Barry Squires, Full Tilt takes readers on a romp through the streets of St. John's and into the Squires household, a place where tragedy strikes but love prevails. Derry Girls meets Billy Elliot with an East coast twist.
It's 1995. When the Full Tilt Dancers give an inspiring performance at the opening of the new bingo hall, twelve-year-old Finbar (Barry) Squires wants desperately to join the troupe. Led by Father O'Flaherty, the Full Tilt Irish Step Dancers are the most sought-after act in St. John's, Newfoundland (closely followed by popular bagpiper, Alfie Bragg and his Agony Bag). Having watched Riverdance twice, Barry figures he'll nail the audition. And good thing too -- it'd be nice to be known for something other than the port wine stain on his cheek. With questionable talent and an unpredictable temper, Barry's journey to stardom is jeopardized by his parents' refusal to take his dreams seriously. Thankfully, Barry has the support of a lively cast of characters: his ever-present grandmother, Nanny Squires; his adorable baby brother, Gord; an old British rocker named Uneven Steven; a group of geriatrics from the One Step Closer to God Nursing Home; and Saibal, a friend with whom Barry gets up to no good.
Told with humor and a healthy dose of irreverence, Barry Squires, Full Tilt is the latest novel by Heather Smith, the award-winning author of The Agony of Bun O’Keefe and Chicken Girl.
NOMINEE
| 2022 Snow Willow Award
LONGLIST
| 2022 DUBLIN Literary Award
SHORTLIST
| 2021 Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People
LONGLIST
| 2020 BMO Winterset Award
One of the Globe and Mail’s Globe 100 Favorite Books of 2020 One of CBC Books' Best Middle-Grade and Young Adult Books of 2020 One of Canadian Children's Book News’ Best Books of 2020 One of the Ontario Library Association's 2020 Best Bets selection, Young Adult Fiction category
PRAISE FOR Barry Squires, Full Tilt:
“Barry’s quest for footloose fame instead takes him on a grand tour of humanity. . . . Offbeat, quirky, and full of heart.” —Kirkus Reviews
“[T]his is one foot-stompingly enjoyable, while also heart-rending, read.” —Quill & Quire
HEATHER SMITH is the author of four published YA novels; three middle-grade novels, the most recent of which, Tig, has received two starred reviews and was shortlisted for the OLA Red Maple Award; and seven picture books: Angus All Aglow, A Plan for Pops, The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota’s Garden, Slowpoke the Bell Island Mine Horse, Annie’s Cat is Sad, Waking Ben Doldrums and Granny Left Me a Rocket Ship. The books in her body of work have either won or been shortlisted for virtually every Canadian children's literature prize, and been translated into eight languages. She lives with her family in Waterloo, Ontario.
View titles by Heather Smith
Barry Squires, Full Tilt takes readers on a romp through the streets of St. John's and into the Squires household, a place where tragedy strikes but love prevails. Derry Girls meets Billy Elliot with an East coast twist.
It's 1995. When the Full Tilt Dancers give an inspiring performance at the opening of the new bingo hall, twelve-year-old Finbar (Barry) Squires wants desperately to join the troupe. Led by Father O'Flaherty, the Full Tilt Irish Step Dancers are the most sought-after act in St. John's, Newfoundland (closely followed by popular bagpiper, Alfie Bragg and his Agony Bag). Having watched Riverdance twice, Barry figures he'll nail the audition. And good thing too -- it'd be nice to be known for something other than the port wine stain on his cheek. With questionable talent and an unpredictable temper, Barry's journey to stardom is jeopardized by his parents' refusal to take his dreams seriously. Thankfully, Barry has the support of a lively cast of characters: his ever-present grandmother, Nanny Squires; his adorable baby brother, Gord; an old British rocker named Uneven Steven; a group of geriatrics from the One Step Closer to God Nursing Home; and Saibal, a friend with whom Barry gets up to no good.
Told with humor and a healthy dose of irreverence, Barry Squires, Full Tilt is the latest novel by Heather Smith, the award-winning author of The Agony of Bun O’Keefe and Chicken Girl.
Awards
NOMINEE
| 2022 Snow Willow Award
LONGLIST
| 2022 DUBLIN Literary Award
SHORTLIST
| 2021 Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People
LONGLIST
| 2020 BMO Winterset Award
Reviews
One of the Globe and Mail’s Globe 100 Favorite Books of 2020 One of CBC Books' Best Middle-Grade and Young Adult Books of 2020 One of Canadian Children's Book News’ Best Books of 2020 One of the Ontario Library Association's 2020 Best Bets selection, Young Adult Fiction category
PRAISE FOR Barry Squires, Full Tilt:
“Barry’s quest for footloose fame instead takes him on a grand tour of humanity. . . . Offbeat, quirky, and full of heart.” —Kirkus Reviews
“[T]his is one foot-stompingly enjoyable, while also heart-rending, read.” —Quill & Quire
HEATHER SMITH is the author of four published YA novels; three middle-grade novels, the most recent of which, Tig, has received two starred reviews and was shortlisted for the OLA Red Maple Award; and seven picture books: Angus All Aglow, A Plan for Pops, The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota’s Garden, Slowpoke the Bell Island Mine Horse, Annie’s Cat is Sad, Waking Ben Doldrums and Granny Left Me a Rocket Ship. The books in her body of work have either won or been shortlisted for virtually every Canadian children's literature prize, and been translated into eight languages. She lives with her family in Waterloo, Ontario.
View titles by Heather Smith
