Another installment in the series, this book develops the characters of the 4 Whiteoak children and their parents and introduces several new players. All the while, Jalna itself looms in the background - beautiful, solid, and welcoming.

Morning At Jalna, the second book chronologically by Mazo de la Roche continues the saga of the Whiteoak family who emigrated to Canada from England. They have built their home in Southern Ontario on the shores of Lake Ontario. Philip Whiteoak is a retired British officer and his wife, Adeline, is the fiery Irish beauty that married him. They have four children who they are haphazardly raising. As parents they are not at their best, Adeline is too self-absorbed and her emotions are very near to the surface, while Philip is a distant father who believes in discipline but often fails to follow through.

The book is set during the 1860’s while the American Civil War is being fought south of the border. The Whiteoaks have offered shelter to a couple from South Carolina who are plantation and slave owners. Their community has mixed feelings about the war, many are strongly on the side of the north but there are some who favour the south. In this book the four children play a major role as we learn about them and the directions they are taking in life. At the end of the book, the Whiteoaks have travelled to England to place the three older children in school there. This was a time when Canadians still very much looked to England as home and it was strongly felt that the education the children would receive in Britain would be far superior to what they would get in Canada.

The saga is one that holds my attention as the author demonstrates the connections and dynamics within the family. Each member has their own distinct personality and the lively dialogue reveals much about each of them. Family environment, money, social standing, gender and values all come into play during the course of this story and I appreciate the Canadian setting as it helps me to understand my own roots. ( )

Second in the Jalna series, by chronology. An odd plot: the Whiteoaks are visited by a southern American couple seeking refuge from the Civil War. Strong pro-slavery sentiments run throughout, though there are abolitionist characters to add balance. A subplot involves the children running away unsuccessfully. Still a fun read. Roche's writing is accomplished. ( )