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True Moxie: A Pacific Northwest Historical Fiction Series
“A page-turner with heart and compelling characters!” – Amazon review
2025 Finalist - The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Summer 1991. Sixteen-year-old Maia lives a peaceful life with her loving parents, surrounded by the stunning rural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. But when Maia’s mother is diagnosed with cancer, their family is plunged into turmoil—a period Maia dubs The Summer of Hell.
Twelve months later, Maia and her father still don’t speak of the year’s tragedies. Just weeks before Maia’s high school graduation, they struggle through their days side-by-side in near silence. Things look up when Maia’s father gets back to work. But when she joins the first guiding trip of the season, disaster strikes again. Maia must learn to believe in her own strength before nature destroys all hope of saving her injured father and her newfound friend, Jack.
True Moxie is at once an exquisite ode to British Columbia’s old-growth forests, a compelling coming-of-age story, and a surprising tale of family secrets. This fast-paced, riveting, and ultimately uplifting adventure reminds us how, even when life takes us on a detour, stubbornness and love take us where we belong.
True Moxie is a work of fiction, but deals with many real issues including bullying, injury, and death. For more content warnings, please go to Sylvia's website. But beware of spoilers!
2025 Finalist - The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Summer 1991. Sixteen-year-old Maia lives a peaceful life with her loving parents, surrounded by the stunning rural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. But when Maia’s mother is diagnosed with cancer, their family is plunged into turmoil—a period Maia dubs The Summer of Hell.
Twelve months later, Maia and her father still don’t speak of the year’s tragedies. Just weeks before Maia’s high school graduation, they struggle through their days side-by-side in near silence. Things look up when Maia’s father gets back to work. But when she joins the first guiding trip of the season, disaster strikes again. Maia must learn to believe in her own strength before nature destroys all hope of saving her injured father and her newfound friend, Jack.
True Moxie is at once an exquisite ode to British Columbia’s old-growth forests, a compelling coming-of-age story, and a surprising tale of family secrets. This fast-paced, riveting, and ultimately uplifting adventure reminds us how, even when life takes us on a detour, stubbornness and love take us where we belong.
True Moxie is a work of fiction, but deals with many real issues including bullying, injury, and death. For more content warnings, please go to Sylvia's website. But beware of spoilers!
247 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2022
229 people are currently reading
238 people want to read
About the author
Sylvia Bourgeois
2 books7 followersSylvia Bourgeois was born and raised on northern Vancouver Island, in some of British Columbia’s most beautiful small communities. Sylvia now lives in Fanny Bay, and she considers her family, friends, and time outside to be most important to her. If she isn’t working her day job or on a boat with her husband, you can find her creating fine foods in her kitchen. True Moxie is Sylvia’s first young adult novel.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
November 1, 2022
This coming of age story revolves around Maia, a capable young woman in her graduation year of high school in a close-knit remote town bordering the wilderness. She is trying to find her own way to the next stage of her life.
Unpredictable circumstances find Maia paired with Jack, a city kid, and they are confronted with the dangers of this remote area. A storm has come up and she is forced to make life and death decisions with the help of her inexperienced companion.
Sylvia Borgeois tells Maia’s story in the voice of this compelling teenager on her journey to adulthood. The love for the wilds of Northern Vancouver Island and her love for friends and family resonate!
This is a fast paced and engaging novel!
Unpredictable circumstances find Maia paired with Jack, a city kid, and they are confronted with the dangers of this remote area. A storm has come up and she is forced to make life and death decisions with the help of her inexperienced companion.
Sylvia Borgeois tells Maia’s story in the voice of this compelling teenager on her journey to adulthood. The love for the wilds of Northern Vancouver Island and her love for friends and family resonate!
This is a fast paced and engaging novel!
October 29, 2022
True Moxie brought me back to my small pacific coastal home-town. I felt like I was walking through the halls of my high school right beside Maia. Descriptions of the coastal scenery, along with the hiking trails early in the season brought me back to many of my own adventures as a teen exploring the pacific coast.
It was easy to relate to Maia as she navigates coming of age and facing adversity. The author captures the complex details in relationships between both family and friends. The characters within the story illustrate the essence of small-town coastal living with the community spirit and everyone in town knowing your business.
It was easy to relate to Maia as she navigates coming of age and facing adversity. The author captures the complex details in relationships between both family and friends. The characters within the story illustrate the essence of small-town coastal living with the community spirit and everyone in town knowing your business.
November 1, 2022
What an adventure I've been on since starting Sylvia Bourgeois' debut YA novel! True Moxie kept me page-turning on several levels. Initially I was drawn to the prospect of a journey through the beautifully rugged old growth forests and beaches of West Coast BC. What I found by the end was a journey highlighting the rural/urban relationship in Western Canada, dispelling stereotypes and first impressions, and coping with the changes and fear that we often feel when faced with both death and survival.
Bourgeois deftly mirrors the gruelling physical journey of the characters with the inner challenges that Maia, Jack, Maia's Dad, and Anna face. Maia is a strong protagonist -- skilled in outdoor survival; appreciative and knowledgable about the forces of nature in her West Coast home. She's no-nonsense when it comes to keeping guests safe and comfortable in her Dad's adventure guiding business. But devastating circumstances force her to face her own vulnerability and to find the courage to accept and transcend it. She grows -- as does Jack, the city-slicker guide guest who learns more about the power of nature and his place in it than he bargained for. Relationships with parents -- both present and absent -- add an important layer to the story as Maia and Jack navigate both their relationship to nature and to each other.
The connections between characters in this book never felt contrived to me. It's great to read a YA novel where relationships evolve at a natural pace and complexities and nuances are handled honestly.
Bourgeois deftly mirrors the gruelling physical journey of the characters with the inner challenges that Maia, Jack, Maia's Dad, and Anna face. Maia is a strong protagonist -- skilled in outdoor survival; appreciative and knowledgable about the forces of nature in her West Coast home. She's no-nonsense when it comes to keeping guests safe and comfortable in her Dad's adventure guiding business. But devastating circumstances force her to face her own vulnerability and to find the courage to accept and transcend it. She grows -- as does Jack, the city-slicker guide guest who learns more about the power of nature and his place in it than he bargained for. Relationships with parents -- both present and absent -- add an important layer to the story as Maia and Jack navigate both their relationship to nature and to each other.
The connections between characters in this book never felt contrived to me. It's great to read a YA novel where relationships evolve at a natural pace and complexities and nuances are handled honestly.
April 26, 2025
This outstanding narrative pulled me right into Maia's homelife and a recent unspeakable tragedy that she was still trying to accept as she resumed the demands of her daily life. The best stories do that. They completely immerse the reader in the lives and situations of the characters. Maia and her father had put aside the breath-stealing grief caused by the recent loss of a beloved family member and were trying to earn a living as wilderness guides in the extremely wild and incredibly beautiful Pacific Northwest old growth forest. I was completely captivated by the scenery described in these pages while the wildlife and the untold dangers of this isolated and volatile part of British Columbia, left me terrified. I will never forget this fast-paced, action- packed outdoor drama or the characters that brought their stories to life in this book. Very Good Read!!!!!
March 20, 2025
True Moxie is the story of Maia, a young girl in small PNW town. She's already facing major issues with the recent loss of her mother and a disfiguring injury to her hand. On top of that, she needs to being guiding with her father - a gruff man facing demons of his own. When they take a mother and son out for the first trip of the season, things go horribly wrong horribly fast, setting Maia and handsome Jack on a dangerous trek through remote wilderness to save their parents.
Sylvia wonderfully weaves an adventure story, full of authentic details and realistic obstacles, weather, and adversaries, together with a fraught teen romance that will have your heart fluttering - no matter your age.
Pick up this book (and its delicious waxy cover) and read it, ASAP.
Sylvia wonderfully weaves an adventure story, full of authentic details and realistic obstacles, weather, and adversaries, together with a fraught teen romance that will have your heart fluttering - no matter your age.
Pick up this book (and its delicious waxy cover) and read it, ASAP.
October 24, 2024
3.5 STARS
This is very much a young adult story, but I still enjoyed it. Maia and her dad are leading Jack and his mom on their outdoor adventure when everything hits the fan. Maia and Jack are forced to hike out in bad weather to find help.
I liked the outdoor setting and the survival aspect. While Maia was a pretty competent guide, she was still a teenager, and made some dumb decisions at times, which made her more realistic. It was a bit too heavy on the romance aspect, but the aftermath put it more in perspective.
I enjoyed this enough to read something else by this author.
This is very much a young adult story, but I still enjoyed it. Maia and her dad are leading Jack and his mom on their outdoor adventure when everything hits the fan. Maia and Jack are forced to hike out in bad weather to find help.
I liked the outdoor setting and the survival aspect. While Maia was a pretty competent guide, she was still a teenager, and made some dumb decisions at times, which made her more realistic. It was a bit too heavy on the romance aspect, but the aftermath put it more in perspective.
I enjoyed this enough to read something else by this author.
March 1, 2025
What an Adventure!
Hang on tight because this book is like holding onto the back end a roller coaster. I just finished reading it and am exhausted from the anguish I felt from all the trials endured by the characters that are so well moulded that they feel like family. The descriptive text is so well written that I could almost see, feel and smell the flora and fauna that “we” trekked through in order to find help. I couldn’t put it down and thoroughly enjoyed every chapter!
Hang on tight because this book is like holding onto the back end a roller coaster. I just finished reading it and am exhausted from the anguish I felt from all the trials endured by the characters that are so well moulded that they feel like family. The descriptive text is so well written that I could almost see, feel and smell the flora and fauna that “we” trekked through in order to find help. I couldn’t put it down and thoroughly enjoyed every chapter!
October 30, 2025
The setting of this his young adult novel creates an enjoyable read for older adult readers as well. The teenage protagonists deal with situations that would challenge most adults. The author weaves issues of two young people struggling with personal challenges along with an exciting story of physical survival. More than an adventure story - it is a lesson in resilience and determination. I imagine a young person reading this book might be left with a sense of the power of their own untried capabilities.
November 22, 2024
Reading a book revolving around your hometown is so cool. I could picture the hallways of the high school perfectly.
I have never hiked the North Coast trail, but friends of mine have, and she said it's described perfectly.
I couldn't put this book down, I had to know what was going to happen to Maia and Jack and their parents.
Their hike is very chaotic. Everything seems to go wrong.
I loved how they kept each other going throughout the hike.
This is a quick read, but it's very enjoyable!
I have never hiked the North Coast trail, but friends of mine have, and she said it's described perfectly.
I couldn't put this book down, I had to know what was going to happen to Maia and Jack and their parents.
Their hike is very chaotic. Everything seems to go wrong.
I loved how they kept each other going throughout the hike.
This is a quick read, but it's very enjoyable!
January 8, 2026
Excellent read! All I wanted to do was get back to this book to see what would happen next. It had great, complex characters and an action filled storyline. I especially loved that it was set on the west coast of BC and despite the horrible time they had on the hike, it weirdly made me yearn for hiking season to come around again. Great adventure story.
January 15, 2026
great read
Honestly I had no idea what to expect. At first I thought this was going to be about school life for a troubled teen. I was pleasantly surprised, as the island adventure unfolded, the race against time in the beautiful yet dangerous wilderness of Vancouver island. Excellent read!!
Honestly I had no idea what to expect. At first I thought this was going to be about school life for a troubled teen. I was pleasantly surprised, as the island adventure unfolded, the race against time in the beautiful yet dangerous wilderness of Vancouver island. Excellent read!!
November 3, 2022
It's hard not to get caught up with these characters and to feel the highs and lows with them as they work through trauma both past and present. Enjoyed this novel and hope to see another from this author!
October 29, 2023
Totally a feel good novel!
Although there were definitely struggles depicted in this novel, it made me relaxed and put me in nature with the characters. One of the best reads in a while.
Although there were definitely struggles depicted in this novel, it made me relaxed and put me in nature with the characters. One of the best reads in a while.
November 7, 2023
True Moxie
Loved loved this story! I couldn’t stop reading and thinking about it. The characters came to life for me….the story was so descriptive I felt I was with the characters all along their journey. This would make an excellent movie!
Loved loved this story! I couldn’t stop reading and thinking about it. The characters came to life for me….the story was so descriptive I felt I was with the characters all along their journey. This would make an excellent movie!
March 8, 2025
great book
I love Maia, fighting off wildlife and trecking through wilderness. Great storytelling, I could see the wilderness, feel her sorrow (even shed a few tears), and smell the forest and ocean. I loved this book
I love Maia, fighting off wildlife and trecking through wilderness. Great storytelling, I could see the wilderness, feel her sorrow (even shed a few tears), and smell the forest and ocean. I loved this book
June 5, 2025
A beautifully written novel that is an adventure, a romance and a coming of age quest for two young people. Each of the characters is in pain from loss and each must search for strength in time of adversity. The author shows a deep love and knowledge of nature in all its beauty and danger.
June 11, 2023
Great debut novel!
September 9, 2023
I enjoyed this thrilling short read, meant for young adults. As an Island dweller, the author captures the sounds, smells and dangers of the wild coastline.
January 5, 2024
I couldn’t put this book down! Very well written!
February 5, 2024
True moxie
I liked this story and it was a quick read ! I hope there is a second book of this story !
I liked this story and it was a quick read ! I hope there is a second book of this story !
February 10, 2024
Easy reading young adult book, full of adventure, lots of wildlife and scenery but not very descriptive, but I still enjoyed the book
February 28, 2024
What an incredible beautiful story...absolutely loved it. Cant wait for more.
March 16, 2024
Great read
This is a interesting book with challenging hardships to great detail of the mountains, forest and rivers. Kept my interest throughout the book.
This is a interesting book with challenging hardships to great detail of the mountains, forest and rivers. Kept my interest throughout the book.
April 27, 2024
Wilderness adventure
I loved the wilderness setting. The progression of relationships. The realistic emotions of all the characters and the description of all the events.
I loved the wilderness setting. The progression of relationships. The realistic emotions of all the characters and the description of all the events.
June 7, 2024
A face-paced adventure tale in a breath-taking setting.
December 29, 2024
An amazing tale
The author has created an unusual and unique plot to go with an imaginative group of characters making this hard to put down
The author has created an unusual and unique plot to go with an imaginative group of characters making this hard to put down
November 18, 2025
A beautiful story of resilience and growth. True Moxie is a survival story in more ways than one, beautifully written and unforgettable.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews