Sigmund Brouwer

Personal rule: a book that starts with a map is going to be great. Trapped in Terror Bay is no exception to that rule, although it takes some skill and attention to navigate, much like the poor sailors on the lost Franklin expedition to the Arctic. Written almost in the style of a choose-your-own-adventure, this non-fiction book puts the reader in the doomed shoes of Captain Francis Crozier, sailing through imagined accounts of events onboard the ship, tracking the voyage across the show more Atlantic, around Greenland and eventually into the maze of ice and islands between the North American continent and the North Pole. As weather worsens, disease rampages, and nature triumphs over the technology of 1848, the reader explores this tragedy and its mystery in short, engaging chapters.

Within each chapter are subsections that include modern forensic research into the expedition, sidebars about characters, politics, nautical technology, and knowledge from the native peoples who have lived on the Arctic ice since time immemorial.

It took me a while for me to notice subtle changes in fonts, page color or border, or headings to denote these different sections, but once I did I read this like a textbook, skipping around to follow the parts I was interested in, then doubling back to read the sidebars that explained something in the main storyline. With that in mind, this is a great book to teach some textbook reading skills. Readers will love the inevitable doom, perfectly captured by the author, the fascinating facts and insights into life in the mid-1800’s, and the modern quest to understand the events of the past. show less

On the front lines of World War One, everyone had a role to play, including animals. INNOCENT HEROES tells the stories of the dogs, cats, horses, birds, and other animals that contributed to the war effort.

This book offers a fine set of linked short stories about a Canadian platoon, the Storming Normans. Each fictionalized account of an animal (and the nearby humans) is supported by a brief nonfiction account of the animal(s) that inspired the story. The accounts also include contextual show more details about the state of warfare in the early twentieth century, conditions in the trenches, and most importantly, the differences between the Canadian soldiers and the British and French command. The author also presents a subplot about an Aboriginal soldier, whose story is more fully realized in an epilogue set well after the conclusion of the war. This inclusion reflects an important struggle and complements Canada’s national efforts to address colonial wrongs, but it may feel slightly out of place for some readers. (It isn’t, though: the author introduces race-based tensions early in the stories, and the epilogue resolves some of these tensions while also recognizing the continuing value of animals to human lives.)

INNOCENT HEROES offers a palatable way for middle-grade readers to learn some important Canadian history. These stories are likely to be presented to boys to encourage them to read, and indeed, the blend of fact and fiction makes an appealing package. But remember that girls love animal stories, too. All readers can use a richer, deeper understanding of history and human conflict. This book should be in the classroom library of anyone teaching upper elementary social studies, as well as in school and public libraries. show less

Brouwer, a prolific author of children’s literature has turned his attention to the historic feats of Canadian troops during the Battle of Vimy Ridge, in 1917. He specifically explores the special relationships developed between people and animals in times of war through the exploits of fictional Jake York and his platoon of soldiers from the “Storming Normans” of the 36th Battalion.

Through a series of animal - soldier encounters, Brouwer explores the important wartime roles played by show more pigeons, dogs, horses, mules, cats and various mascots and delves into the special bonds which are cemented during times of war between man and beast. Although fictional, the book contains numerous factual side bars on the history of animals in war. Most of the examples in fact have no connection to the Canadian Expeditionary Force but have been appropriated to fit the Canadian setting. The sidebars deal as well with the nature of trench warfare, the role of machine guns, tunneling, triangulation of fire and other topics.

At odds with the general theme of the book is the story line of Cree warrior Thomas Northstar of Saskatchewan. He is symbolic of the history of Aboriginal soldiers who fought for Canada during the Great War only to return to a life of government control and marginalization. That this very important question of aboriginal rights would be appended to a book on animal heroes is awkward. The true facts of one of the more compelling stories, that of Sgt Cassels shedding his stripes in order to be closer with his enlisted men, is not revealed in the sidebars. Copy editing could have eliminated some repetition in the sidebars and standardized the inconsistent physical dimensions of Vimy Ridge cited throughout the book. Although a work of fiction Innocent Heroes presents much food for thought and encourages further exploration of Canada’s inspiring history of service and sacrifice during the First World War. show less

Review of Broken Angel by Sigmund Brouwer

“We had agreed – the woman I loved and I – that as soon as you were born we would perform an act of mercy and decency and wrap you in a towel to drown you in a nearby sink of water.” Wow. Talk about impact. Thus Broken Angel by Sigmund Brouwer begins.
This post apocalyptic novel immediately draws the reader in and never lets up. In a future reminiscent of John Wyndham’s The Chrysalids, the government of ‘Appalachia’ has taken its show more responsibilities very seriously – and very literally. Similar to ‘Big Brother’ in George Orwell’s 1984, the citizens of Appalachia are always under the watchful eye of the state. Blasphemers are sent to the factories or worse – stoned to death.
“Outside”, people have more freedom, but there they have created their own brand of hell. After discovering the secrets behind human DNA, scientists have taken to mutating human embyos.
This is the world that Caitlyn has been born into. Unknown to her, she has become a target to both sides and must flee for her life before it is brutally taken from her. This book is packed with well developed and intriguing characters, lots of action, and tons of emotional impact. It’s a must read for the Sci-fi lover, but fans of crime fiction, mystery, suspense and thrillers will also enjoy this book. Highly recommended. I can’t wait to read the sequel Flight of Shadows. Brouwer has certainly taken his place among writers of high energy fiction. show less