I can recommend to you MaryLou Driedger’s Lost on the Prairie, a middle-grade historical fiction novel about a young Mennonite boy travelling from the US midwest to Saskatchewan in 1907. It is a sensitively told adventure, meticulously researched and based on her family history, that pre-teens/young teens will enjoy but that their parents can also!
— Zilla Jones, winner of The Malahat Review Open Season Fiction Contest
Enjoyed reading Sixties Girl! Talk about bringing back memories of that time in my life!
— Pearl Braun-Dyck, Altona, Manitoba
Even though I was familiar with the fantastic cover design of your book, I was still surprised when I finally held it in my hands for the first time. It is such a pleasure to hold. I love its size. It is small but satisfyingly thick — not too thick but happily substantial. I’m enjoying Peter’s voice, point of view, and adventures.
— Erin Unger, Steinbach, Manitoba
— Erin Thomas, teacher-librarian, Winnipeg
— Nettie Peters, Winnipeg, Manitoba
— Marge Giesbrecht, Landmark, Manitoba
Excellent story about a young girl growing up in the sixties in Winnipeg told in alternating timelines. Includes a lot of historical events including the Cuban Missile Crisis, Expo 67, Beatlemania and miniskirts. I loved this book for many reasons: strong writing; intergenerational storytelling; age-appropriate approach to heavy subject matter and excellent characters who face their problems in realistic ways. Would make an excellent read-aloud in an upper intermediate class.
— Adrienne Gear from her list of Top Ten Fiction Books of 2023, Vancouver
— Kelly Weiss, Chicago, Illinois
— Lynn Froese, Winnipeg
— Kelly Lewis, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Loved Sixties Girl! So many of the exploits were familiar, as someone who also grew up in the sixties. I so enjoyed your use of a grandparent sharing stories of their adventures. I know your book will be a great success!
— Rita Burgess, Winnipeg
A tall tale based on a pieced-together story from real history; this was a good read for those of us on the prairies as the locations are interesting and not far from home. Delightful, if not fantastical.
— Kristen Kroeker, Toronto
Mary Lou Driedger writes books for all age groups but writes in such a way that younger readers can appreciate them and learn from them and love them. At the same time, adults get just as much from the beautifully crafted and fulfilling themes and messages Mary Lou embeds in her stories
— Mitchell Toews, Author of Pinching Zwieback, Jessica Lake, Manitoba
My aunt is loving the book. She was a 60s girl in Winnipeg!
— Jenna Greene, Winnipeg
I finished reading Sixties Girl in one day. I had a hard time putting it down. I loved how the two storylines were so skillfully woven together and like Will, I kept wanting more of his grandmother’s stories. Maybe because I also grew up in the sixties the stories really resonated with me. And I loved how you didn’t shy away from the hard things lots of kids go through.
— Marguerite Newton
— Ruth Tiessen, Kingsville, Ontario
— AnnaBeth Birky, Newton, Kansas
I loved Sixties Girl. Thank you for sharing this story. Brilliant and wonderful.
— Simone Penner, Winnipeg
— Allison Ward, Winnipeg educator
Local author MaryLou Driedger used her grandfather’s story to help her write Lost on the Prairie. He was left behind in a disconnected boxcar as the family travelled from Kansas to Saskatchewan. In Driedger’s mid-level novel, set in 1907, 12-year-old Peter Schmidt faces the same calamity. There’s plenty of action and suspense as Peter spends time with an Indigenous family, helps rescue a man from quicksand, and gets stranded on a broken Ferris wheel. Peter shows resourcefulness and courage as he faces numerous hazards and learns about places (including early Winnipeg) he never knew existed. Readers ages 8-12 will find excitement on every page as they trace Peter’s journey north.
— Helen Norrie, Winnipeg Free Press – July 17th
— Aria Klaasen, student at the St. Anne Collegiate, Manitoba
I bought this book not realizing it was written for pre-teens or teens, but as with most really good young-adult fiction, a young age was no prerequisite for enjoyment! This is one of the good ones!
— Judy Dykstra-Brown, United States
I loved your book, Lost on the Prairie. It really captured the prairie flavour that the US and Canada have in common.
— Diane Driedger, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Lost on the Prairie is a terrific read and full of great adventures. The author really lets you get inside the hero Peter’s head. I was holding my breath in so many places in the book including when Peter almost missed the train in Winnipeg. I really admired the research that was done to make the story authentic. I loved that Mark Twain is in the book as a real person. I also liked the combination of fiction and real life and the family photos that were included. I look forward to the author’s next book.
— Beryl Young is the award-winning author of novels, picture books, and biographies for children. Her latest book Show Us Where You Live Humpback was just released in May 2021 by Greystone Kids.
— Harriet Zaidman, Winner of the 2022 Geoffry Bilson Award for Historical Fiction
Lost on the Prairie is a spellbinding story of twelve-year-old Peter Schmidt moving from Kansas to Saskatchewan. The first chapter hooks you and you can’t put it down. You are on pins and needles wondering if Peter will make it to his destination. This novel is a treasure!!
— Pat Trottier, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Listening to stories told by his grandmother about growing up in the 1960s compels young Will to ask hard questions about his own relationships with friends and family. Heartfelt, warm, rich in details, meticulously researched, and complete with intriguing historical notes, MaryLou Driedger’s Sixties Girl adeptly brings the era to life.
— Larry Verstraete, Author, Winner of the Silver Birch Award, Red Cedar Award, McNally Robinson Books for Young People Award
The twists and turns of the 1960s are the backdrop of MaryLou Driedger’s new novel, which whisks adolescent readers back to an era of rapid change with more than a few parallels to the present. Sixties Girl is the coming-of-age story of Laura, a girl who is grappling with transformations happening close to home and around the world. Set in 1960s and present-day Winnipeg, the book follows Laura as she navigates the ups and downs of adolescence. A grown-up Laura also recounts her eventful childhood to her grandson, Will, who finds contemporary echoes in the decades-old stories.
— Jordan Ross, The Carillon
— Ted and Joanne Ewert, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
By using a beloved grandparent’s recollections as a framing device, Driedger makes moments in local and global history real and rooted in a perspective children can understand. While the topics broached are serious, Driedger tells them with compassion and understanding, softening the subject matter for younger readers without robbing them of their significance.
— Tessa Riggs, Toronto – Canadian Review of Materials
— Pam Unrau, Steinbach, Manitoba
Just finished Sixties Girl. What a pleasure to read! You are an accomplished author! Congratulations! I will be passing the book along to the young people in our family and have recommended it to our library.
— Susan Mooney, Carmen, Manitoba
Loved Sixties Girl. Couldn’t put it down.
— Darlene Hiebert
— Susan Mooney, Carmen, Manitoba
A great adventure story for middle-grade boys. Historical fiction about family always interests me. In this book, the protagonist gets lost during an immigration journey from Kansas to Saskatchewan. Inspired by a true story! The author seems to have researched the South Dakota Indigenous Peoples with great care and detail. In general, the book appears well-researched. I loved the writing . . . the strong verbs, the visual details, the clever connection to 1907 reading material, and Peter’s connection to animals. Kids will love it.
— Gabriele Goldstone is the author of The Kulak’s Daughter, a Resource Links Best of 2010 selection that received a Silver Moonbeam Award. The follow-up, Broken Stone, was Highly Recommended by CM Reviews. Both books were shortlisted for Manitoba Book Awards. Her latest novel Tainted Amber spent several weeks on the McNally Robinson Bestseller list.
— Ernest Klassen, Steinbach, Manitoba
Just finished reading Lost on the Prairie — I enjoyed it very much! You kept my interest throughout the whole book. Thanks for writing it. A good read for a young reader as well as an adult!!!
— Elizabeth Reimer, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
As a sixties girl myself I was intrigued when I saw Sixties Girl was an addition to our local library as I was scanning the new releases. The novel was full of references that brought back many memories for me. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I’ve already recommended the book to a few of my grandmother’s friends.
— Val Guillemin, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
— Kari Tanaka, University of Lethbridge Bookstore
A captivating glimpse into early prairie life through the experiences of twelve-year-old Peter.
— Candace Rea, Principal Pembina Trails School Division, Winnipeg
— Mary Fransen, Hesston, Kansas
I suppose all story writers are story ‘weavers’ to some extent…but that is the word that kept coming to mind as I read the chapters of Sixties Girl. This story is beautifully woven! Laura’s voice, Will’s voice, moments in history, items in the suitcase, interactions of family and friends, personal fears and shared celebrations, past and present, youth and senior….there are SO many strong and colourful threads woven together so very nimbly and skillfully! Thank you for this memorable piece of fabric! Being a sixties girl, too, I connected with several threads you have woven!
— Debbie Jackson, Steinbach
We have a much-loved copy of Sixties Girl and I have recommended it to many moms. It was the first chapter book that my 10-year-old read by herself – She enjoyed it so much when her Oma read it to her for the first time. Thank you, MaryLou!
— Lisa Schellenberg, Ontario
I am loving your book. It is tremendous! Believe me when I say it is spectacular and the study guide is the best I have ever seen.
— Jodi Carmichael, Winnipeg, Manitoba
— Esther Dick, Winnipeg, Manitoba
I gave Sixties Girl to my next door neighbour last year for her 12th birthday. She is a great reader and said she loved the book and she was getting her friends to read it too. She told me she had read it four times over the summer.
— Dorothy Adrian, Winnipeg
The book was so well written, holding my interest throughout. Sixties Girl has many poignant and honest stories and you will want to read them even if you are not in the 9-12 age group the book is written for. I found the recurring theme of the old German lullaby Schlaf, Kindlein, Schlaf, so comforting. I liked that Driedger did not gloss over the difficulties of the young people in the story. I did find it interesting that many of Laura’s stories are set in Rocky Creek. Could this be a “take off” on Steinbach? My verdict? This book is well worth reading.
— Betty Koop, from a longer review in the June 2023 issue of the Manitoba Mennonite Historical Society Newsletter
— Pat Boese, Winnipeg, Manitoba
— Lori Emilson, curriculum support teacher, Ashern, Manitoba
I enjoyed reading Sixties Girl. You are a gifted writer and I’m excited to purchase more copies to give to our nieces and nephews!
— Erin Unger, Steinbach
Would I recommend this book? Absolutely yes! What did I love about it? The historical events and historical notes. The friendship between Will, Emmaline and Aneesh. The discussion about bullying and how destructive it can be. How eager I was to read the story behind each item in the suitcase. How each chapter in the present ends with an opening into a story from the past. Reading this book made me envy Will; the time he spends with his grandmother and all the stories she tells him. I don’t have a close relationship with any of my grandmothers, and I thought Will was so lucky. Thanks to the author for letting me pretend I was listening to my grandmother. If you know any young readers who want to explore history in a simple and heartwarming way, Sixties Girl is a good book to start with.
— Book Blossom Instagram
The challenge for a writer of fiction is always the delicate relationship between fact and fiction; without fact, it would be fantasy. MaryLou has faced this challenge in her most recent novel, Lost on the Prairie, where she artfully draws on the lives and experiences of her family going back as far as a hundred years. What to many would be seen as relatively ordinary events and unremarkable people, MaryLou has transformed into a spellbinding story of the adventures of a 12-year-old boy. Far from being just a children’s story, Lost on the Prairie has appeal to adults as well as seniors.
— Dr Esther Matz, author of the Pineview Mystery Series, Winnipeg, Manitoba
— Stephanie Allen, Anola
In this thoughtful middle-grade novel, the past deftly intersects with the present. His grandmother’s old suitcase, stuffed with random objects, becomes eleven-year-old Will’s portal to both family and world history, and to a better understanding of himself. An empowering book about sharing stories, Sixties Girl is sure to stimulate conversation between generations.
— Gabriele Goldstone, Author. Winner of the Golden Moonbeam and Silver Moonbeam Awards for Historical Fiction, Winnipeg
— Barb Lane, Steinbach, Manitoba
— Mildred Schroeder, Winnipeg, Manitoba
I read Sixties Girl in the airport and on the flight to Abbotsford, then handed it over to my granddaughter Hazel. Hazel and I both enjoyed the book and it gives us topics to discuss and compare–how things were and how they are now. A “generation spanner.”
— Mitch Toews, Author of Pinching Zwieback, Jessica Lake, Manitoba
Lost on the Prairie is a fast-paced adventure portraying the demands and dangers of prairie life at the turn of the twentieth century. Middle year readers will readily engage in the excitement and challenges Peter faces in this work of historical fiction. Lost on the Prairie will not only be a popular read for the intended audience, but it will be one that parents and grandparents will enjoy sharing. Highly Recommended!
— Janice Foster, retired teacher and teacher librarian in Winnipeg, Manitoba
— Peggy Martens, Altona, Manitoba
— Joel Driedger, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
As a former educator, I soooo enjoyed this book. It was a quick, engaging read. It kept me wanting to continue reading to find out what happens to Peter. The development and evolution of the story had interesting twists and turns. I kept thinking about what reading Lost on the Prairie would be like with my former students and what their reactions would be. It brought back memories of specific students who I know would love the book. Bringing in Mennonite and First Nation cultures is an opportunity for great discussions. The bonus for teachers is the Study Guide. Well done!
— Barbara Walker, Edmonton, Alberta
Set in the early twentieth century, Lost on the Prairie is a well-researched and imaginative coming-of-age story for young readers.
— Manitoba Book Awards Jury
Sixties Girl was a fabulous treat. I found the book did a great job of teaching history and I was most impressed with its emotional complexity.
— Gerald Loewen, Winnipeg
— Penny Willis, Leamington, Ontario
— Ella Munro, Teacher Librarian, Winnipeg
— Julie Driedger, Leamington, Ontario
I just finished Sixties Girl and loved it. I wasn’t ready for it to end. I wanted to hear more of Grandma’s stories. I could identify with so much of it since I was very much a sixties girl myself. Thanks for an awesome read.
— Rita Enns, Leamington, Ontario
As a historical fiction fan, I love the idea of a middle-grade book set in the 1960s. There aren’t that many out there and it’s important for today’s kids to know about that era, in both a historical and a cultural sense. As a genealogist, I also love the thought of a teenage boy asking his grandmother about her life and memories, especially when that experience draws them together. SIXTIES GIRL features both of these elements. They’re my favorite things about the book.
— Blogging About Books, Arizona
Will’s struggle to admit the terrible extent of the bullying he has experienced to everyone who cares about him is wrenching and eye-opening; bullies are very creative and have so much power over everyone around them. I enjoyed the peeks back into Grandma’s 1960’s years – her stories are really good.
— Cindy Mitchell, School Librarian, Salt Lake City, Utah
My aunt has given me both of your books and I have thoroughly enjoyed them. I loved learning about all the interesting history as well as becoming connected to the characters. I loved that some of the characters were the same in both books. Thank you for writing Lost on the Prarie and Sixties Girl. I admire how well-written your stories are and how you are able to convey such vivid imagery and emotions. I have to admit that I did cry occasionally while reading. I love to read and learn and I have found that historical fiction is one of my favorite genres. Both of your books are now some of my favourites. Please continue to write and thank you again for your lovely stories. You are inspiring and I hope that you know that.
— April, 13 years old, Regina, Saskatchewan
This is a well-written story that crosses the generations. The Sixties stories are all fascinating and will engage both the audience that didn’t grow up during that time, and the audience who will have fond memories—an excellent middle-grade story for both girls and boys.
— Suzanne Goulden
Sixties Girl has this great message about the value of spending time with older generations. If we will sit down and listen to their stories there is so much they have to teach us.
— Spencer Miller, – Top Grade Lit for Canadian Classrooms
Perfect picture of growing up in 60s Winnipeg.
— Cheryl Sinclair , Winnipeg
I really enjoyed Sixties Girl. Reading Laura and Will’s stories created a domino effect triggering memories and stories from my own childhood.
— Shannon Kehler, Steinbach
— Mari Hubbard, Ankeny, Iowa
I’m always a fan of intergenerational stories and Sixties Girl didn’t disappoint! Growing up in Manitoba I loved all the historical references and pop culture inclusions. It was nostalgic! The endearing relationship that grows between Will and his grandmother through her storytelling is heartwarming. Sixties Girl had a connection with the author’s debut novel, Lost on the Prairie but you don’t have to read it first to read Sixties Girl. My husband grew up in Winnipeg so we had some great conversations about his childhood experiences while I was enjoying this novel. It would be a fabulous read to use in the classroom!
— Niki, Amazon
Bought Sixties Girl today at McNally-Robinson and read it from start to finish! It was very engaging!
— Joan Fransen, Winnipeg
I loved this book for a lot of reasons. 1. Strong writing. 2. Intergenerational storytelling 3. It tackles some heavy subject matter (body shaming, menstruation misinformation, racism) 4. The characters are flawed but face their problems in realistic ways. There were lots of takeaways for me and it would make an excellent read-aloud or lit circle book for grades 4-7.
— Colleen Nelson -- author of seventeen books for young people. Nominated for Readers Choice Awards across Canada. Winner of Manitoba Book of the Year Award. Nominated for a Governor General's Award, Winnipeg
— Robert Way, Gatineau, Quebec
Driedger’s self-contained chapters – inspired by her own childhood – are well crafted and effective. The highly evocative vignettes will appeal to young readers with a taste for the past (history buffs will also appreciate the endnotes that cast extra light on each chapter). And on the final page, a last-minute twist provides a welcome surprise. – Read the full review here.
— Trilby Kent, Quill and Quire
A cute intergenerational story with flashbacks to Winnipeg in the 60s.
— Lori Emilson, Ashern, Manitoba
I just read Sixties Girl and thoroughly enjoyed it!! You are a very talented author. This book kept my interest all the way through, even though coming-of-age stories are not normally my favourite type of book. I’ll be sure to read Lost on the Prairie, too. I’m not from Winnipeg, but we’ve lived here now for 17 years, so it was fun to read about several iconic places, street names, etc. in the city. I’m a Sixties Girl, too, just a couple years younger than Laura, so enjoyed your nods to the Beatles, Neil Diamond, Seventeen magazine, and even Kotex, all of which were a huge part of my growing up years. Thanks for the memories.
— Pamela Bowles, Winnipeg
Sixties Girl was so interesting that I could hardly put it down! Congratulations on another well-written, engaging book for children and adults alike!
— Pat Boese, Winnipeg
— Janet Bock, Winnipeg
What an adventure! It starts off with a bang and the action doesn’t let up. I know lots of students in my grade 8 class who will enjoy this book. The back matter is equally fun to read because I got to learn about the author’s connection to the story and which parts were based on fact. The main character grows and changes through his adventures. Honestly, I read this book in a day because it was such fun and so hard to put down. It will be a welcome addition in any grade 4-8 classroom. This is a gem of a book!
— Colleen Nelson’s fourteen books for children and teens have garnered a long list of awards. Her 2021 middle-grade novel Harvey Comes Home was named the Manitoba Book of the Year for Young People and was a Governor General’s Award nominee.
A great read-aloud. Non-stop adventure, and appropriate for all ages
— Jessica Vargas, Abbotsford, British Columbia
MaryLou Driedger has deftly woven together a historical fiction story of a girl growing up in the fast-changing 1960s and a contemporary story of a boy dealing with bullying, making new friends, and learning how to trust. Both storylines are compelling in their own right, and together they form this beautifully written novel that lets us sink into each character’s coming-of-age journey. Sixties Girl is a captivating page-turner that I did not want to end! Fans of Driedger’s first book, Lost on the Prairie, will not be disappointed!
— Jodi Carmichael, Author, Winner of a Manitoba Book Award, Silver Moonbeam Award and Silver Benjamin Franklin Award, Winnipeg
— Meena Stephen, Hong Kong, China
This is a fun way to learn about life in the 60s. I will totally gift the book to my daughter’s school. I think it would be a perfect addition to their library.
— Melissa The Book Cover Lover Reviewer on Instagram
My son and I just finished reading Lost on the Prairie. Loved it!
— Tara Klassen, Steinbach, Manitoba
— Adelia Neufeld Wiens, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Lost on the Prairie had my attention from the first line to the last. I loved the plot, the characters, the quick pace, the details incorporated that made the time period come alive, the rich language and clever phrases that often made me chuckle… In short, I loved everything about the book. Kids and teachers are going to love it, too. and I hope the book has a long and happy life on the bestseller list where it surely belongs.
— Larry Verstraete’s sixteen books for children have garnered many awards. His latest novel Coop the Great was a 2020 honour book for the Young People’s Choice Award in Manitoba and will soon be available in Germany with Merlin Verlag Publishers.
This coming-of-age story is about Peter, a Kansas farm boy, whose family is moving to Saskatchewan. While making the trek, Peter is separated and lost on the way. The journey to find his way to his new home and to his family is filled with adventures. Peter quickly ‘grows up’ through his experiences. It really feels like a story that is a mix of Hatchet, Hercules, Huck Finn/Tom Sawyer and Lost in the Barrens.
The author’s nod to her own family history is fantastic. This story is a great launching point for writing realistic fiction about our own family tales.
— Nancy , Winnipeg
Although the author had a middle-school audience in mind, Lost on the Prairie is a fabulous read for all ages. The story follows a young boy who gets separated from his family as they travel to Canada, and he must find his way alone, across the immense prairie landscape.
— Millie Hildebrand, Winnipeg, Manitoba