Several months ago, I had the pleasure of reading Kenneth William Budd’s SummerWild, a slightly fictional memoir about his childhood at the lake – specifically Jackfish Lake.
The second of Budd’s books in his “Adventures of Buddy Williams” series, FallGently, has just been released. Inspired by Budd’s prairie upbringing and set back in Budd’s fictionalized 1950s North Battleford, FallGently follows our 11 year-old protagonist as he returns to the city to go to school. Though I have not yet finished the book, I don’t doubt that Budd’s earnest depiction of wide-eyed youthful innocence in 1950s Saskatchewan will win me over once again.
For the children just leaving literacy camps or anyone who enjoyed the first book, would like to read it or can’t wait for the second, Budd will be in the Battlefords for an author signing at Crandleberry’s Aug. 18 from 3 to 6 p.m. Copies of the first two books of the four-book series will also be available.
If you can’t get out to the signing, both books are currently available for sale at Crandleberry’s, and more information about the series, including student guides and bonus activities for the books, are available at www.summerwild.ca.
