Tammy Armstrong, a Canadian author and poet, delivers beautiful language and fantastical characters in the character-driven novel Pearly Everlasting – this brought me to my happy place. At once bewitching, then cruel, the setting of a lumber camp in Depression-era New Brunswick is fascinating but harsh, yet there is always a hint of hope. The drips of superstition, folklore remedies, familial ties, and mystical elements balance out the hard and almost cruel moments Pearly faces in her journey. Based on a true story about a woman nursing a bear cub alongside her child, Armstrong gives us a unique coming-of-age story in Pearly. Named after one of the perennial wildflowers that her mother uses in her naturopathic treatments, Pearly is tough on the outside, but her heart belongs to her family – including her brother, Bruno the bear. A shocking event propels Pearly and Bruno into a terrible journey, where they face unspeakable horrors, tightening their bond to each other. Rich historical detail couples with a beautiful natural wonderland that becomes a character on its own. You will rally for Pearly every time she faces insurmountable odds and learn that the depth of human compassion runs deep in some and a trickle in others. Grab this book and read it under your favourite tree or park bench!
