In Search of Self

About the Book

Dating from the 1980s into the 1940s, this novel covers a time that is rich in United States’ history. The focus of this novel is on the French Canadians’ migration from Quebec into northern United States in search of a better way of life. The main thread follows the family of the narrator, Silvie Marie Audette. She is a young girl who feels a loss of identity due to the circumstances in which she lives. She and her mother reside in a community that abuts the lumber camp where her father was a lumberjack. However, he died from an accident during Silvie’s infancy. Because he had built a log cabin on lumber mill property, Silvie and her mother are entitled to remain there even after his death. Silvie believes that she is stuck in a place where she doesn’t belong. In Search of Self touches all emotions. Silvie and her boy cousin, who also lives in the complex, pack their teen years with adventure. There are comical moments, events both heroic and tragic, and surprise elements to capture the reader’s interests. Silvie Marie Audette is faced with a problem of identity. She struggles to the end for a satisfactory solution to her dilemma.

About the Author

Marion May Hand When traveling in Northwestern United States, the author had the opportunity to speak to a fellow traveler who was a lumberjack. She thought that children hear stories about common careers, such as doctors, policemen, teachers, and farmers, but hardly ever about a lumberjack. At a later date, she sat her computer to write that story. She found that even children's literature requires research. Delving into that research, she discovered an abundance of material. However, she soon knew that a different story was emerging. IN SEARCH OF SELF is that adult novel that was created, using the same lumber mill setting. The author had resided in New England until retiring to Florida. As a teacher she was always interested in passing on information, but not in a didactic sense. She called this method of education, painless learning. Traveling is one way of learning by using little effort. However, losing oneself in a good novel is an even a better way. Late in life, one undone deed kept prodding at the author. One always hears that there is a good book in everyone. IN SEARCH OF SELF is her manuscript