Winter Shadows

By Margaret Buffie

Cass feels the long winter shadows on her heart. Her mother died of cancer and her father has remarried a woman who has moved into their old Manitoba house with her nasty, babyish daughter and an attitude that's very hard to take. Christmas promises to be a miserable time.

More than a century earlier, Christmas is proving to be difficult for Beatrice, too, for she has shadows of her own. Some are cast by her circumstances. She sees the growing prejudice against people like her who are of mixed Cree and Scottish backgrounds. And like Cass, she has a stepmother. Her father's new wife is threatened by Beatrice and is driving a wedge into the family. Beatrice can only be sure of her beloved Cree grandmother, relegated to a room upstairs. When a way of escape presents itself to Beatrice by way of an eligible bachelor, she is torn by the choice it offers her. Should she settle for a man she doesn't love or address the problems at home? Through her journal, she explores the answer and, at the same time, inspires Cass to find the strength she needs to face her own situation. Margaret Buffie's great skill as a storyteller creates a splendid, engaging novel that offers readers a rich combination of fine history, suspenseful shifts in time, and unforgettable characters.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Oct 12, 2010
• ISBN: 9781770492288

Reviews for Winter Shadows

[bobbibooks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the tale of two friends, Cassandra and Beatrice. They have much in common, as friends often do. Cassandra's mother has died of cancer and her father has remarried. Angry, overwhelmed by grief, she lashes out to her father and step-sister. She feels lost. Until she finds Beatrice. Beatrice , like Cassandra, has lost her mother and her father has remarried. Like Cassandra, Beatrice has to deal with the pain of loss and building a new life. The compelling twist in this story of two friends is that they live a century apart. Cassandra finds a star-shaped brooch, which then leads her to a diary belonging to Beatrice. From this point, a strange, unique friendship is created that crosses time and generations. But this novel is not so much a ghost story as it is mythic in direction and scope. Buffie weaves historical, social, and cultural detail to lend authority to her story as she explores the struggles of two girls trapped by circumstance. While the diary becomes the mechanism in which the connection is made, and in some other hands the convention may have been reduced to become predictably hackneyed, Buffie is a master-storyteller. The reader is eased skillfully between the two lives to become immersed in their struggles. As stirring as the plot is, and as compelling as the characters are, the real magic is Buffie's narrative, her use of details to bring out the winter cold, to illuminate the landscape, to recreate life of nineteenth century life in Upper Canada. This is a stunning, well-crafted story.

[dianaworldconqueror · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I won this book through early reviewers, and I was very pleased with it. The mix of historical fiction, time travel, and characters that are easy to relate to make this work a great book for young adult readers everywhere. I would definitely recommend it.

[laurabrook_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

While Winter Shadows contains elements of stories that I normally adore (young lady protagonist, time travel, diaries, self-discovery) I just couldn't make myself love this book. I liked it fine enough, but it really took a lot of focus for me to pick up the book and keep reading after a few pages. Present-day Cass and 1800's Beatrice had similar life situations, family drama, etcetera, but the timing seemed to be a bit off to me. As an example, Cass would be reading Beatrice's diary entry, and instead of cutting to Beatrice's timeline directly after Cass's reading, it would either be a few days before or after the events we'd just read about. That's just confusing, and it happened all of the time. You can tell that Ms. Buffie certainly did her historical homework as the book is chock-full of Cree language and details, but it felt like an overload of information for me. It's certainly deserving of the awards it's won, but to call this an easy read would be a stretch. 2 stars.

[bookappeal · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Winter Shadows contains parallel story lines - one from Beatrice in 1856 and the other from Cass in the present day. Beatrice has returned home to take care of her father and grandfather and finds life with her father's new wife difficult. Cass also has step-monster problems as well as coping with a younger stepsister. The two girls both suffer from episodes of "shadows" in which they can "see" each other across time. Both plots develop too slowly and, at times, the author seems overtly determined to impart historical detail and Native American language on the reader.

[susiesharp_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book shows that step families have been hard for a very long time. The parallel stories of Beatrice in the 1856 and Cass in the present both have a new step mother after their mothers have died and the relationship is not an easy one. I like this time travel/shadow travel/ ghost/spirit story? With a dash of romance. It is kind of hard to categorize. It is set in Manitoba in 1856 Beatrice is not happy to have come home after being away at school and found her father married to Ivy a sour woman and Aggatha, Beatrice’s Cree grandmother, is not being taken care of, this sets off a chain of events that makes a relationship between Beatrice & Ivy very tense to say the least. Cass’s mother has died and her father has re-married to an unhappy jealous woman named Jean who also has a daughter Daisy who seems to do her best to annoy Cass. Suddenly these two girls’ centuries apart are seeing flashes of each other’s lives and Beatrice’s diary appears to Cass and she reads about Beatrice’s life.I enjoyed this book and think that a lot of young people will relate to it, because blended families are hard but what I loved about this book was the reveal of the new wives past and what made them react to these girls the way they did and how when they found a happy medium to their feelings, that was when healing starts.The “romance” between Beatrice & Kilgour was sweet I liked the way she never realized how he felt about her and how she fought her feeling tooth & nail without even realizing what she was doing. I also liked how Daisy & Cass’s relationship grew, these two stories were very true to life about how hard a blended family can be.I totally see why this book has won awards in Canada and since Winnipeg Manitoba is only a couple hours from where I live it made it even more special. I liked the history of the Cree in this area and how they blended with the new immigrants into a thriving community.I highly recommend this book.4 StarsFull disclosure: I received this book from the Librarything Early Reviewers Program for a unbiased review.

[catzteach · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a great book! I won it through Early Reviewers and am so glad I did!I love the mix of historical fiction and time travel. The two main characters were very easy to relate to. I enjoyed how Cas's life and Beatrice's life intertwined. I found myself routing along with Cas for things in Beatrice's life. I would recommend this book to both young adults and older adults.

[purplethings · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Interesting mix of historical fiction and time travel. Cass and Beatrice live in the same house, but 150 years apart. They both have lost their mothers and are struggling to get along with interfering stepmothers. The girls never directly speak with each other, but see ghostly glimpses of each other's timelines and Cass is able to read parts of Beatrice's diary. The two girls connect because of their similar struggles and give each other advice. The two narratives are well written and both stories are equally engaging. More emotionally driven than action packed and overflowing with family drama. Set in Manitoba and includes a lot of Cree words throughout the story as well as a glossary. Would be a great regional young adult read or for fans of historical fiction with a little bit of a twist.

[ravenaier · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

First I’d like to say that I won a copy of this as a member of the Early Reviewers group on Librarything, in exchange for an impartial review. This was a heart-wrenching book to read. It was so well-written I could really empathise with the characters. I lost my father early, and I fought tooth and nail against my mother’s husband (notice, even now I can’t call him my step-father) taking the place of my father. I didn’t even want my father’s twin to take his place (even though in his own way he did, and did very well!). I felt Cass’ grief for her mother, the guilt that she carried, and the animosity towards her step-mother. On the other hand, the author starts to show the little ways in which Cass’ step-mother really is trying, and failing horribly most times, to mend their relationship. And then you’ve got Beatice’s story overlapping Cass’. How horrible it must have been to face such racism and ignorance, and have to continue day after day with your head held high. The author did a very good job of melding two unique stories into one. The part I liked the most was my own love of genealogy. I would love to meet some of my female ancestors! Phoebe Newton, if you’re out there and you can contact me (even though you were born in the 1770s), I would love to know your story! *big grin*

[slagolas · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This novel swaps back and forth between a present day character and a character from the 1850s, who live in the same house. The character in the past, Beatrice, tells her story through the framing device of her journal, while Cass, the modern day character, is the traditional first person narrator. While I don't consider myself the target audience for this novel, I still was able to enjoy and be immersed in the story. The characters were, for the most part, well developed and complex, reading like real people with emotional connections to the events around them. I say "for the most part" because both had emotional hair-trigger moments or seeming (to me) gaps where they reacted in a predictable but frustrating manner. To specify, Cass seemed to me to be over-characterized as a snappy teenager at times to the point of flirting with becoming more of a caricature when she would be set off by a small event or comment. I understand that she is easily upset by events in her life that are still raw, but rather than emphasizing what was upsetting about the words or actions of another character, as a reader, we were mostly told that it was offensive by Cass's outward reaction. That said, it is a difficulty of the first-person narrator, and still worked. That is, as a reader, I was able to see clearly that while Cass was overreacting and lashing out, what set her off was similarly unacceptable. Similarly, Beatrice's blind-spots to emotions and people was frustrating at times, but simultaneously realistic. Her blind-spots were emphasized and, at the same time, almost justified, when Cass expressed her own frustration about Beatrice missing something the reader sees as obvious. In those instances, the irony is quite superb.In the end, I truly enjoyed this book. It's not something I normally would have picked up, but I'm glad I got a chance to read and review it. I plan on passing it on to my mother-in-law, because I know she will love it.

[euphoria13 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Winter Shadows is an interesting novel that is told from two different point of views. The first belongs to Cass, a young girl who can't get over her mother's death. Now that her father has remarried, life can't get any more complicated. Her step mother and has taken over the house and seems to be "erasing" the memory of her mother, while her spoil and bratty step sister enjoys getting her into trouble. It's these changes in her life that drive Cass up the wall. She hates the idea of "letting go" of her mother. How can she let go of the one person who understood her? Aside from memories, the only piece that she has left of her mother is a star shaped brooch. It is this item that opens a window to the past for Cass and connects her to her ancestors. Through visions and an old diary, she is able to look back upon the events that occurred in her home, so many years ago. It is this sub plot that leads to the 2nd point of view in this book.The second voice belongs to Beatrice, a young girl of Irish/Indian descent who lived in Cass's house many years ago. Like Cass, Beatrice has lost her mother and is trying to deal with changes in her life, such as her father's remarriage. During the era that Beatrice lives in, she must deal with the "expectations" that are expected of young ladies, such as marriage, knowing your place, and keeping quiet. It's a challenge for Beatrice, being that she's open minded and head strong.I sometimes don't like to read stories that are told in two different point of views, because I feel that if not executed well then the story doesn't turn out good. In the case with Winter Shadows, the different point of views made the story quite enjoyable because each voice was UNIQUE. There was no trouble trying to figure out who's POV you were reading from nor did it disrupt the flow on the story. Although Cass was the character in the modern setting, I really preferred to read from Beatrice's POV. I can't recall reading about a character who was of Irish/Indian descent. That unique trait in Beatrice made it enjoyable to read from her POV.This makes for a good read during the Holiday season!

[cynara_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

While it has a promising premise - a contemporary Canadian girl who's grieving her mother and trying to adjust to her new blended family meets a part-Cree girl from the mid-19th century somehow contact each other over time - I'm afraid I couldn't finish it. I couldn't bear Cass' constant sulks and whining, Beatrice's patience, or the awful treatment they get from so many of the supporting characters. I didn't enjoy the writing at all. I'm glad so many other people have enjoyed it, but scanning and skipping, I couldn't see any reason to finish it. I love YA literature, but this read like my worst memories of school lit from when I was a kid - meant to be good for you instead of deep and joyful. It's a shame, because I would have loved to enjoy a book on these topics! It would have been a natural book to build a unit plan around.Beautiful cover design, though!

[cmbohn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Themes: stepfamilies, grief, romance, race, ChristmasSetting: modern Manitoba, Canada and 1856 ManitobaCass is dreading Christmas, her first with her new stepmother and stepsister, and a reminder that her mother is gone for good. School stinks and her father is almost a stranger.Then she finds a brooch and it seems that she now has a link to the past. She is seeing things that happened in her house 150 years ago.Beatrice has been away at school and doesn't really know her new stepmother, but she can't wait to get home to her beloved Cree grandmother. She takes a job at the local girls' school and tries to find a way to get along with her stepmother. She's also torn between her possible romance with the new preacher in town and her infuriating new stepbrother.Cass and Beatrice have their stories wound together and see visions of one another. Now Cass wants to know, who will Beatrice choose? And can her situation help Cass now with her problems?I liked this story. It might be just a little light, but I liked the characters and the story. I really liked the way the Cree story was woven in. 4 stars.

[gkmiller4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book. I do not usually read YA but I did this one. It tells a story of ghosts and Christmas what better type of Chirstmas book is there. For the YA's who read this I think they will be able to relate to it well. the author was able to really show the anger and hardships that happens when a parent passes and/or a new parent enters. How working together is important. And what happens when eachother do not look past to see the others point of view. It was good...plus it was a sweet little love story.

[alesi1_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Winter Shadows By Margaret Buffie - August 2010 LTERIs a warm and charming story about two young girls in two different time periods that have similar problems. Beatrice is a young woman in the mid 1800’s she is an open minded woman that does not agree 100% with the role that her society has cast upon her. She cares for her Grandmother who is of old ages and a father who was injured. She does not get a long with her stepmother and this causes a lot of stress for everyone in the household. To make matters worse Beatrice also suffers of discrimination in her community since she is considered a half breed. Cass (Cassandra) is a young girl in the modern times who has lost her mother and is now forced to share her room with her step-sister. Her father has re-married and she as well as Beatrice does not get along with her stepmother. She feels ignored, attacked and guilty. She really misses her mother and feels that her father is moving on a little too quickly.Cass finds refuge when she starts to see things… Somehow she sees Beatrice and comes a cross Beatrice’s diary. Beatrice also sees Cass and both help each other out through out their appearances.When I first started reading this book it was a little confusing with all of the characters and different time settings. Once all the names of the characters and their proper eras were established in my head it was breeze to read.I found it very tender that Beatrice and Cass were able to connect through time and give each other strength. This book makes you reflect on your own problems and how sometimes a 3rd person’s point of view helps you see things more clearly. How sometimes our own issues block our view of how we perceive different people and or situations. I was captivated by Beatrice’s life and wouldn’t have minded a book just on her.

[kclaire_8 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Connected by family, situation, and location, Cass and Beatrice find and help each other across the space of 150 years. Both girls have lost their mothers, and are struggling with a new stepmother, and the loss of their secure place in the family home. It is the beginning of winter in Canada, a few weeks before Christmas, and the holiday brings troubles to a boil for both girls. Fortunately, Cass and Beatrice both receive support from other family members, from each other across time, and from budding romances. Beatrice has her Cree grandmother and lives during a time of frontier and social integration, and Cass who lives in the present time has her mother's sister nearby. This book is a little predictable but is very enjoyable on many levels particularly for the historical information that is interwoven through the story about the life of the people living in Canada during the 19th century. There are many Cree Indian words sprinkled throughout the book with a glossary at the back. Though I could guess that everything would resolve positively I still wanted to know who Beatrice finally marries, and whether life at home improves for sassy Cass.

[readermom68 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I liked this book, although it was a bit predictabale. However, predictable isn't always a bad thing. This is the story of two women or rather one young woman and one teenager who overcome the obstacle of time to become one another's confidant as they each struggle to find their places in newly ordered lives after each loses their mother. The twist? They are separated by 150 years. They story alternates voices between Cass of present time and Beatrice of the past. While the story line isn't hard to guess, the story itself is full of great detail and the characters are well drawn. The story is further enhanced throught the character of Beatrice's Cree grandmother, which allows the story to provide a glimpse into what life may have been like for those people on the frontiers who crossed 'cultural borders' to intermarry. Even though the premise that brings Cass and Beatrice into contact is fantastical, the story should still appeal to those who enjoy historical fiction as well.

[mesmericrevelation · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is one of those books that I wanted to read but wasn't dying to do so, so I wasn't sure about putting in my pile for the read-a-thon I participated in. I am really glad I did. I enjoyed it a lot more then I thought I would.I really liked Cass but I liked Beatrice and her part in the book more. That just might be because I love history. It was such a great story and was very well written. It is a really fast enjoyable read and I think everyone should pick it up to read this winter.

[nizmart · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed reading this novel especially as the holiday season nears. The story is uplifting and sweet, I recommend this book especially to grade school students who I think will gain a lot from reading it, but readers of all ages will undoubtedly enjoy it. Although I wished I had learned more about Beatrice I understand that it was not the point of the story, I think the point was for both young women to help each other through a difficult and confusing time in their lives. I'm sure some young girls will connect more with the story than I ever could. It is a wonderful story to read with a cup of tea and snow outside!