DEAR CANADA: BANISHED FROM OUR HOME

This is not one of the feel good books of this series. It's about something I knew nothing about before reading it: the deportation of the Acadians. The Acadians were a seperate group of settlers who lived in one specific place. They were caught between the French and English during the French and Indian War, and, suspected of aiding the French, were deported by the English. They were thrown onto ships, many times separating families in what would end up being a permanent way, and sending them off to various places in the colonies. Many would end up migrating to Louisiana.

Angélique Richard and her family are split apart by this conflict. One brother goes off to fight the English, the other two are held by the English as is her father, but in separate places. Her elder sister chooses to stay with the family of her husband and the Richards never learn what happened to her. Family members die during and after the journey by ship.

One of the reasons I've taken such a break from my Dear America etc. reread is that this book is on the depressing side and I kept setting it down. Being stuck in this hotel until our apartment is fixed, I have little to do right now but read, so last night, I made myself finish Angélique's book and the accompanying Christmas story, which is found in A Season for Miracles. They're great because they're educational, but not exactly uplifting.