The Town That Drowned
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 First edition cover | |
| Author | Riel Nason |
|---|---|
| Genre | Canada, Historical Fiction, Young adult literature, Romance, Realistic Fiction, Coming Of Age |
| Publisher | Goose Lane Editions |
Publication date | September 23, 2011 |
| Pages | 280 pages |
| ISBN | 978-0864926401 |
The Town That Drowned is a coming-of-age novel by Canadian author Riel Nason, first published in 2011 by Goose Lane Editions. The novel has garnered numerous accolades, including the 2012 Commonwealth Book Prize for Canada and Europe, and was a finalist for the CLA Young Adult Book Award and the Red Maple Award. In addition to its Canadian success, it was published in Australia and New Zealand by Allen & Unwin in 2013.
The novel is set in the 1960s in Haventon, a fictional New Brunswick town. Ruby Carson, a 14-year-old girl, sees her town submerged after an ice skating accident. Soon after, Ruby's premonition comes true when it is revealed that the town will be flooded to make way for a hydroelectric dam.[1] The town’s residents face the heartbreaking task of selling their homes and witnessing their community dismantled.[1]
Ruby's narrative weaves between personal and communal struggles, focusing on her relationship with her younger brother Percy, who is implied to have autism.[2] Percy’s eccentricities, including his project of sending bottles downstream with messages, contrast sharply with the growing tension in the town as it prepares for its “drowning”.[1]
Themes and symbols
The novel explores themes of identity, change, and the concept of home. Ruby’s coming-of-age journey involves grappling with her social identity as an outsider due to her strange vision and her brother’s condition. The theme of "home" takes on a literal and emotional significance as the town prepares for flooding and the residents struggle with displacement.[1]
The dam becomes a powerful symbol in the novel, representing the inevitable sacrifices rural communities make for urban development. Percy’s character, with his fixation on consistency and his reluctance to change, reflects the broader community’s resistance to the flood.[3]
Characters
Ruby is a nuanced character whose voice is authentic, capturing both the awkwardness of adolescence and the looming weight of loss. Her bond with Percy is central to the emotional core of the novel, highlighting themes of familial love amidst external turmoil. novel's emotional core Other characters, like the affable Mr. Ellis Cole and Ruby’s first love, Troy Rutherford, enrich the narrative by embodying the broader themes of change and resilience.
