Where Lives Take Root

Spanning two continents, one war and several generations, "Where Lives Take Root" follows the stories of three unforgettable characters as their lives become forever linked and grounded in Muskoka. First there is Nan, a grown woman and mother of two young boys who suddenly discovers her family secret: that her deceased mother was half Chippewa. Then there is Gunner, a First Nations classmate from Nan's small rural community and the only reference point Nan has to her new identity. Finally, there is Hamar, Gunner's father, a displaced Norwegian who escaped his homeland during the German occupation and found himself at the end of the war, still tied to the Norwegian airforce training camp in Muskoka. Weaving together different decades and narrative points of view, "Where Lives Take Root" is about the universal search for identity and belonging. Suitable for both adults and young adults, this story examines the meaning of blood and ancestry and the inevitable conclusion that what really matters is not about race or religion, but about finding a place and purpose in the world.