Eyewitness

by Margaret Thompson

In this YA novel, Margaret Thompson offers a powerfully moving and historically accurate account of life in Fort St. James, in northern British Columbia, in the 1820s through the eyes of Peter, a young boy who is orphaned at the Fort. Lonely and unsure of himself, Peter finds himself an "eyewitness" to a murder which threatens to destroy the good relations between the Company and the Carrier people. Through his friendship with the nephew of Chief Kwah of the Carrier, Peter comes to understand and sympathize with the Carrier culture, learning much about tolerance, compromise and acceptance, but also about the difficulties that divided loyalties can bring. Thompson also offers an innovative view of the role of women in the fur trade, painting a fascinating picture of the young James Douglas and his wife Amelia in the confrontation with Chief Kwah.

190 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every so often I get the urge to read something lighter, and that usually results in a Teen or Young Adult selection. The urge also included something historical (Canadian, that is). Once I started looking, I was surprised by the lack of Canadian Historical novels for teens/youth.

The book I chose was Eyewitness, and it turned out to be a very good choice. Taking place in the 1820s during the fur trade, the story focuses on a young boy, Peter, who is 6 years old. He has been orphaned and is now being raised in Fort St. John, in northern British
Columbia. The story is told from Peter's perspective and is rich in historical detail as it speaks of his adventures in and around the fort, as well as his dealings with the native Carrier people.

It was a light read, but very well written and gave me a sense of "being there", if you know what I mean, which added to the experience.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read aloud for 2nd grade