Recommended Ages: Gr. 4-7

Plot Summary: Bex and her brother are inseparable. Bex speaks for Davey because he's suddenly become mute. They go everywhere together, and they especially love taking the little rowboat out to the Thumb, where they climb the oak tree and enjoy the peace and quiet of nature. But then one day Bex discovered a hand sticking out of the water. It turns out it's a statue that's been underwater for a while. Bex convinces Davey that this should be their mystery to solve. Every day she explores and investigates, trying to figure it out. They want to figure it out quickly, because while out at the thumb, they meet some developers who are working on a plan to build a bridge right through the area to finally connect the mainland to the island. When a parent gives a clue that there is probably a nod to the artist, Bex works harder to solve the mystery while Davey peers at her worriedly from the tree. With an idea of a possible clue, they write to the local art museum to find out if the symbol they found may lead to an artist. Will they ever figure out who created this statue and why it is buried underwater?

Setting: possibly one of the Carolinas?

Characters:
Bex - incoming 7th grader, aspiring writer with major writer's block
Davey - 9 yo, Bex's little brother, loves to read, makes Bex think, super smart, only eats the yellow M&M's and carries them in a jar in his red backpack
Mom - a researcher who came to the area for research but fell in love and hasn't left, became a science teacher but loves doing research during the summer
Dad - born and raised on the island, works on the ferry boat, loves spending time with his kids who will frequently visit him on the boat
Millie Ochoa-Chen - Bex's former friend but now Bex avoids her
Mrs. Ochoa - Millie's grandma, runs a shop on the island, next door neighbor

Recurring Themes: siblings, island life, mystery, development, friendship, independence, boating, drought, death

Controversial Issues: none

Personal Thoughts: This book is about the relationship between siblings. Bex practically idolizes her brother and the surprise ending will help the reader understand why. It is well written but a little slow up until the big reveal. This book is based on some true things from the author's life. Bex is given a lot of independence which seems plausible for a small town.

Genre: realistic fiction

Pacing: slow
Characters: well-developed
Frame:
Storyline:

Activity: ( )

When Sea Becomes Sky by Gillian McDunn is a beautiful book. It is narrated by Bez, an eleven-year-old girl. Bez and her family live on Pelican Island in the Carolina salt marshes. This summer is different than most because it has not rained for nearly a year. The drought doesn’t spoil summer for Bez and her nine-year-old brother Davey. They spend all their days at the Thumb, where the island curves toward the mainland. Their special place is quiet and serene; there are no other people there. There is a large oak tree where they each have a special branch to laze on, Davey reading and Bez trying to get over her writer’s block. The marsh is full of life: terrapins, fiddler crabs, mussels, and a playful pair of otters, which they have named Fritz and Opal, after cartoon characters. “Life was softer there, the edges gently blurred.”

Bez and Davey discover an underwater statue as the drought lowers the water level day by day. This begins an adventure of attempting to find out who made the statue and why it is under the water of the marsh. They are more determined in this hunt when development threatens both the statue and their special place. The book is about so much more than this, however. It is about the love between these siblings and dealing with life’s vagaries, and ultimately about dealing with hurt and loss. Ms. McDunn’s prose is simple and moves along smoothly. She is a master at showing the reader the surroundings and the inner lives of her characters. I felt the beauty and tranquility of Pelican island. Bez and Davey became genuine and I cared about them. This is a wonderful book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Children’s Books for the ARC of this book. ( )