Finders Keepers by Andrea Spalding Date of Publication: 1995 ISBN: 0-88878-359-0 Number of Pages: 138

REQUIRED READING ABILITY: Junior: Average/High Intermediate: Low/Average
GENRES: Realism
THEMES : Prejudice - Loyalty - Isolation – Appearance versus Reality - Family

SUMMARY:
Danny Budzynski is a grade five student who hates school because he struggles to complete written assignments. He is ridiculed by his classmates, so he runs away to the open prairie where he meets Joshua, a Peigan First Nations boy his own age.

As he and Joshua get to know one another, they explore each other's cultures, and become friends. Danny gets to know some of the Peigan culture and beliefs from the inside – and develops a greater appreciation and understanding of the world around him. At the same time, his parents dig more deeply into his learning disabilities, and he begins a new journey in formal education as well.

WHO WOULD LOVE THIS BOOK? A kid who...
- feels out of place in her/his own skin
- loves the outdoors and natural history
- is bullied
- has some learning difficulties
- is First Nation Canadian

WHAT ELSE?
This is one of many books by Andrea Spalding, and was a Silver Birch nominee as well as being nominated for a number of other awards.

RELATED LINK:
For more information, check out the author’s website at http://www.andreaspalding.com/ .