Margin Notes

From a former winner of the prestigious Governor General’s Award, Into the Bright Open is a novel that will appeal as much to lovers of the ‘classics’ as to those who actively avoid them. Cherie Dimaline, an active member of the Georgian Bay Métis Community, offers a fresh take on a beloved story that some readers may already be familiar with, though this is by no means necessary – I for one had never heard of The Secret Garden.

The setting is what drew me in first. Having spent summers camping in the Georgian Bay area I was excited to see it depicted in a book, though it will surely resonate with anyone who has spent time in the Canadian countryside near one of the countless majestic bodies of water our country has to offer.

Essentially serving up a coming-of-age narrative chock full of love, friendship and mystery, Into the Bright Open tells the story of Mary, a recently orphaned girl who goes to live in the remote ‘wilds’ with an estranged uncle she never knew existed. Fearing the move from the only place she’s ever known – the bustling city of Toronto at the turn of the 20^th century – she thinks she’ll be lonelier than ever. Instead, she finds connections in unexpected (and at times mysterious) places.

Though set in the past, this book does not read as a period piece, so fears of forced language shouldn’t deter anyone. The plot incorporates elements of queer awakening and Indigenous representation so organically and authentically that it hardly feels like the radical “remix” it would likely once have been branded. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fast-paced, eventful story full of sympathetic characters (and one decidedly unsympathetic wicked step-mother for good measure).

Jeff Cunningham is a current teacher-in-training at UNB, a UBC grad and an unabashed lover of really old books. When not sketching portraits of bearded and bespectacled literary giants (or the occasional pop star), he likes to spend time hiking, exploring the coast of Fundy and playing the guitar.