• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

Sam's grandfather vanished from his life the day Sam's father was buried.

Now, ten years later, Grandpa Max wants to make amends. He sends letters that lead Sam on a scavenger hunt. Sam follows his grandfather's bizarre instructions though he's still not ready to forgive. To alleviate his anger at his grandfather, Sam turns to his favorite stress release: climbing onto roofs and leaving his tag, a spray painted symbol for Aquarius. When he gets caught by an elderly couple, Sam learns a valuable lesson about forgiveness. He's ready to forgive his grandfather, but is he too late?

This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!

K.L. Denman was born in Calgary, Alberta, and spent her childhood in a house one street away from the open prairie. When she was 11, her family moved to Delta, British Columbia, and she got to know life on the coast: tides, clam digging, rain gear, green grass year-round and enormous trees. It was there that Kim and her sisters got their first pony. She continued to live near Vancouver for many years while finishing school, attending college, and eventually getting married and starting a family. She always loved writing and when her teen children and their friends provided inspiration and re-kindled memories of this challenging passage, writing for teens became an irresistible venture.

Today she lives on a small farm on British Columbia's Sunshine Coast with her family of people, two dogs, three cats, two horses and an elderly mule. When she's not writing or caring for critters, she's reading, trying to grow vegetables, taking pictures, or volunteering at therapeutic riding. More information about Kim is available on her website at www.kldenman.com.

K.L. Denman's profile page

• Short-listed, Chocolate Lily Book Awards
• Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens
• Commended, Ontario Library association (OLA) Best Bets

"A wonderful novel that will draw reluctant readers in from the get-go and hold them captive until the bittersweet end. Denman's writing is clean and the voice brilliant. Highly Recommended."

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

"This book has a story that keeps the reader interested, with short chapters and easy-to-read vocabulary."

Resource Links

"Written for reluctant readers, this text tackles such heavy topics as forgiveness and death while using accessible, age-appropriate vocabulary."

The Horn Book Guide

"The book addresses weighty concepts succinctly, comprehensibly, and without pretense, and those looking for a hi-lo story with more depth will find it here."

VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates) Magazine

"It's no small feat to engage and hold the interest of reluctant readers. With Rebel's Tag, Denman does the job."

Quill & Quire