series.  

The Secret Tree By: Natalie Standiford

Genre: Realistic Fiction/Mystery
Age Recommendation: Grade 5+

It's summer holiday and Minty is looking forward to spending time with her best friend, Paz.  The two of them have loved roller derby for many years and Minty wants to spend lots of time practicing.  Unfortunately, Paz seems to be growing distant from Minty and is hanging out with some older girls.  When Minty notices that someone is sneaking up on people and taking their photos and that small items are going missing, she tries to find out who is doing these things.  She ends up striking up an unlikely friendship with a boy who lives near the Witch's house.  Minty spends her summer trying to solve neighbourhood mysteries and secrets with this boy all while trying to hold onto her friendship with Paz.  This is an interesting story about friendship, growing up, and community.  I recommend this book to fans of realistic fiction.

Swept Away By: Natalie Hyde

Genre: Mystery
Age Recommendation: Grade 5+

"Swept Away" is a Silver Birch 2024 nominee.  This is the story of Ruth who recently lost her best friend, Bea, to an accidental drowning.  Bea wasn't the typical best friend of an 11 year old.  Bea was an older neighbour.  When Saul and his father move into Bea's house, Ruth realizes there are things Bea didn't tell her.  Saul and Ruth begin finding clues about Bea's death, clues left by Bea.  It seems Bea knew someone was after her and feels that Ruth is the next target.  Ruth and Saul begin a quest to solve the mystery of Bea's death.  This is an enjoyable read. The interesting clues will have the reader trying to piece together the mystery too.  

The Case of the Rigged Race By: Michael Hutchinson

Genre: Mystery/Realistic Fiction
Age Recommendation:  Grade 4+

The Case of the Rigged Race is the fourth book in the Mighty Muskrats Mystery series and is a Silver Birch 2024 nominee.  This story is set while the Windy Lake First Nations is hosting the annual Trappers Festival.  The Mighty Muskrats are four cousins who are enjoying the events until they begin to notice strange things happening such as one of their cousin's sled dogs getting unexpectedly sick and illegal betting on the competitions.  The Mighty Muskrats investigate and help the local police and RCMP get to the bottom of what's happening.  This story has action from the beginning and will surely be entertaining for many readers.  I especially like how this book gives a window into the life of the First Nations people of Windy Lake.  Although the book is good as a stand-alone read, I would like to read the first book to get more background information about each of the characters.

 

A Bucket of Stars By: Suri Rosen

Genre: Realistic Fiction/Mystery
Age Recommendation: Grade 7/8

A Bucket of Stars is a Red Maple 2024 nominee.  This is a story of family and friendship.  Noah, Kyle, and their father have experienced some tough times.  Noah's mom passed away and his father struggled to cope, becoming "Zombie Dad", as Noah and his brother said.  This struggle forced the family to move from Alberta to their dad's childhood home.  Noah and Kyle are not thrilled about this, but then the two begin making friends and start to adjust.  Noah comes up with a plan to help his dad get back on track, but obstacles are in the way.  I really enjoyed this story and recommended this book to anyone who enjoys realistic fiction.

The Big Sting By: Rachelle Delaney

Genre: Realistic Fiction/Mystery
Age Recommendation: Grade 4+

The Big Sting is a Silver Birch 2024 nominee.  This is the story of Lizzie and Leo travelling with their parents to the remote west coast island where their grandpa lives. Leo is an indoor city kid, but Lizzie considers herself to be an adventurer and adapts quickly to grandpa's place.  Leo and Lizzie don't really know much about grandpa or the place their mom grew up, but they soon develop a relationship with their grandpa as the three of them set off to figure out who stole grandma's award-winning honeybee hives.  This is a story of family, friendship and finding yourself.  It is a mystery.  It's an enjoyable story, however I did find that it moves a little slowly.  

Iceberg By: Jennifer Nielsen

Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Recommendation: Grade 7/8

When Hazel's father passes away, her mother has no choice but to send Hazel to America where Hazel's aunt will get her a job in a clothing factory.  Although this will not allow her to fulfill her dream of becoming a writer, this will allow Hazel to send money home to support her family.  After walking for 4 days, Hazel arrives at the Titanic ticket office only to find she doesn't have enough money for the ticket.  Knowing that going home is not an alternative, Hazel stows away on board the Titanic.  Charlie, a porter on the ship, helps Hazel to secure a room and Hazel becomes friends with a first class passenger, Sylvia.  Hazel is a curious individual and has lots of questions about the Titanic.  Hazel also listens carefully to everything she hears and when she overhears a couple's plans to steal money from Sylvia, Hazel sets out to uncover what this couple is up to.  This is an interesting story with mystery and friendship, as well as the history of the Titanic.  Those who enjoy historical fiction will like this book.

Storm Warning By: Monica Hughes

Genre:  Mystery
Age Recommendation: Grade 7/8

Sandra is on holiday with her parents and is trying to become diving partners with Bryan MacDonald.  The marina operator, thinks Sandra has a crush on Bryan and jumps at the chance to play Cupid, but the reader soon learns that Sandra is trying to get close to Bryan for other reasons.  Bryan's family is wealthy and well-known in the area.  As it turns out, Bryan is looking for a diving partner to help with a plan of his own and he invites Sandra to spend time with his family so that she can help him.  As Sandra gets to know the MacDonald family she is torn between solving the mystery she came for and remaining friends with the family.  This is a page-turner that keeps the reader guessing what Sandra's true intent is and how the story will be resolved.  I recommend this book to mystery lovers.

Children Of The Fox By: Kevin Sands

Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Age Recommendation: Grade 7/8

This Red Maple 2023 nominee is the first book in The Thieves of Shadow series.  In a world where magic exists, a group of young thieves are brought together to perform a theft that nobody before them could.  The prize, if they are able to pull off the heist, is more money than they could ever imagine and would change their lives forever.  Each of them has special skills to bring to the plan, but the main character is Callan.  On their dangerous journey to collect the prize for the man who hired them, Callan will face many dilemmas and need to learn to rely on his newfound friends.  This book is full of mystery and excitement and should appeal to many readers.  

Butt Sandwich & Tree By: Wesley King

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Recommendation: Grade 4+

Cedar and Green are brothers, yes those are their real names, and this story is told from each of their perspectives.  Green is the younger brother and has Asperger's syndrome.  Cedar is the older brother who is a basketball star and a big supporter of Green.  Green has challenges with social situations, but Cedar knows his brother is a cool kid and feels that if Green made it on the basketball team others would see how great Green is.  Unfortunately, a problem arises during one of the basketball practices when something special of the coach's is stolen and everyone blames Green.  Green is, of course, innocent so the two brothers set out to prove this.  I am a fan of Wesley King's writing and this book does not disappoint.  It's a fantastic story of friendship, family, and understanding and accepting differences in others.  I highly recommend this Silver Birch 2023 nominee.