French Boy / A 1950s Franco-American Childhood by Denis Ledoux

French Boy/ A 1950s Franco-American Childhood by Denis Ledoux is a memoir of his childhood in Lisbon Falls in the 1950s. This story is not only a personal one, but also a story of Maine’s Francophone ethnic community. Mr. Ledoux chronicles his and his family’s life and, at the same time, he explores his lost Canadian French history, culture, and values of his generation in Maine.

The narrative includes a plethora of characters: great-grandparents, grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles, siblings, friends, and others. Each character has a unique story to tell that reinforces the author’s ancestral roots. His memories are a valuable insight into the culture he was born. His parents were hardworking people who worked several jobs and long hours to provide for their family. They were textile mill workers, grocery store owners, chicken farmers, and carpenters.

The book brings into focus important issues and themes: immigration of Canadians to North America, cultural displacement, language challenges, assimilation in a new culture, family dynamics, religious beliefs, raw models, education (or lack of it), and Francophone cultural traditions and practices.

I can associate with several of these traditions as they mirror my own childhood experiences in a small island village in Greece:

• Sharing a house with grandparents and having no privacy.
• Living without the modern conveniences of air-conditioning and heating, hot water, cell phones, computers, and washing machines.
• Addressing older people and people of authority with respect.
• Being a housewife and working voluntarily to supplement the family’s income.
• Praying at the start of a school day.
• Enjoying a Réveillon party on New Year’s Eve.
• Having uneducated parents and no books in the house other than textbooks.
• Respecting the role of priests and nuns in education.
• Practicing home remedies for curing minor ailments.

French Boy was a pleasure to read. I liked the French expressions the author used throughout the narrative as they gave it a more personal touch (I enjoy the way French language sounds). I also enjoyed the detailed stories of a family trying to adapt to a foreign land. So much of this story echoes my generation’s issues and my own immigration to the U.S. Additionally, it educated me on the history and culture of French speaking Canadians.