Description
Book SynopsisUpper Canada, 1804, on the edge of Chippewa territory. Flora MacCallum wakes from a malarial coma and witnesses the staggering loss her siblings have endured during their first days on the mosquito-infested banks of the Chenail Ecarte. Lured from the Isle of Mull by Lord Selkirk's promise of fertile grazing land and freedom far from the Highland clearances, Flora's father staked his life to bring his family across the Atlantic. During the struggling frontier settlement's first bleak North American winter, Flora discovers hope through an unlikely friendship. The eldest son of a Chippewa chief offers Flora the gift of his mother tongue, shifting Flora's relationship with the land and the truth of her own spirit. But as their furtive fellowship attracts attention, conflicts soon arise... An arresting debut novel told in swift, lyrical prose. Anangokaa captures the bleak magnificence of the Canadian wilderness through the eyes of a complex, traumatised, and intelligent young protagonist in Flora.
Trade ReviewPraise for Anangokaa: "Deep and dramatic, this engrossing family story will haunt readers." --Kirkus "Lyrical... Anangokaa embeds the experiences of Upper Canada's early Scottish immigrants in the story of an enigmatic girl who comes of age in a foreign wilderness." --Foreword Reviews; "Anangokaa is a beautiful and thought-provoking coming-of-age story, with the spirit and will to survive, love, and friendship, and outstanding characters." --Readers' Favourite; "A gold mine of splendidly researched information about the hardships presented by a feral land, and native tribal customs and culture-a must-read for everyone interested in Canadian Indigenous history." --Historical Novel Society; "Anangokaa deserves to be on the bookshelf of every reader who is a fan of historical fiction" --Ann Weisgarber, The Glovemaker ;"A must-read for those familiar with the Baldoon Settlement, those who want to learn more about Ontario's indigenous people, and for everyone who cares about matters of the heart." --Pam Wright, Chatham Voice
