The Story
What is Southcrop Forest?
Southcrop Forest crosses the book store aisle from Science and Nature to Eco-fantasy. It's an animal story of sorts, like Watership Down, Ahmek, or Silverwing―though the ‘animals’ are far more unusual than rabbits, beavers, or bats.
Southcrop Forest is a contemporary fantasy-quest. There are deadly challenges and striking discoveries, amidst a colourful cast of allies, enemies and heroes. But it's also a familiar story about the world around us and is heavily grounded in the natural sciences and Canadian history. It would appeal to young adults, interested in ecology and environmental affairs.
Southcrop Forest is about trees. Not trees as near-inanimate objects—but as intelligent and highly social beings with an ancient civilization and rich culture that arose millions of years before we humans entered the stage. It's about their plight in a world that we are rapidly changing but also their remarkable powers that bring hope to this tale.
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The trees of Southcrop have made a striking discovery—one that could change the world for all their kind. But they are trapped in a forest fragment and face destruction from human sprawl. They cannot spread their new-found gift across the land.
Then Auja, a young oak, finds little Fur amongst her branches. Fur is a legendary creature not seen for a thousand years, a single intelligent being emerged from a colony of caterpillars. Fur is small and meek and slow, but can travel through the forest and talk with trees. Auja persuades the reluctant Fur to help.
Fur embarks on a desperate quest to find the source of all tree power—the mysterious Riverside Farm. Here he must gather the trees’ great treasure and carry it across Oak River to the forests of Deep Sky.
Fur’s long trek is fraught with peril as he races to reach Riverside Farm before it is destroyed. Ghoulish enemies hunt him, while machines wreak their deadly havoc. Yet his journey is one of enlightenment, as he learns about the ecology of his world, the threat of the human species, and finally, the secret of his existence.
Southcrop Forest in Schools
Southcrop Forest is an excellent educational resource for young adults. The book touches on a wide variety of subjects, made accessible through an engaging narrative.
History and Geography
· Ontario, Canada · First Nations · The fur trade and settlement of southern Ontario · Earth-sun geometry
Biology
· Ecology · Food webs · Native trees · Insects, birds and mammals · Mushrooms and wildflowers
Environment
· Human induced climate change
· Introduced Species · The carbon cycle · Forest fragmentation · Urban sprawl
