Don't Stand So Close To Me

Just before Spring Break, thirteen-year-old Quinn and her friends are planning a school dance when COVID-19 postpones their return to school and then in-person school is cancelled. To bring her class and school together, Quinn suggests a project to make masks for a nursing home. The friends then plan a block party for everyone at school and in the community to celebrate their achievements. This engaging Canadian novel describes the pandemic from a teen perspective and highlights the struggles and issues people faced. Suitable as a class read-aloud, a literature circle on overcoming obstacles or dealing with adversity, and a cross-curricular unit on COVID-19 and pandemics.