Description
It's 1773 and twelve-year-old Dougal Cameron and his whole family are set to sail away from their Scotland home forever. When tragedy strikes, the family must decide whether or not to make the trip without Dougal's father. Once the ship departs, Dougal is drawn to the haunting sounds of the lone piper on board. (The instrument, while still illegal in their homeland at the time, was brought aboard to keep spirits up.) When a violent storm knocks the Hector two weeks off course, Dougal's dream of becoming a piper has to take a back seat to keeping his three little sisters alive.
Author Jacqueline Halsey spares no detail in this inspiring story of the brigantine that brought the first Scottish immigrants to Nova Scotia, focusing on its difficult journey, and the strong-willed and determined individuals who risked it all to call Nova Scotia home.
Contributor Notes
Jacqueline Halsey lives in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. In her books, she retells historical events through the eyes of children. Peggy's Letters and Explosion Newsie were both on the CCBC — Best Books for Children and Teens lists. When not writing, she spends her time teaching English to newcomers and helping take care of McNabs Island, a place overflowing with history.
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age:
- 8 to 12
- Grade:
- 3 to 7
Awards
- Short-listed, Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Awards (English Fiction)
- Short-listed, CCBC Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People
Editorial Reviews
"This recommended title would make an excellent cross-curricular read for a unit on settlement, pioneers, or migration. It would also be eye-opening to compare and contrast Dougal's experience on the ship with that of slaves being brought from Africa." —Resource Links (NL)
"Piper invites comparison between the historical experiences of Highland Scots in Nova Scotia and the current experiences of other groups around the world." —National Reading Campaign
"While this work is aimed at junior-intermediate level readers, its range is actually broader than that. And that is a good thing because the author has written a fine book of historical fiction." —Canadian Teacher Magazine
