It was the new intern at the marketing company that came up with the offbeat advertising idea for the folks at Tourisme Montreal who were looking to bump up the traffic in Montreal’s Underground City. Marius suggested sending someone underground for a full year to demonstrate the idea that the underground city has everything you could want or need without ever having to set foot outside. He suggested making it a contest with a $25000 reward, and that the chosen person could produce daily blog posts. This is how our protagonist–Daphne—became known as “Daphne Down Under.”
Daphne’s grad thesis had her stumped for a while and her student loans were catching up to her. This contest seemed like the perfect opportunity to make some money while having a whole year of quiet time to work on her thesis. Her one concern was her grandmother Nora – would she be okay without Daphne around for a whole year?
It’s true that Nora and Daphne have had only each other over the years, but Nora encouraged Daphne to take the challenge, insisting she would be fine and would come visit Daphne at her new place. Daphne needn’t have worried that Nora would be lonely – no sooner did Daphne move into her new apartment in the Underground City, when Nora’s life took a turn toward the crowded and chaotic.
While Daphne is “tucked away” in the underground city, Nora’s immigrant neighbours tuck themselves into Nora’s basement. The family lives in fear of deportation after their sponsor is convicted of a crime.
The family in Nora’s basement aren’t the only ones hiding themselves away illegally. Chantal ran away from home and has been holing-up in the Underground City ever since. When her path crosses with Daphne’s, their lives get tangled up together. Daphne needs to figure out a way to help both Chantal and her grandmother without jeopardizing her position with Tourisme Montreal by setting foot outside the Underground City. Can it be done?
Tucked Away is a Montreal adventure story that examines the ins and outs of immigration policy as well as safety nets for at-risk children. Rudin weaves together her storylines and cast of characters with skill, compassion, and humour. By the end of the book the characters’ big hearts and generosity are on full display.
Best line: “The contest overseers were unequipped to deal face-to-face with an unhinged blogger.”
Phyllis Rudin is the author of two novels. Phyllis has lived in the US and France and now makes her home in Montreal which serves as the landscape for all her fiction. She recently finished her five-year project of walking the full length of every street in that city.
- Publisher : Inanna Publications (June 27 2023)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 296 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1771339276
- ISBN-13 : 978-1771339278
Naomi MacKinnon is a mother, daughter, wife, sister, friend, pet-lover, reader, walker, camper, and Nova Scotian. Naomi has contributed several guest reviews over the years to The Miramichi Reader. Her book review blog is Consumed By Ink.
