Farewell to the Island Book

The war of 1812 is over, and 16-year-old Mary O'Shea is leaving her home on the remote island of Mackinac to visit her married sister, Angelique, in England. When she arrives, the spunky American girl horrifies her sister's stuffy British in-laws with her independent ways—especially when she meets Lord James Lindsay. James shows Mary his world—and soon he invites her to share it with him. And now Mary finds herself facing the most difficult decision of her life....

With masterful storytelling, accurate historical detail, and an ever-appealing protagonist, critically acclaimed author Gloria Whelan has written a satisfying sequel to her 1996 Great Lakes Book Award winner Once on This Island.

Author Biography:

Gloria Whelan is a poet and the award-winning author of many books for young readers, including Homeless Bird winner of the National Book Award; Return To The Island; Once On This Island, winner of the Great Lakes Book Award; Farewell To The Island; and Miranda's Last Stand. She lives with her husband, Joseph, in the woods of northern Michigan.

Children's Literature

The sequel to Once on this Island is a must buy for your library or favorite pre-teen. A tale told with a little romance, adventure, drama, and a bit of history, it will keep readers turning pages and awaiting another sequel. Life on Mackinac Island in 1816 is very different. With the war's end, her sister married a British soldier and moved to London; brother Jacques turned a short visit home with his new Indian wife into a permanent move. With all the upheaval to her quiet life, she accepts her sister's invitation to visit London and embarks on a journey of heart, culture, and of finding herself.