NATHALIE : an acadian's tale of triumph and tragedy

A coming- of-age story filled with heroism and heartbreak for 13-year-old Acadian Nathalie Belliveau. Separated from her family during the brutal 1755 expulsion of Acadians, Nathalie escapes and walks halfway across Nova Scotia to safety in Cap-Sable. When the compassionate Amirault family takes her in, she falls for their shy son Ange. But Nathalie's happiness is shattered by another wave of deportations by the British that keep the young lovers apart. Nathalie uses her tenacity and self-awareness to survive as an indentured servant in North Carolina. Based on the real lives of two Acadian families, the novel is grounded in the historic facts of the Acadian expulsion and their exile in Massachusetts for ten years. Selected by CBC as a young adult novel to read in spring 2023. A coming- of-age story filled with heroism and heartbreak for 13-year-old Acadian Nathalie Belliveau. Separated from her family during the brutal 1755 expulsion of Acadians from Grand-Pre, Nova Scotia, Nathalie escapes and travels more than 150 kilometres on foot to Cap-Sable. When the compassionate Amirault family takes her in, she falls for their shy son Ange. But her happiness is shattered by another wave of deportations by the British that keep the young lovers apart. Based on the real lives of two Acadian families the novel is grounded in the historic facts of the Acadian expulsion. "Blends historical characters and facts with well-researched and imaginative fiction to give her young adult readers lots of Canadian history as well as adventure and romance. Recommended."-- Canadian Review of Materials With lyrical and masterful storytelling Amirault Camelin seamlessly weaves fact and fiction drawing us deep into the lives, losses, and longings of her vivid characters. We are caught up in this sweeping tale, rooting for Nathalie Belliveau, a resilient and fascinating Canadian heroine.--Caroline Pignat, Governor General's Award Winner (2009 and 2015) Overflowing with tragedy and romance, Camelin's stories-within-story expertly layer solid research into a compelling narrative.--Gabriele Goldstone, author of Crow Stone Fiction. Young Adult. "Nathalie: An Acadian’s Tale of Tragedy and Triumph chronicles the “coming-of-age” story of Nathalie Belliveau, a 13-year-old Acadian girl. Separated from her family during the 1755 expulsion from Grand-Pré, Nova Scotia, Nathalie travels more than 150 kilometres to Cap-Sable with two older companions, encountering the Mi’kmaq along the way. When Nathalie reaches Pobomcoup (Pubnico), she becomes betrothed to Ange Amirault—but her happiness is short-lived when the British deport the Acadians living there from Baccaro Passage in 1756. A series of tragic events keep the young lovers apart. Nathalie must use her tenacity and self-efficacy to survive as an indentured servant in North Carolina. Meanwhile, Ange must overcome the hardships of family heartbreaks and subsistence living in the hope of reuniting with his betrothed. Written for young adults, the novel is based on the real lives of two Acadian families—the Belliveaus and Amiraults—and is grounded solidly in historic facts about the Acadian expulsion and their exile in Massachusetts for ten years. It is an account that parallels Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s epic poem, Evangeline. But unlike the separation of Evangeline and Gabriel, the desperate circumstances of Nathalie and Ange culminate in an Acadian bloodline that continues to thrive even to this day."-- Provided by publisher