Sylvia Olsen,
Counting on Hope
Sono Nis Press, 2009.

Rating: G*

Sylvia Olsen has written several teen books on the European/First Nations interface. Counting on Hope is set in the 1860s, and tells the story of the Richardson family who have emigrated from England to an island off the coast of Vancouver, which they share with a village of Lamalcha people. Although the father has been granted rights to the island by the Queen of England, he still negotiates a reasonable division of the island with the headman of the tribe. All is well for the family in their new home until outside influences cause tension. Whiskey traders are providing alcohol to the native people, and as the white population grows throughout the coastal region, there are more and more unwelcome incursions into traditional tribal land. Violence ensues, stories spread of murders, and the government is asked to punish the tribes which are harbouring offenders.

In order to present both perspectives on the events, Olsen alternates between twelve-year-old Hope Richardson and Letia, a girl the same age from the Lamalcha people. When these girls meet in the forest, they immediately sense a bond, and seal their friendship through the exchange of dolls: Hope gives the rag doll sewn by her grandmother, and Letia gives a wooden doll she has carved. But they are torn apart by the fears and distrust of the adults, and the Richardsons eventually leave to join other English families. Tragedy follows, for both families, and the young girls are forced to assume adult responsibilities in the painful new reality.

In order to create unique voices for the two girls, the author presents Hope’s chapters in traditional novel format, with descriptive narration and dialogue. Letia’s passages are in a lyric free verse, creating a gentle and reflective tone. The time frame would be challenging for young readers, as the alternating narrations do not follow a parallel chronology. But the girls’ different perspectives on events are a very effective way of demonstrating the way that culture shapes one’s views. For example, Letia ironically ponders, "How could they talk about sending the hwunitum (white settlers)/to a place to control them?/Would they fence them in the way the Man did his animals?" (page 110 in copy reviewed) Olsen receives full marks for her knowledge of and sensitivity to the issues of first contact.

A concern would be noted that although the reading level and narrative voices are relatively young, the slow development and length of the novel may require a more mature reader.

Thematic Links: Canadian History; First Contact; Racism; Family Relationships; Friendship

Patricia Jermey
Vol. 15, number 4
April 2010

*Rating System:
E - Excellent, enduring, everyone should see it!
G - Good, even great at times, generally useful!
A - Average, all right, has its applications.
P - Problematic, puzzling, poorly presented.