Side by Side

Anne Hutchings is a teacher-librarian in Ajax, Ontario.

These slim volumes were both written by 10-year-old authors. Each won a
Prism Award for her efforts. The Prism Awards, sponsored by Scotiabank
and Air Canada, is a national program designed to give children between
the ages of 7 and 14 the opportunity to become professionally trained
young authors and to have a select number of their books published.

In The Journey Beyond, Orin, on learning that she has a twin sister,
Kenidra, who was carried away as an infant by a cougar, sets out to find
her. Before she embarks, Orin’s father gives her a book, a legacy from
her mother. When Orin is attacked by Kenidra and her cougars, the book
is transformed into a sword, which she uses to kill her evil (she now
realizes) twin. Eidd, a wizard, appears and tells Orin the truth about
her heritage and destiny—that she is, in fact, his good granddaughter,
and, as such, his true successor.

Side by Side is the story of Siamese twins, Sheila and Ellen, who are
joined only by soft tissue at the waist, and who at the age of 9 have
not been separated. (That they have not is most unrealistic, since today
extremely complex separations are carried out successfully.) Unlike
Sheila, Ellen only reluctantly agrees to the operation but dies on the
operating table. Sheila, to overcome her guilt, goes on to compete in
gymnastics and dedicates every medal she wins to her dead sister.

These young authors are to be commended for their efforts. While the
stories are, by adult standards, trite and melodramatic, they are
exceptional for 10-year-olds. However, it is difficult to determine the
audience for these stories. Appearance would suggest their suitability
for Grades 3 to 5, but children at this level would find the vocabulary
extremely challenging. Older students, on the other hand, would be
deterred by the format and content.

Not recommended for purchase—unless for use as examples of
student-authored novels.