With Nothing But Our Courage: The Loyalist Diary of Mary MacDonald

Dear Canada

by Karleen Bradford

When Mary's family sides with the British against the American rebels, they are branded traitors and forced to flee their home. All they have is what they can carry with them — and their determination and courage — when they head north toward Canada.
Along with other Loyalists they hope to start a new life in Québec, where there is land for those who have been loyal to the King. But the journey is treacherous, the winter bitterly cold, and the MacDonalds find it hard to survive. Even with the supplies from Britain, clearing the land to build their home is a struggle. . . But will they even survive to forge a new life in a new land?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Historical, Canada, Middle Grade, Fiction, Young Adult

221 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now before I actually start reviewing Karleen Bradford’s With Nothing but Our Courage: The Loyalist Diary of Mary MacDonald I want to point out this. For all intents and purposes, the United Empire Loyalists were ALL REFUGEES, and thus, for ANY contemporary Canadians spewing racial bigotry and animosity towards recent refugees from places like Syria and Afghanistan, well, if your own ancestors were United Empire Loyalists, your animosity towards recent refugees is not only totally unacceptable considering your family background, but yes, you also are majorly denigrating and trashing your brave refugee ancestors and the hardships they as United Empire Loyalists had to generally endure both on their often desperate escapes from the USA northwards and later when they were attempting to settle and make new lives for themselves and theirs.

And yes indeed, of the Dear Canada series, With Nothing but Our Courage: The Loyalist Diary of Mary MacDonald has most definitely been one of my favourites to date. For one, With Nothing but Our Courage: The Loyalist Diary of Mary MacDonald features a both important and also interesting piece of Canadian history (since the settlement of much of Quebec, Ontario and parts of the Maritimes was indeed very much influenced and shaped by the post American Revolution arrival of many thousands of Loyalists, by the arrival of scores of refugees from the recently declared independent United States of America). And for two, with young (and of course also fictional) diarist Mary MacDonald, author Karleen Bradford has certainly created a both immensely likeable and personally relatable twelve year old main protagonist, whose narrative voice in With Nothing but Our Courage: The Loyalist Diary of Mary MacDonald absolutely sparkles with presented realism, detailing in the journal entries the many hardships the MacDonald family as Loyalists have to endure on their trek northwards to Canada after being chased out of Albany, New York (not only losing their home and being called traitors by most of their former neighbours and friends, but also having to face their youngest daughter’s death en route), but of course also showing the MacDonalds’ fortitude, and yes, their courage, moving slowly from despair to hope and also accepting that their settlement in Canada, in what is now Canada, will be permanent, that there will in fact be no return to the USA and to the family’s former life.

Highly recommended is With Nothing but Our Courage: The Loyalist Diary of Mary McDonald, but with the caveat that young Mary’s featured diary does pretty well depict and portray nearly all of the American “patriots” as being total and utterly ruthless villains (which is of course rather one-sided at best, but considering that Karleen Bradford has Mary MacDonald experience first had and at a young age her family being called traitors, her father’s school being burned down and them all being threatened with physical violence, even with hanging if the MacDonalds do not pack up and immediately leave, in my opinion, her reaction in her diary is understandable and entirely natural).

[Hannah Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Considering I read this as an adult and it's written for children, I didn't have super high expectations for quality of authorship and historical authenticity. I was pleasantly surprised. The story was interesting enough to draw me in, and the history was good, down to the small details like herbal remedies. I read the book with friends while reenacting part of the experience of Loyalist refugees at an event at Ft. Saint Jean in Quebec, which was slightly surreal.
I highly recommend the Dear America/Canada books for kids, but also for adults. They're a quick, but enjoyable read. Good on the author for doing her research.

[kiki · Rating 5 out of 5]

that's my first dear Canada book I ever read and it was the book that encourage me to read more dear canada series. it was a sweet story and make me tear up at the end. The ending was expected but it was still sad.

[Rossdavidh · Rating 3 out of 5]

My daughter has been reading "American Girl" and "Dear America" books for several years now, and they have introduced her to a number of different periods in American history. It occurred to me that there might be an advantage in getting the Canadian perspective on a few of these, so I ordered a few books in the "Dear Canada" series. I figured it would make sense for me to read them first before making my daughter read them. This book, which is the diary of a girl in a Loyalist family in the aftermath of the American Revolution, is the first one.

The book's very first page lets you know that this is not the American point of view. The Patriots who eject Mary MacDonald's family from their Albany home are not very nice about it, and we get the clear impression that they were willing to be a whole lot meaner if the MacDonald family didn't take the hint (if "hint" is the right word for having your house trashed while you're in it). The book tells of the journey of this family (eventually meeting up with other Loyalist families) north into Canada, then further north up to the point where they have been given land to settle. It's sort of like "Little House on the Prairie", but with a very different start; the MacDonalds are refugees, not settlers.

In any kids' book on history, there is a question of how to balance the young readers' sensitivities with the need to tell an accurate history in which some horrible things happened. Too harsh, and the reader (or their parents) will recoil; too gentle, and you're giving them an inaccurate version of history. Kathleen Bradford does a pretty good job of that, and we end up seeing a bit of death, a bit of privation, but not so much of each that a young reader can't enjoy the tale of how young Mary manages to make sense of the way her world has been turned upside down.

I don't know enough Canadian history to be able to comment on the accuracy of the book's portrayal, generally. Certainly the way in which relations with Native Americans are exclusively friendly within this book, seems a little suspect to me. But, Bradford does a good job of showing how communities or in some cases even families were torn apart by the American War of Independence, and that is already a pretty heavy topic for young readers. Mary comes through as a distinctive and likeable protagonist.

I will be passing this one on to my daughter, and we'll see how her take on it differs from mine. Now, if only there were a "Dear Mexico" series for me to look into...

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary MacDonald is a young girl who lives with her family in Albany, New York. But in 1783, after the American Revolution, the family is forced to leave their home just because they supported the British in the war. They decide to head for Quebec, in British Canada. The journey is long, difficult, and dangerous, and the family faces many hardships along the way. Their troubles do not end when they reach their new home and must build a new life in the wilderness from almost nothing. Mary describes her life in her diary as she makes new friends, finds romance, and suffers through hardship and tragedy.

This book is one of my favorites in the Dear Canada series. As an American, I also found it interesting to read about the other side in the Revolutionary War. Most of the Loyalists were just ordinary families who happened to support the side that lost, and as a result their lives were turned upside down. Mary was a sympathetic character who came alive in her diary, just an ordinary girl whose family happened to be on the "wrong side." I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy historical diary fiction.

[Georgia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life has been hard for twelve-year-old Mary MacDonald and her family. Its 1783 and the Americans have won their independance from Britain. Unfortunatly, the MacDonalds have sided with Britain and other Loyalists. Shortly after Mary begins her diary, her papa is tarred and feathered in front of the town. One of the patriots gives them a pass to leave New York, they do so. But before they leave, Mary's Grannie digs up a small patch of her lilac bush before there home is burned down by their former friends. They begin their journey to Quebec, travelling with Natives who are on their way to the Niagra Region. When they are boarding a boat to travel up Lake Champlain, Mary meets a girl named Hannah who is her age. They finally reach Quebec, but had to sell most of their things to afford the passage. They run into Mary's older brother, Angus and his friend Duncan, who have recently escaped war prison. The story tells about the MacDonald's struggles and the mystery behind Duncan's family, who are rebels, and Mary's growing affection for him.
I really liked this book. Their was alot of suspense, and it told about their troubles with neighbours who used to be their friends! Another great Dear Canada book!

[Ashley Newell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had to read this to prepare my grade 5's for their social studies project. While I love the Dear Canada/Dear America series, especially for their age group, this one was not the best. But I am probably bias in many ways. For starters, I'm not a grade 5. Secondly I'm not a city-born girl like many of the students in my class, so multiple entries about the weather and bugs isn't exactly exciting news to me. However, considering how many of my students are city-born, and even internationally born, the insight into settling in the wilderness would be very valuable to them - it just so happens that visiting settlements in the middle of nowhere was part of my up-bringing.

The journal started strong - depicting how crule the Patriots could be to the Loyalists. And I thoroughly enjoyed the backstory of the character Duncan; in fact I think I will base the model project on his story because of the family-based tensions.

[Charity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a read! I can't believe this diary is written by a 12/13 year old girl. It was done beautifully, and the description of events was so well done. It totally described what the loyalist went through during the late 1700. From school, I kind of learned what the loyalist went through, but to read it from a diary of a girl that went through it first hand, it was totally different experience. It made me really think about what they went through, and also get to know what my family went through during that time, as they were part of that too.

Overall, it was an amazing read, and I think I will probably read some more of these types of diaries, and maybe even try keeping a diary of my own XD

[Shanelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book from the Dear Canada series, With Nothing But Our Courage is about the battle between the Loyalists and Patriots during the years 1783-1784. This story features a young girl, Mary MacDonald, and her family who travel from the United States to Canada after being forced from their home for being Loyalists. A great read for readers of all ages.

[Jenna Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been reviewing the Dear Canada series for several days now, and I'm starting to run out of things to say! This, like all of the other books, was a great starting place for me to learn about a new subject pertaining to Canadian history. Great book to learn about the Loyalists during the American Revolution.

[Shanelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

"With Nothing But Our Courage" is by far my favourite book of the Dear Canada series. The author, Karleen Bradford, was able to create a story with characters that feel real to the reader. As well, her story does not drag on (such as a lot of books do) and therefore there are several events occurring throughout the story to keep the reader engaged and wanting to read more.

[Anastasia L.C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know if these books have an age limit but I just love the history aspect to it, plus it's about the country where I was born and raised. The stories give you a form of pride in where you come from. If you like history these are good books to check out.

[maven calore’s venice b!tch]

driven out of their home!! fire!! i shall forever remember that scene

[Robin Eschliman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Youth book that takes me back to my Little House days. As an adult I definitely read with different eyes. As an American, it’s horrifying to think that “we” did this to our own countrymen.

[Rapunzel1400 · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 18%
I couldn't hold my interest, not really sure why I picked it up to begin with.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 1783, the Revolutionary War has ended and Britain has recognized the sovereignty of the United States but Mary's father has not. He refused to sign the Oath of Allegiance to the United States and is publicly humiliated bu the so-called Patriots and his fields burned. With nothing left but courage, the MacDonald family. pack everything into one wagon and head out on the road north to Quebec in Upper Canada. They hope to be reunited with Mary's older brother, who fought for the British, and join other family members of soldiers. The road north is long and difficult and there are many hardships and much sadness before they finally reach Quebec. The MacDonalds spend a difficult winter and spring in Quebec before the British government relocates them to what's now Cornwall, Ontario. Along the way they experience more heartbreak, make new friends and learn that with nothing but their courage they can make a new home elsewhere.

I thought this book would be about the settling of Johnstown, Quebec but most of the book took place on the road and then in the first settlement and finally, at the end, Johnstown. I would have called it Albany, New York to Johnstown, Quebec. This book is full of nitty gritty details that people don't really think about when imagining what life was like in the past. I appreciated that attention to detail but it kind of bogged the story down and took forever for the family to get to Canada. I also liked how it showed a different side to the Revolutionary War and the aftermath though the Patriots were depicted as villains. It made me think about Felicity's friend Elizabeth and what might happen to her after the war.

This book is good if you like historical details and historically accurate and sad stories. I recommend reading the Historical Note first because there's a map and a lot of information about the history. an epilogue tells you what happens to the family after the story ends.

This book is pretty much the same as the Dear America books. If you like those, then you'll like the Dear Canada books too.

[Young Adult Historical Vault · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting entry in the Dear Canada canon, but for my pick not the best one. This touched on a lot of interesting topics not usually covered in children's fiction--family fleeing a war zone, parents suffering from illness, and families struggling with a series of new homes. There's things I think could have been better developed, but overall I loved it as a counterpoint to the standard American discussion of the Revolutionary period, and I think it's a much stronger story than Dear America's version of the Loyalist story.

Check out my full recap and review here at Young Adult Historical Vault: https://yahistoricalvault.com/2016/08...

[Molly]

This entire series is a wonderful way to learn history or teach it to adolescents. I find today's generations seem to recall more when they learn through other people (pop songs, celebrity gossip, etc.), so what better way to teach history than through someone else's perspective? Yes, "authentic" diaries would be "better", but would the language really hold the modern student's attention? Did the diary writer know what WOULD be important in the context of history? Probably not.

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book not only because it was history, but because it was EXTREMELY fun to read. It really kept me reading (I finished it VERY quick! I couldn't put it down!), and gave you tons of information about the Loyalists in America in the late 18th century. Very sad at some parts, but still very amazing!

[Renae · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little more pedestrian than the other D.C. titles. I'm finding many of the others more interesting because there are just pockets of information about Canadian history that I'm just in the dark on. I read one of the Dear America titles on this same topic not long ago and it was about the same interest level for me. I think I need to stick to more of the unknown.

[Twyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite part was when Mary and her family settled somewhere, with their friends nearby, and everything was fine again in their new home. My least favorite part was when Mary's family was run out of their house by the rebels just because they were loyalists. It makes sense, but ti was still a mean thing to do.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always thought the hatred ended when the Revolutionary War ended, but this book proved me wrong and showed me that I have a lot to learn about the Revolutionary War. While Mary’s journey was interesting yet tragic, she always seemed to make me laugh along the way until she got her happy ending. Lizzie doesn’t deserve to have Mary as a friend.

[Jennifer Rayment · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly well researched and beautifully written. Absolutely perfect for the intended 9-12 yr old reader, but just as interesting for readers of any age (including this 50 yr old) I even learned a lot which is also a bonus. Really brings history to life when told through the eyes of a character that you develop a connection too.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very interesting, and I really liked it. It was the first Dear Canada book I ever read, and one of my favouites. The events were surprising at times, like the fact that they found a dog, and that's one of the things I liked most about this book.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not always agree with how the Revolution was portrayed and felt like that the historical note could have done better explaining the road to the Revolution. Mary was a fairly likable character and the story itself was good.

[Navreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wholeheartedly enjoyed this diary. The perspective of Mary was incredible. Don't forget to read the epilogue. From here my journey of the Dear Canada books does commence. All in all a fabulous historical read. A good read.

[Angela Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

So nothing incredibly exciting happened in this book, which is why in surprised I liked it so much! It's a sad story but it ends on a hopeful note. I'm glad this fictional family found a place to successfully relocate. also, it is sad how quickly people turn against each other...once again

[Nika · Rating 5 out of 5]

I coudn't take this book out of my hands! I recommend it to EVERYONE. It's amazing!

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its okay but I till like it!

[Krystina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book with great insights into what the Loyalists had to go through when they were forced to leave their homes in the Revolutionary War and find new homes, many in Canada. Two thumbs up.