Member Review
Review by
Cheryl H, Educator
I thoroughly enjoyed diving into this book! It’s not only a romance with a juicy love triangle, but it’s also a well-told story about family relationships, particularly the profound love between parents and children and how those bonds change as children move into adulthood. All the characters feel like real people and the dialogue is dynamite throughout. There were moments that brought me to tears – it was particularly poignant to see how the love between the two brothers evolved over the course of the book.
I thought from the title that there might be a sci-fi angle to the story, but that is not the case. Orca has been brought up in total isolation on a small island where her father is the lighthouse keeper. The “Otherworld” mentioned in the title is the rest of the world, which Orca has never seen. Although she loves the simple life they live on the island, she longs to explore the secrets and treasures of Otherworld. (I was reminded somewhat of The Little Mermaid at times, especially because of the ocean theme of the story.)
The story opens on Orca’s 18th birthday, a milestone she believes will lead to her being able to visit Otherworld because she is now an adult. Her father soon discourages her of that belief. Orca’s father has filled her with stories of the dangers of Otherworld and does not want her to ever visit there. Eventually she does, of course, and it’s so much fun to see 1990s Seattle from her unspoiled point of view. The author has thoughtfully recreated that world with its music, movies, and the overall optimism of a simpler time before 9/11 and without smartphones or social media.
When her father temporarily leaves the island for a few days of training, he leaves Orca in charge of the lighthouse. In his absence, she finds a waterproof survival bag washed up on the shore and inside is a phone and identification for Adam Stevenson. Her curiosity is aroused and she sees that there are many missed calls from “Superman” on the phone. She decides to break her father’s rules about having no interactions with the outside world and calls Superman back. This sets her on a life-changing course that propels her towards her future and a greater understanding of her past.
No book is perfect, but my complaints are minor. A couple of points in the beginning of the book seem a bit implausible. And sometimes the story seemed a bit rushed, such as when Orca is searching for her roots.
Despite those minor points, the story captivates with truly engaging characters, plenty of plot twists, and an entirely satisfying ending.
I thought from the title that there might be a sci-fi angle to the story, but that is not the case. Orca has been brought up in total isolation on a small island where her father is the lighthouse keeper. The “Otherworld” mentioned in the title is the rest of the world, which Orca has never seen. Although she loves the simple life they live on the island, she longs to explore the secrets and treasures of Otherworld. (I was reminded somewhat of The Little Mermaid at times, especially because of the ocean theme of the story.)
The story opens on Orca’s 18th birthday, a milestone she believes will lead to her being able to visit Otherworld because she is now an adult. Her father soon discourages her of that belief. Orca’s father has filled her with stories of the dangers of Otherworld and does not want her to ever visit there. Eventually she does, of course, and it’s so much fun to see 1990s Seattle from her unspoiled point of view. The author has thoughtfully recreated that world with its music, movies, and the overall optimism of a simpler time before 9/11 and without smartphones or social media.
When her father temporarily leaves the island for a few days of training, he leaves Orca in charge of the lighthouse. In his absence, she finds a waterproof survival bag washed up on the shore and inside is a phone and identification for Adam Stevenson. Her curiosity is aroused and she sees that there are many missed calls from “Superman” on the phone. She decides to break her father’s rules about having no interactions with the outside world and calls Superman back. This sets her on a life-changing course that propels her towards her future and a greater understanding of her past.
No book is perfect, but my complaints are minor. A couple of points in the beginning of the book seem a bit implausible. And sometimes the story seemed a bit rushed, such as when Orca is searching for her roots.
Despite those minor points, the story captivates with truly engaging characters, plenty of plot twists, and an entirely satisfying ending.
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