When twelve-year-old Hannah uncovers an ancient Salish spindle whorl hidden in a cave near her home in Cowichan Bay, she is transported back to a village called Tl'ulpalus, in a time before Europeans had settled in the area. Through the agency of a trickster raven, Hannah befriends Yisella, a young Salish girl, and is welcomed into village life. Here she discovers that the spindle whorl is the prize possession of Yisella's mother, Skeepla, a famous spinner and weaver. When Skeepla falls victim to smallpox, Hannah finally begins to open up about the death of her own mother. Hannah and Yisella are then accidentally left behind when the villagers journey to the mainland, and they witness the arrival of Governor James Douglas and numerous settlers on the Hecate. As the settlers pillage the village for souvenirs, Hannah and Yisella rescue the spindle whorl and, pursued by the ship's crew, escape into the dark forest. From the refuge in the cave, Hannah returns to her own time with a greater understanding of herself and the history of the First Nations.

Carol Anne Shaw has always loved to write stories and draw. As a child, she was forever being reprimanded for drawing in her textbooks and creating cartoons of her least favourite teachers. Hannah & the Spindle Whorl, her first novel, grew out of her fascination with the history of British Columbia, and especially its First Nations people. She spends a fair bit of time enjoying the natural beauty of Vancouver Island where she makes her home along with her husband, two sons and two dogs. When she isn't writing, she can be found painting at her easel, walking in the woods, and finding excuses not to wear shoes.

Carol Anne Shaw's profile page

• Short-listed, Chocolate Lily Award
• Winner, Silver Moonbeam Children's Book Award
• Short-listed, ForeWord Book of the Year Award

“Time travel is difficult to handle well. Here Carol Anne Shaw has fully succeeded. The choice of a local setting makes her tale all the more authentic so that the reader may appreciate that the magic of the journey is centered in that real world. It leaves a sense that magic can, and often does, lie in real places.” — Deakin Newsletter

“[Hannah and the Spindle Whorl] so perfectly captured what it was like to be twelve.”—What If? Magazine

“Carol Anne Shaw tells a thoroughly enjoyable tale. Her characters are rich and original, and they allow us to be swept along in an engaging, fantastical tale spanning 150 years. Young readers will love Hannah, and they just might learn something along the way.”—Cowichan Valley Voice

“Hannah’s mysterious trip through time is an absorbing adventure, including her near-death experience in a raging river; an encounter with a Sasquatch (or was it?); an unexpected creative gift revealed; a tragic smallpox outbreak; and friendship . . . Hannah and the Spindle Whorl is engrossing good fun and would be a treat for young (and young at heart) readers this Christmas.”—Vancouver Sun

“Hannah herself is a very likable character — inquisitive and sensitive, intelligent and tough, and yet not overly perfect. She’s still trying to cope with the loss of her mother from a car accident 2 years earlier, she lives on a houseboat, her dad’s a writer, and yet she comes across as a realistic typical 12 year old. . . . much more depth than a typical juvenile novel.”—The Book Mine Set

“Carol Anne Shaw has provided readers with an interesting look at Coast Salish culture. By using the spindle whorl as a central plot element, readers will learn about Canadian history, archaeological digs and the preservation of historical artifacts.”—Resource Links

“Carol Anne Shaw weaves the past and present so unseen becomes the seen. Curling up with this book will be enjoyable and broaden youths’ view of history.”—Anishinabek News

“Hannah is a very fun, sympathetic and lively character, and her hometown and funky houseboat are memorable and convincing.”—CM Magazine

“Time travel is difficult to handle well. Here Carol Anne Shaw has fully succeeded. The choice of a local setting makes her tale all the more authentic so that the reader may appreciate that the magic of the journey is centered in that real world. It leaves a sense that magic can, and often does, lie in real places.”—Deakin Newsletter

“A remarkably vibrant novel that links friendship and native history across time.”—Ann Walsh