Theme of the Month

Meet Terry Fox by Elizabeth MacLeod

"Terry's remarkable story is presented in Scholastic's acclaimed biography series, just in time to mark the 40th anniversary of the Marathon of Hope. Terry Fox was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and raised in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. Like most kids, he loved sports - baseball, track and field, volleyball. Terry was only 18 years old when he was diagnosed with bone cancer and had to have his right leg amputated above the knee. During his hospital stay he was profoundly affected by the experiences of other young cancer patients. So he decided to do something about it. He decided to run across Canada to raise money and awareness for cancer research. He trained hard for his "Marathon of Hope" and on April 12, 1980 he began, dipping his artificial leg in the waters off St. John's Newfoundland. Terry's plan was to run all the way across the country. As Terry pounded the miles, more and more people took note, cheering the young hero on - and donating to his cause. The Marathon of Hope captured the attention and the hearts of Canadians, and people all over the world. 5753 kilometers into his run, Terry had to stop. The cancer had spread to his lungs, and he passed away the following year. Canadians were devastated at the loss of the heroic young man. But Terry's inspiring legacy was just beginning." (worldcat.org).

When I Was Eight by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton

"Olemaun is eight and knows a lot of things. But she does not know how to read. Ignoring her father's warnings, she travels far from her Arctic home to the outsiders' school to learn. The nuns at the school call her Margaret. They cut off her long hair and force her to do menial chores, but she remains undaunted. Her tenacity draws the attention of a black-cloaked nun who tries to break her spirit at every turn. But the young girl is more determined than ever to learn how to read." (worldcat.org).