There You Are

Nominated for the CLA's Children's Book of the Year Award for 2005

Finalist for the 2005/2006 Hackmatack Award

World War II is not long past and life is returning to normal in Cape Breton’s lovely Margaree Valley. But Jeannie Shaw is achingly lonely. Among the thirteen families in her community, there is no one who is potential friend material, and that includes her troublesome four-year-old sister.

When the Parker family moves back to the Valley, Jeannie is thrilled. Perhaps among the children is a girl her age. All these thoughts are put aside when a near tragedy strikes Jeannie’s family. Through the hardship she finally finds a friend in the most unexpected way.

Joanne Taylor’s first novel is a small masterpiece – by turns funny and heartbreaking – full of finely observed moments and carefully drawn, very human, characters.