Broken Trail

by Jean Rae Baxter

BROKEN TRAIL is the story a thirteen-year-old white boy, the son of United Empire Loyalists, who has been captured and adopted by the Oneida people. Striving to find his vision oki that will guide him in his quest to become a warrior, Broken Trail disavows his white heritage--he considers himself Oneida. But everything changes when Broken Trail, alone in the woods on his vision quest, is mistakenly shot by a redcoat soldier.

Genres: Historical Fiction

246 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2011

About the author

Jean Rae Baxter holds a B.A. and M.A. in English from the University of Toronto and a B.Ed degree from Queen’s. She worked in radio before beginning her career as a secondary school English teacher in Lennox & Addington County, twenty miles west of Kingston. During this time she helped to develop curriculum in liaison with the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.

During her career in education, Baxter had little free time for her own writing, although she managed to produce a few poems, professional articles, and one-act plays that have been produced in schools and churches.

In 1996, when she returned from the Kingston area to her hometown, Hamilton, Baxter began to write in earnest. An interest in history had already led her into researching Canada’s past. Now she began to write about it, starting with the short story, “Farewell the Mohawk Valley,” which Ronsdale Press included in its anthology, Beginnings: Stories of Canada’s Past (2001). In 2005, she represented Ronsdale Press in Toronto at the Golden Oak Awards, for which Beginnings was shortlisted.

Baxter surprised herself by the discovery that she had a knack for the noir. The first short story she ever wrote, “The Quilt”, received first prize in the Canadian Writer’s Journal’s 2000 Competition. “Mother Wore a Hat” appeared in Lichen Literary Journal and “Depression Glass” in Other Voices. Insomniac Press published “Loss” in its anthology Hard Boiled Love (2003) and “A Wanton Disregard” in Revenge (2004), “The Catnappers” and “O Little Town” appeared in the Hamilton literary journal, Hammered Out. In 2003 and 2004 Baxter received the Arts Hamilton Award for the best story by a Hamilton writer. She has twice been shortlisted for the Canadian Authors’ Association Conference Contest. Seraphim Editions published her critically acclaimed collection of short stories, A Twist of Malice, in 2005.

She has read at venues in Hamilton, Burlington, Dundas, Toronto, Windsor, Cambridge, Kitchener, Port Hope, Cobourg, Kingston, Napanee, Wellington, Belleville and Trenton as well as at Hamilton’s Festival of Friends, Hamilton’s Grit Lit Festival, at the Eden Mills “Fringe” Festival and at Canadian “ex pat” gatherings in China and Romania.

Her young adult historical novel, The Way Lies North, was published by Ronsdale Press in 2007. For her second novel, which was released in April, 2008, she returned to crime. Her literary murder mystery, Looking for Cardenio, centres upon the discovery of an old manuscript that may be Shakespeare’s lost play.

As a member of Arts Hamilton’s Literary Advisory Committee and as one of the organizers of the LiT LiVe Reading Series, she is an active member of Hamilton’s writing community

Reviews

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a trilogy that Jean Rae Baxter has written and while Broken Trail pertains to one of the characters introduced in The Way Lies North (book 1), it doesn't appear to be part of the trilogy.

I find myself really enjoying these books, it’s the kind of book I wish was around when I was a kid and could begin my love of history back then. With names I remember from history class and in the area that I live makes it all the more enticing for me, reading about things that happened in my backyard, or close to.

Broken Trail is taken on a journey of self-discovery, wrought with danger, remembering the past as well as to the future there are many obstacles and decisions that he has to make along the way. When people from his past appear he has to deal with it along with people who mistrust him - he is white but dressed as a Oneida.

There are three other books that revolve around the characters and time period which I hope to get to in the coming weeks. These are definitely books I recommend, especially for middle-grade ages, a perfect introduction to historical fiction and some of the events that shaped this country.

This book is from my personal library and part of my reading off my shelf challenge for 2019.

[Rita Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Broken Trail, the son of white settlers, becomes separated from his family and is adopted by the Oneida people during the American Revolutionary War. When he finds his long lost brother during a bloody battle, he must decide whether to rescue him or pursue his dream of becoming a full-fledged warrior and win the respect of his adopted family.

This is the second in a trilogy about the American War of Independence and the most compelling of the three stories, in my opinion. Jean Rae Baxter stays firmly in this young boys point of view as he is torn between the bonds of the past and the new life he has chosen. There is enough action and suspense to pull in the most reluctant reader, but it is the story of a boy finding his true path in life that I found most compelling. Skillful prose, just enough historical detail to spark our interest without bogging us down, and pacing that doesn't miss a beat--I highly recommend this for those who love historical fiction or are looking for a YA book with a male protagonist.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book of a trilogy. Continuing the story of Charlotte, her family and neighbours on the journey as Loyalists to safety in Canada. The author introduces the native people, who populated the area at this time. This book is filled with adventure as Charlotte's brothers join the British army to fight the Rebels, and her friend Elijah is kidnapped by Indians and adopted by them. First rate storytelling.

[Rachel Seigel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting to like this, but it was actually a compelling and interesting read. The story largely deals with Broken Trail's struggle with being a white boy living amongst Indians, and his desperate need to be grown up and accepted as a warrior with his tribe. Also fits well with curriculum for aboriginal studies.

[Britt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining, easy read about a white boy kidnapped by the Mohawks and adopted into the tribe. He struggles to come to terms with his two lives and families.