Patience of Dearing Bay

Margaret Bunel Edwards is the author of Little Stitch, The Ocean
Between, and The ABCs of Writing for Children.

Patience is an orphan who lives with her grandparents, Pap and Nan, and
her Uncle Matthew, who is only four years older than Patience. Patience
and Matthew become great friends and explore together the untamed woods
and shoreline of Newfoundland. Under her uncle’s watchful eye,
Patience learns to chop wood, fish, and row a boat. Patience and her
family live simply (their home lacks running water) but contentedly. A
wood stove warms them in winter, and summer provides them with wild
fruit,

game, and fish. School concerts, Valentine

parties, pets, and friends entertain and educate Patience as she moves
toward her high-school graduation.

This story is a warm account of a close family helping one another
through good and bad times. Young readers are introduced to a unique way
of life through the author’s evocative descriptions of Newfoundland
customs and traditions. Recommended.