Goose Road

A debut novel about a girl's journey across France during WWI, where she makes a promise to keep the farm the same until her brother returns home.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 05 April 2018
Publisher: Walker Books Ltd

France, 1916. Angélique Lacroix, a young woman engaged in haymaking, receives a devastating blow when the postman delivers the news that her father has been killed in a distant battlefield. Devastated by this loss, Angélique vows to keep the farm exactly as it was until her older brother returns from the Front. She sees this promise as a magical talisman, believing that if she can maintain the status quo, her brother might also remain unchanged. However, life throws unexpected challenges her way. A storm ruins the harvest, her mother falls ill, and then the requisition arrives, demanding that Angélique's brother's flock of magnificent Toulouse geese be handed over to the army.

Determined to save the farm from bankruptcy, Angélique embarks on a perilous journey across France with her brother's flock of geese. The journey is fraught with challenges, from navigating treacherous terrain to avoiding the watchful eyes of the military. But Angélique is a resilient and resourceful woman, and she uses her wits and determination to overcome every obstacle that comes her way.

As Angélique travels through different regions of France, she meets a variety of characters, each with their own unique story and struggles. She befriends a young soldier named Jean, who is fighting on the front lines, and learns about the hardships and sacrifices that the soldiers endure. Through their conversations, Angélique gains a deeper understanding of the war and its impact on the people it affects.

As the journey continues, Angélique's bond with her brother grows stronger. She realizes that he is not the same man who left for the Front, and that the war has changed him in ways that she could never have imagined. Angélique struggles to accept these changes, but she also recognizes the importance of supporting him in his time of need.

Finally, Angélique arrives at her destination, a small town on the outskirts of Paris. There, she meets a wealthy businessman who is interested in buying her brother's flock of geese. Angélique is torn between her desire to keep the farm and her loyalty to her brother. But in the end, she makes a decision that surprises everyone.

Angélique sells the flock of geese to the businessman, using the money to save the farm and provide for her family. She returns home, knowing that she has made the right choice, even though it means sacrificing her beloved geese.

In the end, Angélique's journey across France during WWI is a testament to the strength and resilience of the human spirit. She faces adversity with courage and determination, and in the process, she learns valuable lessons about love, sacrifice, and the importance of standing up for what is right.

In a small village nestled in the rolling hills of rural France, Angélique Lacroix lived a simple and fulfilling life. She spent her days tending to her family's farm, where they raised a flock of magnificent Toulouse geese. The farm was Angélique's pride and joy, and she had worked tirelessly to keep it running smoothly.

However, everything changed on a fateful day in 1916. The postman arrived at the farm, delivering a telegram that Angélique's father had been killed in battle on the front lines of World War I. Angélique was devastated by the news, and she felt like her world had come crashing down around her.

Angélique made a promise to herself that she would do everything in her power to keep the farm going. She knew that her older brother, who was fighting on the front lines, would return home soon, and she wanted the farm to be exactly as he left it. She saw this promise as a magical spell, a way to hold onto the hope and love that her father had instilled in her.

For the next few months, Angélique worked tirelessly on the farm, tending to the geese and keeping the farm in perfect condition. She refused to let anything disrupt her plan, even when a storm destroyed the harvest and her mother fell ill. She knew that she had to keep the farm running, no matter what.

But then the requisition arrived. The army had demanded that Angélique's brother's flock of geese be handed over to them. Angélique was torn between her loyalty to her brother and her love for the farm. She knew that the geese were a valuable asset, but she also knew that her brother needed them more than anyone else.

In the end, Angélique made a difficult decision. She sold the flock of geese to a wealthy businessman who was interested in buying them. The money she received from the sale was enough to save the farm from bankruptcy, and it allowed Angélique to provide for her family.

Angélique returned home, feeling a sense of relief and sadness. She knew that she had made the right family, but she also knew that she had sacrificed something that was dear to her heart. She missed the geese, the sound of their honking, and the sight of them flying across the fields.

However, Angélique also knew that she had done the right thing. She had done what was best for her family, and she had kept her promise to her father. She had shown that even in the face of adversity, love and hope can still prevail.

Years passed, and Angélique's brother returned home from the war. He was different than when he had left, but Angélique was grateful for the time that they had spent together. They worked together on the farm, tending to the geese and reminiscing about the old days.

Angélique learned that even in the darkest of times, there is always a glimmer of light. She had faced adversity head-on, and she had emerged stronger and more resilient than ever before. She knew that she had made the right decision, and she was proud of the woman that she had become.

In the end, Angélique's journey across France during WWI was a testament to the strength and resilience of the human spirit. She had faced adversity with courage and determination, and in the process, she had learned valuable lessons about love, sacrifice, and the importance of standing up for what is right.

As Angélique looked out over the farm, she felt a sense of peace and contentment. She knew that the farm would always be a part of her, and that the memories of her journey would live on in her heart forever. She smiled, knowing that she had done the right thing, and that she had lived a life that was full of love, hope, and adventure.

Weight: 266g
Dimension: 172 x 198 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781406371673