I was so happy to get this ARC I read it out loud to my boys (5th and 6th grade) as a bedtime book for the past month and they loved it so much they would beg to just read a little more every night. I also had to stop myself from reading ahead. Like typical boys they usually prefer action or thrilling plot driven books, even though I would say candle Island was more character driven and the main character is a girl they were still really into it. We had a lot of discussions while reading trying to guess what decade the book was set in w which is a fun game I always play with them when we read books set in the past as it helps appreciate context clues and settings and this book had plenty. I would recommend it for independent middle school reading but having read it aloud I feel like it really shines as a read aloud and could be read aloud from 3-8th grade.

Lucretia and her mother, Eliza, a famous painter, have just moved to Candle Island from Vermont. They are still grieving the loss of Lucretia’s beloved father, who died in a car accident some time earlier. All they want is to be left alone, but as soon as they arrive, they’re caught up in the tension between the locals and the troublemaking summer kids. Add an injured osprey chick and a nosy art critic, and privacy seems impossible.

But there are compensations. Lucretia is taken with the beauty of Candle Island and the peace it brings. She quickly befriends a boy called Bastian, though his cousin Murdock seems to resent her presence. When Lucretia learns the reason why, she begins to have more compassion for Murdock and her situation. In time, Murdock warms up to Lucretia and the girls realize they have more in common than they thought. Something about this little group reminded me of the kids in Emily of New Moon, with each child having their own artistic talent or gift.

I don’t want to reveal too much about the story, but this book is truly beautiful. The prose is vivid, the characters well-rounded and likable. Lucretia is an old soul- my one complaint is that she reads a little older than 12, maybe 13 or 14, but that isn’t a big deal. Her mother treats her like an equal and allows Lucretia her independence as she explores their new community. As the summer progresses, secrets are unearthed, and characters move towards healing.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC. I can’t wait to own a copy of this book.

Wow, what a great book about secrets, art, relationships, and staying true to your voice. You feel as if you’re in Maine where Lucretia and her mom have moved. Both mom and Lucretia love to paint, but they are sharing a secret about their art. So much happens when Lucretia finds an osprey, meets Bastion and Murdock, and has to deal with three kids who cause trouble. Love Lauren Wolk’s books and this one was a ten star read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was a beautifully done story about loss and how art can help with that. The world building was beautifully done and was hooked from the first page of this. It was a realistic look and thought the characters had that element that I was looking for. Lauren Wolk wrote this well and was engaged with the story.