HIP Senior Novels: These books have been specifically written and edited for reluctant readers ages 11 to 18.

Against all Odds. Nothing ever came easy for Jeff. He had a tough time at school and problems with kids in his neighborhood. Teachers said he was “special;” the other kids just called him dumb, but Jeff never gave up. When the guys were trapped in a storm sewer, it was Jeff who saved their lives. Reading level 3.4, Interest levels: grades 6-10

Avalanche. It was just supposed to be a school trip, just a winter hike through the mountains. But when a wall of snow comes sliding down, fifteen kids have to fight for their lives. Not all of them will win the fight. RL 3.4, IL 5-12

Caught in the Blizzard
Sam and Connor were enemies from the start. Sam was an Innu, close to the Arctic land that he loved. Connor was a white kid, only out for a few thrills. When a blizzard strikes, it forces them to work together to survive in the frozen Arctic. RL 4.0, IL 5-10

Foul Shot A losing basketball team thinks one very tall player will give them a winning edge, but the dream team doesn't last long when the tall guy quits. RL 3.0, IL 4-10

Ghost House. Tyler and Zach didn't believe in ghosts. So when a friend offers them big money to spend a night in the old Blackwood house, they jump at the chance. There's no such thing as ghosts, right? RL 3.2, IL 4-10

Hitting the Road. The road isn't nice to kids who run away. Matt knew there would be trouble, even before he took off with his friend Cody. Along the way, there would be fights, hunger and a jump from a speeding train. Was it all worth it? 96 pages, RL 3.2, IL 5-12

Juvie A gripping novel based on the harsh life inside a juvenile detention centre. Not recommended for younger readers. RL 2.8, IL 6-12+

The Kid is Lost! It's babysitter's worst nightmare: a child goes missing! Kurt has to find help, come up with a plan and lead the search into a deadly swamp. RL 3.6, IL 6-10

My Broken Family Divorce is always rotten. But sometimes it feels even worse that rotten. When Maddy's parents split up, her whole life starts to fall apart. She holds on to her dancing as one thing that is really hers. But when it's all over, she finds that love is stronger than she thought. RL 3.8, IL 5-10

One Crazy NightTodd was working alone at the store when the storm hit. In three hours, he has to deal with a holdup, a clogged toilet, a pregnant woman giving birth … and the meanest grade-five teacher in the whole world. RL 3.8, IL 6-12

Playing Chicken. Josh just wanted to fit in with the guys. Maybe they did a few crazy things, but that's what fun is all about. The party continues … until Guzzo dares Josh to a race that ends in death. RL 3.6, IL 6-10

Scarface. Coming to Canada had been a great thing for Tranh. This was a country of peace and wealth and happiness. So why did Martin Beamis keep picking on him? Did this rich kid have nothing better to do than make life rotten for someone who had already suffered so much? RL 3.5, IL 5-12

Show Off Nikki was one tough girl, or so all the kids said. She'd take on anybody, risk anything for the gang. But that was before she met Austin and began to turn her life around. RL 3.8, IL 5-12

Street Scene The guys weren't looking for trouble. Maybe Dwayne did pick the wrong girl to dance with. But did that give Sal and his gang an excuse to come after them. The fight should never have started – and it should never have finished the way it did. 96 pages, RL 4.0, IL 6-12

Student Narc It wasn't Kevin's idea to start working with the cops. But when his best friend dies, somebody has to do something. RL 3.8, IL 5-12

Tag Team Jes had plenty of problems to start with. He was short, shy and lonely – at least until he went out for the school's wrestling team. Then his life seemed to turn around, until the night he had to deal with Banjo and Joey down in the tunnel. 96 pages, RL 3.5, IL 4-9

HIP Junior Novels: These books have been specifically written and edited for reluctant readers ages 9 to 12.

The Crash A school bus slides down a cliff in a snowstorm. The bus driver is out cold, one of the guys is badly hurt, and then the bus catches on fire. RL 2.5, IL 3-7

I Didn't Do It! A new kid in town suddenly gets blamed for everything that goes wrong at school. Somebody is out to make Tom look guilty. He has to get smart, fast, to clear his name. RL 2.3, IL 4-7

Shooting the Rapids Dad gets badly hurt on a canoe trip. His two sons have to race against time and the weather to get him to town for help.

Three Feet Under Scott and Rico find a map to long-lost treasure buried in an old mine. But when the school bully steals their map, the trouble is only beginning.

While titles in the old Series Canada are ironically out-of-print in Canada itself, fourteen of these books are still available to American schools as "The Encounter Series" through EMC Paradigm, a publisher in St. Paul, Minnesota. For information on those books, click here.


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