I read this book on my slow but sure quest to read the Newbery winners. There were parts of the book that made me say, "Wow - they classified this as a CHILDREN'S book?" Maybe some of the things that made me cringe would go over a young person's head, but I'm not entirely convinced. Having said that, the book was a good read, and found the way things wrapped up very satisfying. ( )

57 minutes
During the early days of World War II, on a small island in Chesapeake Bay, twins sisters have a rivalry like brothers Esau and Jacob from the Bible. Caroline, the younger twin, is the family's favorite and the most popular girl in town. She is blonde, beautiful, and has real musical talent, blessed with an angel's voice, but she is entitled. Louise, the plain and hardworking older sister, is resentful from years of being ignored and passed over. Thoughts of escaping the small island drive Louise to try and work her way out, but the arrival of an embittered old ship captain prompts her to stay and seek the gift that is truly hers.

Book about sisters. Interesting story. I liked the persistence of the one sister even though she was a bit whiny. ( )

Now that I finished the book, I can't say I particularly liked the main characters or the plot. Also the pacing skipped around timeline-wise sometimes, especially at the end, when things happened but as a sidenote that made them feel so much more distanced than I would have liked. But the writing was so well researched, so detailed in the world building, so compelling that I couldn't help but be drawn in and actively want to continue reading. ( )

I really enjoyed reading this. I live in Maryland and I know of a couple of islands in the Bay like the island Louise lives on. Although this book takes place in the 1930s, many of the same issues of isolation and rising waters plague these communities today. Louise may have been annoying at times, but as a mother of teenagers I found her portrayal very realistic. Especially how she never tells anyone what she wants/needs but then is resentful that she doesn't get it. Overall, it was an interesting read that let me peak in on a way of life that is quickly becoming extinct. ( )