Phyllis Rudin Knihy

Set in present-day Montreal, this coming-of-age tale follows Benjie Gabai, who believes he is a reincarnated 18th-century French-Canadian voyageur. Misunderstood by his family, he immerses himself in his obsession with the fur trade while working as a caretaker at a small museum. When he learns the museum is closing, Benjie devises a risky plan to save his cherished artifacts, blending his historical fantasies with the challenges of adulthood. The story intertwines Canadian frontier history with the comedic struggles of a young man facing reality.

"It seems like a dream gig when Daphne gets the job offer—live in Montreal’s Underground City for a full year and blog about the experience. The flip side of the city has all the creature comforts. The year will fly by. Except there’s a catch. To collect her whopping bonus for sticking it out till day 365, Daphne must agree never to set so much as a toe outside the territory of the Underground City, submitting to an ankle monitor to keep her honest. Even if the conditions are hardcore, she doesn’t have much choice. Out of work, and sole provider for a grandmother whose bank account is on life support, Daphne signs on the dotted line. And that’s when her life goes into freefall. Inspired by Daphne, her grandmother comes up with an underground plan of her own, sheltering a family of illegal refugees in her basement. Daphne’s initial fury at her grandmother’s risky move does an about-face once she meets Chantal, a young runaway holed up in the Underground City, fleeing a threat she refuses to disclose. When Chantal shows up on Daphne’s doorstep desperate for protection, Daphne must decide if she’s prepared to lay her underground future on the line to rescue a group of virtual strangers from discovery and ruin."-- Provided by publisher