by Seymour Hamilton (Author), Shirley MacKenzie (Illustrator)
The HIPPIES WHO MEANT IT takes readers through the life experiences of young people within the hippie / back-to-the-land culture. The story takes place in 1960s Nova Scotia, which like many other Canadian regions, attracted young Americans who chose to head north rather than go to Vietnam. The characters, after harrowing experiences in their own histories, come together to make a life for themselves. The characters seek escape, solace, self-discovery, personal growth, and new beginnings in which to make peace with their pasts, and find their place in life. This they must do against a backdrop of the Vietnam War, social change, survival and family issues, injustice and prejudice, the emotional impacts of war, and the burden of self-expectations. The characters evolve, heal, and navigate the joys and challenges of their new surroundings, facing love, death, fear, friendship, betrayal, and despair. The twists and turns of the main characters' journeys are often unexpected, surprising and sometimes humorous as they weave toward an unconventional resolution.