By Erica Wiggins
Content warning: suicidal thoughts and attempts, mental illness, parental neglect, death of children, child abuse, sexualization of children
Last Winter tells the story of eight-year-old Ruby, who is struggling to survive after her father, Gus, goes missing while living with her mother, Fiona, who is experiencing bipolar disorder. Fiona is dealing with a transgression in her marriage and the effect it is having on her mental health, while Gus has had enough. Their marriage is in crisis and Ruby is not vocal. Gus is taking Ruby and her classmates on an overnight wilderness trip when the unthinkable happens: an avalanche buries all but Ruby and one classmate. Ruby is determined to find her father no matter the cost. Author Carrie Mac, a Canadian former paramedic, widow, and parent, has written several award-winning novels and draws on her experiences to create this fictional tale.
I was drawn to this story because it is set in Canada and is about a family trying to emerge from a tragedy. But it is also about so much more and deals with some incredibly difficult topics, making it a challenging read. This book will not be for everyone. There are many trigger warnings and I found I needed to take breaks and come back to the story. This is a story that should be read with an abundance of caution.
I really enjoyed the way the story was laid out. The author gives a quick “Before,” a brief glimpse after the incident, and then goes back to the beginning and continues to the aftermath of this event.
We are introduced to our main family—Gus, Fiona, and Ruby. We learn how Gus and Fiona met, but we quickly see the dysfunction in this family. Both Gus and Fiona neglect their Ruby. At eight years old, she is often left to fend for herself. While her mother struggles with her bipolar disorder and taking her medication, Ruby is making the fire in the fireplace, feeding herself, and not bathing for days. She is taken to events with friends where men swim and walk around naked. It is clear from the interactions that Ruby has been oversexualized and it is at times uncomfortable to read. Her environment has caused her to turn into herself and she barely speaks. Gus is a neglectful parent as well and allows Ruby to remain in this environment. He believes that Fiona is the problem and is looking into a separation and custody. In the midst of this chaos, Gus and the children head out on the trip with little planning. And then the avalanche happens, and things get worse.
I enjoyed the interactions between Ruby and Gus. She clearly adores her father. However, many of the interactions were difficult to read. I loved the setting of small town British Columbia and the way this community comes together in a crisis. While I believe the author creates an accurate portrayal of a chaotic home and a reaction to a crisis, I wanted something more from this story. For me, this story was tragic, sad, and disconcerting. Overall, I thought it was an interesting portrayal of a family in crisis. However, I do think it would be a difficult story to recommend given the content covered.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.