Kathy Dobson Livres

The narrative unfolds in Point St. Charles, a struggling Montreal neighborhood, through the eyes of eight-year-old Kathy Dobson. It explores the harsh realities of poverty and community resilience as Kathy's mother evolves from a welfare recipient to an empowered community organizer. The arrival of students from McGill University catalyzes this transformation, highlighting the stark contrasts between socioeconomic backgrounds. Kathy's experience in a wealthier school exposes her to a new world, leading to challenges that shape her understanding of identity and community.

A lost doll embarks on an adventure alongside a dancing bear as they navigate their way through challenges in search of home. Their journey is filled with heartwarming moments and lessons about friendship, belonging, and the importance of finding one's way back to loved ones.

Silicon Valerie dreams of stardom but struggles to land significant roles until she discovers a new electron juggling act, "The Semiconductors." At Element School, she and her friends explore their surroundings through fun and engaging adventures. Drawing inspiration from the Mr. Men and Little Miss books, this story creatively incorporates elements of the periodic table, making it an excellent resource for early elementary STEM education.

People don't leave the Point, even if they move far away. Or at least that's how it seems to journalist Kathy Dobson. Growing up in the 1970s in Point St. Charles, an industrial slum in Montreal, she sees how people get trapped in the neighborhood. In this sequel to the highly praised With a Closed Fist, Dobson shares her journey of trying to escape from what was once described as the toughest neighborhood in Canada. Kathy and her five sisters, raised by their single mother, deal with slum landlords, "pervy uncles," and their father--a mostly absent police officer who does occasional work on the side for the local mob. As Kathy grows up and starts attending college outside the Point, she has to learn how to survive in a new environment where problems aren't solved by a good punch to the head.