Reviews
A different illness but same general location and contemporary with the timing of this novel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Si... The book the film is based on is Doctor Nye of North Ostable by Joseph C Lincoln. Full review: http://pussreboots.com/blog/2017/comm...
"I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review." 3.5 stars. It is not an usual thing for me to read middle-grade books, but I have to say that this story warmed my heart. In Beyond the Bright Sea, we follow the story of Crow, a little girl tied to a skiff who washed up on the shore of an island, and was taken in as a daughter by Osh. The relationship between him and Crow, and Miss Maggie, another main character of the story, is one that we rarely get to see in novels. But this book not only focuses on the family dynamics of these three, it also deals with discrimination and fear of the other, since a major part of the plotline is focused on a specific part of our own history. The story is set in the 1920s, and it revolves around the story of Penikese, an isolated island where people who had leprosy were taken to and forced to remain there until they died. Lauren Wolk uses a part of actual history to speak about issues that are still relevant today, like prejudice against someone who might be different in the eyes of a stranger. This novel is well-paced, filled with mystery at every turn of the page, yet for me, I think it was the characters that stood out, more than the whole mysterious treasure island plotline. This story is mainly Crow's story, her journey to figure out her own identity, where she came from, who were her parents, and who she is. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fast read, with well rounded characters, and a touch of adventure.
I absolutely loved this book. Wolk's narrative wraps the reader in a warm blanket, making the reader feel comfortable and loved, just like Osh does for Crow. She creates a real, yet slightly fictionalized world for Crow that deals with true, unfortunate history in a believable way. I, as a reader, desperately wanted to know more about Osh and his backstory yet Wolk honors Osh and his desire to start again from whatever tragedy once befell him, the reason he ends up on the Elizabeths to begin with. I highly recommend this book.
