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Counting on Hope

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Hope and her family travel from England to their new home on an island off the coast of British Columbia in the 1860s. Hope thinks that she has arrived in paradise. She is right … until whiskey traders arrive.

Letia and her family are Lamalcha people who winter on Kuper Island and move to Wallace Island in the summer. The problem is that Letia's summer camp is on the island that the Crown has deeded to Hope's family. When the two girls meet, against the wishes of their mothers, their stories intersect.

Set against the backdrop of the confusing events surrounding the English colonization of British Columbia, and an 1863 naval assault on Kuper Island, Counting on Hope tells the story of two girls whose lives are profoundly changed when their two cultures collide.

Alternating between free verse and prose, Sylvia Olsen follows the girl's individual storylines before, during and after their meeting. She captures the wonder and joy with which Hope and Letia develop their friendship. She also describes the tragic events, suspicion, fear and confusion that characterize so many early encounters between Europeans and the First Peoples. Ultimately a story of hope, this sensitively drawn depiction of innocence lost and wisdom hard won follows Hope and Letia out of childhood, off their island paradise and into the complex realities of an adult world.

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2010

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About the author

Sylvia Olsen

24 books19 followers
Sylvia Olsen is a writer and public speaker living on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. She is the author of several picture books, a number of first readers and novels for young adults and one non fiction—so far. Most of all she is a mother and grandmother and aunty to dozens of nieces and nephews.

Sylvia has spent most of her life living in Tsartlip First Nation, where her children and grandchildren now live. Because Sylvia is non native and her children are of mixed heritage most of her stories are about the place—the time—the experience of where different sorts of people come together. That’s one of the things that interests her the most. It’s one of the things she knows the most about—and like many authors—Sylvia writes about what she knows.

Her newest books are: a historical fiction set in the Gulf Islands called Counting on Hope (Sono Nis, Fall 2009) and A Different Game (Orca Books, Spring 2010). She is currently working on an adult non fiction and dreaming up a new story for a Young Adult novel (making it up is her favourite part of the writing process).

Writing is Sylvia’s most important hobby. She also loves to draw, sew, knit and design clothing. Her ‘real’ job is in housing. Her career, her dedication and her passion are to make sure everyone has a healthy place to live.

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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
6 reviews
November 25, 2016
Counting on Hope is a book for children 11+. A story told from the perspective of a young Indigenous girl from the Coast Salish People, and from the perspective of a young girl from England. It is a book about first contact and the difficulties that come with different views of the world.

After reading this novel, our 6/7th grade class spent a week with the Penelakut People on Cooper Island, the English name given to the Penelakut Territory.

A generous, welcoming people with many stories to tell of their lives affected by colonization.

Sylvia Olsen's book began many discussions with our class, with many cross curricular lessons. You can read about our journey with Counting on Hope here: https://www.edu.uwo.ca/hirg/documents...

I highly recommend this novel for children 11+.
467 reviews25 followers
January 8, 2022
This work of historical fiction is based on events that really happened during the initial period of contact between Europeans and Aboriginal peoples in the Gulf Islands off the coast of British Columbia. The story is told from two perspectives by young girls whose families are at the centre of events. A family who moved from England is somewhat divided over the safety of their home on an island, and a family of Aboriginal people are divided over what to think of these new people who have come to their home. Racism and fear are central to the story and it is interesting to read how fear is spread and the havoc it brings on both families.
Profile Image for Julia.
148 reviews3 followers
May 8, 2017
This was an excellent and unique read. It will stay with me for a long time. A must read.
Profile Image for Jennifer Wardrip.
Author 5 books516 followers
November 26, 2012
Reviewed by Kira M for TeensReadToo.com

Told in alternating points of view, the author tells the story of two girls from two different worlds. One from England and one from the Lamalcha tribe.

Despite culture clashing and prejudice aroused by whisky traders in the hopes of causing trouble, the two become best friends and even exchange dolls to remember each other by. When tragedy strikes and Hope's father and sister are killed in a storm, prejudices get dangerously out of control, terror is taken to a new level on both sides, and peace threatens to be destroyed.

Can cultural differences be put aside so that understanding and forgiveness can come?

An endearing, tragic story that gives a historical example of what can happen when people let prejudice get in the way of truth. Although fictional, the characters are memorable, the plot is emotional, and the writing is well done.

Readers who like historical fiction will enjoy reading COUNTING ON HOPE.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Grazyna Nawrocka.
504 reviews2 followers
January 14, 2016
It was interesting to find out about this piece of our history. I enjoyed different format of expression used for each of girls, and psychological similarities in their attitudes. The story of Hope and Letia is affected by society, culture and history, and not always the most uplifting. The characters were credible and I enjoyed reading about them.
471 reviews2 followers
July 23, 2015
Interesting perspectives from both sides - First Nations and British settlers.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews

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