Géline of Acadie

Teya Rosenberg teaches children’s literature at the University of
Alberta.

Based on the poem “Evangeline” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, this
historical novel tells of Evangéline’s struggle to be with her
beloved Gabriel. Caught in the political and economic machinations of
the struggle between the French and English for land in the New World,
the people of Acadie are the dispossessed, searching for some place to
call their own with only their love for each other to support them. As a
child, Géline struggles against her family to be with Gabriel. When she
is an adult, that struggle moves to a much larger social realm. She and
Gabriel are separated on their wedding day by the English, and Géline
spends many years searching eastern North America for her husband. Her
solitary struggle, her wide-ranging journey, and her discoveries and
losses represent the larger struggle of her people to find a home.

This novel is an important contribution to Canadian children’s
literature, adding another piece to the huge and disparate puzzle of
Canadian history. A beautifully written and moving tale, it brings to
life not only Géline and her community, but also the backdrop of the
Acadien struggle to find a home. With its haunting love story, its
skilful creation of characters, and its adept use of imagery, Géline of
Acadie has a great deal to offer readers of any age. Highly recommended.