Men of Stone
Gayle Friesen
 The novel follows protagonist Ben Conrad, a fifteen-year-old boy struggling with family affairs, school, and bullying. Ben is surrounded by girls at home: three older sisters and his mother. His father died when he was only five years old. Now that he has grown older, he knows he has to step up and be the man of his family. His Aunt Frieda comes to visit and he finds out how strong an old woman can truly be. The plot contains the story of Aunt Frieda's past life in Russia and her love and determination for her family. Rapidly, the two start building an unexpected relationship that strengthens both, especially Ben who learns to stand up for himself and believe in what he does.