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The Journal

by Lois Donovan

A time-travel device in fiction can work wonders to get kids interested in different eras and places – if it’s executed well. In her second novel for young readers, Calgary author Lois Donovan’s execution is spot on.

the journalThe story opens with almost-13-year-old Kami and her mom moving from Vancouver to Edmonton to live in the grand, historic house Kami’s grandfather has given to her – on the condition that she lives there until her 18th birthday. While cleaning out the attic to make the space her room, Kami finds a journal written by her great-grandmother at age 13. As she begins to read a newspaper clipping tucked into the journal, Kami is suddenly transported back in time.

On her travels back and forth between 1929 and 2004, Kami comes face-to-face with her teenaged great-grandmother and ends up playing a role in famous events, including a mission to deliver diphtheria antidote serum to a remote Northern Alberta village, and the fight to have women recognized as persons. Kami happens to be studying women’s rights activist Emily Murphy at school, and the trips back in time afford her opportunities to see things as they happened. While the vote didn’t afford many minorities (including Kami’s Japanese ancestors) the same rights, the girl ultimately concludes it was a step in the right direction.

The book touches on a number of important historical issues and philosophies in a Canadian context, from women’s rights and racism to family relationships and making a difference. The use of time travel is a smart and engaging way to draw in middle-graders who may be resistant to historical fiction, but what makes Donovan’s book particularly enticing is the level of detail and relatability. Whether it’s a reference to a Kenneth Oppel novel or Kami tumbling from a hiding spot in a closet, small details help readers connect with the character as the story moves back and forth between past and present.

Not only will readers learn about specific moments in history, this delightful book will challenge them to question and consider alternate views of both historical and everyday events.

 

Reviewer: Cara Smusiak

Publisher: Ronsdale Press

DETAILS

Price: $11.95

Page Count: 200 pp

Format: Paper

ISBN: 978-1-55380-350-8

Released: Feb.

Issue Date: January 2015

Categories: Children and YA Fiction

Age Range: 10-15