【推荐2】If you think being a teenager is hard, think again. Raising a teenager is a lot harder. Beginning at thirteen, your kids will be wanting (demanding, actually) more freedom and independence. They already know what their interests and wants are. But that doesn’t mean you should stop guiding them (especially when it comes to reading). Here are 4 highly recommended books for your teenagers:

The Martian

by Andy Weir $9.76

In the year 2035, NASA sends off the crew of Ares 3 to Mars for a planned month-long stay. However, a strong storm threatened to trap them on the planet and a hurried withdrawal follows. Mark Watney is left behind when he was believed dead. Now, he has to learn how to survive alone another planet until help comes back for him.

Big Bones

by Laura Dockrill $7.98

Bluebelle is a sixteen-year-old overweight girl, who was told by nurse that she was “obese” and was forced to lose weight through using a food diary. But she is perfectly happy with how she looks and uses the food diary to tell the story of her everyday life instead.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

by John Boyne $7.98

Bruno is a nine-year-old during the Second World War. He moved to Auschwitz with his family when his father was promoted as a commandant (司令官). When he explores his new home, he meets a boy wearing stripped pajamas who lives at the other end of the fence. They become fast friends.

Fangirl

by Rainbow Rowell $10.97

It’s Cath’s freshman year in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and her twin sister wants nothing to do with her. She’s having a hard time adjusting to life in college because of her social anxiety disorder. Add in a challenging fiction-writing class, a friendly writing partner, a new roommate, and a complicated relationship, and what to do you get? An interestingly confusing life that is, and all Cath wants is to finish her fan fiction in peace.

【推荐3】Top reads to shine on your shelf

FACELESS

by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

This is an amazing book about a girl named Maisie, who gets in an accident, and ends up having a face transplant. Part of Maisie’s face got burnt off in a fire, so now she has her cheeks and nose replaced by a different girl’s cheeks and nose. However, if you think about it, the idea seems quite scary. All in all, I really enjoyed this book, and it had me hanging on its every word.

WE ARE ALL MADE OF MOLECULES

by Susin Nielsen

The story focuses on two main characters, Stewart and Ashley. Despite missing his mother, Stewart decides to make a new life with Ashley when he and his dad move into her house. Ashley doesn’t like Stewart for his personality, but things turn even more complicated when a schoolmate, Jared, enters their lives. I LOVE this book because it teaches us that if we all put aside all of our differences, we can work together to solve problems in the world, no matter how big or small the problem might be.

HOUSE OF WINDOWS

by Alexia Casale

This book is about a 15-year-old boy named Nick who is at Cambridge University. While there he faces many problems, he is not helped by the fact that his mum is dead and his dad cares more for his work than for him. Luckily, this book has a happy ending.

MIND YOUR HEAD

by Juno Dawson

This book is a great mix of humour and advice, differing from the more formal help books that you might read. It won’t necessarily defeat your problem, but it will hand you the sword and encourage you to do it yourself.

【推荐2】Ontario has 15 types of licences and each licence certifies (证明具有某种资格) you to drive a specific type of vehicle. To drive a car, van or small truck, you will need a G class licence. Here’s how you get one.

Apply for a driver’s licence

To apply for a driver’s licence in Ontario, you need to.

● be at least 16 years old

● pass an eye test

● pass a written test about the rules of the road and traffic signs

Where to apply

To apply and take the required written tests, visit:

● a DriveTest centre

● the ServiceOntario Bay and College location in downtown Toronto

Due to higher than normal volumes (量), you must book an appointment online in order to complete a written driver’s licence test.

Study for the knowledge test

Ontario’s Official Driver Handbook will help you prepare for your written knowledge test. It covers rules of the road and practical driving tips. You can buy the handbook:

● online through ServiceOntario

● at a DriveTest centre

● from many retail stores

Cost: $14.95 plus $0.7 taxes

Learning to drive: graduated licensing

Once you pass your eye and written tests, you get a G1 licence. Before you can get a full G licence, you have to:

● finish two learning levels: G1 and G2

● pass two road tests

This process is called “graduated licensing” which is designed to give new drivers time to practice and gain driving experience over time.

You have up to five years to finish the whole process. After five years, if you do not get your full G licence, you will need to start over.