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Shoebox Baby is a creative non-fiction story based on the life of Susan Fenton and her family. Sue was born in Nova Scotia on a blustery winter night in a crude weather-worn shack with dirt floors. Although the doctor told Sue's mother that her baby would be dead before the morning, she made every attempt to keep her infant alive.
Sue and her siblings were born into poverty, survived the Depression and the fall-out of World War II, and contended with tuberculosis, unemployment and polio. This book is filled with family antics, joy, sorrow, laughter, and mystery, covering the trials, triumphs and hilarious exploits of the large and colourful cast of characters that is the Fenton family.
Sue's courageous determination to live a full life, regardless of the limitations others imposed on her and the circumstances that came her way, made her a remarkably resilient woman.
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Read an Excerpt:
The winter of nineteen hundred and thirty-six and thirty-seven dragged on. The freezing temperatures and relentless snowstorms seemed endless. These were especially difficult times for a family who had so little. Since the birth of Suzie, the family was kept busy trying to feed themselves, keep the home warm and attend to the wee life in the shoe box whose nursery was the warming oven.
Fran and Marg were kept home from school to help attend to the baby. The supply of driftwood had to be kept stocked, so Critch also stayed home.
In preparation for his wood gathering he put on his patched, oversized, thin winter coat, his newspaper-soled gum rubber boots, a scarf that once belonged to his father, and mittens given to the family by the Salvation Army.
Just before he left the house, Grace would wrap Critch’s scarf snug around his head and neck and say, “Don’t doddle. Ifin you get cold, light a small fire but mind you don’t burn all the wood. Be back afore sundown. You know me and your fadder are glad fer a child like you. Be careful me boy!”
Then she would hand him the pork lard sandwich she had made him and wrapped in newspaper. Grace knew he should have more to eat but a whole pork lard sandwich was a double portion in their home during these difficult times.
About the Author:
Writing has been Sharon's passion since childhood. At seven years old she won first prize at a local fall fair for her story about a stuffed pink elephant. Since then, she was hooked. Articles, poems and the book Beyond the Forests of Yesteryears are part of her publishing portfolio. Curiosity mixed with a love of hearing and writing unique stories about others is the subject of her work. Some call it being darn right nosey, others call it vivid creativity. During her career she worked in the social services field with individuals, families, groups and organizations to address social and cultural issues. A significant part of her job included inspirational speaking and sharing stories. Sharon was raised in Northeastern Ontario, Canada, where she resides with her husband. Together they enjoy retirement and organizing activities for seniors, which includes writing and acting out comical skits for small audiences.
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ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing an excerpt, the book sounds very good
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