“The excellent photographs and illustrations as well as the clarity of the writing add significantly to the book’s appeal not only for children but also for adults.” - The Huntsville Forester (see full review)

“As Atkins recalls her childhood, her voice speaks from both the present and the past. Her simple and often funny details are engaging and will appeal to younger readers. Her story also speaks to older audiences, and there is a sense that she is recalling details in the present. At times, it feels as though you are sitting with Rebecca and going through her photographs as she tells her story.” - The Muskokan (see full review)

My Childhood in the Bush
Growing up  in Brent on the CNR in Algonquin Park 
(1913-1919)

By Rebecca Atkins 
with Paul and Doug Mackey

People thought nine-year-old Rebecca was a “wild animal” when she moved to town. For six years she had lived in the railway village of Brent in Algonquin Park in a boxcar beside the tracks.  Her vivid memories of those  years provide insight into her isolated but fulfilling life there. Her individual story reflects Canada’s struggle for its own identity in the 1900s. 

Told in her own voice and supported by remarkable photographs of the era, Rebecca’s story is a must read for anyone interested in railways, Algonquin Park, or Canadian  history in general.

$12.95
48 pages 7.5 X 8.5 soft cover/Over 60 photographs, maps and illustrations.
ISBN 1-896974-02-3 

 “Nicely written, attractively designed, and wonderfully Illustrated.”- The Beaver

“An historical treat” - North Bay Nugget 

Jean Nolan, Rebecca Nolan , Mrs. Ray, and  Margaret Ray in front of the Brent CNR Station in 1914. Solve our of the Brent Station