• Age: 8 to 12
• Grade: 3 to 7

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's epic poem, Evangeline, tells the story of two young people deported from beautiful Acadie just before they are to be married and their search for each other that lasts the rest of their lives. First published in 1847, the poem has been important to Acadian identity ever since.

In Evangeline for Young Readers, the tragic story of Evangeline and Gabriel's Deportation is recounted to a new generation. In simple prose true to Longfellow's poem, Hélène Boudreau describes the utopian village of Grand-Pré where Evangeline grows up, the traumatizing Deportation, and Evangeline's relentless search across America for her true love. Patsy MacKinnon's stunning illustrations bring the story to life in full colour.

Evangeline for Young Readers is a vital interpretation for children of Longfellow's classic.

Helene Boudreau's profile page

Patsy MacKinnon is the illustrator of Heartsong and The Village of Wood Duck. A member of the prestigious Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour, Patsy lives in New Waterford, Nova Scotia.

Patsy MacKinnon's profile page

This book is an abbreviated version of the epic poem, Evangeline, which was originally published in 1847 by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Helene Boudreau takes on a watered-down approach here as she caters to a younger audience of readers She recounts the tale of how Evangeline and Gabriel - a happy young couple engaged to be married - are abruptly deported from their beautiful homeland of Acadie before exchanging their vows. Evangeline then embarks on a lifelong journey in search of Gabriel, her one true love. Even in the face of adversity and decades of searching, the brave Evangeline never gives up hope. It is a story about strength, faith, love, and devotion; but also has traces of hardship, sadness, and tragedy. This bitter sweet story reminds us that every cloud can have a silver lining, While Boudreau does not go into an overly descriptive account of Evangeline's travels (as I am sure this would be better suited for a more adult version), the colorful illustrations do such a lovely job of portraying her life and their vividness helps offset Evangeline's harsh reality. I so enjoyed Boudreau's use of these pretty pictures and her simplistic writing style added a touch of both warmth and candidness. Evangeline's heroic-like presence throughout the book makes this a wonderful read for the young female population. But women of any age would certainly appreciate this classic tale of love and loss. The forced migration of the Acadians from Nova Scotia during 1755 to 1763 is a significant event in Canadian history. It illuminates the British government's uncompromising policies towards the French inhabitants during the settlement of Canada. Henry Wadsworth Lôngfêllow's epic pOèn-i Evangeline, published in 1847, describes the expulsion of the Acadian people through the lens of a young Acadian woman named Evangeline as she searches for her lost love Gabriel. - CM Magazine (Volume XX Number 11) & Edwards Book Club