Beyond Reflection: A collaborative novel by BWB Book Club of Vancouver

In the upstart post–Expo Vancouver of 1987, Jane Stewart receives a marriage proposal that has the potential to up-end her carefully curated life as a single woman dedicated to a career as a research biologist. At age 31, she has no wish to lose control of her life. The shock of Julian’s proposal triggers a buried trauma and a re-visiting of events in 1968. Jane, as an adventurous youth, is found navigating the forested trails of North Vancouver, as well as the shifting landscape of unsettling family dynamics, intense friendships, and physical and emotional challenges. Will the reawakening of Jane’s adolescent mind weaken or strengthen the mature woman's autonomy?

"Beyond Reflection is an unforgettable coming-of age story set against the backdrop of Vancouver's North Shore during the turbulent 1960s. Through a collaborative narrative built upon individual experiences, the BWB Book Club has crafted a heartfelt, often humourous, exploration of the vibrancy and vulnerability of youth."
- Susan Steeves, Interior Designer/ Businesswoman

"The Stewart family's story is fresh and imaginative yet familiar in ways that had me reliving my own youth in the 1960s and reflecting on the interactions with family and friends that shaped the adult I became. Book club members especially are sure to engage in lively discussions about the antics of the heroine and her family, and will enjoy lots of belly laughs if they dare to share their own “coming of age” stories."
- Jane Rogerson, retired teacher/principal and director of the Calgary Board of Education