Beginnings: Stories of Canada's Past

Mary St. Onge-Davidson is president of the Essential English Centre in
Ottawa.

Beginnings is a well-written collection of 14 short stories by an
impressive group of Canadian authors. These stories about historical
“firsts” include the first spike in the CPR’s trans-Canada
railway; the first family of United Empire Loyalists to settle in
Canada; the first juvenile incarcerated in the Kingston Penitentiary;
the first fille du roi to arrive in New France with her trousseau and
dowery; the first “Home Child” orphan to arrive from Britain to
provide domestic labor; and the first woman voting in Canada. Some of
the stories are about real people (Antoine Beauché, Raymond Munro,
Marguerite Sédilot, and Cornelius Van Horne). Other stories feature
fictional characters portrayed as real people of their times.

The variety of stories (some are humorous, some are exciting
adventures, others are horrifying) and characters, woven together with
historical facts, results in a book that is not only fascinating to
read, but also an excellent introduction to Canadian history for preteen
readers. The book also includes 22 pages of historical notes and author
biographies. The only disappointing aspect of the book is its cover
design—it simply does not convey the real pulse of these stories.
Highly recommended.