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2002
finalists.

2002 Hackmatack

Children's Choice Book Award/Prix littéraire - le choix de jeunes

From 1928 to 1971, more than one million immigrants arrived to begin their new lives in Canada at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Filled with fascinating historical photographs, this books tells their story - how and why they made the long journey to Canada and what happened once they arrived at Pier 21. Besides being an arrival station for immigrants for almost fifty years, Pier 21 was extremely busy during World War II, seeing the arrival of guest children, arrivals and departures of troops, and also welcoming war brides after the war. Many displaced persons and refugees have also passed through its doors. In moving words and images this book lets us feel the joys and fears of all those who passed through Pier 21 and allows us to share their experiences as new arrivals in a strange land. Pier 21 was re-opened as a National Historic Site in 1999.

This book brings to life a very important part of Canada's history and should be a "must-read" for readers 8 and up.