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villyidol's review against another edition
4.0
I got quite the nice haul of books for my birthday. :D
And since this one here can easily be read in half an hour and the weather doesn’t comply with my wishes today, I thought, yeah, let’s take a dive into the sea.
So, this is what the dust jacket says:
Sounds like a nice present to get from your mother, doesn’t it?
It’s the story of a little girl that, like her grandmother, wants to become a haenyeo. Haenyeo are Korean women that dive off the coast of Jeju Island and make a living by hunting for octopuses, sea cucumbers, abalone, seaweed, turban snails, sea urchins, etc. They have a strong community and long-lasting tradition – and a pretty hard job. Their bodies somewhat adapted to a life spent in huge parts in the sea. They dive up to 65 feet deep and can hold their breath for up to three or four minutes. It was interesting to read up on them.
While Dayeon sees her grandmother as some kind of mermaid and wishes to be able to do the things she does, she also has had a bad experience with the sea and this story is about overcoming her fears, which her granny ultimately helps her to do.
It’s a nice story, but I liked the artwork even better.
Jess X. Snow’s drawings have a certain calmness to them but are often also very sweet. They have a sort of understated beauty, that is paired with vibrant coloring. It’s a nice contrast that works beautifully. I think the artwork is gorgeous.
Thank you for that nice present, mom. :)
And since this one here can easily be read in half an hour and the weather doesn’t comply with my wishes today, I thought, yeah, let’s take a dive into the sea.
So, this is what the dust jacket says:
Tina Cho’s The Ocean Calls, with luminous illustrations by muralist Jess X. Snow, is a breathtaking celebration of intergenerational bonds, our connection to our natural world, and finding courage in the face of fear with the help of your family.
Sounds like a nice present to get from your mother, doesn’t it?
It’s the story of a little girl that, like her grandmother, wants to become a haenyeo. Haenyeo are Korean women that dive off the coast of Jeju Island and make a living by hunting for octopuses, sea cucumbers, abalone, seaweed, turban snails, sea urchins, etc. They have a strong community and long-lasting tradition – and a pretty hard job. Their bodies somewhat adapted to a life spent in huge parts in the sea. They dive up to 65 feet deep and can hold their breath for up to three or four minutes. It was interesting to read up on them.
While Dayeon sees her grandmother as some kind of mermaid and wishes to be able to do the things she does, she also has had a bad experience with the sea and this story is about overcoming her fears, which her granny ultimately helps her to do.
It’s a nice story, but I liked the artwork even better.
Jess X. Snow’s drawings have a certain calmness to them but are often also very sweet. They have a sort of understated beauty, that is paired with vibrant coloring. It’s a nice contrast that works beautifully. I think the artwork is gorgeous.
Thank you for that nice present, mom. :)
lairofbooksandboba's review against another edition
5.0
this book literally just arrived today and the art is absolutely d i v i n e and I love learning more about haenyeo always
jellicle's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
antlersantlers's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like this more than I did. The text was pretty clunky (but the quantity was pretty good) and the illustrations were just a little off in a way that I didn't really care for? I loved the colors, but the overall style just isn't for me. I really liked the backmatter with more information from the old women who still do that job!
kiralovesreading's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
chantal550's review against another edition
5.0
Wow this book was incredible. I am blown away by the art. The story is heartwarming and I learned a lot from this. I had never heard of this korean tradition. These female divers are extraordinary women.
toad_maiden's review against another edition
3.0
A beautiful, intergenerational story of tradition, courage, and community.