Asking for a Friend
This middle schooler struggles with friendships and figuring out how to express their feelings.
Who is Eli?
This sixth-grader, known for her overactive imagination and love of climbing trees, is the main character of the story
Who is Bertie Stewart?
In this classroom, students are encouraged by their teacher to share the eeriest stories they know.
What is Ms. Nomed's classroom?
This 13-year-old character aspires to excel as his hockey team's goalie while managing his anxiety.
Who is Jonah?
This 13-year-old protagonist, known by his gaming alias "Max Lightning," dreams of winning a major video game championship.
Who is Maxwell?
This twelve-year-old protagonist wins a house in an essay-writing contest, leading her family to a surprising new home.
Who is Paige Coopersmith?
This 11-year-old Indigenous protagonist moves from his community to the city and joins a new hockey team.
Who is Alex Robinson?
This twelve-year-old protagonist dreams of becoming a taekwondo champion despite her petite stature.
Who is "Mo" Seto?
This small town is plagued by eerie phenomena, including strange creatures and frequent disappearances.
What is Beacon Point?
This shy student becomes the center of attention after being secretly signed up to audition for the school play.
Who is Belinda Houle?
Much of the story takes place in this location, where Eli faces challenges with friends and a group project
What is middle school?
Bertie often finds solace and peace in this natural location, her favourite spot to escape worries.
What is her favourite tree in Fountain Park?
This teacher prompts her students to tell spooky stories, setting the stage for the anthology.
Who is Ms. Nomed?
Jonah's anxiety intensifies after this close friend experiences a medical emergency during a game.
Who is Ty?
Maxwell's parents send him to this technology-free camp, disrupting his gaming aspirations.
What is Camp Reset?
Paige and her family move from their cramped apartment to this type of location after winning the contest.
What is a sprawling property in rural Ontario?
Alex's family relocates to this Canadian city, where he faces new challenges both on and off the ice.
What is Winnipeg?
Mo's father, Cody Kwok, is involved in this industry, which influences Mo's adventure.
What is the martial arts film industry?
This mysterious radio host guides local kids through the town's terrifying secrets via his late-night broadcasts.
Who is Alan Graves?
Belinda's unexpected journey unfolds primarily in this location, where she faces her fears and challenges.
What is the school auditorium?
Eli feels left out and confused when their best friend, Mo, starts spending more time with this new friend.
Who is Drew?
Bertie's anxiety intensifies when she is assigned this type of school project, which involves speaking in front of others
What is a public speaking assignment?
In "The Village That Vanished," two men follow a map to a field filled with sheep, seeking answers about this mysterious event.
What is the disappearance of the town of Wattersburg?
Jonah's journey unfolds in this high-pressure environment where he faces both personal and athletic challenges.
What is the hockey rink?
Maxwell's plans to compete in this championship are thwarted by his unexpected enrollment in Camp Reset.
What is Gamerville?
Upon arriving at their new home, Paige's family discovers this unexpected resident comes with the house.
Who is Iggy, the old dog?
After joining the Kodiaks, Alex becomes a target of this form of discrimination due to his Indigenous heritage.
What is racism?
Mo's aspirations are challenged when she consistently loses to this larger and more formidable opponent.
Who is Dax?
The children of Beacon Point face this central issue, as they encounter horrifying creatures while adults remain oblivious.
What is confronting monsters without adult support?
Belinda's stage fright intensifies when she experiences a series of mishaps, including an allergic reaction to this.
What is makeup?
To work through their struggles, Eli starts writing to this advice columnist, signing their letters “XOXO.”
Who is Sage?
This person, known for offering wisdom and delicious cookies, provides Bertie with comfort and advice during challenging times
Who is Grammy Stewart?
In "The Face in the Forest," the protagonist confronts their fears by doing this to uncover the truth behind the eerie facial expression.
What is venturing into the forest to investigate?
To cope with his escalating anxiety, Jonah begins to seek support from this new neighbour and friend.
Who is Rose?
At Camp Reset, Maxwell learns the value of these activities, which help him connect with others beyond the virtual world.
What are socializing, eating healthy, and spending time outside?
When Iggy goes missing, Paige takes this action to resolve the situation.
What is solving the mysteries of the unusual house to find Iggy?
To address the prejudice he faces, Alex relies on these two forms of support to navigate his challenges.
What are education and community support?
Mo discovers this ancient book, which contains secret martial arts techniques developed by her ancestor.
What is the Book of Joy?
To combat the lurking horrors, the group of kids takes this action, inspired by the radio show's clues.
What is banding together to uncover the town's dark secrets?
To boost her confidence for the audition, Belinda seeks assistance from her best friend, who believes she possesses this special ability.
What is witchcraft?
By the end of the book, Eli learns that a healthy friendship needs this, which helps people feel comfortable and respected.
What are boundaries?
To manage her anxiety, Bertie learns to rely on this strategy, involving expressing her feelings and seeking support from trusted individuals
What is talking about her feelings and seeking support?
This student shares a tale involving dismembered bodies, showcasing the dark themes explored in the classroom's storytelling session.
Who is Alvin?
This family member's struggle with severe anxiety influences Jonah's own fears and determination.
Who is Jonah's father?
Through his experiences at Camp Reset, Maxwell transforms from a "lone wolf" into someone who understands the importance of this.
What is human connection?
Through her experiences with Iggy and the new house, Paige learns the importance of this quality, helping her adapt to unforeseen challenges.
What is resilience?
Through his experiences, Alex learns to embody these three qualities, helping him confront adversity and redefine masculinity in sports.
What are empathy, kindness, and understanding?
Throughout her journey, Mo learns that true strength comes from these qualities, rather than physical size.
What are bravery, perseverance, and self-belief?
Through their harrowing experiences, the children learn the importance of these qualities in overcoming fear and adversity.
What are courage and teamwork?
Throughout her theatrical journey, Belinda learns to overcome her fears and gains this important personal quality.
What is self-acceptance?