Common Sense Media Review
By Kate Pavao
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Tender summer tale is 3rd in saga of Jewish girl in WWII.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In DEEP SEA, 15-year-old Stephie is about to finish primary school. Her parents are in a concentration camp, and she splits her time between boarding with a big, struggling but loving family in town and spending some weekends on the island where her Swedish foster parents and little sister live. When she returns to the island for the summer, things aren't perfect, despite a rather idyllic setting: She must study so she can pass exams that allow her to continue her education; a friend gets pregnant; her little sister is acting wild and hateful; and she worries about her parents, whose situation continues to worsen. Through it all, Stephie must learn to grow up and speak up for the things she wants, although she know that things might not work out exactly as she wants them to.
Is It Any Good?
Even readers who have not read the other two installments in this compelling series will have no trouble following Stephie's story here. Author Annika Thor mixes in details many teens face growing up -- fighting with siblings, helping friends through tough situations, figuring out how to pay for school -- with Stephie's stressful family situation, being separated from her parents during the Holocaust.
Readers will definitely learn a lot about what it was like to be a Jewish child refugee during World War II, but they also will find a tender coming-of-age story and a strong, smart, loving protagonist who's easy to root for.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the historical elements in Deep Sea. What do you know about what happened to Jewish children in Europe when the Nazis were in power?
Why do you think the author chose to call this book Deep Sea? How does the setting reflect Stephie's story?
Did you know that this is the third book in a series that began with A Faraway Island? Why do you think the author continues to return to these characters?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Historical Fiction
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , History
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Random House Children's Books
- Publication date : December 30, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 240
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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