Family movie night? There's an app for that
Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.
Hannah: Daughters of the Sea
By Debra Bogart,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Rather innocent gothic romance with a fantastic twist.
Add your rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
When Hannah leaves the orphanage at the age of 15, her first placement via the Orphan Train to Kansas is a disaster. A physical deterioration strikes that necessitates her return to New England where she becomes a scullery maid. A mysterious and tantalizing portrait painter, an obsession with the sea, and a magical transformation help Hannah become her true self.
Is It Any Good?
This metaphoric coming-of-age tale reels the reader in with a likeable heroine who is smart, hardworking, self-reliant, self-aware, and yet innocent and naïve. A new twist on fantasy by an adept author provides readers a great introduction to gothic romance. Is the eldest daughter of the household truly mad, or simply spoiled and manipulative? Who is the mysterious young painter who compels in Hannah forbidden desires? These mysteries and the requisite foreboding carry the reader along swimmingly.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the societal expectations for young women in the year 1900. How are they vastly different?
Were there positive aspects to being a maid rather than being forced into the role a rich young woman had to play?
How might such a “madness” be treated in today’s world?
Book Details
- Author: Kathryn Lasky
- Genre: Fantasy
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
- Publication date: September 1, 2009
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 17
- Number of pages: 176
- Last updated: March 4, 2020
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Romantic Comedies
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate