A Crack in the Sea, H. M. Bouwman
A Crack in the Sea, H. M. Bouwman
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A Crack in the Sea

Author: H. M. Bouwman

Narrator: Bahni Turpin, H. M. Bouwman

Unabridged: 9 hr 45 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/03/2017


Synopsis

An enchanting historical fantasy adventure perfect for fans of Thanhha Lai's Newbery Honor-winning Inside Out and Back Again
 
No one comes to the Second World on purpose. The doorway between worlds opens only when least expected. The Raft King is desperate to change that by finding the doorway that will finally take him and the people of Raftworld back home. To do it, he needs Pip, a young boy with an incredible gift—he can speak to fish; and the Raft King is not above kidnapping to get what he wants. Pip’s sister Kinchen, though, is determined to rescue her brother and foil the Raft King’s plans.
 
This is but the first of three extraordinary stories that collide on the high seas of the Second World. The second story takes us back to the beginning: Venus and Swimmer are twins captured aboard a slave ship bound for Jamaica in 1781. They save themselves and others from a life of enslavement with a risky, magical plan—one that leads them from the shark-infested waters of the first world to the second. Pip and Kinchen will hear all about them before their own story is said and done. So will Thanh and his sister Sang, who we meet in 1978 on a small boat as they try to escape post-war Vietnam. But after a storm and a pirate attack, they’re not sure they’ll ever see shore again. What brings these three sets of siblings together on an adventure of a lifetime is a little magic, helpful sea monsters and that very special portal, A Crack in the Sea.

About The Author

H.M. Bouwman is the author of The Remarkable & Very True Story of Lucy & Snowcap (Marshall Cavendish, 2008). An associate professor of English at the University of St. Thomas, she lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with her two sons. A Crack in the Sea is her second novel.Yuko Shimizu is a Japanese illustrator based in New York City and an instructor at the School of Visual Arts. In 2009, Newsweek Japan chose Yuko as one of the “100 Japanese People the World Respects.” Yuko is the illustrator of the picture book Barbed Wire Baseball, and her work can also be seen on Gap T-shirts, Pepsi cans, Visa billboards, and Microsoft and Target ads, as well as on numerous book covers and in the pages of The New York Times, Time, Rolling Stone, The New Yorker and many others.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Melanie

A CRACK IN THE SEA is a completely original, eye-opening, and gorgeously rendered middle grade fantasy. The roots of this novel thread real historical events together with the stories of three fictional families who are each searching for home. We are first introduced to Kinchen and Pip, both Islande......more

Goodreads review by Melanie

This was such an incredible and original story. Perfect for middle school and up. The story begins in the second world. Pip is a young boy with a gift for being able to talk to fish. Kinchen is his older sister. When Pip is kidnapped by the Raft King, Kinchen along with another young girl begin a se......more

Goodreads review by Carrie

This story itself is right up my alley, it being a blend of historical fiction and fantasy. I thought it had a lot of interesting and unique elements and one plot answer that I absolutely should have seen coming, but didn't. Bouwman's main idea is to present a story involving the slave ships of the 1......more

Goodreads review by mich

it was so good that i loved it so much. it covered a large topic that most of us usually ignore, and it also contained real life events and historical things. it made me feel like i had a chance, a feeling of comfort. i would give it 10000000 stars. the characters and plots was so good.......more


Quotes

Praise for A Crack in the Sea:

Winter 2016-2017 Kids’ Indie Next Pick 
A Midwest Connections Pick for January 2017
A Maine Student Book Award 2018-2019 Reading List Pick for Grades 4-6 and 4-8
A Sunshine State Young Readers Award Book 2018-2019 List Pick for Grades 6-8


★ “Through the captivating interwoven tales of these three sibling pairs—and with assistance from Shimizu’s powerful ink illustrations—Bouwman crafts a moving narrative about family, magic, morality, the power of storytelling, and the cyclical nature of history.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“This novel touches on sensitive and tragic moments in history and gives them fantastical remediation for a provocative, immersive read.”—Kirkus Reviews 

“Fans of Grace Lin will love this wholly original book that reads like a fairy tale. A moving and thought-provoking choice for library collections.”School Library Journal

“A Crack in the Sea
is a moving work of conscience and a numinously magical journey. Trust this book.”—William Alexander, National Book Award–winning author of Goblin Secrets“Bouwman weaves together these stories of freedom and escape with a deep sense of respect and emotion, bringing the reader directly into each family’s search for a safety that transcends both time and space.”—Booklist 

 “Bouwman ably weaves these threads together into a curious, haunting whole that references oppression, family, magic, and a human desperation for safety that transcends time and place. . . . Detailed black and white illustrations invite contemplation and work well to highlight key moments in the novel, adding artistic flair to the already lyrical story.”—BCCB 

“Fantasy fans will be drawn into this story and find it hard to put down.”—School Library Connection 

“[C]onstantly engaging and enlightening.”—BookPage

[T]his book will captivate readers who like their fantasy spiced with real-life drama.”—Common Sense Media

This complex, compelling, and thoughtful novel begins in 1978 on Tathenn, a fantastical island world. . . . Bouwman has done her research well . . . keeping her young characters’ journeys—physical and emotional—front and center. Their tenderness, fierceness, bravery, thoughtfulness, and goodness highlight themes of family, leadership, and telling of history. . . . Shimizu’s vivid interspersed black-and-white illustrations . . . add to the drama of the storytelling in this original and engrossing book.”—The Horn Book