Eleven-year-old Will has a very special grandmother. She’s the well-known author of children’s picture books, many of which have very silly titles. In the past, these titles have provided bullies with fodder for teasing Will in some downright nasty ways. So when he’s at a new school where he’s found some great friends, he pretends he doesn’t have a grandma. But his lies only cause these good friends to avoid him. Nonetheless, spending time with that grandmother gives Will a different perspective on a number of matters, as she has keepsakes that inspire her to share stories about the 1960s with him. Alternating chapters contain these accounts and range from the Cuban Missile Crisis through antiwar sentiments over Vietnam. Eventually, the truth comes out, and Will learns many important lessons. This would be a great read-aloud that could inspire crafts projects, historical research, or discussions about being truthful.

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Source: Books BC - BC Books for Schools

MaryLou Driedger’s curiosity and love of learning have taken her to some fifty destinations across the globe. As an educator, she has taught in three different countries and is the recipient of a Manitoba Teacher of the Year award. She is the author of Lost on the Prairie, and has been a columnist for Winnipeg Free Press and The Carillon. Her freelance work has been published in numerous periodicals, anthologies, travel guides, institutional histories, and curriculums. MaryLou chronicles her adventures on her popular daily blog, maryloudriedger2.wordpress.com.

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“Stories from the Swinging Sixties help friends overcome their divisions and a family bridge the generation gap in this uplifting contemporary tale. Young readers will identify with Will’s insecurities, and cheer when he realizes goodness surrounds him. When in doubt, Grandma’s story box has the answer.”

—Harriet Zaidman, author of Second Chances, winner of the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People

“MaryLou Driedger has deftly woven together a historical fiction story of a girl growing up in the fast-changing 1960s and a contemporary story of a boy dealing with bullying, making new friends, and learning how to trust. Both storylines are compelling in their own right, and together they form this beautifully written novel that lets us sink into each character’s coming-of-age journey. Sixties Girl is a captivating page turner that I did not want to end! Fans of Driedger’s first book, Lost on the Prairie, will not be disappointed!”

—Jodi Carmichael, award-winning author of The U-nique Lou Fox

“In this thoughtful middle-grade novel, the past deftly intersects with the present. His grandmother’s old suitcase, stuffed with random objects, becomes eleven-year-old Will’s portal to both family and world history, and to a better understanding of himself. An empowering book about sharing stories, Sixties Girl is sure to stimulate conversation between generations.”

—Gabriele Goldstone, award-winning author of family-inspired novels Crow Stone and Tainted Amber

“Listening to stories told by his grandmother about growing up in the 1960s compels young Will to ask hard questions about his own relationships with friends and family. Heartfelt, warm, rich in details, meticulously researched, and complete with intriguing historical notes, MaryLou Driedger’s Sixties Girl adeptly brings the era to life.”

—Larry Verstraete, author of Coop the Great