Winds of L'Acadie

by Lois Donovan

When sixteen-year-old Sarah from Toronto learns that she is to spend the summer with her grandparents in Nova Scotia, she is convinced that it will be the most tedious summer ever. She gets off to a rough start when she meets Luke, the nephew of her grandmother's friend, and one unfortunate event leads to another. Just when she thinks her summer cannot get much worse, she finds herself transported to Acadia in 1755. Here she meets Anne and learns much about the Acadian culture and history and the Acadians' relations with the Mi'kmac people. She also experiences the warmth she has always wanted of a closely knit family. When Sarah realizes that the peace-loving Acadians are about to be torn from their homes and banished to distant shores, she is desperate to find a way to help them. Forced to abandon her pampered, stylish lifestyle, Sarah uncovers a strength and determination she did not know she possessed. Although Sarah has to come to terms with the fact that "you can't change history," she is willing to risk her life to do everything in her power to help her Acadian family, and finds a surprising ally in Luke. "Winds of L'Acadie, " a historical novel for readers ten and up, reveals a painful part of Canadian history through the relationship of two young women from different centuries.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Canada

216 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2006

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the large amount of presented bona fide historical information and details on the mid 18th century expulsion of the Acadians (by the British) from what is now Canada’s Maritime provinces in Lois Donovan's time-travel fantasy Winds of L'Acadie does indeed tend to feel a bit as though the author is lecturing to her readers, since the characters encountered in both the present and later in the past generally have all felt so flesh and blood real, being given a bit of a lecture on Acadia and the Acadian expulsion has not really mattered all that much to me (because these historical lessons also never take over from or interferes with the story) and indeed have even been rather appreciated (as it certainly has shown me that my own historical knowledge of what happened certainly does still contain some rather massive informational holes and gaps).

And unlike some readers who seem to take issue with the fact that Lois Donovan has depicted her main protagonist Sarah as a bit bratty at the beginning of Winds of L'Acadie and consider this overly stereotypical (too much annoying teenager with an attitude like) I personally have actually found Sarah a both relatable and appealing heroine right from page one of Winds of L’Acadie so to speak, perhaps a bit snarky and somewhat vain when she is traveling to and first arrives in Nova Scotia, but Sarah is also never truly nasty unless she has a very good reason for this (and in my opinion and as a shining example, most of Sarah's early negative run ins with co-protagonist Luke are not really her simply being a spoiled and opinionated brat, as Luke also gives Sarah rather many, in other words very ample reasons to not immediately like and appreciate him).

Now with regard to the main narrative and especially concerning the time-travelling scenario of Winds of L'Acadie, I really do love and appreciate (albeit that this is actually an often repeated time travelling theme) that Sarah obviously is in some way destined to go back in time to 18th century Acadia in order to not only help Anne Leblanc and her new husband François Hébert escape deportation (these being Luke's family, his and his aunt Maggie's ancestors) but also to save Anne's little brother from drowning (as he later also turns out to be a relative, an ancestor of Sarah's own family). And it is definitely both interesting and reasonable that after Sarah first goes back in time with the Micmac quill box, she of course has to wait for said quill box to be made and then be given to her in order for Sarah to be able to return to present day Nova Scotia (and then to also be able to return to the past once more in order to help Anne and François escape, although the expulsion of the Acadians of course and sadly cannot be halted).

But as much as I have definitely and indeed both enjoyed Winds of L'Acadie and appreciated the historical information presented (and that yes, Lois Donovan always paints the Acadian expulsion as an act of bigotry and evil and certainly makes many if not most of the British soldiers and especially governor Charles Lawrence appear as total and utterly villainous), I am still not entirely satisfied with Winds of L'Acadie. For one, having Luke by the end of the novel emerge as a possible love interest for Sarah has felt more than a bit trite and silly, as I do not at all consider any part of Winds of L'Acadie as a typical romance or even as a possible typical romance (and furthermore, having Luke tag along when Sarah goes back to 18th century Acadia a second time, this truly has annoyed me, as in my opinion, it kind of feels as though Lois Donovan wants to have a contemporary, a modern young adult male be helping Sarah succeed with her quest, that some kind of male heroics are also supposedly required for Sarah’s rescue plans to succeed). And for two, I also really really do not at all find the cover image for Winds of L’Acadie in any manner visually and aesthetically appealing, because the illustration of Sarah standing alone on what I guess is marshland to my eyes totally seems to focus on her as some kind of romantic (bodice ripper like) heroine and not so much as a time travelling teenager eager to help her Acadian friends escape being expelled from their homes and shipped off like cattle.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sixteen-year old Sarah is sent to Nova Scotia to spend the summer with her grandparents. She expects to be totally bored, but Sarah has visions of a girl in a long green skirt and white apron and discovers that the girl in her vision is dressed in the styles worn by Acadians (French-Canadians in Nova Scotia) in the 1750s. Sarah becomes fascinated by the Acadians and while walking out on the dye, holding her grandfather's heirloom quill and birchbark box, a strong gust of wind carries her away to 1755. Sarah becomes friends with an Acadian girl, Anne, and becomes part of Anne's family for two weeks before returning home. Sarah is determined to help Anne and her family avoid being separated from their loved ones and banished from their homeland. In order to help, she needs assistance from a local boy and learn how to time travel. Sarah must race against time to help her friends.

This book is aimed at a slightly younger audience than Dear Canada. I think it would appeal to 10 year olds more than 12 year olds. The writing is pretty simple and the story is kind of corny. The history is well-researched and I learned a lot from reading this book. I think Anne would make a great doll. Susanna is going to have to time travel to Nova Scotia 1755. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy time travel adventures and historical fiction.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story.

I liked the protagonist, Sarah. She was a likeable character with enough dimensions to her personality to keep her feeling real. Actually, I enjoyed all of the characters and the ways that they interacted with each other.

The book had a touch of romance but Donovan threaded this theme through with a deft hand, always remembering the main theme of the historical look of the Acadian people.

The main idea of the book, the expulsion of the Acadians from Eastern Canada, was very well done. The time-travelling aspect of the book gave the perfect opportunity to provide a realism that would have been lost if looked at strictly from present times. This is an important, shameful, aspect of Canadian history. It is also a story that must be told, especially as it is not taught in our schools (or at least not at the time that I was in school).

Overall, a enjoyable read with well-developed characters, and a solid treatment of a difficult time in Canadian history. After this read, I am looking even more forward to reading Donovan's The Journal.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book because it has history in it. And some romance.

In the book the main character Sarah is using her grandfather's quill box to time travel. When she goes back in time she doesn't know how to get back to present day, because the quill box wasn't even made yet. So in the past she doesn't have the quill box with her anymore. I thought that was interesting and clever.

~ Brienne, 01/14, age: 11

[Kaamla · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writer of this book Lois Donavan teaches at my old school.
I remember her telling my class all about it and so when I changed schools I decided to read it and it was soooo good! For some reason it made me almost cry at the end!

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read and a good lesson in Canadian history.