The Curve of Time: The Classic Memoir of a Woman and Her Children Who Explored the Coastal Waters of the Pacific Northw

This sweet volume is Blanchet's recounting of summers spent sailing around Vancouver Island with her children in a 25-foot-long boat. Their adventures include close encounters with a cougar and killer whales, looking for seahorses and discovering Native American artifacts. But the book lacks a context. A short introduction by a friend indicates that the book was first published in Canada 30 years ago, that the author died six months later while working on a sequel, and that some new material has been incorporated into the present edition. The ages of her children are never given, nor are the sections in the book dated. Those unfamiliar with the region may be just as disoriented, since the distances covered are rarely given. Once it becomes obvious that such clues are not forthcoming, the book itself is readable and enjoyable, especially its descriptions of the wildlife encountered on these journeys. With a little more care, however, this could have had meaning for more than just a small circle of Blanchet's friends. (Apr.) *CHILDREN'S BOOKS