[.ca] Dear Canada: Prisoners in the Promised Land: The ... (ISBN 0439956927)

Skrypuch Shines in Dear Canada Story!:
Marsha Skrypuch has written an absolutely lovely story in this, the newest volume of the Dear Canada series. Prisoners in the Promised Land tells of one family's journey from their home in Austria-Hungary to a new life in the land of promise. Told through the eyes of young Anya Soloniuk, readers will find their hearts fully engaged as they read how Anya and her family's bright hopes are replaced by hardships and imprisonment. Skrypuch manages to maintain a tone that is neither self-pitying nor judgemental. Rather, she expertly sustains the innocent, gentle voice of Anya, who wonders why her family was encouraged to come to a country only to be placed in an internment camp, though they had done nothing wrong. Start to finish, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Slice of History:
Marsha Skrypuch has done a very nice job of casting light on a relatively unknown part of Canadian history. I like her writing style. She settled on one character Anya and built the story around her, her family, her neighbours, her schoolmates, the internment camp guards, the native people near the camp. Her device of getting access to newspapers was simple and effective. The book is aimed at teenaged girls, but should appeal to a much much wider audience. I am a sixty year old male and I enjoyed it very much. Great job.

Powerful story:
Marsha Skrypuch breathes life into a little-known part of Canadian history. Young Anna's roller coaster of hope and despair in Canada's hinterland is haunting. Hard to put down.