cover with artwork from Virginia McCoy and a foreword from bestselling author Tom Ryan.
In the 1950s and '60s, in a close-knit Cape Breton community shaped by war and tradition, young Roddie is raised by his stoic grandfather Calum after the loss of both parents. What begins in silence?between a grieving man and a quiet boy—grows into something quietly profound: a life built of routines, of stories, of trees planted with meaning.
A Forest for Calum is a tender, humorous, and deeply human story of a grandfather and grandson, and the eccentric, unforgettable cast of characters that fill their world?from the gentle Gaelic-speaking Bartholomew to the loud and lyrical Taurus, who dreams of planting poetry into the earth. As Roddie grows—learning to pursue his artistic talents, dodge trouble, fall in love, and collect stories worth retelling—his bond with Calum deepens into a kind of legacy.
Layered with the textures of a fading language, a deeply rooted culture, and the bittersweet march of time, A Forest for Calum is a Canadian classic that celebrates the magic of small places and lasting traditions.
