New Blood

by Peter McPhee

Overview

After a gang of thugs beat him up, Paul's parents decide they've had enough of Glasgow's tough streets and move the family to Winnipeg. Still healing from his injuries, Paul also has deep inner scars that will make his new high school, in this new country, even more of a battleground. New Blood is an edgy yet moving account of violence, bullying, recovery, and hope.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781552776094
Publisher:	James Lorimer & Company Ltd., Publishers
Publication date:	02/22/2012
Series:	Lorimer SideStreets Series
Sold by:	De Marque
Format:	eBook
Pages:	1
Lexile:	HL720L (what's this?)
File size:	251 KB
Age Range:	14 - 18 Years

About the Author

PETER McPHEE, a Southern Alberta-based writer, was for many years an editor and film critic for the Winnipeg Sun. His plays have been produced at Winnipeg's Prairie Theatre Exchange and Calgary's Alberta Theatre Projects. He has written several books for both children and young adults, including Runner and A Way With Horses, both Canadian Children's Book Centre "Our Choice" Selections.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 7-9

Callum and his parents recently moved to Winnipeg from Glasgow, Scotland, where he was brutally knifed by a group of hooligans a year before. Still recovering physically and mentally, he adjusts slowly to Canadian culture but makes two friends, Tyler and Aiden. Trouble begins on the first day of ninth grade when Callum meets Cindy. She has an argument with her friend Rick, an older and bigger student, and Callum is caught up in a brawl with one of Rick's buddies. The boys continue to bully and hurt Callum, bringing back memories of his attack. Meanwhile, Cindy strikes up a relationship with Callum. He discovers that she has an abusive, alcoholic father and promises himself to remedy the situation with or without her consent. Rick, who also wants to help, becomes his ally. However, when Cindy's father is arrested, she angrily lashes out at both of them. Tyler, who has had a crush on Cindy for years, attacks Callum with a knife. Events come to a dramatic climax as Callum shows the other teens his scars, also revealing the lasting affects of violence. The book starts off slowly, but the momentum builds as the numerous plotlines begin to come together. Throughout, Callum struggles to strike a balance between living with his fear and having the courage to stand up for himself. The straightforward language makes this book a good choice for reluctant readers.-Marie C. Hansen, New York Public Library

School Library Journal

"The issues are fully developed and realistic. Everything about these books is first-rate, appealing to both strong and struggling readers."

Puget Sound Council

"McPhee is a talented writer and a good story-teller. Callum's story comes alive and it is one that many teens could relate to whether they have faced violence in their lives or not."

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