Her mother is grief-stricken but fourteen year-old Angelique is unmoved. Her memories of him are filled with his drunken physical violence against her and her brother Pascal, now fighting at the Somme.
Wartime is a fight for survival for most of the
population. Angelique has promised Pascal that she will keep the farm intact
until his return.
But there are secret gambling debts left by her father. The first things sold by her mother are the goose eggs, which were supposed to be hatched and the goslings added to the existing flock.
This catastrophe is closely followed by the loss of their corn crop after a destructive storm. Then there is the theft of her money from the milk sales at the market, by an abusive and violently vindictive stranger.
But there are secret gambling debts left by her father. The first things sold by her mother are the goose eggs, which were supposed to be hatched and the goslings added to the existing flock.
This catastrophe is closely followed by the loss of their corn crop after a destructive storm. Then there is the theft of her money from the milk sales at the market, by an abusive and violently vindictive stranger.
Only after the market episode, does Angelique learn
that mother has kept a great many secrets from her, not even allowing her to
read Pascal’s letters. After the Requisition takes away their animals and
fortunately, not the geese, Angelique realizes something must be done to retain
the farm for Pascal to return to.
Their only hope is Uncle Gustav. A monumental plan
to herd the geese to a place where they can be sold for a high price, sets
Angelique dressed as a boy, travelling across country with her uncle. It is a
long and arduous journey fraught with dangers. No one is to be trusted during a
time when desperation and hunger makes good people do bad things.
But the two are separated, and the geese are seen
as food by countless starving.
Can one girl alone succeed in the seemingly
impossible task she has set herself?
This is an exciting, wondrous and powerful story of
courage, determination, family bonds and how war steals lives not only through
death. It also reveals the surprising kindnesses and compassion shown by the
most unexpected people.
Well-researched with a strong and gutsy female
protagonist, the mesmerising prose will keep your eyes glued to the page. I
loved it and read it in one sitting!
Title:
The Goose Road
Author:
Rowena House
Publisher:
Walker Books, $16.99
Publication
Date: June 2018
Format:
Paperback
ISBN:
9781406371673
For
ages: 12 +
Type: Middle Grade Fiction
