Second Watch

Deborah Dowson is a Canadian children’s librarian living in Harvard,
Massachusetts.

Saara’s dream is to travel from Port Arthur to Finland to meet her
relatives. Her mother saves any extra money for the trip, but Saara’s
Dad would rather that they use the money to buy a house. As an active
member of the union at the lumber mill, Saara’s Dad supports a strike
thinking it would be better for the workers. Instead, he loses his job,
then becomes critical and angry with Saara. Before long his personal
problems are affecting his behaviour. When her grandmother becomes sick,
it is arranged for Saara, her brother, and her mother to travel by the
steamship Empress of Ireland to Finland. There is a tragic accident in
the St. Lawrence River and the ship sinks in less than 15 minutes. Saara
is separated from the members of her family. Days later, when her father
comes to Quebec to bring her home, they discover that her mother and
brother have also survived.

Although the detailed description of the sinking of the ship provides
a suspenseful climax to the story, the book is mainly about Saara’s
life as a Finnish immigrant in the town of Port Arthur in 1914. There is
abundant detail about the games, food, and entertainments her family
enjoys, the values they hold, and the struggles they experience.
Saara’s frustrations and aspirations are similar to those of children
of all generations and many readers will be able to identify with her
character. Recommended.