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Title details for Trusting True North by Gina Linko - Available

Trusting True North

by Gina Linko
ebook
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1 of 1 copy available
True North Vincent feels lost and uneasy after the fear of a virus closes the border, meaning her mom can't return home from Canada. With her father working long hours as a nurse helping people who are sick with the virus, she's left at home with her grandma, who doesn't have the energy to keep up with True's adventures, or her older sister, always focused on her phone, or Georgie, her younger brother, whose severe asthma makes him more vulnerable to the virus. True is lonely and sometimes gets angry because she feels forgotten and unheard. True's mom tries to talk to her by phone, but True refuses; she just wants her mom home in-person, not just her voice.
True finds escape and comfort in working on her maps, a skill she learned from her mother who is a cartographer. Not only does it fulfill her remote learning class assignment, but it helps to pass the time in isolation. She also creates an elaborate treasure map for Georgie that spans the entire thick forest beyond her backyard. While exploring, True finds the new kid, Kyler, playing tenderly with a litter of newborn kittens in an old barn.
Kyler knocked out Dakota Sullivan's tooth during a fight and has a reputation of being a bully, so True waits until he's gone before approaching the kittens. The smallest kitten, the runt of the litter, looks sickly and has been abandoned by the mama cat. True names her Teacup; she knows exactly how it feels to not have a mom around when you need her most.
As Teacup's health worsens, True attempts to nurse the cat back to health by herself. Just when True thinks she and Kyler could be friends over their concern for Teacup, he starts acting strange and doesn't return her calls. To make matters worse, True's dad gets sick and must stay at the hospital, and then Georgie gets lost in the forest, and then their elderly neighbor gets the virus. True feels even more scared and alone. Running out of her own fixes and remedies, True reaches out and realizes that her family does care about her and wants to offer support and guidance to help her find her way through the unexpected challenges the virus and life bring.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    April 5, 2022

  • Formats

    • Kindle Book

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9781649330765

    • EPUB ebook

      • ISBN: 9781649330765
      • File size: 1807 KB

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • School Library Journal

      April 1, 2022

      Gr 4-6-A gentle narrative centered around a lockdown similar to that of spring 2020, although the nature of this pandemic is simply called the "virus." Fifth grader True North Vincent is struggling with the burden of e-learning, isolation from her fellow classmates, and being there for her family. She designs elaborate treasure hunts for her younger brother, Georgie, who has asthma. She has worries aplenty when it comes to the vulnerability of her family to the virus. In addition to Georgie, her elderly grandmother is still recovering from cancer, her dad is a nurse at the local hospital, and her mother has been unable to return from Canada due to border shutdowns. True is especially adept at creating maps, thanks to her mom's occupation as a cartographer. Exploring an area that her grandmother had warned her to avoid, True and Georgie discover some newborn kittens, as well as a new classmate with a bad reputation named Kyler. True's perceptions are challenged when she sees Kyler's care in looking after the newborn kittens. Things quickly come to a head when one of the kittens becomes seriously ill, and Kyler's mother catches the dreaded virus. True must make some very mature decisions and pay dearly for her wrong choices. This is a sincere and accurate portrayal of a potent time in the world, accurately reflecting the fear and insecurity the world felt before the discovery of the vaccinations. The story moves along at a tender pace and draws readers in with True's fears and strength as she navigates such vulnerability. VERDICT An interesting, map-driven account of a fifth grader's struggles to protect her family during lockdown.-Julie Shatterly

      Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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