• Age: 10 to 18
• Grade: 5 to 12

Twelve-year-old Kate has always had to be more responsible than other girls her age. Since her mother's death and her family's flight to Canada, Kate's father has relied on her to keep house and look after her younger twin brothers. In a new place with poor shelter and no help, Kate must grow up even faster.

It is 1787. After poor crops, with little food to spare, the winter is terribly harsh. Kate's father is forced farther and farther from their makeshift cabin to hunt for food. Then one day, he simply doesn't return. Can Kate fend off danger and protect her brothers? Can these three children survive the Hungry Year when thousands of others will die?

Desperate, Kate prays for help. It finally comes from a most unlikely source - but is it in time?

Connie Brummel Crook is a popular author of Canadian historical fiction for young people, including The Hungry Year, Flight, Meyer's Creek, Meyer's Rebellion and the Nellie McClung Trilogy. She currently lives near the area where No Small Victory takes place, and brings much of her own experience to her writing. Her picture book, Maple Moon, is a Storytelling World Honour Title winner.

Connie Brummel Crook's profile page

"This story of remarkable resilience, based on a compilation of true events and family legend, introduces children to a little-known segment of Canadian and American history that demonstrates the courage, resourcefulness, and stubbornness that have made both nations great."
-- Booklist

"A fast-paced adventure set in the Canadian wilderness in 1787. The story flows swiftly...the tale is reminiscent of the "Little House" books and will hook readers with its life-on-frontier theme. The conclusion is satisfying and will leave readers asking for another installment of her adventures."
-- School Library Journal