A Time To Go

When Frederick Watts announces that the family will be leaving England to homestead in Canada, seven-year-old Amy thinks it sounds like a grand adventure; however, even the boat ride doesn't go the way that she imagined it. As she nurses her seasick mother and siblings while her father drinks in the ship's smoking room, she begins to realize that her new life is not going to be easy. The Watts family faces not only the elements but also their personal demons as they struggle to create a new life in a strange land. As their lives become increasingly fraught with tragedy, they must draw on one another for strength. These circumstances soon force Amy and her siblings to shoulder responsibilities far beyond their years. In the face of the trials and hardships forced upon them, the children form bonds of love that will last them a lifetime. Amy learns that there is indeed a time for everything, including A Time to Go. 'In A Time To Go, LaVine Rathkey tells a compelling story of the full range of immigrant experience: the transatlantic voyage, trancontinental travel, rural and urban settlement, and the struggles encountered on a wilderness farm. The characters evoke compassion, and sometimes anger. A good read of an era without the safety nets of labor laws, health insurance, and entitlement programs.' Barry Ostrom, a Monmouth writer.