That Summer in Jasper Park
A Novel of Romance and Adventure High in the Canadian Rockies
A novel about hard work, altruism, and individual authenticity set against a magnificent mountain backdrop, That Summer in Jasper Park is a lighthearted coming-of-age tale.
Wayne Sherrard’s wholesome novel That Summer in Jasper Park is about young love and hard work in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
In the summer of 1968, Wayne, a twenty-year-old trade school student who wants to work hard, climb mountains, and “date chicks,” searches for a summer job. Unsuccessful at finding work in his hometown of Cold Lake, he travels eight hours to Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada, to try his luck there. After an opportune stop in front of the Maligne Tours storefront and a quick interview, Wayne is offered a job as a tour bus and boat operator with pay, room, and board for the summer.
Wayne’s desire to remain single and carefree is interrupted when he meets Eileen, who also works at the lodge. Eileen’s maturity magnifies the shortcomings of Wayne’s cavalier attitude, and his superficiality is tested as they get to know each other and he’s charmed by her personality, intelligence, “poise and class.” In time, and with her influence, he becomes more introspective and inclined toward generosity, with these qualities supplanting his previous egotism.
In contrast to how Wayne and Eileen are fleshed out, the hard-working, tight-knit crew at Maligne Lake receive limited development. Tom and Paul, Wayne’s cheerful roommates, become his fast friends and accompany him on a climbing adventure, while Stan, Rusty, and Kathy are friendly and good bosses. Still, these people play minor, background roles in Wayne’s larger tale.
Further, there are few surprises in the story, as situations tend to work out for Wayne, who likes his boss and coworkers. He befriends a doe who visits the lodge each morning, and he scales mountains with incredible ease. Thus the book progresses with limited suspense, with only Wayne’s decision to climb to the peak of Mount Samson resulting in true tension. Even the person who questions Wayne’s truthfulness is a minor setback in this story that’s full of routine instances of success.
The prose is clear, lighthearted, and flush with illuminating late 1960s period details, as of Saturday night dances and people listening to car radios to hear the “Beatles, the Dave Clark Five or Gerry and the Pacemakers.” Wayne makes note of the beauty of the Canadian Rockies too. Indeed, he delights in Jasper National Park’s “milky” lake water, “blue/green due to the melting glaciers,” and the “rock cliffs [that rise] right from the water.”
While the book’s progression hinges on Wayne’s growth and self-reflection relative to his relationships with the opposite sex, its story is most grounded in themes of hard work, altruism, and individual authenticity. Wayne develops a sense of appreciation for the simplicity and enjoyment represented by his summer job, making friends and memories to last a lifetime. The resolution is most about the enduring lessons he learns regarding hope and happiness.
That Summer in Jasper Park is a vigorous, optimistic coming-of-age novel set against nature’s timeless beauty.
Reviewed by
Katy Keffer
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
