A Novel
by
Betsy Jane Carruthers masterfully crafted bedtime stories for her grandchildren. Their favourite one just happened to be true. The unusual tree with its crooked branches stands tall on the corner of a farm field in southern Ontario. How that buttonwood tree thrived so far away from the riverside is a bit of a miracle. But then, Betsy Jane always thought the same of Ellwyne, the mysterious boy from India who showed up at their farm in the winter of 1906. Eleven-year-old Ellwyne Dacosta knows what home is. The bridge his late father designed spanning the Hooghly River. Reading newspapers at his mother’s knee. Biting into a ripe mango from his grandmother’s garden. Home is British India, circa 1900. But after losing both his parents, his ties to home begin to unravel. To escape debt collectors, Ellwyne’s conniving yet charismatic stepfather steers the Ballantynes across continents to the farming community of Ekfrid Township, Ontario, Canada landing right under the watchful, curious eyes of Betsy Jane and her husband James A. Ellwyne, the orphan who's mistreated and then abandoned by his stepfather, is so far away from home he fears he may never find it again. James A. and Betsy Jane Carruthers fell in love over a broken jar of beet relish and built a comfortable but humble existence based on the routines and chores of farm life. They are delighted when Ellwyne diligently shows up day after day for the exhausting, monotonous work, despite his lack of farm experience. While clearing a field for planting, Ellwyne is grateful when James A. agrees to provide respite for the lone buttonwood sapling, the teen sensing a kinship in its quiet strength through struggle. At the homestead, toiling alongside his chosen family, Ellwyne's fortunes begin to improve. And then the outbreak of war an ocean away changes everything.
THE BUTTONWOOD TREE had awakened, stirred from a lengthy slumber. The corner woodlot buzzed with excitement and noise beyond the usual chirps of birds, creaking of branches, and rustling of leaves. Picking up the metal plaque, the tallest man in the group paused to marvel at the magnificent tree before him. It stretched over seventy feet into the air and had a glorious crown of broad leaves, crooked upward-pointing branches, and a shimmering trunk draped in the greyish-white cloak of a queen’s robe. Its mystical white and silver, almost ghost-like outline, easily visible from several hundred yards distant, glowed as if lit by an inner energy. “How high do you want this, Dad?” he asked the grey-haired man standing behind him.
“As high as you can reach, Christopher,” he said. JC Carruthers was in his sixties and had the roughened hands of a farmer. He was accustomed to giving instructions.
READ MOREChristopher placed the plaque against the tree’s bark and straightened it as someone handed him a hammer and nails.
He pounded four nails into the tree, which fastened the modest sign about six feet from its base. Stepping back, he said, “How does that look?”
“It’s perfect,” replied JC, his eyes dancing with delight. “Betsy Jane and James A. would be so proud.” He looked all the way to the top of the tree, squinting as his eyes adjusted to the angle of the sunlight.
“Is everyone ready then?” asked the photographer, who had been busying herself with her equipment.
The small group had been chattering about the day’s events but quickly formed a line of twelve at the base of the tree behind them. They quieted as she raised her camera and aimed it toward them. “We’re ready!” proclaimed JC, who had his arm around the shoulders of his lanky son, standing beside him. “We’ve never been more ready.” A few people chuckled.
“Say cheese.” Everyone smiled. The photographer’s camera clicked and recorded the moment in time. Although the people were the focus of the photo, the tree and its newly acquired plaque were the intended backdrop. After snapping the shutter a handful of times, she let go of her camera, which hung around her neck. “Okay, Mr. Carruthers. I’ll email you copies of these photos when I get home.”
After the photographer left, the group formed a circle at the base of the magnificent tree and stood wordless, heads bowed, and hands clasped. They paused for quiet reflection, each person focused on the solemn act of remembrance, the reason they had gathered at the corner woodlot.
Silence.
And through that, it emerged: thump-thump thump-thump.
Beating hearts the tree had waited more than a century to hear.
The silence was interrupted by a child’s questioning voice. “How did this become Ellwyne’s tree anyway?”
COLLAPSEAmy Mikelson on Goodreads wrote:"All things grow, with nourishment. A seed, for example, has to overcome many odds to survive, including threats from herbivores, insects, and bacteria, while also competing for resources and sustenance. However, with time, sheer luck, and sometimes adequate protection, the seed germinates and sprouts and transforms into a tree, demonstrating the cogent symbol of renewal and regeneration. In her book, “Rooted and Remembered” C.J. Frederick uses the powerful metaphor of a buttonwood tree that blossomed and grew in the most unlikely places after its seed was pushed into the ground under the hoof of a wandering deer. She employs this analogy in her coming-of-age tale that follows a young boy, Ellwyne, who endures many struggles to survive. Ellwyne was born in Calcutta, British India. At a young age, he lost his father to cholera, and his mother, Eliza, remarried Duff, a self-seeking, greedy man. Unbeknownst to her, Eliza’s new husband saw her as a means to an end of the financial crisis he was facing at the time, owing to her large fortune which she inherited from her late husband. A few years later, the boy loses his mother, too, leaving him devastated. His life takes a new turn when his wily stepfather decides to leave India after accruing a huge gambling debt that sets him against debt collectors. Ellwyne’s already strained relationship with Duff adds to his trials and tribulations, with the plot following his journey from India to Ontario, Canada, where he finds solace and comfort, and a place to call home. “Rooted and Remembered” is undeniably an absorbing and moral-minded text. Here, relationships are built and others are broken, as the book emphasizes spotlighting the thin line between good and evil. The author is strikingly descriptive in her writing, such as the history and culture of Canada and its geography, and when the Ballantynes take the treacherous voyage across the North Atlantic, marked by icy choppy seas and vicious storms. The book showcases a thorough portrayal of the period, with its discourse and exposition, a triumph on the author’s part. As readers gain access to Ellwyne’s inner voice that explores his thoughts and emotions in depth, they’ll cheer him on as he proves indomitable in the face of incredible challenges. Just like the buttonwood tree clung to life, so does Ellwyne, putting forth an imminently powerful message that resonates within. The author allows extensive time for building the supporting characters, such as Betsy Jane and her husband James, the loving couple instrumental in changing the trajectory of Ellwyne’s life. Relevant themes abound, with resilience being the main theme here. C.J. Frederick has written a captivating novel that will leave an indelible mark on people. The book’s strength lies in its sublime prose that immerses the reader in the story and makes for the ultimate payoff. “Rooted and Remembered” will enthrall readers who enjoy historical fiction stories and leave a lasting impact."
"Many people feel their lives are ordinary, maybe small. Will anyone notice when I'm gone? Will I be remembered? This is a story of one such 'ordinary' life that is anything but small. This is a historical novel about a real person, Ellwyne Ballantyne. The author weaves a beautifully crafted tale about Ellwyne and his life, interwoven with the lives of those who would come to mean so much to him, as much as he means to them. His story leaves a lasting legacy for future generations. As the book progresses, his life weaves into the heart of the reader. You come away feeling you too are a part of Ellwyne in some way. This book is something that will stay with you for a long time and will always remain a treasure. This is a wonderful testimony to a real person and a reminder to is all that even the most ordinary life can have a great and lasting impact on those around them. I look forward to the author’s future works!"
