Set in Newfoundland, One for Sorrow chronicles a pivotal year in the life of Issy Heffernan, one of the most complex and appealing young heroines in YA fiction. Saddled with a mean and bedridden mother; an older, increasingly bitter schoolmarm of a sister; and a lovely but mainly absent father, Issy dreams of leaving her miserable life behind for a life on the mainland, maybe even in a big city such as Toronto.What reason is there for her to stay? But there's one thing holding her back: Issy is illiterate. She can't read at all and never could. How far can she really go?

 

Mary C. Sheppard is a journalist and the author of three young adult books that are set in Newfoundland. She was born in Corner Brook, and has seven sisters and one brother. Her first book, Seven for a Secret, won the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award and was named a top ten book by the American Library Association. Mary lives in Toronto.

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One For Sorrow

Fed up with the monotony and dreariness of her life in a tiny Newfoundland village, Issy is counting the days until she turns 16. At that point, her plan is to take off to Toronto to discover the untold possibilities that the great, wide world might hold. And she knows she must make her move before her older sister Louise does, for then she would be trapped, looking after their bed-ridden and never-satisfied mother for who knows how long.

However, as the big day draws slowly nearer, Issy’s life starts to change. Wish, the boy from down the road who had once been her closest friend, returns to Riverbank after a lengthy absence. At the same time, Beryl Peterson from her class befriends her, drawing her into plans for their upcoming graduation. Most importantly, Issy makes a life-changing discovery: she has an eye condition that has prevented her from seeing well enough to learn how to read! Knowing that her inability to read is not her fault gives Issy a whole new will to learn. Suddenly, as she begins to understand herself and those around her better, her desperate need to get away seems to waver.

This book provides a richly evocative portrait of life in rural Newfoundland and of the hardy, colourful individuals who call it home. Most notable of these is Issy herself, whose self-effacing and unaffected nature helps her to unobtrusively work her way into reader’s affections. As she eventually starts to see the people in her life and the world around her more clearly, both literally and figuratively, she is able to develop a greater appreciation for their idiosyncrasies and for why things are the way they are. This is a profound realization and an important reminder to readers of all ages. Issy’s story of growth and transformation is as quiet and unassuming as she herself is, but is nevertheless absorbing and satisfying — a delightful read.

One for Sorrow (Tales From Cook’s Cove)

Saddled with a mean, bedridden mother; an older, increasingly bitter sister; and lovely but mainly absent father, Issy is desperate to leave her miserable life in Newfoundland and dreams of heading to the mainland. But there’s one thing holding Issy back: she is illiterate.