The Innu call him Silent One, because he hasn’t spoken a word since his uncle was killed by the Iroquois. In the winter of 1609, Samuel de Champlain and his men befriend the Innu and promise to help them fight their enemies. For the first time, Silent One must join the war party, journey far from home, and find his voice in order to save his brother and his own spirit.

The gorgeous cover was painted by Kate’s mother, artist Gail Smith Schirmer, who, as you may recall, also painted the cover of Kate’s first novel, Spitfire (North Country Books, 2007), winner of the Adirondack Literary Award. Storyteller and writer, Joseph Bruchac, says of Champlain and the Silent One:

Kate Messner’s sense of American history and human nature is as strong as her clear, evocative prose. Her multicultural cast of characters truly comes alive in this wonderful little novel that gives one of the best pictures I’ve yet seen of that period of early contact.

Definitely sounds like another winner for uber talented and prolific Kate :)!

Today, especially in her honor, we are serving Champlain Chowder with a Cracker Canoe. I know once you taste this, you’ll want to loudly slurp and burp your congratulations.

Thanks for writing another great book, Kate, and best of luck with it!

                                 Sssshhh!!