The Secret Life of Owen Skye by Alan Cumyn Date of Publication: 2002 ISBN: 0888995172 Number of Pages: 175

REQUIRED READING ABILITY: Junior: Average Intermediate : Low
GENRES: Adventure
THEMES : Good versus Evil - Sacrifice and Redemption - Family

SUMMARY:
Owen lives in a rundown home, in a small village with his two brothers Andy and Leonard, their parents, and their weird Uncle Lorne. He finds himself in trouble more often than not. These three brothers have a knack for turning everyday adventures into real escapades. Owen and his brothers have to save each other from a variety of dangers, like the neighbourhood haunted house, the “Bog Man,” aliens, bullies, skinny dipping in muddy waters, and girls in love (how gross!!) Can they keep their entertaining, growing up adventures from their parents…or are there days of freedom coming to an end?

WHO WOULD LOVE THIS BOOK? A kid who...
- likes humour in books
- likes adventure stories
- likes stories about kids growing up and doing crazy things
- likes Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and other Judy Blume stories

WHAT ELSE?
This book was the winner of the Mr. Christie's Book Award and the Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Award. It was also nominated for the Governor General's Award, The Ruth Schwartz Award, the Rocky Mountain Award and the Pacific Northwest Libraries Association Young Readers Choice Award. Its sequel, After Sylvia (2005) also won a number of awards.

RELATED LINKS:
For more information, check out Alan Cumyn’s website at http://www3.sympatico.ca/alan.cumyn or find teacher ideas at
www.multcolib.org/talk/guides-owen.html .