The Ferryland Visitor: A mysterious tale

In the 1970s, artist Gerald Squires moved, with his wife and two young daughters, into the abandoned lighthouse-keeper's house in Ferryland, Newfoundland. Shortly after their arrival, they had a visitor―one who claimed to be the former constable of the area and who regaled them with stories of the place and its previous occupants. A visitor, they soon learned, who was more than he appeared to be.Acclaimed children's writer Charis Cotter tells the tale of this mysterious visitor from the perspective of Esther, the youngest daughter. In beautifully crafted language, Cotter captures the delight of a curious young girl discovering her new landscape, the excitement of living in a lighthouse at the edge of the ocean, and the haunting mystery of the visitor himself.Renowned artist Gerald Squires has contributed paintings and drawings of the lighthouse and its surrounding landscape, as well as family photographs taken during the lighthouse years. The result is a book of striking beauty―part family album, part art book, all mystery.

Kirkus Reviews

"Middle-grade storytelling at its very best―extraordinary."

Canadian Children's Book News

"The prose is haunting and evocative. The Swallow doesn't just fly; it soars."

About the Author

For most of her life, Charis Cotter has been fascinated by ghost stories. She collects, writes and tells them to eager audiences of all ages. She is the author numerous acclaimed and award-winning books for children, including The Swallow and The Painting. She lives in a house by the sea in Western Bay, one of the most haunted places in Newfoundland and Labrador.Gerald Squires was known for his dramatic Newfoundland landscapes in oil and acrylic, and for his portraits and surrealistic paintings. During his lifetime, he received many honors for his work, including an honorary doctorate from Memorial University, election into the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Award, and an appointment to the Order of Canada. Several of his works have been deemed "national treasures" and collected through the Certified Canadian Cultural Properties Act. Squires died in 2015 at the age of 77.

Reviews

News