• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7

Lois Donovan’s second historical novel for young readers with Ronsdale; deals with racism; delves into important events in Alberta’s history. This novel begins when 13-year-old Kami, the daughter of a Japanese-Canadian mother and a Scottish-Canadian father, moves with her mother from Vancouver to Edmonton. Here she hopes to reunite with the father who appears to have abandoned her. While rummaging through family boxes, she finds an old diary written by her greatgrandmother. Newspaper clippings inside send her hurtling back in time to 1929, where she encounters extreme prejudice because of her Asian features. After a number of disturbing adventures, Kami is taken in as a domestic servant by Judge Emily Murphy, one of the "famous five," at the time of her battle to have women declared "persons" - a defining moment in the struggle for women's rights. Although Kami views Judge Murphy as a "heroine," she is startled to discover that Murphy holds racist views. On her return to the present, Kami must come to terms, not only with her own heritage, but how she views the ongoing struggle for the rights of all persons.

Lois was born in Montreal, Quebec, grew up mostly in Riverview, New Brunswick and spent her summers visiting Ontario. She graduated from Acadia University in Nova Scotia, and University of Alberta in Edmonton, before moving to Calgary, Alberta, where she enjoyed a long and rewarding teaching career. These richly Canadian experiences sparked her passion for bringing Canada’s stories alive for readers. Her first historical fiction, Winds of L'Acadie, takes readers on a journey to Nova Scotia just as the deportation of the Acadians is about to take place. It was shortlisted for the Hackmatack Award in Atlantic Canada and the Golden Eagle Award in Alberta.In addition to reading, writing, blogging, and drinking lattés, Lois loves visiting schools, conducting workshops and presenting at conferences. She currently lives the writerly life in Calgary where she enjoys time with her son and daughter-in-law, daughter, husband, and two fur-kids. Stop by her website for a visit www.loisdonovan.com or e-mail iwrite@loisdonovan.com

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