Wieler, Diana

RanVan: A Worthy Opponent (Stella)

As winter closes in and he settles into his new life in Thunder Bay, Rhan Van's victories in Vancouver seem a million miles away. Rhan, now 16, and his grandmother have moved in with cousin Zoe, a strange, abrasive woman who runs a shabby motel. How, wonders Rhan, is a young knight supposed to finish his training in an uninspired environment like this?.

Bad Boy

A.J. Brandiosa becomes the bad boy of the Cyclone hockey team, and learns that his best friend is gay, as he tries to cope with his own sexuality during his senior year in high school.

Ranvan: The Defender

At 15, Rhan Van is a kid with a foot in two worlds. As RanVan, the powerful knight of the video arcade game Stormers, he moves in a world of endless tunnels and insect-like attackers. Here, if he plays well and masters the rules, he can save the Princess from the Dark Lord and justice will be done.

To the Mountains by Morning (Stella)

Witnessing the routine at the Rocky Mountain Stables for ten years, which includes the disappearance of every imperfect horse, Old Bailey the mare decides to escape when she learns she is scheduled to be taken away.

Drive

In a dark parking lot outside an amphitheater, crowds are gathering for tailgate parties. A young guitarist climbs up on the hood of a white pickup truck, pulls an old battered fedora down over his eyes, and begins to belt out "Night Train," a driving, electric song, while his brother works the crowd, selling tapes. The buskers are Daniel Friesen, 16-year-old blues man, and his 18-year-old brother Jens, a new--not used--car salesman. But Jens is more of an ex-salesman now, since he was fired two days ago. The pickup truck belongs to his ex-boss. These brothers are on the road and on the run, desperately trying to earn $5,000 to repay a shifty music producer. With them they carry not only guitars and amps, but a heavy load of love, resentment, and fury toward each other. When Jens discovers that Daniel drinks too much and has a sexy 22-year-old girlfriend, his protectiveness and jealousy boil over. His anger is exacerbated by the secret knowledge that Daniel will always be sure of who he is, while Jens can't even be certain that he's their father's son.

With Drive, Canadian young adult novelist Diana Wieler (known in the U.S. for Bad Boy) has written an intense story of two young men testing themselves against the world--together and alone. Older teens, and particularly fans of Rob Thomas's Rats Saw God, will be entranced, intrigued, and enlightened. (Ages 13 and older) --Patty Campbell

Eighteen-year-old Jens Friesen has drive. He's a star receiver on his football team, top fundraiser, and when his father has a heart attack Jens quits school, determined to help his parents with his own income. His younger brother, 16-year-old Daniel, is introverted and musical. He is also $5,000 in debt to a sleazy music producer. When Daniel asks Jens for help, the two set off on a weekend in which expectations, lost dreams, complex relationships, and family bonds are all cast in a new light.

RanVan: Magic Nation (Stella)

Last Chance Summer