Here for a Good Time

Gr 10 Up–It is 1990, and life, from an outsider’s point of view, is good for Morgan. She is an Indigenous teen who lives with her dad in Prince Rupert, British Columbia. Although he is gone a lot for his fishing job, he is an amazing dad and she has a fantastic support system with her grandparents. But Morgan struggles with school, with her friends who are not making the best choices, and with the hole her mom left when she walked out. As Morgan is working with an alternative school to get her grades back on track, Nate enters the picture. Nate seems to have everything figured out and is a great influence on Morgan. When tragedy strikes close to home and her mom re-enters her life, Nate is the glue that holds Morgan together. Can she adapt to the new normal? Readers will understand Morgan’s highs and lows, sympathize when life is hard, and cheer her on when she makes lemonade out of lemons. Although the flow of the beginning chapters is disjointed, the quick pace of the story will engage reluctant readers. Though Morgan never has to go to one, the schools where Indigenous children were forced to attend are discussed, and they affected many people in Morgan’s life. This delicate aspect of the story is approached and handled very well. Secondary characters are also well-written, from her father and grandparents to her best friend Skye to Nate.