The Girls They Left Behind by Bernice Thurman Hunter

Title: The Girls They Left Behind
Author: Bernice Thurman Hunter
Published: March 2005
Published By: Fitzhenry & Whiteside
Format Read: Trade Paperback
Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Canadian Fiction
Date Read: May 13, 2016
Rating: 4/5

In the summer of 1943, seventeen year old Beryl (or Natalie as she would prefer to be called) began to write in a diary she named Dolores. A regular event has been seeing off local boys with a hug, kiss and promise to write at Union Station as they head off to war. However none of these departures could compare to saying goodbye to her cousin and best friend Carmen. Natalie describes life in war-time Toronto, attending dances with servicemen, seeing newsreels about invasions and reading lists with the names of those who would not return. She would join the war effort working first at The John Ingalls Company making machine guns, then for De Havilland making Mosquitoes.

I was first introduced to Bernice Thurman Hunter’s books in elementary school with her trilogy about a young girl growing up in Toronto during the Great Depression. “Booky” instantly became one of my favourite books. However it wasn’t until recently that I came across The Girls They Left Behind after all these years. While I do plan to purchase a copy for my own at some point, I couldn’t wait to read it especially after I saw it on the shelf at my local library.

In The Girls They Left Behind, Natalie is feeling left behind as the boys she grew up with are sent away to war. The author wrote this story with her own memories from that time period in mind. Fortunately young women of the past several generations haven’t had to deal with losses of the magnitude from Thurman Hunter’s generation. Though I felt that she wrote the character of Natalie with traits that girls of today could still relate to.

The most enjoyable part of this book for me was the cultural and setting references from that time. Including the fashion, responsibilities, family dynamics and more specifically the locations around the city. It gave a quick glimpse of life in Canada during the turbulent years of war. The diary and letter style format made for a fast and enjoyable read.

Unfortunately Bernice Thurman Hunter was in the middle of writing Natalie’s story when she passed away in 2002. Her daughter Heather Anne Hunter would complete writing it in her honor and I believe she would be proud of how it all came together.

The Girls They Left Behind is young adult fiction, but I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in historical fiction focusing on the home front during wartime. 

Perdita by Hilary Scharper

Title: Perdita
Author: Hilary Scharper
First Published: April 2013
Published By: Touchstone
Format Read: Trade Paperback
Genre: Historical Fiction, Paranormal/Fantasy
Read: Jan 24 2015
Rating: 3.5/5

(Image from Goodreads)

I received a copy of Perdita by Hilary Scharper, from the author in return for an honest review.

Garth Hellyer, a historian and writer is doing research in an Ontario nursing home interviewing its residents for a “Longevity Project”, in search for the oldest person in the world. It is here that he is introduced to a woman by the name of Marged Brice, who claims she is 134 years old. The only document of her existence is a birth certificate stating that she was born on November 13, 1878 in Montreal Quebec. She entrusts Garth with her journals, which take readers back to April 1883, when Marged would have been 18 years old. She was the daughter of a lighthouse keeper of Cape Prius, on the Bruce Peninsula of Georgian Bay. There she lived in a cottage with her father, unwell mother, Aunt and Uncle. No stranger to furious storms, Marged and her family witness several shipwrecks, where the outcome plays throughout the novel. Nearby are two lodges owned by dear family friends; The Stewarts and a Doctor named McTavish, who studies birds. Although much of the book is in the form of journal entries, parts follow the journey Garth takes in his research to discover if the woman who claims to be Marged Brice is indeed as old as she states, what her connection with a famous Canadian artist George Stewart is and who exactly is Perdita. Meanwhile Garth connects with a childhood friend named Clare and we learn of the devastating events he experienced. Coincidentally, their family cottages was located near where Marged lived with her family near the lighthouse many years before. 

“Perdita” could be described as part historical fiction, part fantasy, with Greek mythology thrown in. 

The style of writing in this book reminded me somewhat of Kate Morton, in the way we are given clues as to the mystery a little bit at a time. When I began to think I had figured out part of the mystery the plot moves on and a different opinion was formed. Nearing the end of the book I began to wonder if readers would ever find out who or what Perdita was. There were parts I found to be misleading and drawn out. Although for the most part the storyline is wrapped up in the end, I felt that there were holes left incomplete. An example of this is the love triangle between Marged, George and Andrew. Perhaps this was intentional by the author, but it left me feeling slightly unsatisfied.  I can understand how this might deter readers. 

This would have been the case for me, if it weren’t for the wonderful setting. As previously mention this novel is mainly set on Georgian Bay, at the north-east tip of the Bruce Peninsula. A map of the area is included on the first page. Having vacationed up in that area (Tobermory to be specific), I was able to vividly picture the surroundings. As I read I decided to do some research into the area mentioned in the book. I wondered if Marged’s Cape Prius was a real place. I learned that the author based Cape Prius on a place called Cabot Head.  I also read about some shipwrecks in that area, that may have inspired those included in the plot. Due to her mother’s illness, Marged accompanies her to Toronto for a winter to convalesce. I was able to recognize many locations that are still prominent in the city today.  The historical time period: the late 1800’s, was another aspect of this book that I really enjoyed. 

While I love reading historical fiction, I can’t exactly say the same for paranormal or fantasy. As we near the end of the journal entries, it seemed more and more like a descent into madness, rather than something magical in nature, until readers are returned to present day. Although I realize that this book is about Marged, I would have liked to have discovered more of the mystery from Garth’s perspective.

I find that some authors try to make their historical characters, sound more modern. Perhaps as a way of connecting with readers. However this was not the case with this novel.  The Victorian language used in Marged’s journal entries felt very believable. As if it were really written during that time period. The vast knowledge of the author Hilary Scharper, really comes across in her writing, especially in the parts of “Perdita” that included Dr McTavish’s ornithology and Greek mythology.

My rating for this novel is 3.5/5 and I would recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction, paranormal, fantasy and Greek mythology.

I love when a book inspires me to do further research into the characters, plot, time-frame or setting. “Perdita” has inspired me to travel up that way again. It is a trip I hope to make this coming summer and it would make a great topic for “ML’s Bookish Adventures”. A search led me to the website for the Cabot Head Lighthouse. For those interested in learning more about this location, the website can be found at the following links:
Website:
http://www.cabothead.ca/

Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/CabotHead

Blog:
https://cabotheadlighthouse.wordpress.com/