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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

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Enjoyed reading Sixties Girl!   Talk about bringing back memories of that time in my life!

— Pearl Braun-Dyck, Altona, Manitoba

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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

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I absolutely loved this little gem of a book. Such a great story and so much learning potential too! I really appreciated the questions at the end of the book. Can’t wait to share this with students in my MYRCA club this coming year!

— Erin Thomas, teacher-librarian, Winnipeg

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What a delightful book! I read the book in two sittings and thought how much fun this would be for kids to read. I loved the bit about the horses – Gypsy and Prince – and the unique relationship Peter had with them. I can see how this would be a perfect book to be read serially in class – with the kids anticipating the next adventure. I perused your guide for discussion – and teachers should be so lucky to have that additional tool.

— Nettie Peters, Winnipeg, Manitoba

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I enjoyed your book immensely!! It kept me reading, wanting to know what would happen next. I kept imagining that this is what middle years students look for. It is a book full of adventure in which you feel empathy for the hero.

— Marge Giesbrecht, Landmark, Manitoba

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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

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I just finished reading this delightful book. It’s a beautiful coming-of-age story set in 1907, filled with wonder and adventure. I loved following along with Peter as he made his way to his new home. Congrats on this lovely novel!

— Kelly Weiss, Chicago, Illinois

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Great novel. Fun to remember some familiar stories with Laura. I hope the children who explore your novel have someone at home who can and will share their stories too. I look forward to sharing both of your novels with my grandson.

— Lynn Froese, Winnipeg

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I wanted to tell you that my book club loved your book. It was such an enjoyable read. Everyone wanted to be sure to let you know. We all agreed you had obviously done your research. One of our members is Indigenous and she appreciated the respectful tone you used. I wish you continued success with this book and look forward to many more. I personally loved the meeting of Mark Twain. Very clever!

— Kelly Lewis, Winnipeg, Manitoba

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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

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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

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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

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My aunt is loving the book. She was a 60s girl in Winnipeg!

— Jenna Greene, Winnipeg

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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

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I have never been so excited about getting a book from Amazon as I was when your book arrived at our door! My husband and I have both read it and thoroughly enjoyed it. I particularly enjoyed the encounter with Samuel Clemens and his rather surprising behaviour in the dining room. What a great idea to incorporate that final quote of his book into your story with Peter.

— Ruth Tiessen, Kingsville, Ontario

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I loved your book! I bought it a couple of weeks ago and read it quickly – a page-turner. Then I gave it to my son’s family. Their oldest is a boy who just turned 12, so very timely! They planned to read it as a family. I’m sure they will enjoy it. I live near Newton, Kansas, and also have relatives in Drake, Saskatchewan, and Winnipeg, Manitoba. That made it doubly enjoyable and meaningful to me!

— AnnaBeth Birky, Newton, Kansas

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I loved Sixties Girl. Thank you for sharing this story. Brilliant and wonderful.

— Simone Penner, Winnipeg

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A fun adventure story – it will appeal to so many!

— Allison Ward, Winnipeg educator

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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

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The boy in this book dreams of going on a grand adventure like many kids my age do. The way the author weaves words to create such vivid images is amazing. The book teaches us about the kind of travel our ancestors had to do to come to Canada. This was a good read!

— Aria Klaasen, student at the St. Anne Collegiate, Manitoba

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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

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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

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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.

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Stories from the Swinging Sixties help friends overcome their divisions and a family bridge the generation gap in this uplifting contemporary tale. Young readers will identify with Will’s insecurities, and cheer when he realizes goodness surrounds him. When in doubt, Grandma’s story box has the answer.

— Harriet Zaidman, Winner of the 2022 Geoffry Bilson Award for Historical Fiction

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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

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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

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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

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We have just finished reading Lost on the Prairie. We enjoyed it so much. Our grandsons always get a stocking gift from Grandma and Grandpa and your book fits the bill this year. We knew your Grandpa and will enjoy telling our grandsons about our memories of their great-great-great Uncle Peter. Christmas book gifts are read out loud in our family. So happy Lost on the Prairie is doing well. Looking forward to more stories.

— Ted and Joanne Ewert, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

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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

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The first summer read is complete… I can’t say enough good things about this captivating little book!! Yes, it’s a children’s book, and for that, I loved it even more!

— Pam Unrau, Steinbach, Manitoba

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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

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Loved Sixties Girl. Couldn’t put it down.

— Darlene Hiebert

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What a wonderful book by an amazing writer.

— Susan Mooney, Carmen, Manitoba

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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.

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I totally enjoyed the story! It was well-written and accurately researched.

— Ernest Klassen, Steinbach, Manitoba

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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

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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

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Kids will love following Peter’s many adventures and, when they find out this book is inspired by true events they will be so surprised.

— Kari Tanaka, University of Lethbridge Bookstore

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A captivating glimpse into early prairie life through the experiences of twelve-year-old Peter.

— Candace Rea, Principal Pembina Trails School Division, Winnipeg

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Congratulations on writing a wonderful novel! I enjoyed the read. While reading it I took special notice of your weaving family history with the history of the early 1900s. The book will appeal to the young reader but also resonate with older generations. Working in Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer adventures worked well with those of Peter Schmidt’s own travels from Kansas to Saskatchewan. I liked that you brought in both “First Nation” and “Mennonite” family cultures and values.

— Mary Fransen, Hesston, Kansas

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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

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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

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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

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I think your writing is just BEAUTIFUL! I could come up with dozens of examples that stand out – right now I’m thinking of your description of those butterflies. I loved the whole section with the Little Thunder family.

— Esther Dick, Winnipeg, Manitoba

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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

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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

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This book was so enjoyable I could hardly put it down! Now I want to read it to our grandsons; I know they will love it, too.

— Pat Boese, Winnipeg, Manitoba

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My love for Canadian authors knows no bounds, and this book is one reason why. Love the adventurous perspective of the young protagonist as he is accidentally abandoned on the prairies in 1907. Highly recommend!

— Lori Emilson, curriculum support teacher, Ashern, Manitoba

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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

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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

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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

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My son Lewis (age 10) read your first book Lost on the Prairie and loved it. He’s now reading Sixties Girl and insisting that I read it too because it’s so good. I will, and I’m looking forward to it. We think it’s really neat that you’re from Manitoba. We are too. My kids came home from school so excited about the Manitoba famous readers that came to their school today, and it reminded me of you, because you’re a Manitoba famous author in our household. So we’re celebrating you as part of “I love to read” month in our house. Thanks for your books. Our words may be simple, but are very heartfelt.

— Stephanie Allen, Anola

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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

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I really enjoyed your book and could see my 12-year-old self enjoying the read as well. Some descriptions I liked were “They look straight ahead, their faces as empty as the blackboard at the end of the school day.” – “I think my heart might jump right out of my chest and land with a splash in my bean soup.” – “A new thought streaks like a runaway train through my head”. I hope Manitoba schools and public libraries will soon have this book on their shelves. Well done!

— Barb Lane, Steinbach, Manitoba

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I read your interesting book almost non-stop. There were so many parts of it that it felt like home, and I recognized the people. Thanks so much for doing all that research.

— Mildred Schroeder, Winnipeg, Manitoba

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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

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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

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This book was difficult to put down. It will hold the attention of younger and older readers as Peter moves from one adventure to another at a rapid pace. No need to read through chapters waiting for the next exciting escapade. It is so very well-researched. I felt I was in the Minneapolis train station in 1907. I loved, loved, loved the inclusion of Mark Twain. But, what will stay with me the most, is how the book gives a central place to First Nations people. Peter sees them through eyes of wonder and curiosity as a child. He is not afraid or suspicious. The fact that they are heroes and friends in the story is wonderful. Peter sees what is similar to his own family and is respectful and appreciative of the differences. The fact that he cherishes the moccasins made by the grandmother for him speaks to this. This is how I wish adults, as well as children, could view those of different cultures to our own. This book is not only a great read but a must-read!

— Peggy Martens, Altona, Manitoba

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The book is very enjoyable! It would be a great middle years text, hits so many curricular themes, relatable for prairie kids, and it’s a fun story with just the right amount of edge.

— Joel Driedger, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

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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

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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

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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

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I just finished your novel, and I loved it! You are a wonderful author.

— Penny Willis, Leamington, Ontario

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MaryLou Driedger has created a story jam-packed with adventures. The main character is so charming, students will love cheering him on!

— Ella Munro, Teacher Librarian, Winnipeg

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Land sakes MaryLou, what an imagination you have. A real page-turner from the first to the last. You had me grinning and even tearing up at a few moments. A big standing O. I am clapping really loud.

— Julie Driedger, Leamington, Ontario

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Perfect picture of growing up in 60s Winnipeg.

— Cheryl Sinclair , Winnipeg

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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

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I got home after a few days away to find your book had arrived. I was so excited to read it, I sat down after dinner and read the whole thing! I LOVED reading about Peter’s adventures!! You have a beautiful, descriptive writing style that captures the imagination and sweeps the reader right into the story. Congratulations! I hope there will be another one…perhaps about Peter and Annie?

— Mari Hubbard, Ankeny, Iowa

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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

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Bought Sixties Girl today at McNally-Robinson and read it from start to finish! It was very engaging!

— Joan Fransen, Winnipeg

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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

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A spellbinder, for sure! Peter is such a likeable young man, and the whole story told in his voice makes it so easy to get swept away, visually imagining as each new adventure unfolds. I thoroughly enjoyed following Peter’s adventures, and will heartily recommend your book to others. I found it a very easy, interesting, and satisfying read!

— Robert Way, Gatineau, Quebec

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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

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A cute intergenerational story with flashbacks to Winnipeg in the 60s.

— Lori Emilson, Ashern, Manitoba

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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

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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

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I have spent the last two days reading LOST ON THE PRAIRIE.  I so enjoyed it and I can totally see myself using this in a classroom setting.  My students would have loved it , too. What a lot of research you must have done to create this amazing story.  I love how it connected back to your own family history.

— Janet Bock, Winnipeg

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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.

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A great read-aloud. Non-stop adventure, and appropriate for all ages

— Jessica Vargas, Abbotsford, British Columbia

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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

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I just finished reading your book in under 24 hours. It is a lovely story, so very beautifully narrated from the perspective of a child. You have integrated personal stories within the historical background and the poetic language captures the childlike wonder of Peter’s many experiences. The beauty of nature, the goodness of people, and the growth of a child make this bildungsroman so very readable. I learned so much about the time period and the places. To think you have recreated episodes from your own grandfather’s history is poignant and amazing. One of the many descriptions that were evocative …. “Mama’s worry snakes up two flights of stairs and ricochets off the sloping ceilings.” Altogether a gem of a book, even the size and dimensions of the physical copy embodies this, as well as the paper used, the dedication to your mother, and the thought-provoking study guide.

— Meena Stephen, Hong Kong, China

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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

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My son and I just finished reading Lost on the Prairie. Loved it!

— Tara Klassen, Steinbach, Manitoba

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I just read your book on the weekend. It’s terrific! I am looking forward to our discussion in my book club when we all read it and meet you!

— Adelia Neufeld Wiens, Winnipeg, Manitoba

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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.

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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

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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