The Filles du Roi Diary of Hélène St. Onge
Montréal, Upper Canada, 1666
by Maxine Trottier
ISBN: 0-439-98969-8 Hardcover
224 pages
Ages 8-12
5 ½" x 7 5/8"
Young Hélène St. Onge and her older sister Catherine are orphans. When King Louis XVI orders all men in New France to marry, Catherine becomes a fille du roi, one of the many young women sent to the new world as brides. Hélène will accompany her on the long sea voyage and live with her sister’s new family. But Catherine dies during the gruelling journey, and Hélène finds herself alone in strange new country. New France is a far harsher place than she imagined, with bitter winters and the threat of attack from the Iroquois. Will the new friendships she has made on her long voyage enable her to survive?
An Excerpt from Hélène's Diary
le 5 juin 1666
Monsieur Deschamps returned today. An agreement has been reached. I may accompany her, but since I am so young Catherine insisted it will not be as a fille à marier, even though some girls even younger than I have married there. I cannot imagine marrying at eleven or twelve years of age.
Monsieur Deschamps seemed to think it would be perfectly correct. “Come now, mademoiselle,” he said. “Would you not like to be the wife of a Montréal merchant?”
I could not help myself. I burst out that I was but thirteen years old.
Monsieur Deschamps and Cousin Pierre looked at each other in a way I disliked.
le 6 juin 1666
We leave on Friday. The mass this Sunday morning was the last I shall ever attend at our church in Reignac. I prayed that both Catherine and I will have the strength to make the journey and leave our dear home behind.
Monsieur Deschamps has travelled on ahead to the ship, but Madame Laurent has remained here at Le Cadeau so that she might act as our chaperone on the journey. She is a pleasant woman, pink-cheeked and jolly, and I think it will be a pleasure to travel with her.
It will be a journey of three days or so from here. We are to go by Cousin Pierre’s coach to La Rochelle and then sail to New France. There will not be room for us to take much, only a few chests. Mine will be the small one, since Catherine has so many lovely things as a bride.
Cousin Pierre has shown us a kindness in the form of a gift of money. Fifty livres. It is generous, I suppose, and I pray it will be enough. As a fille à marier Catherine has one hundred livres. Some of that is for clothing, and sixty for the ship’s passage. Monsieur Deschamps received ten livres from that as a fee for enlisting her. I understand his eagerness now.
Madame Laurent says that it may be possible to procure more private accommodations on the ship. Those with no money must share a common space. Catherine wrinkles her nose to think of such a thing, but it could be most interesting.
le 7 juin 1666
I have helped Louise carefully fold and pack Catherine’s trousseau. Cousine Madeleine and Anne watched us. Madeleine made a suggestion once or twice. She does know a good deal about the care of fine clothing, as she has so much of it herself. There is another chest with our bedding, sheets and quilts and such. It has worn me out, and so I am writing this in bed.
I packed my own things alone in my room. Stockings, shifts, pockets, aprons, handkerchiefs, shoes, caps, a coiffe, a comb, a warm shawl, an everyday gown with its skirt and bodice, and a gown for church. Cleaning sticks for my teeth, my rosary and my prayer book. It is all crammed into my chest.
I bent down to pick up a ribbon that had dropped onto the carpet, and when I turned to my chest, there was Minette sitting inside it. It brought tears to my eyes. I picked her up and she purred in contentment.
“No, Minette,” I said sadly. “You cannot come.“ I told her that she must stay here with Louise or go to the barn. She must be a good, brave cat and keep away all the mice. Life is unfair.
From Dear Canada: Alone in an Untamed Land, copyright © 2003 by Maxine Trottier.
"My first book was not Alone in an Untamed Land, but I still really loved it. I really want more Dear Canada books to come out."
Noor A., Age 10, Alberta, Rating: 10
"Alone in an Untamed Land was actually one of my fave books! It’s very different, and I learned a lot."
Monique B., Age 10
"I saw this book once and went looking for it! It took me a while, but I found it and LOVE it! It has an unusual ending that I've never read before. The only thing I don't like is how sad it is!"
Joy A., Age 12, Nova Scotia, Rating: 9
"I love this book. I read it when we were doing our history unit on the book, and I read this book, like, 4 times. It was really funny. My favourite part is when they talk about the Filles du roi."
Krystal D., Age 14, Ontario, Rating: 10
"I LOVED Alone in an Untamed Land. I read it as soon as I saw it on the school's bookshelf and I almost stole it for myself I loved it so much! But I find the fact that Hélène married her best friend's father catches me. I have never heard of a story that had done that before, and it will rest in my mind forever."
Selina M., Age 13, Ontario, Rating: 9
"I think Alone in an Untamed Land is a really good book. It was sad so it made me cry, but I still think this is a very good book!"
Hannah M., Age 8, U.S.A., Rating: 7
"It's one of my favourite books. It's engrossing."
Carlina R., Age 11, Ontario
"It was the best one yet. I cried a lot and know everyone in my class, including the boys, read the books. I can't wait for the next one in March 2007."
Rachel B., Age 10, P.E.I., Rating: 10
"This book is awesome! Maxine Trottier is a genius! Alone in an Untamed Land is a page-turner!"
Michelle M., Age 10, Ontario, Rating: 10
"Wow! Bravo! This book takes you on a fantastic journey through literature. I felt like I was actually there with Hélène. And when someone she cared about died, I felt like someone who had been special to me died. It was soooooo vivid at times I felt like I was really in 1666 Montréal! I highly recommend this book for its beautiful contrast between French and Mohawk people."
Chloe C., Age 10, U.S.A., Rating: 10
"My friends and I read this book together, and we thought it was so well written, but I think it's kind of wrong how Hélène married a man twice her age, but other than that, I wouldn't change a thing. In a way I’m kind of like Hélène myself..."
Karen M., Age 12, Alberta, Rating: 10
"I loved this book! It was exciting, sad and I didn’t want to put it down!"
Abby S., Age 12, Ontario, Rating: 9
"Alone in an Untamed Land is great! I read it in both French and English. I really love the unexpected ending. I want to read all the Dear Canada books now! I hope more come out!"
Anne A., Age 15, Quebec, Rating: 10
"This is my favourite Dear Canada ever! It is excellent! I adore this book!"
Kaitie H., Age 15, U.S.A., Rating: 10
"I really liked this book, and I read it about 100 or more times."
Marie and Sylvie W., Age 17, U.S.A., Rating: 10
"I think Alone in an Untamed Land is a very good book. Even though I'm not from Canada, I love to read the Dear Canada books!"
Ellisanna R., Age 8, U.S.A., Rating: 10
"I loved it. It is one of the best books in this series, in my mind. It made me think about her after I finished."
Luna F., Age 13, Nova Scotia, Rating: 10
"This book is just fantastic! I just can't stop reading."
Breanne M., Age 12, Alberta, Rating: 10
"I LOVED the story! I read it 5 times, AND I read it when I was 7, AND I can never put the book down!!!! I can read it in less then 3 hours!"
Rosalind L., Age 9, Ontario, Rating: 10
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