I Love Canadian Authors discussion

Does anyone know of any Cdn authors who write in french for middle school audiences? Especially action, adventure, fantasy, sci fi or mystery?

Thx

OK, I am going to answer my own question just in case anyone else is interested. I have come across Bryan Perro who writes a series call Amos Daragon. I will be trying to track these down for my son to read and am crossing my fingers that they will catch his attention.

Hi Shannon,

I am familiar only with classic & adult French Canadian lit. However, there is one book I enjoyed very much when I was in high school, so much in fact that I remember the title: Le visiteur du soir, by Robert Souliere. As a practical joke, two boys sneak into (some place) to steal a painting. Yet once inside, they witness the painting being stolen. Souliere wrote a number of mystery books for younger audiences but this is the only one I've read. I believe I was twelve or thirteen when I read it.

Hi Zybahn,

Soulieres sounds interesting (I too have kids immersed in French). Le visiteur ... sounds good and I'll put it on order
.
Also, checked around and none of Soulieres works seem to come up in English translation. Too bad.

Thanks Zybahn, this sounds like it will be right up my sons alley. Merci!

Erma, let me know if you want book ideas in french from authors of other nationalities. I am getting a pretty good list going.

Shannon, if you know of some good scifi books for 14-year-olds that would be great. My daughter's really into scifi. Thanks.

Rats, didn't get much in the sci fi genre but lots in the fantasy one. I'll check again though.

Here is a website that may help you find some ramon science-fiction pour jeunesse (12 ans+). My french is not that good so I struggle with it but I bet you will find something appealling there. Lots of fantasy stuff out there so not sure if she likes pure sci fi or a mix... Good luck

Oh and I should say that Bryan Perro is writing for about 12 yrs. I think

Thanks Shannon. But you didn't post a website. Your French is better than mine; I only know what I've learned through my kids. I'm good at conjugating verbs but i don't usually know what they mean. Bryan Perro sounds interesting and I ordered some books from our library.

oops.
http://recherche.fnac.com/r/science+f...

same site but a different way to search:
http://recherche.fnac.com/r/science+f...

thanks! Checked out sites. Looks good.

Hi Erna, this may be more for you than your kids... A lovely little book that I am sure you will relate to, being a translator by passion: La traduction est une histoire d'amourby Jacques Poulin. There is a bit of a mystery aspect in it too.

Oh, yes, Jacques Poulin, author of Volkswagen Blues. Really enjoyed it. Don't speak French, so I read it in translation. My older daughter is taking a few French courses in univ. so I'll pass La traduction ... on to her. Thanks Friederike!

YOu can read La Traduction... also in English I believe...

Will look around for an English version. It seems not all his works have been translated. Maybe I just have to dig deeper.

Thanks for the tip aboutAmos Daragon, porteur de masques Manga . My son is enjoying it and is actually glad that it is a graphic novel. I think the school library is going to try to get them in.

Hello everyone,
Please feel free to take a look at my bookshelves entitled Canadian literature and the shelf of French literature. I am not too familiar with anything other than the classics, but that's what I tend to seek out in English as well, so nothing out of character there for me. I tend not to rate the books I read very often, because I don't have the flare for being a good critic, and I also have a tendency to keep my opinions to myself, not for any particular reason except that I just like to savor what I read in a kind of private way. One of my absolute favorites is Marie Calumet--a true classic, uproariously funny at times, and a satirical poke at society and the Catholic church. I would love to read it again some day, this time maybe in English.
Cheers.

Take a look at the many YA novels by François Gravel.. He writes well-plotted, exciting stories that he has test driven on kids.

Thanks Mary. Will do that.

I wouldn't be surprised if Eric Wilson were translated into French, our country's equivalent to "The Hardy Boys". For small kids, the translation of "Zoom At Sea" by Tim Wynne-Jones is exciting, superbly depicted, and one of the best things I ever read. I have the French and reviewed it: "Le Matou Marin".

The kids in my immersion grade school always read "Tintin". On a more engaging note, there was an exciting novel EXACTLY like the film "City Of Ember". It was called "Surréal 3000".

Yes, Tintin is always a favourite and now especially with the movie so that the english kids know about it too.

I will look for Surréal 3000.

Eric Wilson came to the kids school this past year so they all read several of his novels (in English).