"Catching Spring" /// Grade 3 to 6 Novel

"Catching Spring" by award winning author Sylvia Olsen is a sweet novel for elementary school aged children. It tells the story of Bobby, who comes from the Tsartlip First Nation in 1957. Bobby loves to fish but faces a conundrum - how can he enter the fishing derby with no boat on the day he works and is expected to give part of his wages to his mother? The story resolves nicely and Bobby is able to fulfill his dream after all. The book also contains some interspersed charming black and white illustrations of Bobby in his community, to accompany the short novel.

The authenticity of this book has a unique source in author Syliva Olsen. Even though Olsen is not from an Aboriginal background herself, she has been a resident and married into the Tsartlip First Nation community for several decades and is highly respected for her involvement and dedication to the community she is a part of. Her children and grandchildren are all connected also live in the area too. According to Olsen's own website, she writes about what she knows - and this book is no different. "Catching Spirit" is actually based upon her husband's childhood experience of entering a fishing derby in his town.

So, while it may be problematic for an author to represent a certain First Nations community without the proper knowledge and experience, Sylvia is able to navigate this topic by utilizing her husband's lived stories as the basis for the novel. Therefore, along with the strong reputation that Olsen holds when it comes to her creation of Aboriginal themed literature for a range of ages and the fact that this story has its roots in real life, lends to the credibility of the book enormously. I would feel confident in recommending this title to any child.

References:

Olsen, S. (2004). Catching spring. Victoria, BC: Orca Books Publishing