The Last Goin' Off

by Rhian Calcott

When his father and older brother are lost at sea, fourteen-year-old Aaron Conrad finds himself the reluctant ‘head of the household’ and family breadwinner. His dream to continue his education beyond what is available at the Lunenburg Academy is now in peril. Aaron is forced to pursue the life of a fisherman aboard the very boat that claimed the lives of his family members. Set in Blue Rocks at the turn of the twentieth century, "The Last Goin’ Off" is a story of sacrifice and discovery.

Paperback

Published September 9, 2020

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Goin’ Off is set in Nova Scotia at the turn of the 20th century. After his father and older brother are lost at sea, Aaron has to step up and start earning for the family. Only 14 years old, Aaron sets off on the same boat his father and brother never returned from.

I love reading books by local authors and this was no exception. Written from Aaron’s point of view, this book was heartbreaking and spellbinding. Despite having lived in Nova Scotia my whole life, I don’t know much about fishing or the history of Nova Scotia. This book was incredibly interesting besides being a heartfelt story.

This is a quick read, coming in at less than 200 pages, and I highly recommend it to all my fellow east coasters! I am giving The Last Goin’ Off 4⭐️.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Sue Slade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel portrays a possible reality of a 14-year-old boy coming-of-age at the turn of the 20th century in a coastal community, where the luxury of schooling was denied to many kids who had to help support their families, and fishing was a means of support. I loved the talk of the poor man's meal- lobster sandwiches, which my mother used to tell me about. Without novels such as these, many aspects of what life was like at the turn of the 20th century may be forgotten.

[Chris]

My daughter loved this book. I worried it would be over her head but she got the gist and stayed interested throughout. There are some stark scenes with corpses may distribute younger readers. The writing was excellent, the voices of early 20th century south shore fishermen beautifully rendered. The protagonist’s dilemma was simple yet fascinating, the ending believable yet satisfying.

[Kerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love historical fiction because it takes one back in time. This book definitely transports the reader back in time to a rural Nova Scotia fishing village. It makes you realize the hardship that came with fishing at that time - the loss of lives and the difficulties families faced in the wake of loss. Young children had to grow up very fast when their father was lost at sea. They then had to turn around and go out onto those waters to support their family. They were very brave and strong young people.

[Larissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @nevermorepress for this gifted copy of The Last Goin’ Off in exchange for my thoughts and review!

The Last Goin’ Off is a YA novel told in the first person by Aaron, a young man who i unfortunately becomes the “man of the house” and main breadwinner by joining the crew of a fishing schooner called the Florence in rural Nova Scotia at the turn of the century.
Aaron would much rather stay in school and doesn’t much like the idea of fishing, but he does what he needs to do to take care of his family.

It is steeped in Nova Scotian history and rural fishing village culture, complete with a glossary for the terminology that may not have lasted the test of time. I really enjoy historical fiction and this topic is one we don’t often get so I was glad for that!
I also really liked Aaron and his perseverance through his changes in situation.

As with many YA novels, I wish it had a little bit more depth for myself but I think it would be a fantastic read for a younger reader (or anyone) with an interest in Nova Scotian history.

3.75⭐️

[Meredith C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down!
I'll admit I'm a sucker for Canadian literature, but I was completely engrossed in this novel and couldn't take my eyes off it! After his father and older brother die, 14 year old Aaron becomes the 'man of the house' and finds himself out on a fishing boat trying to provide for his family. The story was somehow scary, inspirational, and educational all at once. I've spent a fair amount of time on the east coast but I learned so much about Nova Scotia fishing culture at the turn of the century. Truly a great piece of historical fiction, I wish this had been required reading back when I was in high school!