Book Details

The Desperate Journey

Kathleen Fidler

Price:	£5.99
Publication Date:	01 Mar 2002
Availability:	Available to buy

The Desperate Journey tells the story of the Highland Clearances as they affect one small family. The Murrays are forced to load their possessions onto a cart and travel across Scotland to Glasgow. Here the children have to work in a mill and live in overcrowded and dirty lodgings. The family are offered the chance to join an emigrant ship bound for Hudson Bay in Canada, and make a perilous journey into a new life in the Red River Colony.

The spirit and resourcefulness of Davie and Kirsty shines through all their hardships as they witness the evictions and burning of the crofters' homes; endure the hardships of child labour in a Glasgow cotton mill; survive the Atlantic crossing on a disease-ridden ship; and witness bitter feuding among rival colonists.

Kathleen Fidler’s skill at bringing characters to life has enthralled generations of readers and will no doubt do so for many more years to come.

Reviews

'A stirring tale of adventure, hardship and new beginnings.'
-- Shelf Life, Summer 2002

'What an action-packed tale!'
-- Education Otherwise, June 2002

'Kathleen Fidler's well-paced narrative skilfully conveys the Murray's epic journey and the historical settings are convincingly portrayed. David and Kirsty Murray are spirited and resilient characters who engage the interest and sympathy of the reader.'
-- Treasure Islands: A guide to Scottish fiction for young readers aged 10-14, Summer 2003

About the Author(s)

Kathleen Fidler has enthralled generations of readers. She is the author of over eighty books for children, many of which were broadcast on BBC Radio’s Children's Hour and Schools’ Programmes. She died in 1980. The Kathleen Fidler Award helped launch the careers of many talented children's authors in the following two decades.

Of Further Interest

View or download a Teacher's Guide for this book:
Teacher's Guide in PDF format (Acrobat Reader required; click to view or download)

Also available by Kathleen Fidler:
The Boy with the Bronze Axe
The Droving Lad
Flash The Sheepdog
Turk the Border Collie
Haki the Shetland Pony