Hope Dalvay - Author

Upcoming Virtual Book Launch

I can't wait to chat about my new middle-grade children's novel Butter Tart Island at my virtual launch! It's being held on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Atlantic Canadian time).

If you'd like to attend virtually, please register to obtain tickets to join for free on Zoom.

Here is the link to register:

https://bit.ly/4dTk7c7

Please note that the registration period closes a few hours before the event.

If you can't make it, no worries--the video will be available on YouTube after the event.

 Butter Tart Island

Twelve-year-old Jane Smith isn't surprised when her parents announce they're relocating. This is nothing new. Every few years, they move to a different street in their city, in search of the perfect home. But even Jane is shocked when her parents rely on a dart thrown at a map of Canada to determine their next move. Just where is Fare Thee Well, Prince Edward Island, anyway? Never mind. The Dart of Destiny has spoken. It's far away, and that's all that matters.

Jane arrives on Prince Edward Island at the worst possible time: the horrible, terrible, dreadful winter of 2015. Historic blizzards transform Canada's smallest province into one long snowbank. Living there is like being trapped in a snow globe. Not to mention, it's the middle of the school year--not exactly the best time to make new friends.

That all changes when Jane becomes pen pals with Random Radcliff. He hails from the micro nation of Butter Tart Island, and he has the goofiest sense of humour. So what if Butter Tart Island doesn't show up on any map? And it shouldn't bother her that Random Radcliff is cagey about revealing anything about his life, right?

Maybe Jane isn't the only one with secrets.

Middle-Grade Fiction (Ages 9 to 13)

320 pages

Published October 16, 2024, by The Acorn Press

 The ANNEthology: A Collection of Kindred Spirits Inspired by the Canadian Icon

"Edited by Judith Graves, a young adult fiction author based in PEI, this anthology is scheduled to release in the spring of 2024.

Ten talented young adult fiction authors across Canada have embarked on a new literary journey featuring the iconic character, Anne Shirley, created by L. M. Montgomery.

The collection will showcase short stories from Susie Moloney, Susan White, Hope Dalvay, Judith Graves, Deirdre Kessler, Natasha Deen, Shari Green, Matthew Dawkins, Mere Joyce, and Paul Coccia.

The ANNEthology will explore a wide range of themes and genres from contemporary to futuristic, steampunk to horror, and everything in between. This will be a must-have read for all Anne of Green Gables fans." (The Acorn Press, Instagram post on June 12, 2023)

Young Adult Fiction (Ages 14 and up)

Published June 2024 from The Acorn Press

 The Multiplication Rap 

Do multiplication facts look like a jumble of numbers to you?

Does the thought of memorizing all those answers make you blue?

Well, there's no need to fret.

This book will teach you a song you won't soon forget.

It's called "The Multiplication Rap"

And it makes multiplying a snap!

The catchy rhymes and vibrant, comical illustrations of The Multiplication Rap are sure to delight and entertain readers as they learn the times tables.

Picture book 

32 pages

Published June 27, 2023, by The Acorn Press

My Year as a SPACE Cadet 

(the follow-up to Welcome to Camp Fill-in-the Blank)

Page is in unfamiliar territory as the new kid at school. To make matters worse, Shale Pit Academy of Creativity and Excellence (or "SPACE" as it is more commonly known) is no ordinary school. Students there have the dubious distinction of being nicknamed "SPACE cadets." No, not the astronaut-in-training meaning. Think of the other kind of space cadet--you know, someone who is out of touch with reality.

When a bitter prank war erupts with a rival school, Page and her classmates must ask themselves some difficult questions: Are they more than a nickname? Are they more than just SPACE cadets?

My Year as a SPACE Cadet explores the importance of standing up for yourself and for others and shows how anybody can become an everyday hero.

"Author Hope Dalvay depicts junior high in a small town with humour and authenticity, and has filled her book with a delightful assortment of characters. Page is a quirky and good-natured protagonist who is also adapting to her first Canadian winter along with the usual uncertainties of being the 'new kid,' especially in a community where it seems like everyone knows everyone else" (Lisa Doucet, Atlantic Books Today No. 93 Spring 2021).

"Dalvay's book is a quaint, feel-good read that would appeal to kids interested in social studies or books about friendship" (CM Reviews).

Middle-Grade Fiction (Ages 9 to 13)

254 pages

Published July 30, 2021, by The Acorn Press

Welcome to Camp Fill-in-the-Blank

Page's perfectly organized life turns upside down when her parents send her to Prince Edward Island to babysit her cousins Crusoe and Danger (those are their real names) for the summer. Her cousins are resistant to having a babysitter and would rather be at summer camp. So Page gives her cousins exactly what they want: a camp in their own backyard called Camp Fill-in-the-Blank. However, Page quickly learns that life with her cousins rarely goes according to plan.

Welcome to Camp Fill-in-the-Blank was short-listed for the 2020 PEI Book Awards (Children's Literature category).

"PEI native Hope Dalvay's debut novel is a charming, light-hearted romp that is filled with likeable characters and summer fun" (Lisa Doucet, Atlantic Books Today, No. 90 Fall 2019).

"This a a heart-warming tale of family and friendship" (Ildiko Sumegi, Canadian Children's Booknews, Vol. 42 No. 4).

"A good summer read for kids longing to go to summer camp, Welcome to Camp Fill-in-the-Blank may help them discover the infinite possibilities a backyard can hold" (CM Reviews).

Middle-Grade Fiction (Ages 9 to 13)

266 pages

Published June 14, 2019, by The Acorn Press