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mbrandmaier's review against another edition
4.0
Crow has always only known Osh and Maggie. She knows that she was found crying in a skiff, only hours old. And she knows that many of the other islanders avoid her, refusing to allow the chance that she might actually touch them.
Crow starts on a journey to discover her past, as well as to learn the meaning of what real family is.
Crow starts on a journey to discover her past, as well as to learn the meaning of what real family is.
amelia_herring's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book. It's the story of Crow, who washed ashore on a nearly-uninhabited island in Buzzard's Bay and was adopted and raised by a gruff hermit named Osh. As Crow gets older, she begins to wonder about where she came from, and why she was sent away as a brand new baby. There's some real action and adventure, lovely family moments, and beautiful descriptions of the Elizabeth Islands.
sunflowerjess's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Beautiful, precious gem of a book. This story is about family, lost and found. About living in harmony with oneself, neighbors, and the earth. About what it's possible to forget and what's important to remember. This is my first book by Lauren Wolk and I finally understand what all the hype is about - I can't wait to read more of her work.
sarahbowling6608's review against another edition
3.0
Well written. I didn’t love it as much as Echo Mountain, but I still enjoyed it.
CC: infant abandonment, violence, the emotions that come with adoption/not knowing your biological family, mistreatment due to ignorance/fear
CC: infant abandonment, violence, the emotions that come with adoption/not knowing your biological family, mistreatment due to ignorance/fear
nickeyrc's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
hamckeon's review against another edition
4.0
Wolk writes such interesting books. I was pulled into the mystery of where Crow came from and was fascinated by the leprosy island in the early 1900s. I feel this is definitely a piece of American history most of my students may not know.
lchamberlin97's review against another edition
4.0
What a delightful little children's book! (I am constantly reminded that children's books are better than teen books.)
Wolk doesn't try to over-complicate things, but you still get a nice flavor of things. There are interesting personalities abound and a pleasant progression through the plot so that it's not too predictable but not too obnoxiously twisted. I really like what she does with Crow - I feel like she still has a child's voice, a child's innocence, a child's hope...but she's pretty mature, too. I'm also really fascinated by the setting. That's actually one of the best parts of this book: the Elizabethan islands ARE the plot, but they also are (apparently) reasonably historically accurate (Wolk said so in a little historical note). Everything from the leper colony to the fires to the bird sanctuary to the rumor that there's treasure buried there. Cool.
And I also have to think of it from a child's perspective. I remember in reading books like Second Hand Lions and East and the Ravenmaster's Secret and Star of Kazan - I put this book on par with them, from what I remember. It's a great example of what a kid that age should be reading: just the perfect amount of "children's". And then, a great example of what you can read as a (semi) adult and still find enjoyable.
Wolk doesn't try to over-complicate things, but you still get a nice flavor of things. There are interesting personalities abound and a pleasant progression through the plot so that it's not too predictable but not too obnoxiously twisted. I really like what she does with Crow - I feel like she still has a child's voice, a child's innocence, a child's hope...but she's pretty mature, too. I'm also really fascinated by the setting. That's actually one of the best parts of this book: the Elizabethan islands ARE the plot, but they also are (apparently) reasonably historically accurate (Wolk said so in a little historical note). Everything from the leper colony to the fires to the bird sanctuary to the rumor that there's treasure buried there. Cool.
And I also have to think of it from a child's perspective. I remember in reading books like Second Hand Lions and East and the Ravenmaster's Secret and Star of Kazan - I put this book on par with them, from what I remember. It's a great example of what a kid that age should be reading: just the perfect amount of "children's". And then, a great example of what you can read as a (semi) adult and still find enjoyable.
lizzzzzzygrl's review against another edition
4.0
Lovely middle grade adventure. It had me hooked! I loved learning about crows life by the sea.
ljesica's review against another edition
4.0
This one is sweet. It's kind of a parable for appreciating what you have, but is also a pretty scary adventure for a kid's book.
Set in the late 1920's on a small group of islands off the coast of Massachusetts. this book focuses on Crow, Osh and Miss Maggie. When she was just hours old, Crow washed up to Osh's island in a battered old dinghy. He took her in and kept her as his own. With the help of Miss Maggie, she has grown in to a lovely young 12 year old girl. But aside from her adoptive family, Crow is kept at arms' length by the rest of the islanders, because while noone knows where she came from, it could be from the leper colony across the way.
Crow decides that while she loves Osh, she wants to know about her "real" family. And throughout the book, she learns that her real family is maybe the one that's always been there.
Set in the late 1920's on a small group of islands off the coast of Massachusetts. this book focuses on Crow, Osh and Miss Maggie. When she was just hours old, Crow washed up to Osh's island in a battered old dinghy. He took her in and kept her as his own. With the help of Miss Maggie, she has grown in to a lovely young 12 year old girl. But aside from her adoptive family, Crow is kept at arms' length by the rest of the islanders, because while noone knows where she came from, it could be from the leper colony across the way.
Crow decides that while she loves Osh, she wants to know about her "real" family. And throughout the book, she learns that her real family is maybe the one that's always been there.