Once on this Island
A gripping historical fiction novel, Once on this Island tells a tale about a young girl during the British-American War of 1812.
When war erupts between England and America in 1812, it brings change and uncertainty-even to Michigan’s remote Mackinac Island. For young Mary O’Shea, the hardest change is the departure of her father, who leaves Mackinac to join the American Army.
With her sister and brother, Mary must tend the farm, deal with the hardships of British occupation, and hope for the safe return of their father. The story, told with quiet humor, brings to life this episode in history. The readers feels the beauty of the island, the pain of separation, and the anxiety and fear produced by war.
- About the author: Gloria Whelan is the bestselling author of many novels for young readers, including Homeless Bird, winner of the National Book Award; Fruitlands: Louisa May Alcott Made Perfect; Angel on the Square; Burying the Sun; Once on This Island, winner of the Great Lakes Book Award; and Return to the Island. She lives in the woods of northern Michigan.
