Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk

 

-Amazon

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Wolk, Lauren. 2017. BEYOND THE BRIGHT SEA. New York: Dutton Children’s Books. ISBN 9781101994856. 

2. PLOT SUMMARY
In a worn out skiff boat, Crow washed up on the shore of one of the Elizabeth Islands around 1913. She was rescued by a man she later named Osh. Osh and Crow became an unlikely family, with the necessary addition of Miss Maggie. The three lived out their simple and meager lives with contentment on Cuttyhunk island, until the day Crow started to question who she was and where she came from. This sweet story intertwines with the true history of another nearby island, Penikese, where a leper colony once lived.  With the loyal support of Osh and Miss Maggie, Crow goes on a self-discovery journey, filled with mystery and even treasure.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
I really like this book! The innocence of Crow’s character is truly endearing, and along with the mysteriousness of Osh’s character, it is easy to get drawn into their story.  Wolk does a skillful job of building their characters at an intriguing pace; she gives enough detail to interest you, while maintaining some secrecy until the very end. The author also does a great job with the setting of the book. Her simple descriptions of the provincial islands, eventually contrasted with the bustling city, complement the storyline, without distracting from it. Wolk spends more attention on the descriptions of her precious characters, whose facial expressions, physical attributes and behaviors tell as much of the story as their dialogue. The history of the Massachusetts islands is alluring also, specifically the island that was occupied by ostracized lepers for almost two decades. This historical fiction book does exactly what it should- it entertains, and then prompts the reader to want to know more of the history behind it. 

4. AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
ALA Notable Children's Books, 2018

Booklist starred, (May 15, 2017)

Horn Book Magazine starred, (July 2017)

Kirkus Reviews starred, (April 2017) “...But the mysteries—and the words that describe them—are compelling enough to send readers to the islands for years to come. A beautiful, evocative sophomore effort from Newbery honoree Wolk (Wolf Hollow, 2016).”

Scott O’Dell Award, 2018

School Library Journal starred, (May 2017) “This is a tear-jerking yet ultimately uplifting tale of establishing one's place in the world and realizing that sometimes your family is the one you make, not the one you are born into.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*This book could pair nicely with North Wind by Gary Paulsen. As another example of “orphan fiction,” there are plenty of similarities and differences to make for a nice compare/contrast coupling.

*Also, more research can be done about the leper colony on Penikese Island at penikese.org/about and at the New Bedford Guide.