"A young Native American boy is at the heart of this adventure that takes place nearly 200 years ago. The story centers around the busy fur trading post of Fort William on Lake Superior-the major trading post linking the fur trade of northern and central Canada to the North West Company's main headquarters in Montreal. Voyageurs, easily identified by the red sash they wore, were the men who worked in the fur trade, traveling along the trade routes by canoe. The boy, who longs to be a voyageur like his father, describes his family's life and the role that Fort William played in the opening of the Canadian interior. Readers may also catch the Native name for Lake Superior, Gitchee Gumee. A brief history of Fort William and the North West Company is appended. The map on the inside cover provides geographic context and the beautiful gouache and mixed-media illustrations work well to support the text. Pendziwol's engaging text combines with Debon's vivid and historically accurate illustrations to give an authentic picture of life at a fur trading post in the early 1800s."-it would be a good idea to provide some background information about the Native people, voyageurs, fur trading and their relationships. MN is rich with this history.
B&N.com
