The Hungry Year. (Books Worth a Look).

Author: Connie Brummel Crook UE

Toronto: Stoddart Kids. 2001. 201 pages. Softcover. $9.95 Cdn., $7.95 US

Editor Note: Once again Kawartha Branch Connie Crook has produced another book related to the Loyalists. This time we have a slightly different approach with two reviews. The first is from a younger reader Meredith Johnson UE, and the second is an adult review from Grietje and Bob McBride, both UEs. My favourite Hungry Year story concerns the plight of the Loyalist Redner family as they faced that year of shortage in Upper Canada, as related in Dr. Burr decades-old article. Only problem is that the Redners didn't arrive in this province until 179]! I must also comment on the cover design. As usual Connie has managed to get a pleasing illustration. I do wish, however that illustrator David Craig would study some costuming. His figures, however nicely done, are a century out of date, and look more like figures from "Road to Avonlea" than Loyalists. Your turn Meredith!

Best I've Read This Year

Review by Meredith G. Johnson UE

The Hungry Year is the story of a young girl and her family surviving through the Hungry Years in 1787/88. Poor crops of the previous spring caused a food shortage. Everyone was starving.

If you are looking for a good read, The Hungry Year is the best book I have read this year. It is very descriptive, and there was a lot of effort put into it. Not once did I have to go back to the pages that I had already read to figure out what was going on.

I would recommend this book to people over twelve years old, because younger kids might have trouble reading this book independently: it is more for older kids. The history in it would be good for all ages because everyone should know what it was like in Canada over 200 years ago. Not many people know the history of Canada at younger ages. This would make a good book for parents to read to their kids that are over 8 years old. What I liked most about this book was how descriptive it was. I find that a lot of books that I read don't explain things well. This one explains things really well. The storyline was also good, and everything made sense. The beginning, the middle and the end all fit together to make an excellent story. I really liked it, and I'm sure kids my age, teenagers and adults can enjoy this book as much as I did.

The main characters are made up, but some real Loyalists such as Meyers and 0'Carr (Gaff) are mentioned.

Connie Brummel Crook worked really hard on this book, and I would recommend that you should read it because it teaches a lesson to everyone, and everything seems real. Of all the books I have read this year, this one beats them all.