William Durbin, an author and teacher, resides at the edge of Minnesota's Boundary Waters Wilderness. His prolific work for young readers has earned prestigious accolades, including the Great Lakes Book Award and the Minnesota Book Award. Beyond his contributions to children's literature, Durbin has also explored poetry and essays, demonstrating a broad command of literary expression. His influence extends to educational research, having supervised writing projects for notable institutions.
In 1905, fifteen-year-old Otto describes in his journal how he travels from Finland to America, joining his father in a dreary iron mining community in Minnesota and becoming involved in a union fight for better working conditions.
Set in 1800, the story follows thirteen-year-old Pierre LaPage, who aspires to be a voyageur despite his youth and inexperience. After his father's accident forces him to join the North West Company, Pierre faces the harsh realities of life on the fur trade route. Battling treacherous rapids, physical exhaustion, and the ridicule of older crew members, he embarks on a grueling 1,000-mile journey from Montreal to Grand Portage, testing his resilience and determination to support his family through the winter.