Check Mate!
  • CHECK MATE!
    • READER REVIEWS >
      • Sam Allison
      • Kirkus
      • Clarion
      • Praise for CHECK MATE!
    • COVER ART WORK >
      • Peter Rindlisbacher, CSMA -- Front Cover
      • Francis Back -- Back Cover
    • MOHAWK LANGUAGE >
      • Akwiratékha Martin - Mohawk Language
    • ILLUSTRATIONS IN BOOK
    • ORDER BOOKS
    • SPECIAL MEDIA EVENTS >
      • VAUDREUIL, September 4, 2014
      • POINTE CLAIRE, October 12, 2013ß
      • BAIE D'URFE September 10th 2013 Mayor Tutino
      • OTTAWA-August 28th 2013 Canadian War Museum Print Presentation
      • OTTAWA August 28h 2013 Check Mate! accepted at Military Research Centre
      • CBC TV NEWS August 13th 2013 Fara Heim Expedition seeks lost Battle of Hudson Bay ships
      • INUVIK July 1st 2013 Mainstream Last First
    • OFFICIAL BOOK LAUNCH October 12th 2013 >
      • PRESS RELEASE
      • OCTOBER 12th 2013 AT CHAPTERS, POINTE CLAIRE
    • PRESS >
      • Local authors...
  • Authors
    • The Authors Arriving In Canada By Ship
    • The Authors as Seasoned Sailor! >
      • David's Daily Log - 1949
      • Chris - To OZ and BACK 1948 - 1954
      • Chris - Empress of France - 1956
    • Photos >
      • Le Pelican Reconstructed
      • Francis Back - Le Pélican Crew Members
      • LaRochelle THEN & NOW
      • London THEN & NOW
      • York Factory THEN & NOW
      • Smithsend Grave Markers
  • Archives
    • FRENCH DOCUMENTS >
      • LA VILLE DE LA ROCHELLE
      • 1689 CODE DES ARMÉES NAVALES
      • Painted Portrait - Pierre Le Moyne D'Iberville
    • ENGLISH DOCUMENTS
    • The National Archives of the UK >
      • Copyright Permission
      • Mary Fletcher's Petition >
        • The humble Petition of Mary Fletcher
        • At the Court at Kensington
        • Thomas Morriss late Masters Mate
        • Michael Grimington of the parish
        • These are humbly to Certifie
        • Mary Fletcher's Pension, 22 July 1698
      • Condition of Hampshire in: >
        • March 1696
        • March - May 1695/6
        • October 1696
        • December 1696
      • Sample from Hampshire 's Pay Book to May 1697
    • The London Gazette - Articles >
      • Eagle - 1668
      • Nonesuch - 1669
      • York Factory (Fort Bourbon) Taken By the English From the French in 1696
      • HMS Hampshire returns from Jamaica
      • Fort Bourbon (York Factory) Recaptured From The English By The French -1697
    • Nicholas Smithsend's Original Sailing Orders - 1697
    • First Paragraph of 'Peter' Radisson's Will
    • Treaty of Ryswick >
      • Ryswick Pages
    • 1696 Hampshire returns to England
    • 1696 Hampshire crosses the Atlantic
    • Signatures
    • Maps & Charts >
      • 17th Century Hudson Bay >
        • 1666 Hudson Bay
        • 1696 Hudson Bay
      • 1693 Plymouth Sound, England
      • 1696 Port Royal Harbour, Jamaica
      • 1696 Windward Passage, West Indies
      • 1696 Atlantic Ocean Route
  • Contact
  • Publications
    • Le Pélican and Early Canadian History - A Source Book and Study Guide
    • Language From the Sea
    • Battle, Fight or Spat? An Exercise in Writing History
  • Additional Resources
    • Literature and Canadian History: A Marriage Made in Heaven?
    • QPAT 2014
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Placing well written historical fiction such as Check Mate into the elementary and secondary history curriculum is long overdue... 


Check Mate features two young boys as the main characters in the late 17th century French-English struggle to control the Hudson Bay Fur Trade. Students can identify with these two characters. For easier recognition, symbols are used to make it absolutely clear which of the two is telling his story. Consequently, a student can put this book down and easily start up again without too much trouble, a major plus.

Check Mate is an unusual book in that great care has obviously been taken with many aspects of its production. Not so obvious is the unusual care taken with the language. For example the Endnotes explain the French, Mohawk, and Inuit words used in the text and which give a flavour to the book.

In the interests of full disclosure, this reviewer has always expressed concern about one aspect of history teaching in Canada. Whether it be elementary, secondary or university levels of history, the language used in curriculum, books or examinations is often inappropriate. Many, sometimes most, of the students cannot read the material. A surprising number of professional educators are unaware of the importance of language. The use of graphic novels is one way to address reading problems. Placing well written historical fiction such as Check Mate into the elementary and secondary history curriculum is long overdue and goes a long way to explain why this reviewer regards this book as valuable.

There are beautiful illustrations and maps throughout the entire book. Much of the history here is caught, not taught, and students can acquire knowledge of 17th century life without realizing it. For example, ships and sailing are well explained and illustrated and stimulate further research.

The story itself is gripping and the harsh life of the times comes through realistically. Both sides of this French-English conflict are treated sympathetically and they battle nature as well as each other. Clock faces are used to emphasize time which in turn adds to the excitement of the plot. The Native Peoples are given their parts as are French Huguenots who are often left out of Canada’s past. Yet, the many details do not overwhelm the plot which has an unusual start that I will leave for the reader to find out. The pace is maintained and dialogue switches back and forth between the two main characters.

All students can get a good deal from this book. The slower students can enjoy it while the really gifted ones have a huge variety of material to explore in depth should they choose. Teachers can then use this book in a variety of ways. Consequently it is a handy book and deserves to be used by young people whether at home or at school. My only quibble is the size of the print is small in some places. Perhaps a second edition could overcome economic factors and Check Mate could be printed on larger pages   


- Sam Allison: Formerly History and Economics teacher at Centennial Regional High School, Greenfield Park, Quebec, and Vice-President, Quebec Association of Teachers of the Social Studies. 
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