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Our Canadian Girl: Ellen #1

by Dorothy Joan Harris

  In this beautiful treasury edition, you’ll meet Ellen, who in 1939 lives with her family in Vancouver. After her father loses his job during the Depression, her family is forced to move into her grandfather’s cramped bungalow. In Hobo Jungle , Ellen meets and an out-of-work man named Will and their growing friendship opens Ellen’s eyes to a world more difficult—and more dangerous—than her own. In The Wishing Time , news of the war in Europe dampens everyone’s spirits. But when Japan becomes a hostile aggressor, Ellen discovers that war affects everyone, including children, even thousands of miles away. In The Waiting Time , the community is gripped in fear of the polio epidemic. When Ellen becomes ill and must recuperate at home, she has time to think about what she can do to help the men overseas and how she can cheer up a sick friend. And in the final book of the series, A Time for Courage , Japanese Canadians are now considered “enemies,” and Ellen is worried about what will happen to her Japanese Canadian friend Amy and her family. Welcome to Our Canadian Girl In this wonderful series you will get to know Ellen and many other strong, smart, and courageous girls. They come from different places and times in Canadian history, and each of them meets some ordinary—and extraordinary—challenges in her day-to-day life. www.ourcanadiangirl.ca

Genres: Canada, Historical Fiction, Childrens

96 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2002

About the author

Dorothy Joan Harris was born in Japan and came to Canada in 1938. She began writing for her family and has been writing for her children ever since.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this one! I've only read book 1 of Ellen's story so far, but I'm really looking forward to the rest, especially her relationship with Amy, and how they will approach Japanese internment during the war. I also like it because it's based in Western Canada, and most of the Our Canadian Girl books take place out east.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is not easy for living in the Depression and Ellen is discontented. She soon learns that some people are worse off than her and she becomes thankful for what she does have.