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Book Cover for: Once on This Island, Gloria Whelan

Once on This Island

Gloria Whelan

Winner:Great Lakes Book Awards -Children's (1996)
It is the summer if 1812 and war has erupted between England and the United States, casting its dark shadow as far as remote, beautiful Mackinac Island. There, young Mary O'Shea suffers many loses. British troops conquer the isalnd. Her beloved father joins the American army on the mainland. And her best friend Gavin, an Indian orphan raised by white settlers, leaves his adoptive home to return to his tribe.

Left only with her sister Angelique, Mary wonders how she will keep her promise to her father to protect the farm in his absence. But with courage and nimble ingenuity, the sisters outsmart British soldiers, endure two harsh winters, and keep their farm intact. Most important, they nurture the dream of a family reunited---until the war ends and their most cherished dream comes true.

Book Details

  • Publisher: HarperCollins
  • Publish Date: Aug 9th, 1996
  • Pages: 192
  • Language: English
  • Edition: undefined - undefined
  • Dimensions: 7.60in - 5.16in - 0.46in - 0.30lb
  • EAN: 9780064406192
  • Recommended age: 08-12
  • Categories: Historical - United States - 19th CenturyHistorical - Military & WarsLifestyles - Farm Life & Ranch Life

About the Author

Whelan, Gloria: -

Gloria Whelan is the bestselling author of many novels for young readers, including Homeless Bird, winner of the National Book Award; Fruitlands: Louisa May Alcott Made Perfect; Angel on the Square; Burying the Sun; Once on This Island, winner of the Great Lakes Book Award; and Return to the Island. She lives in the woods of northern Michigan.

Praise for this book

"Mary provides lively narration that flows along smoothly, and the portrait of the ways of the period and place is a compelling.""--The Kirkus Reviews""Well rounded fiction that incorporates romance, adventure, drama and history.""School Library Journal""Whelan's smooth writing, vivid characters, and strong sense of place make this a good choice for libraries and a treasure for ones in the Great Lakes area."ALA "Booklist"