This is a cute YA mystery, I’m going to have my daughter read it. I enjoyed the cute family of Osh, Crow and Ms. Magie.

another battle of the books book that almost put me in a slump

Beyond the Bright Sea tells the story of Crow who was mysteriously sent on a skiff to an island on the Elizabeths shortly after her birth. It was there where Osh found her and took her in as his own. Ms. Maggie, the friendly neighbor, supported Crow growing up as well. No one wants to touch Crow in fears that she is a survivor of a leper colony off the nearby island of Penikese. On enlightened Crow sees a fire on the nearby island and it sparks her interest to figure out the mystery of where she came from but this adventure soon unfurls into a series of events and a load of trouble no one saw coming.

This book is an excellent example of the way windswept shores make a broody, atmospheric setting (Hannah Kent's Burial Rites also comes to mind). The story is set in the Elizabeth Islands, a group of wild, rocky, sparsely populated islands off the coast of Massachusetts (the location itself conjures up images of hardship and tough people already). While the location plays an important part in the story, the story's narrow focus on the lives of only three main characters gives it a timeless, almost fable-like quality at the same time. (It was set in the 1920s but there were very few time-clues).

This story is rich and dense in a good way. The central story - with themes of identity, belonging, and what makes a family - is enough to fill a middle-grade novel on its own; but just when you expect the story to be resolved, the author lobbs in additional acrs full of mystery, danger, and history. These twists and turns will hold your attention right to the end. Even the author's notes make a terrific read.

beautiful writing. fell in love with the main characters, but knocked down to 4 stars (still great!) because I felt there was still something left unresolved concerning the villain of the story.

I loved Lauren Wolk after I read Wolf Hollow and she doesn't disappoint here either. I did give the book 4 stars for a bit of a slow and repetitive beginning. When presenting this to students I will definitely keep that in mind and read the beginning aloud with information about the book.

Crow arrived on the Elizabeth Islands when she was just a baby and ever since Osh and Miss Maggie have taken care of her, with no hesitation. Problem is, everyone else on the island thinks she is from the island of the lepers and won't come near her. Now Crow is old enough that she has some questions about who she really is and where she came from. When she starts searching for answers, she gets much more than she bargained for, but does she find what she's looking for?

Read-alikes:
Wolf Hollow
Free Verse
Three Times Lucky
Touch Blue

Questions to ask students:
Why is does Crow's cat have the name Mouse? That's the sound he makes
What is Crow's real name? Morgan
What item does Osh give Crow that he's been holding since she arrived on the island? A Ruby ring
Where is the treasure found? In the grave marker for baby Morgan
Who does Crow think the man on the ship is? Her brother, Jason
Where does Crow hide the treasure? In a lobster trap, in a Crow's nest, and in a coffee tin

I loved this book and found it to be so much more enjoyable and hopeful than Wolf Hollow.

Falling in the genre of children’s fiction is a misnomer for Beyond the Bright Sea. While completely accessible for young folks, the novel is just as sophisticated as many novels intended for adults. Cast with beautiful, complex characters in quaint 1920s New England, the book follows the mystery of protagonist Crow’s past. No spoilers here, but the book is lovely from beginning to end.