Making the Past Live in Words and Images
"High adventure, terrifying danger, close friendship, family troubles faced and resolved, and a dash of the mystical or supernatural: this novel for teens has it all." Canada Book Review Annual.
Fed by his grandfather's stories, Dave Young dreams of one day visiting the Canadian Arctic. It's a childish fascination, until the dreams become so vivid that Dave has difficulty telling them from reality. By day he is a small-town boy living in Humboldt, Saskatchewan, struggling with arguing parents and difficulties at school, but by night he is David Young, a cabin boy on HMS Erebus, one of Sir John Franklin's doomed exploration ships. When his dreams intensify, the line between Dave in Humboldt and David on the Erebus gradually disappears. As sailors fall sick, threaten mutiny and become lost in the wilderness, Dave/David and his only friend George must summon all their courage to survive the threats of starvation and exposure in a race against time and the elements. With both boys lost in a blizzard the truest test of their friendship is at hand. Will they be able to find each other in time—and will Dave be able to find his way back to his own time?
"…the facts of the Franklin voyage are made visceral and real for a new generation of armchair historians/explorers." Susan Perrin, Globe and Mail
"As both lives reel toward the dream's conclusion, the desperation is palpable. The denouement, in both worlds, is an eternity of tension-filled terror that is over in a heartbeat. John Wilson's use of dream travel to explore and examine creatively the Franklin Expedition keeps the reader turning the pages right to the last." Prairie Fire
"Time travel with a twist—a fascinating glimpse into the ill-fated Franklin Expedition." Julie Lawson
""…meticulously researched, cleverly-crafted and imaginatively too, absorbing for history lovers of all ages." Marion Woodson
Tales for ages 9-12
Stand Alone Titles
A "…fast-paced, easily read novel for young adults…[that] is exciting and filled with twists and tragedy and brings the attitudes of an era to life…both instructive and engaging." British Columbia History
After Will Ryan's father is killed in the trenches of World War I, he's sent out to live with his uncle in the remote coal-mining town of Cumberland on Vancouver Island. Almost immediately, Will is thrown into a complex world of racism, greed, police corruption and the mine workers' struggle for safe working conditions. The only bright spark is Morag McLean, the beautiful daughter of a Scottish miner. Will soon realizes that everything happening around him seems centred on one man, Albert 'Red' Goodwin, a union activist and draft dodger being hunted in the nearby hills. Will only wants a simple life and romantic picnics with Morag, but events won't let him be and he is forced to take sides as he is drawn inexorably towards a tragic confrontation in the woods that will change his life forever.
"The writing captures the reader instantly, and sets the premise for a great story…a great novel; one that would be especially enjoyed by history-lovers and readers who enjoy stories with much personal dilemma." Whatif Magazine
"Wilson has created an exciting adventure story about one of Canada's true folk heroes—Ginger Goodwin—and something much rarer: and adventure in ideas." Ann Walsh author of the Baskerville Mystery Series.
"Wilson brings to life an era in Canadian History which has not received much attention…Boys, particularly, will enjoy the the action and the adventure." Resource Links.
"Young Will must make a choice that will change his life forever. A compelling novel, filled with turns and tragic events, about one of Canada's true folk heroes." Canadian Children's Book Centre
"This novel draws the reader into the conflicting forces that tear at Will's mind, feeling in turn empathy for the Chinese workers [and] for Red Goodwin and the men hiding in the bush…Morag and Jimmy demand Will examine his own actions and ideals, and, in the process, challenge the reader…John Wilson…captures the stratified life in a mining town in a historically accurate way." CM Magazine. Highly Recommended.
"Gentle ghosts, the wild Pacific ocean and a boy's growing awareness of his family's history...beautifully told." Ann Walsh
After an argument with his father, Ian sets off in an open boat from Mayne Island on the British Columbia coast. His anger makes him forget basic boating safety rules and he soon finds himself swept out into Georgia Strait. Drifting and suffering from hypothermia, the young teen is visited by a series of ghosts who share stories of his ancestors and Canada's pioneer past.
Led by Emily, Ian's great grandmother, a succession of long-dead ancestors and local characters appear on the boat telling him their stories—the stories of pioneer life on the Gulf Islands. In addition to bringing Ian an understanding of his family and his past, the ghosts keep him alert and inspire him to persevere. However, as the weather deteriorates and his boat capsizes, Ian begins to wonder if he is soon to join his ghostly companions.
"Wilson shifts realities in a convincing way and his evocation of island life—on land and water, now and then, is masterful." Globe and Mail
"Adrift in Time is firmly anchored in its sense of place, rich in stories evocative of a region peopled by pioneers as recently as the nineteenth century" Resource Links
"John Wilson has created an entirely believable world, complete with lush vegetation…and the exotic animal life we expect the time of the dinosaurs. The twist he throws in with Weet and his intelligent family makes the book a true page-turner. Wilson writes in clear, complex sentences with…vocabulary that does not condescend to young readers; the story is so compelling that there is danger they won't continue reading. Highly Recommended." Canadian Book Review Annual
A perfect, illustrated, easy-to-read novel for eager young dinosaur fanatics.
Somewhere in the badlands of southern Alberta lies the gateway to an alien world of adventure. Welcome to Weet's world—a world of 66 million years ago when dinosaurs ruled. A world that Eric has only dreamed of. A world into which the twelve-year-old dinosaur expert, his seven-year-old sister, Rose, and their dog, Sally, are suddenly and mysteriously transported.
Eric soon finds out that fossilized dinosaur bones don't tell the whole story—dinosaurs have developed intelligence! One of them, Weet, befriends the time travellers as they find themselves embroiled in a series of distinctly prehistoric adventures. Will Eric, Rose and Sally ever be able to return to their own world before the disaster that Eric knows is looming over Weet's world strikes?
"As a great adventure story and scientific tour of the Cretaceous world, [Velociraptor] keeps the reader enthralled to the end." The Log.
"The ideas and issues of the story are strong, as is the writing. An informative and exciting story for children." Recommended." CM Magazine
The Dinosaur Chronicles are updated reworkings of the bestselling Weet Trilogy originally published in the '90s.
The Dinosaur Chronicles
"This is a fun book and dinosaur-mad youngsters will have fun reading it and imagining themselves in the shoes of Eric and Rose. Recommended." (CM Magazine )
This compelling sequel continues the time-travel adventures of Eric, Rose and Sally in the world of dinosaurs sixty-six-million-years ago. Weet, enlightened by what his time-travelling friends have taught him, feels a longing to discover what mysteries about his people lie beyond the terrifying Fire Mountain. Legends have it that Weet's ancestors were driven out of a coastal paradise by invading hordes of terrifying predators. The three friends set off on an adventurous quest to uncover the truth. With the invaluable help of his friends from the distant future, Weet finds an ancient colony of ancestral beings oddly different from himself. A true hero, Weet uncovers his people's history and plots a course for a bright new future.
"Children 8 to 10 years will be fascinated with this world of scary creatures, near-death adventures, erupting volcanoes and hostile pre-humans." (Comox Valley Echo )
"Wilson provides a poignant...portrayal of Weet and his companion Saar as they face the end of their species with courage and determination...He carefully develops Eric's adolescent feelings of not belonging anywhere, as well as Eric and Rose's sibling bond." Resource Links
In the final book of The Dinosaur Chronicles trilogy, the mysterious meteor showers are increasing in frequency and violence. Eric has the unenviable task of telling his friend that the world he has grown up in is destined to be destroyed by a gigantic meteorite, wiping out much of the life on earth. Little does Eric know that the catastrophe is just around the corner and that he, Rose, Sally, Weet, his friend Saar and pet Sinor must try to survive the destruction. In the desolate world after the impact, Weet and Saar must find the strength to rebuild their lives and lead their people in a world that has changed forever.
"...the story is...exciting, and the relationships between the humanoid dinosaurs and the young humans are believable and noteworthy. Eric struggles with his dilemma of whether or not to tell Weet that his species is ultimately doomed...What is particularly refreshing ...is that there are no easy answers in in the story. Recommended." Canadian Book Review Annual.
"The pace is quick and the language simple. This is a plot-driven, character-light whodunit where young protagonists use logic to solve the mystery and become the heroes of the hour...I’d expect this book to engage young readers as they follow Sam’s escapades over the course of just two days." The Coastal Spectator
On a visit to a seaside town in Australia, fifteen-year-old Sam meets Annabel, who works at the local museum.
Annabel's interest in history is infectious, and Sam soon finds himself eager to hunt for the remains of a famous shipwreck that is thought to be hidden nearby. When a storm exposes a structure, Sam and Annabel are convinced it's the fabled ship. Soon all of the museum staff are at the site to check it out. But the same storm also destroys the museum's power and, when the alarms aren't working, someone steals the museum's most treasured artifact, worth millions. Sam and Annabel are convinced they can help and search for the thief. They soon begin to suspect that there may be a link between the fabled shipwreck and the recent theft.
"An exciting story that will hold the reader's interest. The South Australian setting with its rich shipwreck history is a great backdrop for this story of making friends and finding your way as a teen. Added to the adventure is the teens' realization of the risks that some people take to acquire history for themselves, or profit from its theft...Highly Recommended." CM Magazine
"The brevity of the story and its vocabulary do not diminish its appeal...The conclusion is quite satisfying." Resource Links
"Provides an intricate plot as well as interesting characters that add to the suspense as the mystery unfolds. Wilson incorporates factual information throughout the book to add authenticity to the shipwrecks and hunt for treasure." VOYA
The Sam and Annabel Adventures
These short novels are high-interest, low-reading level books for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!
"Wilson is a skilled YA author who can balance dialogue and description perfectly...Although a sequel, this novel is successful as a stand-alone, and will recruit more young readers, especially boys." Resource Links
Sam and Annabel visit Sam's mom on her farm in Drumheller, Alberta during a dinosaur dig.
Annabel is thrilled to have access to paleontologists and spends as much time as she can near the dig, much to Sam’s dismay. But when they learn the dig has uncovered scientifically important bones, even Sam is curious. In fact, the whole town is talking about the discovery. When Sam and Annabel learn that Humphrey Battleford, a famous collector of stolen goods, is in the area, they realize they need to do their part to keep the ancient bones safe.
"The novel’s appeal comes from its thrilling storyline and its fascinating descriptions of the world of paleontology. Although Wilson deals with a fictitious dinosaur discovery, he makes paleontology an interesting foundation for his story without stepping too far away from reality...The interesting information about dinosaur research woven in the adventure story will capture many young readers and sustain their attention throughout." CM Magazine
"Readers will enjoy this book for its fast-paced, easy-to-read structure and its numerous pop culture references; it is a high-interest novel for students who read below grade level." Library Media Connection
"Another excellent example of Wilson’s care in research and presentation of data...Wilson conveys to his readers the depth of his own understanding of his topic, yet avoids any patronizing or erudite tone in his narration: exactly what struggling readers need in order to engage with the story." Karyn's Kid Lit Reviews
"Peppered with factual information about paleontology and the potential for fraud, the story moves along quickly to a satisfying end that still allows for the possibility of future entanglements with the villainous Humphrey Battleford." Southwestern Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group
"Features compelling characters and realistic dialogue...Will appeal to both males and females." VOYA Magazine
They are thrilled when they are selected to take a cruise to the Arctic and learn that the cruise will take them past a site connected to the most famous mystery in Arctic history: the Lost Franklin Expedition. But things on the cruise are not what they seem. When Sam and Annabel make a startling discovery on a small island close to where archaeologists are diving on the wreck of the Erebus, one of Franklin’s ships, they are confronted by an old enemy. Isolated and outnumbered, how can they possibly save the priceless artifact that may hold the answer to the Franklin mystery?
"This Hi-Lo book is a good choice for reluctant readers. The plot moves smartly along...there is enough action to keep kids reading...Recommended." School Library Connection
“This fast-paced novel will appeal to both strong and struggling readers, who will likely want to investigate the Franklin Expedition further.” Booklist
"Wilson's love of history shines in this high interest novel. Strong descriptions mingle with historical details making readers want to learn more about the places Annabelle and Sam visit…the characters are so likeable and believable the readers can't help be engrossed with the quirks of Sam, Pi loving Annabelle and her family, Humphry Battleford, the museum keeper Pietro and even Percy the dog." Resource Links.
On a vacation in Italy, while visiting the small hilltop town of Bagnoregio, Sam and Annabel hear rumors of looted gold from World War II buried somewhere in the town's network of underground tunnels and caves. Once again the two friends cross paths with their old nemesis, Humphrey Battleford, but he is not the only one in pursuit of the gold. An intimidating man named Kurt, the grandson of a ruthless Nazi, is also snooping around. After Annabel is kidnapped, Sam must solve the mystery of the hidden treasure to save his friend.
"The vocabulary is very suitable for the intended audience. The dialogue is extensive and realistic. The story is told in first person from Sam's viewpoint. That the chapters end at a high point and often ask a question makes this an excellent read-aloud choice. Gold is a high interest novel for middle readers and would appeal to students who like adventure, mystery, travel and realistic fiction. Highly Recommended." CM Magazine