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by Felicity Sidnell Reid (Author), Jirina Marton (Illustrator)
A story for all ages, Alone: a Winter in the Woods quickly engages the reader in thirteen year-old John Turner's adventures. Forced to grow up quickly, while left alone on the family's land grant in a virtually unsettled township, in the winter of 1797, John has to overcome devastating isolation and loneliness. With only a couple of oxen, a pregnant cow, a handful of chickens and his dog to keep him company, everyday tasks become ten times more difficult than they were while Pa was still with him, building their tiny cabin. Meanwhile John's mother has adopted the orphaned Jos phine, who keeps a journal recording the life of the Turners and her own experiences, while the family waits for Pa to return to Adolphustown to escort his wife and young children up the lake to the new settlement once spring allows water traffic to start up again. This tale explores the differences between family life and expectations in the eighteenth century and the present, as John and Jos phine reflect on what home, family, and friendship mean to them and struggle to find the courage, determination and faith needed to face the future. Alone: a Winter in the Woods is written in the spirit and quality of Fredrick Philip Grove's, Governor General Award winning novel, "Settlers of the Marsh". Felicity Sidnell Reid brings the Young reader a spell binding pioneer life story of survival. The young reader will be captivated by vivid descriptions of the northern landscape. This historically accurate story of endurance will be equally enjoyed by girls and boys of any age.
