Under a Living Sky

Kristin Butcher writes novels for young adults. Her most recent works
are The Trouble with Liberty, Zee’s Way, and Chat Room.

It is the Dirty Thirties, a time of drought and depression on the
Saskatchewan prairie. Hard times place a great strain on money and
relationships, and young Mary Vannieuwenhuizen’s family feels the
pressure as mightily as everyone else. Mother always seems to be angry
with Papa, and Mary’s older sister, Judith, torments her relentlessly.
Mary knows there is very little money, but that doesn’t stop her from
dreaming of receiving new shoes for Christmas. When she gets a doll made
from an old feedbag instead, she is initially heartbroken—especially
since Judith received the shoes—but she soon comes to cherish her gift
immensely. She names the doll Jessy and for the first time in her life
she feels like she has a friend. Not even Judith’s meanness can bother
Mary now.

Then one day Jessy goes missing. The whole family searches—even
Judith—but to no avail. Jessy is gone and Mary is heartbroken.
Amazingly, it is Judith who comforts her, and the two finally become
friends. Mary is thrilled—until Jessy turns up again.

Under a Living Sky is Joseph Simons’s first novel. It is based on
family stories and is clearly a work of the heart. Almost poetic,
Simons’s imagery of weather-ravaged Saskatchewan sets the scene for
characters who find the grit to survive. The novel captures the feeling
of the era perfectly. Though the story is Mary’s, it is also a
testimonial to an entire breed of people who lived through that trying
time. Recommended.