Olla-piska: Tales of David Douglas

by Margaret J. Anderson, Ellen Beier (Illustrator)

Winner of the 2005 Stevens Literary Prize

Douglas's student, Sandy, who has run away from home to join the Hudson’s Bay Company, learns about the plants that Douglas methodically collected and identified for science. He befriends T’Catisa, the daughter of Chinook Chief Cockqua, and they spend time with Douglas as he explores a new landscape. Olla-piska is a good introduction for young people and adults alike to one of the most important scientists and explorers to visit the Columbia country.

144 pages, Hardcover

First published April 30, 2006

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has actually been a few years since I read this, but I enjoyed it. It is historical fiction based on what we know about David Douglas, namesake of the ubiquitous Doug-fir tree that covers the landscape near where we live. He sounds like someone I would have liked to cross paths with, though it seems he was too interested in nature to attach himself to too many people in his life!

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

My second reading of this delightful short historical fiction work about David Douglas, the Scottish botanist and explorer who roamed the Pacific Northwest in the early 1800's. This book, well-suited for juvenile readers, relates tales of Douglas's adventures to collect plant specimens to send to the Royal Horticultural Society in England. In one shipment, Douglas sent back nearly 500 specimens from the New World, including the Douglas fir, which is one of many plants and animals in America that carry his name. One of the tales related in this book is Douglas's search for the giant sugar pine cones in the Umpqua territory, where he escaped with his life and three pine cones. He earned the name Olla-Piska from the Chinook Indians around Fort Vancouver. His flaming red hair, sunburned nose, and his ability to light a pipe using a magnifying glass and sun rays, earned him the Chinookian name for 'fire.'

The tales are simple, descriptive, and direct, based on entries from the journals of Douglas and fellow travelers who accompanied him on various parts of his journey--from England to the Pacific Northwest to Hudson's Bay, 1824-27. Another attribute making this book appealing to young readers is the fictional character, a young boy apprenticed to Douglas on the ship from England. This young boy, Sandy Ross, came to America to find his brothers who were employed at the Hudson's Bay Company at Ft. Vancouver. Sandy became employed at the fort, while Douglas came and went on his explorations with trappers and Indian guides. Sandy, who remained at the fort long after Douglas had returned to England, eventually finds his way to the Kew Gardens in England, thus bringing the story of David Douglas full circle.

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written for older kids but a good read, well-written and really interesting. Douglas is a really interesting character and you get a good feeling for what the NW was like before the settlers arrived and the whites were still dependent on the indians.