Book Review - Beyond the Bright Sea



1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Wolk, Lauren. (2018). BEYOND THE BRIGHT SEA. Puffin Books. ISBN:
9781101994870

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Crow is an orphan found and raised by Osh and Maggie on a tiny island. As she grows
up, she wonders where she came from and who her parents were. With Osh and
Maggie’s help, this starts her on a journey of discovery and learning where she belongs.
A greedy thief antagonizes them throughout the journey, but they ultimately triumph, and
though some mysteries are left unsolved, Crow accepts the loss of the life she could
have had and strengthens her bond with her adoptive father Osh.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Set in the 1920s, the story focuses on the life of a twelve year old orphaned girl. Though
race is not explicitly mentioned, the author gives enough hints to the reader that the
characters are all different. With Osh’s “sing songy language” and accent, and then
Crow’s skin that was “like Osh’s after six months in the sun". She notes their differences
to plant the seed of curiosity which becomes the main focus of the book; where did Crow
come from?

The author is able to navigate the fluctuating feelings of all the people involved with each
question answered and each new mystery that emerges. For example, when Crow’s real
name is revealed it hurts Osh who had given her the name Crow. However, they are able
to communicate and strengthen their bond by talking about their feelings. This isn’t the
only occurrence of navigating new and difficult emotions but is done well throughout its
entirety, allowing the reader to see and possibly relate all the sadness, anger, and
confusion.

Overall, the story encapsulated found families well, making the story relatable to anyone
who might not have their birth parents involved in their life. Even though Crow never did
find her brother in this story, the story still satiates the reader’s curiosity and leaves them
to wonder about Crow’s next adventure.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

SCOTT O’DELL AWARD
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
KIRKUS STAR REVIEW: “But the mysteries—and the words that describe them—are
compelling enough to send readers to the islands for years to come.”
BOOKLIST STAR REVIEW: “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.”

5. CONNECTIONS

*Relatable to anyone who might not have their birth parents in their life.
*Readers could write about whether or not they think Crow should continue searching for
her brother or be accepting of who she has in her life.
*Other novels by Lauren Wolk:
WOLF HOLLOW ISBN: 978-1101994832
ECHO MOUNTAIN ISBN: 978-0525555575

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