Common Sense Note
Some minor issues raised, such as the value of organization, but the main topic is the literary style: told in dual journals, gradually revealing the important backstory in hints and snippets, leaving loose ends, it's an unusual way to tell a story.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Matt Berman
Lyrically told in alternating journal entries by Sophie and Cody, the exciting sailing adventure is merely the roiling surface of the sea of their lives. Underneath is the story of Bompie's life, revealed in a series of stories that Sophie tells the crew, and Sophie's life, which is not the way she portrays it in her journal. Through hints and snippets in Cody's journal the reader gradually comes to understand the reality of her past, from which Sophie is hiding.
All of these stylistic techniques will make this especially fascinating to some experienced readers while it will confuse others. Children who are fascinated by sailing will also be drawn in, and those who have the patience to wait for the gradual unfolding of the truth will be intrigued. The Wanderer has become a favorite choice for reading groups and literature circles because of its complexity, but for that same reason it should not be forced on kids who are not ready for it.
From the Book:
The sea, the sea, the sea. It rolled and rolled and called to me. Come in, it said, come in.
And in I went, floating, rolling, splashing, swimming, and the sea called, Come out, come out, and further I went but always it swept me back to shore.
And still the sea called, Come out, come out, and in boats I went -- in rowboats and dinghies and motorboats, and after I learned to sail, I flew over the water, with only the sounds of the wind and the water and the birds, all of them calling, Sail on, sail on.
And what I wanted to do was go on and on, across the sea, alone with the water and the wind and the birds, but some said I was too young and the sea was a dangerous temptress, and at night I dreamed a terrible dream. A wall of water, towering, black, crept up behind me and hovered over me and then down, down it came, but always I awoke before the water covered me, and always I felt as if I were floating when I woke up.
Plot Summary:
Sophie is excited to be sailing a 45-foot twin-masted schooner across the Atlantic to see her grandfather, Bompie, in England. Sailing with her are three uncles and two cousins. Uncle Dock is pursuing a lost love, Uncle Stew and his son Brian are obsessively organized and bossy, and Uncle Mo likes to criticize his son Cody, who enjoys driving him crazy in return.
In the first third of the book this motley crew works on getting the rather decrepit old boat ready for the voyage, and then making a shakedown cruise from Connecticut to Nova Scotia, with stops along the way. Then they head out into the open sea, where they encounter whales, dolphins, and a huge storm that nearly wrecks the boat.
Related Books:
Other Books by Sharon Creech
Chasing Redbird
Bloomability
Ruby Holler
Love That Dog
Sailing
Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling
The Voyage of the Frog by Gary Paulsen
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome
Midget by Tim Bowler
| Content | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS | adults | kids | ||
Sexual Content |
 |
|
|
|
ViolenceThe violence of nature beats the crew up pretty well -- several injuries. |
|
|
 |
|
Language |
|
|
|
|
Message |
|
|
|
|
Social Behavior |
 |
 |
|
|
Commercialism |
|
|
|
|
Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco |
|
|
|
|
