The Broken Blade [Paperback]

William Durbin (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

In 1800, 13-year-old Pierre La Page never imagined he'd be leaving Montreal to paddle 2,400 miles. It was something older men, like his father, did. But when Pierre's father has an accident, Pierre quits school to become a voyageur for the North West Company, so his family can survive the winter. It's hard for Pierre as the youngest in the brigade. From the treacherous waters and cruel teasing to his aching and bloodied hands, Pierre is miserable. Still he has no choice but to endure the trip to Grand Portage and back.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In 1800, a 13-year-old boy takes his father's place on an arduous canoe trip across Lake Superior. "This adventure tale will give rise to daydreams of a more rugged time," said PW. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8. Pierre, 13, is the son of a voyager, one of the French-Canadian canoemen who plied the fur trade in Canada during the last two centuries. When his father severely injures himself in a wood-chopping accident, Pierre signs on with his father's company in order to keep the family from poverty. The bulk of the novel is structured around the boy's first canoe trip to the wilderness outpost of Grand Portage. Along the way, he faces many challenges and has great adventures. He grows in physical strength and matures both mentally and spiritually. In short, he becomes a man. The combination of historical fiction set in 1800 with a coming-of-age tale works well here. Pierre's companions on his journey are a rowdy, disreputable lot, but they pull together when they must. There is the requisite bully whose respect Pierre must earn and a good-natured boss who has faith in him. The drowning of one of the boatmen sobers the crew and brings home to Pierre the very real dangers they face. The work is grueling and the food monotonous, but the men enjoy a rough camaraderie and savor the natural beauty that surrounds them. Middle school students will be attracted to this enjoyable, fast-moving story.?Bruce Anne Shook, Mendenhall Middle School, Greensboro, NC
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Yearling; Reprint edition (April 6, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 044041184X
• ISBN-13: 978-0440411840
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 0.4 x 7.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,206 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #16 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > Fiction > General
  • #25 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > United States > Fiction
  • #64 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Literature > Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror > Thrillers

More About the Author

William Durbin is an award-winning author and a former teacher who lives at the edge of Minnesota's Boundary Waters Wilderness. A winner of the Great Lakes Book Award and a two-time winner of the Minnesota Book award, Mr. Durbin has published eleven novels for young readers. His novel El Lector was optioned for film by Jane Startz Productions; and his most recent work, The Winter War, deals with Stalin's invasion of Finland in 1939. His other honors include a Junior Library Guild Selection, Bank Street College Children's Book of Year list, the ALA's Amelia Bloomer list, New York Library Books for the Teen Age list, Maud Hart Lovelace nomination, Jefferson Cup Series of Note Award, America's Award commended title, and a Book Sense Summer Pick.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For students and teachers alike, December 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Broken Blade (Hardcover)

I'm a teacher and a parent who is always looking for books which are appropriate and interesting to middle grade students. THE BROKEN BLADE is one of those rare titles that I enjoyed just as much as my students did. The 2,400 mile canoe journey of the main character, Pierre, is described in such a way that the reader actually feels he/she is paddling along with the crew. The landscape, the river, the interaction with the Lake Superior Ojibwe, and Pierre's fellow voyageurs, who are a rowdy and a very real bunch, are vividly depicted, and they all help bring this nineteenth century story to life. My students and I have decided that we want to read more about the voyageur period, and the first book on our list is WINTERING, the companion to this story.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Danger, Courage, and Adventure, March 19, 2006

By 

Patty Ann (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Broken Blade (Paperback)

Title: The Broken Blade
Author: William Durbin
Pages: 163

"The Broken Blade" is an excellent book based on adventure, courage, and hope. This page turner is about a teenage boy named Pierre who sets out on a treacherous journey and returns a man. Pierre's father has an accident with an ax and chops off his thumb. Without his laziness, Pierre would have had HIS thumb missing. So Pierre has to force himself to live the life of a voyager to raise money for his family. During his trip he meets Indians, bears, death, and suicidal rapids. But overall he met great friends and an inner strength he never knew he had. This book tells of amazing faith and survival, you will never want to put it down! I certainly loved this book and I'm positive you will too.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a fun read, May 15, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Broken Blade (Paperback)

The title of the book I just read was Broken Blade it was written by William Durbin. It was published in 1999. The setting was on Lake Huron in Canada, around 1800. The main character is Pierre, along with Beloit and La Petite. The important point is that the only reason Pierre is on the river is because his dad cut off his thumb. The one part of the book that I did not expect is that Pierre is only 13 and is very well educated. I would recommend this book because is is fun and had a lot of adventure.