In the summer of 1800, 13-year-old Pierre La Page never thought 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 and enlists to become a voyageur for the Northwest Fur Company. Without his wages, how would his family survive the winter?As the youngest member of the brigade, it's not easy for Pierre. Treacherous waters, aching and bloodied hands, and the relentless teasing from the seasoned voyageurs make him miserable. But Pierre knows there's no turning back. He has no choice but to endure the trip to Grand Portage and back.
Author Biography
William Durbin is a Minneapolis-born teacher and writer who has lived in the lake country of northeastern Minnesota for many years. He has supervised writing research projects for the National Council of Teachers of English, the Bingham Trust, and Middlebury College. He teaches English at a small rural high school and composition at a community college. The Broken Blade is his first novel.
