A review by hickorynut
Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk

hopeful mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.25

A beautiful story full of found family and exploration of one's past and present. Crow was found as an infant, washed ashore alone in an old skiff. Osh is her caretaker and father figure, a quiet reserved man with a past he doesn't like to dwell on. Miss Maggie is their neighbor and Crow's mother figure, taking care of both her and Osh in many ways. This follows Crow's journey as she seeks to understand where she comes from and who her family is, as well as a secondary plot of treasure hunting and a dangerous thief.

Overall this was a warm hug of found family vibes. I did find that it was fairly predictable and the foreshadowing was pretty easy to identify. But it was still an intriguing tale and journey to follow.

Crow learns that her parents died while patients living at Penikese, a nearby remote island formerly dedicated to housing leprosy patients. The discussions of those patients and their trials was considerate and nuanced and showed the research the author had done, adding realistic elements of abelism for the time balanced with empathy from the main characters.