Description
Selected by CBC as a young adult novel to read in spring 2023.
A coming- of-age story filled with heroism and heartbreak for 13-year-old Acadian Nathalie Belliveau. Separated from her family during the brutal 1755 expulsion of Acadians from Grand-Preé, Nova Scotia, Nathalie escapes and travels more than 150 kilometres on foot to Cap-Sable. When the compassionate Amirault family takes her in, she falls for their shy son Ange. But her happiness is shattered by another wave of deportations by the British that keep the young lovers apart. Based on the real lives of two Acadian families the novel is grounded in the historic facts of the Acadian expulsion.
Fiction. Young Adult.
“Blends historical characters and facts with well-researched and imaginative fiction to give her young adult readers lots of Canadian history as well as adventure and romance. Recommended.”
—CM: Canadian Review of Materials
With lyrical and masterful storytelling Amirault Camelin seamlessly weaves fact and fiction drawing us deep into the lives, losses, and longings of her vivid characters. We are caught up in this sweeping tale, rooting for Nathalie Belliveau, a resilient and fascinating Canadian heroine.
—Caroline Pignat, Governor General's Award Winner (2009 and 2015)
Overflowing with tragedy and romance, Camelin's stories-within-story expertly layer solid research into a compelling narrative.
—Gabriele Goldstone, author of Crow Stone
Author Bio
Debra Amirault Camelin is an Acadian with ancestral roots in Nova Scotia. Her 2019 poetry collection, Light in the Mist, includes several poems highlighting her Acadian connections. She has a Bachelor of Journalism degree from Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario and she currently lives in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.
Author City: YARMOUTH, NS CAN