William durbin is a minneapolisborn teacher and writer who has lived in the lake country of northeastern minnesota for many years. This page turner is about a teenage boy named pierre who sets out on a treacherous journey and returns a man. The style is so great, one feels like being inside the canoe and seeing the landscape with own eyes. The broken blade by william durbin boundary waters. When pierre lapages father has an accident, thirteenyearold pierre must quit school and paddle a canoe 2400 miles as a voyageur for the north west company in order to earn money for his family. May 08, 20 an individual responsible for curriculum in a wisconsin school district wrote to ask me about the broken blade, by william durbin.
Can pierre endure the harsh trip to grand portage and home again. It was a rich resource for teaching not only about the fur trade era in minnesota history, but also a good example of many literary devises including foreshadowing and flashbacks. Pierre, the 14yearold hero of the broken blade, becomes a hivernant as he spends a winter with the north west company in the wilderness of french canada. Yet it wasnt until my son suggested that i look into the history of the voyageurs that i began my research for the broken blade. Buy the broken blade book online at best prices in india on. But when his father has an accident, pierre quits school and enlists as a voyageur for the north west company so that his family will have money to survive the winter. I picked the broken blade by william durbin to go along with his canada unit study, but what i didnt expect was how much both of us would like this book. The broken blade by william durbin, paperback barnes.
The broken blade, book by william durbin paperback. Durbin has published numerous books for young readers. It is a tale of yearsold pierre enlisting to work as a voyageur to support his family. Durbin s first novel is an impressive comingofage tale set in montreal at the dawn of the 19th century. The broken blade chapter 20 page 143 chapter 21 youtube. But when pierres father has an accident, pierre quits school to become a voyageur for the north west company, so his family can survive the winter. The broken blade by william durbin overdrive rakuten. Voyageurs freighted goods thousands of miles, from montreal to grand portage. The broken blade by william durbin is a compelling read for juvenile audience. Noting that durbin fills the novel with action and describes in vivid detail the events that transform. William durbin is an author and teacher who lives at the edge of minnesotas boundary waters wilderness. His novels frequently feature the land that he calls home and make use of primary sources such as letters, oral histories. Buy a cheap copy of the broken blade book by william durbin.
Dell books for young readers, a yearling book, 1999. I used the broken blade in my junior high language arts skills class as a whole group novel. The broken blade paperback april 6, 1998 by william durbin author. A story of the frenchcanadian voyageurs circa 1750. William durbin books list of books by author william durbin. The broken blade by durbin, william and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. It takes place in the 1800s, and the main caracters name is pierre. From august, 1999 through may, 2002, boys life magazine published a 27episode illustrated version of the broken blade. Pages 15 by william durbin sorry about the funny viewing of it, the lighting wasnt very good. Suggested reading grand portage national monument u. His dad gets hurt and pierre decides to join the north west fur trading company, which means hell paddle 2400 miles to grand portage. Bio ive lived at the edge of northeastern minnesotas boundary waters canoe area most of my adult life, and ive paddled and portaged through a great many of its wilderness lakes. The canoemen build a camp beside an ojibwa village, and pierre learns the deepwinter survival skills and secrets of the fur traders and trappers. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders.
Dec 08, 2014 william durbin is a former teacher who lives at the edge of minnesotas boundary waters wilderness, where he has paddled through a great many of the wilderness lakes. The broken blade book by william durbin thriftbooks. Buy the paperback book the broken blade by william durbin at indigo. William durbin of northern minnesota is the author of historical fiction books the broken blade and blackwater ben. When pierres father severely cuts himself while doing one of the boys chores, the guiltridden yearold leaves school and enlists as a voyageur for the north west company.
William durbin when an injury prevents his father from going into northern canada with fur traders, thirteenyearold pierre decides to take his fathers place as a voyageur. Pierre, the 14yearold hero of the broken blade, spends a winter with the north west company in the wilderness of french canada and learns the deepwinter survival skills and secrets of the fur traders and trappers. He has supervised writing research projects for the national council of teachers of english, the bingham trust, and middlebury college. Click to read more about the broken blade by william durbin. The story is set in canada in the year 1800 in the spring. The journal of sean sullivan, a transcontinental railroad worker, and more on. Along with his writing, he also does presentations, signings, workshops, and appearances across the country.
How far will pierre travel from montreal to grand portage and back. The broken blade by william durbin, 9780440411840, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. William durbin has 20 books on goodreads with 8382 ratings. The broken blade by william durbin 1998, paperback, reprint.
See all books authored by william durbin, including the broken blade, and my name is america. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. The winner of both the great lakes book award and the minnesota book award, mr. Lawrence river, the ottawa river, and the french river. William durbin when pierre lapages father has an accident, thirteenyearold pierre must quit school and paddle a canoe 2400 miles as a voyageur for the north west company in order to earn money for his family.
Aug 28, 2016 by william durbin still open to book suggestions. I didnt like it, because it didnt have enough adventure. Buy the broken blade book online at low prices in india. This book is filled with factual detail and brilliant humour. Pierre from classroomsoftened boy to hardmuscled man, a bulletin of the center for childrens books contributor elizabeth bush added that the broken blade should appeal to. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience.
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