Fisher and Sailor, the one a native Stadaconan man living in what is now Quebec, the other a European who had just arrived as part of Jacques Cartier's 1534 voyage to the area, meet and spend a day and night together in this historical fantasy from two Native American picture-book creators. Although they do not speak the same language, or come from the same culture, they find a way to communicate, enjoying their time together. The world around them shows its approval, constantly sending the message that they are more alike than not...

Encounter is a book I sought out largely because I was looking for more of Tlingit illustrator Michaela Goade's work, after loving her Caldecott Medal-winning illustrations, in Carole Lindstrom's We Are Water Protectors. On that score, this book is a success, and the visuals are just breathtaking! Goade's use of color, and her beautifully stylized forms, make it an aesthetic pleasure to page through this book. The story itself, which marks Anishinaabe author Brittany Luby's debut in the picture-book form, left me feeling somewhat conflicted. It's a 'what-if' story, imagining what a peaceful first encounter between indigenous North Americans and European explorers might have looked like. It presents an argument, through the commentary offered by the animals and other natural observers - the mosquitos observing that both men taste the same, Moon revealing that their anatomies are the same, and so on - that this sort of encounter is both natural and desirable, since both men are human beings. There is an author's afterword, which gives more of the history, as well as an explanation for the storytelling choices made. Luby writes that her story is not meant to "forgive" Jacques Cartier for the violence of his actions, but to show that "violence is a choice."

While that is certainly true, I'm not sure that the story really accomplishes what it sets out to do. I will confess that I have not studied the specifics of Cartier's first voyage to North America in any great detail, but my own understanding of many of these "first contact" stories, is that initial meetings between Native Americans and Europeans were often peaceful and friendly, with conflict usually developing later, when it became evident that European explorers weren't just visiting, but rather, wanted to claim the land and natural resources in a given area. Luby's own afterword seems to confirm this, as she mentions that relations between Cartier's sailors and the local Stadaconan people soured (quite understandably), after an initial period of friendship, when the sailors kidnapped two Stadaconan men. So it is that an encounter like the one described in the story here is not outside the realm of historical possibility, even if later developments were far less benign. The "what-if" aspect here is therefore not so much the friendly encounter itself, as Luby claims at one point, but the fact that Sailor and his ship depart, after having the encounter. But if it is indeed this point, when the two men part peacefully, that is the "what-if" moment, then why is almost all of the narrative attention given to the events that precede it? I take Luby at her word, when it comes to her intentions, but somehow the story doesn't quite work for me, in terms of doing what she says she wants it to be doing.

Since this is a meditation on violence, there's also the issue that both story and afterword seem to be implying that the world encountered by European explorers in North America was a peaceful and idyllic one, which is anything but true. The Stadaconans, for instance, were Iroquoian, loosely connected to a confederacy of people with expansionist tendencies during this period, and a history of bloody conflict with their various Algonquian neighbors. The Iroquoians would be expelled from the Gaspé Peninsula by the Mi'kmaq (an Algonquian people) during the following century, in a series of bloody wars. This isn't to cast stones, of course, but simply to raise the question: if we're looking into the past and wishing it had been more peaceful, shouldn't we be wishing it for all sides, and all peoples? More to the point, why look into the past and wish it different at all? What does it accomplish? Shouldn't we look into the past, recognize that it was brutal and tribal, and seek to create something different, going forward into the future? In the end, Encounter left me confused, with the impression that it was the product of muddled thinking, from a storytelling perspective. My three stars are largely for the beautiful artwork from Michaela Goade. ( )

Great illustration, nice representation of what Cartier thought aas normal at the time, his experience and his encounter. Yet the enfire thing seems inappropriate as the first nation people were treated as simple, objects or professions/offices that they occupied and not as an individual, but this is how Cartier perceived them, so I guess it is fair. I can't be sure how I feel about it to be honest. The fantastical take on a real story is something I commend. My 10 year old niece really liked it, specially the illustration. ( )

Shelf Awareness newsletter

Flat-out gorgeous art (watercolor, pen and ink, gouache, digital) helps tell this story of native American Fisher and Sailor, who "came from away." The two meet on their respective small boats in a bay. Though the two do not share a language, they communicate wordlessly, sharing food and swimming together. Animals, birds, and bugs observe the ways in which the two are similar.

Back matter: Author's reflection, Historical note

"Encounter reminds us that Cartier and his crew were visitors here....knowledge is tied to place."

"I wrote Encounter to provide an alter-native view of [Jacques] Cartier's visit."

"...in every encounter, there is the potential for common ground."

Mi'gmaq
Stadaconan
Anishinabeg ( )

This is a what-might-have-been story.

What might have been if the first encounter of North American Indigenous People with Europeans (An Anishinabek man and Jacques Cartier, say) had been different from what it was.

In this book Fisher awakes with the sun and sets out to fish for mackerel. Simultaneously, Sailor awakes aboard his ship and decides to explore the new land he has reached.

It was bound to happen — “Sun had not traveled far when Fisher and Sailor paddled into the same bay.”

Shortly afterwards, they meet on the beach. From overhead Seagull squawks, “You are not so different. You both cast long shadows.”

Sailor manages to communicate with Fish by drawing pictures in the sand of his journey across the sea.

They share each other’s strange food — sea biscuits from Sailor; sunflower seeds from Fisher. At first bite, neither is impressed, but …

They swim together; they explore together.

All-in-all, they pass a Jim-dandy day. Their “foreignness” is not a problem.

This book is a children’s picture book, so the illustrations are equally as important as the text in telling the story of Fisher and Sailor spending an enjoyable day getting to know each other a little bit.

Perhaps Mosquito best states the common ground, the common blood, so to speak, that Fisher and Sailor share.

“You have much in common,” Mosquito says. “You both taste the same.”

Ah, b’ys, what might have been. ( )

I received a free copy of Encounter by Brittany Luby and illustrator Michaela Goade in exchange for an honest review.

This book deserves more than one read. It deserves time to really look at the images and consider the human nature, as well as, historical facts. This picture book is not just a lovely little story with beautiful illustrations; it is quite complex and sophisticated.
Even the title, ‘Encounter’, is enticing. What does that mean – a fleeting meeting between strangers. And sometimes those unexpected encounters can leave a long-life impression.

Everything about this book is interesting. The end pages are worth pondering: the first spread is sunrise with animals still in slumber and some waking up and the last spread is nighttime with moon shining bright. The land looks like Canada – the beluga whales gives a clue that it takes place on the east coast. The first page flap asks a few open-ended questions to get you thinking before you even start reading. And, the first paragraph gives context about what is to be read.

The story is lovely – the role of the sun is enchanting. The perspectives of the Fisher and Sailor are different but, at other times, similar; and the animals are insightful. The encounter between the strangers take place between sunrise and sunset.

The historical notes are also an important aspect to this story. For a very long time, history was been told from a limited number of people who share similar perspectives on events. History has scarred people and critically looking at the past can help us be compassionate and help heal as a community.

This book is a good read for both young and old. This book is a good conversation starter and to help with reflecting on own perspectives about our own Canadian history. ( )