Shadow in Hawthorn Bay [Hardcover]

Janet Louise Swoboda Lunn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1987

When fifteen-year-old Mary journeys from Scotland to Canada in search of her cousin, she makes a tragic discovery and alienates the townsfolk who fear her psychic powers.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up When 15-year-old Mary Urquhart hears her cousin Duncan's voice urgently summoning her to come to him, she is not surprised, even though she is in Scotland and he is 3,000 miles away in Upper Canada. For Mary has the second sight, and she and Duncan are soulmates, more like twins than the cousins they are. Accordingly Mary stubbornly sets off to join him in the far-off Canadian wilderness of 1815. It is eloquent testimony to Lunn's skill as a novelist that she is able to integrate these psychic elements into her plot without compromising the credibility of its ample historic detail. And it is further testimony to her skill and integrity that she portrays uncompromisingly the bleakness and hardship of life on the Canadian frontier, creating, in the process, a real world populated by fully developed, real people wholike Marygrow through their experiences. Great strength of character is required to survive, and some readers may feel that Mary's strength comes off simply as stubborness. They may also be put off by the magisterial pace of the narrative and its unrelievedly bleak and melancholy tone. Few will deny its authenticity and richness. Michael Cart, Beverly Hills Public Library
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

“Janet Lunn weaves a luminous spell.” –Maclean’s

Praise for Shadow in Hawthorn Bay:
“Finely crafted… enthralling and mysterious historical fiction.” –The Globe and Mail

“A story about the mystery and tremendous strength and determination of the human spirit… Lunn’s mature writing allows her readers to feel every detail of her narrative: the harsh beauty of the Highlands, the misery of the ocean crossing, the suffocating loneliness of the forest and the warmth of friendships forged in the common struggle for survival.” –Books in Canada

“A fine, sensitive story [with] an engaging heroine… and pioneer families. Lunn has woven a rich, engrossing story of growth and self discovery…. Fine, evocative writing.” –London Free Press


From the Paperback edition. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 180 pages
• Publisher: Scribner; F edition (April 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684188430
• ISBN-13: 978-0684188430
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,660,890 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Haunted in the New World by her Dark Cousin, May 9, 2003

By 

Plume45 "kitka12345" (Westchester, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shadow in Hawthorn Bay (Hardcover)

This dark fantasy does not approach Lunn's superb THE ROOT CELLAR, but proves an interesting read all the same. Two cousins in 19th century Scotland, born the same week, grow up inseparable. Despite their different temperaments and appearance, Mairi and Duncan are two halves of one coin; they vow at age 11 to remain of couple for ever. Then Duncan's family decides to emigrate to Upper Canada, a move which threatens to tear assunder the unique bond that links their destinies. When the story opens, Mairi has agonized for four years; can their devotion to each other triumph over ocean, time, distance and death itself?

Mairi endures the incredible hardships of emigrant travel, as she struggles on her personal quest alone. She has sacficed everything she knows and loves to be reunited
with Duncan. Unfortunately, the folks in Hawthorn Bay on the St. Lawrence River first treat her as a heroine, then as slightly daft, but they ultimately consider her suspicious. With her spirit talk and dire predictions, even the children turn against her. Will she be branded as a witch in this Puritannical New World? Persecuted by worse than ignorant colonists, Mairi realizes that she herself is being stalked by
evil--using Duncan's voice to lure her to disaster. She is terrified of the forest, yet morbidly attracted to a special flat rock which is linked with Duncan's disappearnce. After her physical and emotional pilgrimmage, how far must she travel to ultimately join him? Which path will she choose to meet her beloved? A mysterious read about a brave young woman who wants to control her own destiny.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No words can explain, April 25, 2004

By 

Jess (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shadow in Hawthorn Bay (Paperback)

I'm 14 and I love historical Fiction! This book was so amazing I can't even start to explain how it made me feel when i was reading it. I liked it so much I cried when i was finished it. I know that sounds silly but that's how i felt. Mary had such a twisted life. In class right about the time i finished this book we started studying The Ukrainian immigrants comming to Canada and we had to do a huge project on it and this book help me so much because of how well it explained the boat ride and the life once she got there. It's a truley amazing story.

my other fav books are:
Gwen's story
Tuck everlasting
The tillerman series (Homecoming, Dicey's song etc.)
you should read them :)

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars it was a excellent book i really enjoyed reading it, June 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Shadow in Hawthorn Bay (Hardcover)

it taught me alot about listening to my heart and listen to your beliefs don't let anyone try to change them for you.i will read that book over and over