The Perilous Year

The Hungry Year, a Silver Birch Fiction Regional Winner in 2002, told the story of Kate and her small twin brothers, Ryan and Alex, and their struggle to stay alive in the backwoods of Ontario during the infamous winter of 1787-88. Enthusiastic readers begged for another story, this time about the twins, and Connie Crook follows through splendidly in The Perilous Year. The twins are twelve years old now, and long for something more exciting than the dull life and the backbreaking labour of the settle farmer. Alex especially dreams about those pirates they've heard stories about, roaming Lake Ontario and helping themselves to what they need from whoever has it. That's the life for him! Things get shaken up a bit when father brings something unexpected home from King's Town -- a wife! In short order Kate is married and away in a home of her own, and the boys are stuck with a new stepmother, who's a fine lady to boot. She refuses to leave, no matter what the boys do, and earns the boys grudging respect, especially Rayn's. In one way or another, the twins' new stepmother brings them more adventures than they ever dreamed possible. Soon they are putting their lives on the line for her, for each other, and for their family's honour!