Joan Donaldson-Yarmey – författare

On his sixteenth birthday, Phillipe Chabot is told that his brother-in-law has hired him on to his band of Voyageurs. The paddle west from Montreal to Grande Portage is the lifeblood of the fur trade, and will either transform or destroy a young habitant trying to make his mark. As they paddle away from the shores of Montreal, the lives of family and friends are left to fate, fire, love, and the hope that their Voyageurs will return with the fall.

After her ninth grade class served tea to a bus load of visiting seniors who were to be the students adopted grandparents for the afternoon, Joan Donaldson-Yarmey decided she didn't want to grow old and have to be adopted by someone. So at the age of fifteen she resolved that she would end her life when she reached sixty-five. Over the years, Joan read books, surfed the Internet, and watched documentaries about aging and learned that human beings have the ability to live to be over one hundred years of age and to be healthy and alert while doing it. This book is her journey from that decision at age fifteen to realizing that she didn't have to grow old, that at a certain age some sick, decrepit person would not step into her shoes and take over her life. She is now in her mid-seventies and so healthy that she never gets any sympathy from her family and friends because she has nothing, health wise, to complain about. She has no illnesses, no aches or pains, and takes no medication, not even ASA or ibuprofen. Read about Joan's journey in what she playfully calls her futuristic aging memoir and find out what it is that she believes is her fountain of aging. Editorial Review Nancy M BellWorried about growing older?  Worry no more. Donaldson Yarmey takes the reader through her own life journey and along the way shares her experiences and offers advice on how she plans to live to 120.  An interesting read.

It is 1803 at the Hudson's Bay post of York Factory and fifteen year old Elias Gunn faces a dilemma. His grandfather wants his sons and grandsons to accompany him inland to Fort Edmonton to deliver the supplies the men at the fort will need to survive for a year. Elias has heard the stories about the months' long, arduous trip by York Boat and has no desire to go. But he is forced to agree by his Uncle Jonas. Elias' nemesis, his cousin, Nathaniel, who continuously picks on Elias, is also going. But he finds there is more than just rowing the boat in store for him.Martha lives with her family in the Cree village near Fort Edmonton. She is waiting for Nathaniel to return and marry her so she can realize her dream. Editorial review by Renee Duke5* COMPELLING TALE OF A GRUELLING JOURNEYWith the recent demise of the famous Hudson Bay company adding to its relevance, this YA novel is one that will easily hold the attention of teens interested in how goods were transported to and from various outposts back in the early 19th century, as well as those who might wonder if they would be up to such a challenge. Well written and meticulously researched, West To Fort Edmonton is sure to have readers feel as though they are making the arduous cross-Canada trip right along with the young, definitely not-happy-to-be-there, protagonist, Elias Gunn.