Lauren Wolk

“I began to pull on the loose threads in my life and everything began to unravel, a seam opened up and let in some light, which helped me see my life more clearly, but is also made me want to close my eyes sometimes instead” (13)

Reading Lauren Wolk’s beautiful story, you understand the primal need to know where you come from . . . especially when you don’t. Wolk takes us on Crow’s heart-wrenching search as she finds out who she is and where she came from.

I read this in one sitting show more as I couldn’t put it down. Though the story was set in 1925 on an island off Martha’s Vineyard, the story is timeless and I wasn’t thinking about the era except for when they went off the island. Beyond the Bright Sea will appeal to those well beyond the “young readers” age it was intended for. I think it will hold special poignancy for those whose own lives have been enriched through adoption, and may help others understand the depths a mother will go to, to ensure a better life for her child. show less

Well-written & engaging complex coming-of-age novel that I read in two sittings.

For good readers who won't shy away from truthful ugliness. The inner moral questions are appropriate for all the characters. Aunt Lily is prejudicial and ugly, and like Annabelle, I even wanted to shut her up. I read someone's review that there wasn't redemption for Betty so it's more like an adult novel. Every time she screamed due to the pain from how she was trapped, her lies ingrained themselves deeper so show more she could no longer distinguish between fact & her fiction. (How many people in the news live their lives like this now?) We never find out how she lost her way, but her inner pain allowed her to justify her predatory actions. Annabelle's "trapping" Andy in his lies let him escape from some of his guilt.

As far as this being YA, I don't know many 14 year olds that would read this because of the 11-yr old protagonist acting too young. But it's too gritty for many 9-11. I think it's a great curriculum book where the teacher can help the students work through the historical setting, prejudice, and the corruption of morals. I do agree that it's a younger person's version of To Kill a Mockingbird. show less

Vivid -- in prose, in imagery, in heart, in thoughtfulness, in pain. Love the island setting. Love the way this book helps us to understand that art makes you feel. Love the characters. Love the deep exploration of privilege and the ways we can live gracefully within whatever level of privilege we have and extend grace to others. I come back to Lucretia again and again -- the way she sees sounds, the instinctual kindness and care for creatures. And I love the struggle that is friendship. show more Beautiful.

Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss. show less

After her father dies, Lucretia and her mother move to a small island off the coast of Maine. They hope to find privacy, but are instead caught up in a contentious feud between the summer people and the year-round residents. Lucretia forms a cautious friendship with Bastian, a local boy, but she gets on the wrong side of three privileged summer kids. And then there's Murdock, a prickly girl Lucretia's age, who could be a friend if she can get over her own past hurts. It will be a summer of show more growth and change for all of them.

Lauren Wolk's writing is always excellent, and this book is no exception. It's set in that nebulous pre-cellphone near past (70's? 80's? early 90's?) and has a timeless feel. I did think it a bit unrealistic that the only two friends Lucretia makes are prodigies like herself (are there no other kids on this island?), and the bad kids are unrelentingly bad, but then again, this might not be the time or place to give spoiled rich brats a lot of nuance. This is a book for a thoughtful and mature young reader, one that adults will also appreciate. show less