Beyond the Bright Sea

By: Lauren Wolk

Narrated by: Jorjeana Marie, Lauren Wolk

Winner of the 2018 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction

From the best-selling author of Echo Mountain and Newbery Honor-winner Wolf Hollow, Beyond the Bright Sea is an acclaimed best book of the year.

An NPR Best Book of the Year

• A Parents Magazine Best Book of the Year
• A Booklist Editors' Choice selection
• A BookPage Best Book of the Year
• A Horn Book Fanfare Selection
• A Kirkus Best Book of the Year
• A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
• A Charlotte Observer Best Book of the Year
• A Southern Living Best Book of the Year
• A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year

“The sight of a campfire on a distant island...proves the catalyst for a series of discoveries and events - some poignant, some frightening - that Ms. Wolk unfolds with uncommon grace.” (The Wall Street Journal)

“Crow is a determined and dynamic heroine.” (Publishers Weekly)

“Beautiful, evocative.” (Kirkus)

The moving story of an orphan, determined to know her own history, who discovers the true meaning of family.

Twelve-year-old Crow has lived her entire life on a tiny, isolated piece of the starkly beautiful Elizabeth Islands in Massachusetts. Abandoned and set adrift in a small boat when she was just hours old, Crow’s only companions are Osh, the man who rescued and raised her, and Miss Maggie, their fierce and affectionate neighbor across the sandbar.

Crow has always been curious about the world around her, but it isn’t until the night a mysterious fire appears across the water that the unspoken question of her own history forms in her heart. Soon, an unstoppable chain of events is triggered, leading Crow down a path of discovery and danger.

Vivid and heart-wrenching, Lauren Wolk’s Beyond the Bright Sea is a gorgeously crafted and tensely paced tale that explores questions of identity, belonging, and the true meaning of family.

©2017 Lauren Wolk (P)2017 Listening Library

Critic reviews

"Narrator Jorjeana Marie expresses all the youthful longing of 12-year-old Crow.... Overall, Marie melds conflict and tenderness beautifully in this tale of family and belonging." (AudioFile)

“Be warned, once you pick up Beyond the Bright Sea, you won’t be able to put it down...Lauren Wolk's writing is at once lyrical and fraught with danger and suspense, as Crow follows her instincts to hunt down a past that has eluded her and face an unknown future.” (NPR’s Best Books of the Year)

“The sight of a campfire on a distant island…proves the catalyst for a series of discoveries and events - some poignant, some frightening - that Ms. Wolk unfolds with uncommon grace.” (The Wall Street Journal)

Narrator outstanding for this beautiful book

Although a story must grab me from the start, the narrator for audio books makes all the difference.
I listened to this while my grandchildren were reading it for their book of the month - chosen by their mother who home schools. We FaceTime and discuss the book at the end.
I love historical fiction and this did not disappoint....and I couldn’t believe it when Carville, LA was talked about. As a teenager in the sixties I read ‘Miracle at Carville’ by Betty Martin.....a book that I never forgot that is about a young girl that was diagnosed with leprosy at 19.
Crow, Osh, and Maggie will long be remembered.

Good story and narrator

I listened to this book based on a recommendation from my 10 year old granddaughter and I was not disappointed. The story of 12 year old Crow searching for her biological family, dealing with the prejudice of others and her developing appreciation for the simple things in her 1920’s Cape Cod island life and the people that cared for her since just after she was born is heartwarming. Narrator was believable and easy to listen

Beautifully Performed

this touching historical novel with winsome characters is beautifully performed. reader is immersed in the island life of an orphaned child and the tension between her heartfelt desire to know about her birth parents and the love she has for her adoptive father.

beautiful story beautifully told

this book is a new found family favorite. crowd, osh, and miss Maggie will forever be part of our family. thank you for this book.

WOW

This is the best book I have ever read. It has such a good storyline and plot that just makes the story 100 million times better. Lauren Wolk you are amazing.

A gripping tale!

This was a gripping story with well developed characters and a fast paced plot. It demonstrated clearly the development of resilience and insight in youth, the benefits of solitude and the definition of family.
I recommend it for family story time and youth book clubs as well as the adult reader.

Poignant, vivid, beautiful.

Simple yet beautiful prose. Realistic characters with tangible emotions. I genuinely loved this book, and will recommend it to my 6-8 grade students.

One of my favorite books!!!!

I agree with all the positive reviews this was amazing! So much emotion I even cried I little bit.I recommend this book to everyone I hope you enjoy/enjoyed
It as much as I dod!!!!!

Beautiful

This book, written by Lauren Wolk, is beautiful and heart wrenching. The book is marketed to kids, but excellent for any age. An instant classic.

Beautiful

The production sounds beautiful and it’s a heartwarming story of found family with a heartbreaking story of illness and loss at it’s foundation.