Elena's Book Review, April 18th

Title: No Safe Harbour

Author: Julie Lawson

Publisher: Scholastic Canada Ltd.

Date Published/Where: January 2006, Canada

Where I found the book: Library

Number of Pages: 249

Summary

This is the diary of Charlotte Blackburn. The story is sadly very true no matter how much I want to deny it. No Safe Harbour is given it's title to show how much impact the Halifax explosion had. And how nothing would really ever feel safe again for even the bravest survivors of the explosion. As I'm sure you've already guessed, the themes in this diary are one's of sorrow and grief. Something is seriously wrong with you if you do not shed a tear if you choose to read this story, but I guess you will have to read and find out for yourself.

Charlotte Blackburn is 12 years old and has lived a very normal life. She grew up in Halifax Nova Scotia, and although she had a big family, was closest to her twin brother Duncan, and her oldest brother Luke; he was, after all, the one who gave Charlotte this diary in the first place. With Luke off fighting in the war, things are not easy for the Blackburn's. Money was very rare, and time was even scarcer. But the family had such a strong love for one another, that no one seemed to care much.

Charlotte did however, have one sister, Ruth, whom she truly detested. She got along splendidly with Edith, the eldest of the sisters, but Ruth was another story. Duncan and Charlotte would spy on her, trying not to be heard laughing, as Ruth flirted with the sailors down by the bay. But Mrs. Blackburn was sure that some day the two girls would click.

"Were am I ?" All that Charlotte knew was that if she closed her eyes, some one would think she was dead, and take her away. A nurse came to cut off her hair, and Charlotte tried to protest, until she realized that it was matted with bits of glass, and dry blood. She was scared to sleep, and scared to stay awake.

A girl named Violet was sharing Charlotte's bed. Violet was a few years younger then Charlotte, and was missing an eye; they had to take it out since it had splinters of glass in it. The Nurses told Charlotte that she was lucky that her eyes were healthy. But after seeing people come in on stretchers with half a face, no head, and even on fire, she certainly wished that the explosion had taken her eyes.

Explosion: was that why she was here? No, she didn't want to think about it. She couldn't cry, not now. But a voice in her head was screaming for some one to hold her. Charlotte couldn't bear it any more. Why weren't they coming for her? Why did they... Then something clicked. They were dead. "Stop Charlotte, your just imagining things", she told herself, "Wake up Charlotte, you need to help Mom with the chores, and there is no time for silly nightmares. "

But she didn't wake up, she didn't dare believe what any one said until she was too tired to protest. "Charlotte, I need you to be brave", the nurse said gently, "Edith and your dad are gone, so is Ruth. But that's all we know. We are doing our best to find Duncan and your mom, but after the blizzard almost all the survivors that were still out there are dead from the frost. We will try Charlotte, there is hope." Charlotte couldn't cry. She wanted to let the tears roll down her cheek, but they wouldn't come all she felt was a stab of utter loss. She waited as the spear plunged through her body, killing the Charlotte she used to be. Until finally all that was left was a weak and helpless orphan.

‘Dad always said that God only gives us what we can handle’ Charlotte thought, ‘well then God certainly doesn’t know me!’ Charlotte's dad was a pastor and had always believed that God would get them trough hard times, but Charlotte couldn't believe that, in fact, if it hadn't been for the abrupt interruption, she might not have believed in God ever again. "Charlotte", the nurse came in out of breath,"we found Duncan!" And that was all she needed to carry on. She had her brother and God was going to protect them.

My Thoughts

I enjoyed this book very much and strongly recommend this book to absolutely any one. You will connect so well with Charlotte, and understand how her life was in 1917. You will grow so attached to her life that you, in fact, become one of the survivors of the terrible Halifax explosion. If you do choose this book however, you must know that it is not a happy book. But please take that chance. Having been in Halifax before and visiting the Maritime Museum, it was especially meaningful to me. Charlotte's story will make you forget everything but turning those pages.

Christian Perspective

I do believe that this book was written from a Christian perspective. Charlotte was most definitely a Christian, ( at least she came from a Christian family, and shared that influence with many people) And through out the book, you can see many, many Christ-like characteristics. I was very inspired by the love of the Blackburn family, and how even death did not stop that. Charlotte had so much hope. She started out hoping for ice cream on a scorching hot summer's day, to hoping that her brother was still out there, alive. Even when Charlotte had doubts she carried on. Through out her whole life, Charlotte remembered the words of her father, 'God only gives us what we can handle'. And Charlotte now truly believed it. When she grew up she married a Pastor and they had a beautiful family. Although Charlotte never forgot the horrible day when she lost sight of hope, she also never forgot how God got her through it.