The Loyalist Diary of Mary MacDonald
Johnstown, Québec, 1783
by Karleen Bradford
ISBN 0-439-98979-5 HC
224 pages
Ages 9-12
5 ½" x 7 5/8"
When Mary's family sides with the British against the American rebels, they are branded traitors and forced to flee their home. All they have is what they can carry with them — and their determination and courage — when they head north toward Canada.
Along with other Loyalists they hope to start a new life in Québec, where there is land for those who have been loyal to the King. But the journey is treacherous, the winter bitterly cold, and the MacDonalds find it hard to survive. Even with the supplies from Britain, clearing the land to build their home is a struggle. . . But will they even survive to forge a new life in a new land?
An Excerpt from Mary's Diary
October 7th, 1783
I do not know how to write of this. It is so awful I cannot bear it, but I am so full of grief and anger and just plain disbelief that if I do not let it out I will die! How to begin?
They came for Father this morning. A loud, rowdy bunch of so-called Patriots with cockades in their hats, all puffed up with righteousness and their own importance. We knew most of them. They were our neighbours. People we used to call friends. Lizzie Crane’s father was one of them. And Ned
Bolton — his wife and Mother have known each other all their lives! They pulled Father out of the house and dragged him down the path. They just dragged him! And then . . .
This is the part I cannot write. But I must.
They lifted my dear father up and sat him on a mule — backwards! They tied his hands to the pommel and whipped the mule forward. They paraded Father through town that way, shouting vile oaths that I cannot repeat even to this journal. My father! He will die of the shame of this.
Then they brought him back and threw him down in the dust.
"Here’s a pass for you, Tory," they shouted, tossing a piece of paper after him. He bent to pick it up, but stumbled and almost fell. Mother rushed forward to support him and snatched up the paper.
"Get out of here!" she screamed at the men. Her face was all twisted up and she was crying. "Get out!"
Then she put her arms around Father and he just kind of slumped against her. I started to run toward them but the sound of Ned Bolton’s voice stopped me as surely as if he had reached out and struck me.
"Use that pass and be out of here by morning!" he cried. "All of you. We don’t want filthy Tories in this town!"
From Dear Canada: With Nothing But Our Courage, copyright © 2001 by Karleen Bradford.
"I found the book different than what I normally read in Dear Canada. It's the first one that I've read where a family goes to Quebec from the USA because people threw them out of their own homes. It is one of the best books I've ever read. I would recommend it. Please send a thank you to Karleen Bradford for writing this amazing piece of literature. It was better than Frankenstein!"
Abbey A., Age 10, Ontario, Rating: 10
"I can't believe how this family was driven from their home! It makes me sick to read about people treated this bad! But I am so relieved that Mary's family managed to keep it pretty well together through it all!"
Selina M., Age 13, Ontario, Rating: 10
"This is one of the best books I have ever read. It deeply shows Mary's feelings and lifestyle. It tells us how she felt about her life, the hardship of life which we rarely face. It was an amazing book. And all I want to say is I LOVE this book."
Tasneem F., Age 12, Ontario, Rating: 10
"I have read every "Dear Canada" book there is at least 3 times each and With Nothing But Our Courage is my all time favourite! If anyone has not read this book yet I would encourage them to read it!"
Rachel H., Age 12, Alberta
"Karleen Bradford has truly outdone herself in this book. All the Dear Canada Books are fantastic, and I own a copy of all of them, but this is the first one I ever read and it's stuck in my heart and mind. I have read it numerous times since then, and it still amazes me, tugs at my heart, and brings tears to my eyes. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have this fantastic book!"
Nikita F., Age 14, Newfoundland and Labrador, Rating: 10
"This was one of my favourite ones!"
Stephanie E., Age 12, Nova Scotia, Rating: 10
"It is the best Dear Canada book along with A Prairie as Wide as the Sea."
Dhriti T., Age 10, Ontario, Rating: 9
"I love this book. It is amazing how a girl can handle being banished from her home."
Maxwell M., Age 10, Alberta, Rating: 10
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