Samantha M. Clark

With hints of dark shadows, dangerous secrets, adventure and hope, this is a beautiful tale which places a boy against his deepest fears.

A boy is born on the beach. Probably not born but finding himself there with no memory of anything else is as if he was embarking on the world for his first time. All he knows are the fears surrounding him—in the forest and in the water. Only on the beach is he safe...and not even there. When a mysterious light flashes a few times and disappears, he grabs show more at the hope that his true life and parents exist and simply need to be found. And so his journey begins.

This isn't a normal tale, which becomes clear when reading the first page. The writing opens up to a very mysterious and artistically described world. Nothing is clear, allowing the boy's confusion to seep through while joining his longing to figure out who he is and where he belongs. It touches the heart and draws in, allowing the reader to completely sink into the boy's fears, hopes, dreams and determination.

The writer has excellent control of the middle grade voice. Each sentence fits perfectly to the boy, how he thinks and how he views things. There's a haunting hint of fantasy while reality glides just outside of the attainable distance. The battles the boy faces are vivid and his fears completely understandable. He does the best he can with the knowledge he has, making his thoughts a logical pole even in the chaos. It's a lovely mixture which keeps the tension high as he makes his way across the island and faces monsters which are worth being afraid of.

The end wraps the story up nicely and brings the necessary sense into the entire book. It's at the end when the boy's journey, his fears and his battles truly are understandable and gain a somewhat logical footing. It's an emotional moment, where the artistic side of the rest of the book meets a well grounded point.

This is a wonderfully written book which takes a deep look into fears and describes a touching journey as a boy learns to face them. It is, however, a story which follows a more dreamy direction where the basic foundation itself is the mystery. While the book is a literary gem, I'm not sure many middle grade readers will enjoy it. But when the right ones get their hands on this book, they are in for a real treat.
I received a complimentary copy and found it to be such a lovely read that I wanted to leave my honest thoughts. show less

This is a powerful story using many rich literary devices. It has a lasting resonance, an eldritch tone. I enjoyed the literary analysis more than the actual story, I think.
I also think it would have benefited from some editing, the story being told without as many supporting incidents.
The ending is pretty perfect, though.

Please see my review over on Reading Rumpus: https://www.readingrumpus.com/2018/06/the-boy-boat-and-beast-by-samantha.html