Really cute book about a girl who washes up on an island in a boat as a baby. Her father, Osh, is a sweetheart and a good male role model. It’s giving Pictures of Hollis Woods.

This book was subtle but beautiful. The writing is very good, and although I have seen reviews that suggest this might be more of a kids book for grown-ups than for kids, as a grown-up, it got me.
I loved the relationships between the adoptive father and the daughter and the local friend. This was a very place centered book, and I liked feeling like I was visiting a timeless feeling Massachusetts islands. ( )

Another winner from Lauren Wolk.

I definitely see how the main characters in Wolf Hollow correlate to the main characters in this. You have the bully, the hermit, the wise woman, and the precocious young heroine. But I don't think this is a repeat of Wolf Hollow at all. The setting, the plot, and the themes are substantially different. Sure, Wolk seems to be very interested in writing about men who have given up on society, especially the connection these isolated (by choice) men might find with a child who can draw them back in a bit. And, sure, both stories have a ruthless villain driving the plot. But I think the similarities end there.

This book surprised me in a lot of ways. I thought Crow was a boy until page 25 or so. I thought certain details about the characters would be revealed, but they never were, and I realized I didn't really need to know (e.g. Osh's and Crow's parents' origins). I thought the plot would hinge on finding treasure, but it really hinges on what happens after the treasure. It's not really about finding the treasure or discovering certain facts about the characters. It's about the impact these things have on a person. I was struck by how, at the end of the book, Crow and Osh and their life seem pretty unchanged. But, of course, they have both changed in important ways. Finding out about her biological parents has changed the way Crow sees Osh. That last line of the book killed me. "Osh means father." My heart swelled!

I was so into this book that I actually bought a copy when I couldn't finish my library copy in time (it was a library ebook, so it cruelly disappeared from my reader when the due date came). I work in a public library every day, so I don't spend a lot of money on books. But this was worth it. ( )

This was a truly beautiful story.

I don't usually read a lot of children's or teen fiction, but lately I've kind of been on a kick. Part of me wants to show myself that not all fiction written for kids lately is demonic indoctrination as I often hear, left and right, from some conservative sources.

Beyond the Bright Sea is simply the story of a confident and wise young girl who is looking for information on her birth parents. Crow was adopted as an infant and, as a young teen, discovers clues about her origins. She begins a search for information, rather than identity, and that's what makes this story so sweet. She already knows who she is and what she finds out further cements her good character, rather than changing it. With a little adventure and a little perilous action thrown in, this is the perfect story for my middle grade kids. ( )

I love Crow, she is adventurous, hard working, inquisitive, and caring. I love the relationship she has with Osh and Miss Maggie and I love that Crow realizes that she may have been a part of the problem in the relationship she has with the towns people. I am hoping that someday there will be a second book or a novella where Crow gets to find her brother and they get to have a heartfelt conversation about being children from a leper colony. I love that Osh is so caring and understanding and speaks from his heart when Crow hurts his feelings.

Overall, this was thoroughly enjoyable middle grade novel and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for historical fiction for young readers. ( )