Nettie's Journey

Martha Lamon is a freelance writer and researcher based in Huntsville,
Ontario.

This novel by Saskatchewan resident and farmer Adele Dueck is part of
the From Many Peoples series, which was created to celebrate
Saskatchewan’s centennial. This series features novels that highlight
the way of life of different cultural groups in Saskatchewan from the
point of view of young people. Nettie’s Journey focuses on
Saskatchewan’s Mennonite heritage.

The book opens in modern times with young Lisa asking Nettie, her
elderly grandmother, to share stories of her childhood in Russia and her
immigration to Canada. Nettie gives Lisa a diary that she wrote in the
Ukraine during World War I through to her family’s immigration to
Saskatchewan in 1923. The Mennonite way of life is the context in which
the Russian Revolution and the resulting armed struggle are described.
The effects of these events on local life are revealed through the eyes
of young Nettie, who is at times confused and terrified by what’s
happening around her. The diary also highlights the famine of 1921–22,
the arrival of relief supplies from Mennonites in North America, and
finally the emigration of Mennonites from the Ukraine.

The harrowing story is gently told, and the reader will gain an
understanding of Nettie’s experiences as a girl as well as the
significant historical events of the time. A glossary of terms and a
timeline of significant events contribute to the book’s suitability
for classroom novel study. Nettie’s Journey will make an excellent
addition to any school or community library and a fine choice for a
Canadian social studies module. Recommended.