"Juggling Fire" by Joanne Bell

I just finished a book I purchased in the BC Ferries gift shop. They have lots of books of local interest and by Canadian authors.

Juggling Fire by Joanne Bell tells the story of sixteen year-old Rachel. She grew up in a remote log cabin with her mother, father and older sister Becky. When she was six they left to move closer to town, but her father's worsening depression sent him back to the Yukon wilderness alone, never to return. Rachel has clung to hope that he's still out there, and undertakes a quest to discover the truth. Brooks, her half hound and half malamute/Newfoundland cross pup reluctantly joins the journey. Rachel navigates her way back to the family cabin with relative ease, but an encounter with a grizzly along the way leaves Brooks severely wounded. Fairy tales and juggling keep Rachel focused and in control of her emotions during difficult times. This journey into the past is no different. Can they sustain her for what she'll find at the end of her odyssey?

Juggling Fire was published by Orca Book Publishers in 2009. The author, Joanne Bell knows the wilderness well having lived in New Brunswick, Alberta and British Columbia. She lives in a log cabin near Dawson City in Yukon where she runs dogs, hikes, canoes and enjoys nature. She also serves as a naturalist and substitute teacher, passing along her love of the outdoors to future generations.

It's an easy read, and hard to put down. I finished it in two very enjoyable evenings. In addition, it would be a good book for teens who could identify with Rachel and her quest to bring closure to family issues. You can purchase Juggling Fire online from Orca, Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, Amazon.ca and Chapters.-- Margy