Beyond the Bright Sea
- BIBLIOGRAPHY
Wolk, Lauren. 2017. Beyond
the bright sea. New York, NY: Dutton Children’s Books. ISBN 9781101994856
- PLOT
SUMMARY
Crow washed up on the shore of the Cuttyhunk island under very mysterious
circumstances. She was wrapped up in a skiff when Och found her and he raised
her with the help of their neighbor Miss Maggie. Crow sees that no one is
willing to touch her, or get too close, and when she tries to go to school, she
finds out they call her a leper. This is when she discovers the theory of where
she may be from. The island that housed lepers, Penikese.
After convincing Osh and Miss Maggie to go with her to the island to explore,
they find a menacing man with a gun claiming to be the bird keeper. He doesn’t
give them much freedom to find answers, but they do find a baby grave, symbols,
and Crow hears a mysterious thump in the hospital which they eventually discover
is the actual birdkeeper. After they leave, Crow sends a letter to the doctor
that used to work there. In the response, she discovers there was a nurse that eventually
tells her the man that kept the birdkeeper hostage was James Kendall. A thief searching
for treasure. The nurse informed her that she was from the island and her
parents were lepers that sent her away in hopes she’d have a good life. She had
a brother, and her mom left them a treasure on the island.
Crow ends up finding and hiding this treasure until Mr. Kendall came to
get it from them. He was caught the first time but escaped. During this time, they
found a shipwrecked sailor Crow was convinced was her brother. Mr. Kendall
threatened to burn the house down with him unless she gave up the treasure. She
traps him in a tree, and when the sailor wakes up, she discovers it’s not her brother.
She gives away the majority of her treasure and finds peace with the family that
she always knew.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The
characters in this story are easy to like and believable. Wolk makes it easy
to empathize with Crow. A girl that doesn’t know where she came from and feels
like an outsider. She’s curious, brave, and deeply loved. I think everyone
knows what it’s like to feel as though people don’t like you or seem to be excluding
you for some reason, especially young people. Crow's love for her family is
sweet and gives a great example to those that are feeling left out. Och is a selfless
man that loves Crow more than anything. He doesn’t want more attention than he
needs to survive (that’s most likely due to the way that he got to the US). Och
is devoted to Crow and Miss Maggie. The only people he has formed relationships
with. Miss Maggie is the last main character. She is fiery, sweet, and generous.
Her dedication and simple way of putting others at ease is inspiring. She loves
fully and defends the people that need it. The details in the story were well-researched and the places they visited and described had a purpose. The story
had a nice flow and there were enough surprises to keep the reader guessing.
The islands are beautifully described and accurate for the time. Each location
they visit adds to the dynamic story told. The theme of family and finding
yourself are very relevant today. There is even an element of humanity over
fear. Kindness and love which Crow always appreciated from people, and her
brother Jason would have appreciated more of growing up. Wolk gives each
character a unique voice. The author mentions that Och has an accent, but it’s
not really written into his speaking parts. The author gives more information
about the authenticity of the information in the notes at the back of the book.
This shows how much research was done and gives the reader a better idea about
how much of the story was fact vs. fiction.
- REVIEW
EXCERPT(S)
ALA Notable Children's Books
Starred review in Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
Starred review in Booklist: “Wolk has a keen sense for the seaside
landscape, skillfully mining the terror the ocean can unleash as a furious
nor’easter heightens tension in the novel’s climax. Historical fiction fans
awaiting her follow-up will be pleased.”
Starred review in Horn Book Magazine: “This is an exceptional mix
of historical fiction, physical adventure, and interiority, a novel in which
suspense, insight, and the natural world play equal, vital parts.”
Starred review in Kirkus Reviews: “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.”
Starred review in Publishers Weekly: “Wolk's economical prose
clearly delineates Crow's conflicting emotions and growing awareness, and
readers will feel the love and loyalty that she, Osh, and Miss Maggie share.”
Starred review in School Library Journal: “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..”
- CONNECTIONS
*This
story could lead to conversations about big world events that occurred in or
around the 1920s and the war that Osh could have fought in.
*Invite
students to write Crow a letter asking her any questions they still may have or
just sharing their favorite parts of her story.
*Have
students search the actual locations discussed in the story and share what they
learn.
*Other novels
written by Lauren Wolk:
Wolk,
Lauren. Wolf hollow.
ISBN 9781101994849
Wolk,
Lauren. My own lightning. ISBN 9780525555599
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