• Age: 12 to 14
• Grade: 7 to 9

Born only a week after the tragic death of her father, Frances Chopp grows up believing that she was sent to earth as her father's messenger to pull her mother out of her grief And in the years that follow, Frances tries to make sense of the hard times that have struck her immigrant family, even as she struggles to understand the puzzle of her family's past Set in the mining and steel towns of Southern Ontario in the years between the wars, Messenger is a moving story of familial love and the determination to survive

Virginia Frances Schwartz is the author of three historical novels, including Messenger and Send One Angel Down, an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults and winner of a Parent's Choice Gold Award Born in Ontario, Canada, Virginia now lives in New York City, where she teaches writing to elementary school children

Paul Morin, an accomplished painter, sculptor and musician is also the illustrator of a number of children's books He has also received 25 international awards for his book illustrations In addition, Paul has won many accolades for his work, including ten awards from the Canadian Association of Photographers and Illustrators, and a nomination for the Kate Greenaway Medal Originally from Calgary, Alberta, Mr Morin now lives near Rockwood, Ontario

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