Lucretia and her mom are moving to Candle Island, a small island off the coast of Maine, for a fresh start after the death of her father. They are also seeking anonymity, for reasons which unfold during the course of the story. The island is sharply divided into people who live there year round and people who come for the summer and the confrontations between the two are escalating. There are also story lines about finding your passion and pursuing it, being kind, protecting the ones we love, and knowing when to let go. The book is a mystery and has multiple mystery lines that weave together in the most amazing ways. The writing is stellar and I enjoyed it SO much.

I found Candle Island totally engrossing. When I read middle grade books, I try to imagine the reading experience from the perspective of a modern kid--that is the point after all. But, reading Candle Island, I found myself swept up in a personal reading journey. The free range childhood of the 80s and 90s, the lack of tether to technology, the freedom of a childhood in which exploration and nature are vital components. I'm not entirely sure what era this book took place in, but I found myself imprinting the era of my own childhood on the setting.

This book was slow in terms of plot, but completely affecting in terms of the emotional journey of the characters.

Lucy and her mom have just moved to Candle Island, a small community in Maine where the population more than doubles in the summer. They have moved to be more anonymous, running from an accident that took her father and other secrets they would rather keep safe. There is a pretty sharp divide between the islanders and the summer people, and Lucy has to figure out how to navigate the dynamic. When she makes friends with Bastian, she finds a kindred spirit, but his cousin Murdock is a tougher sell. As Bastian and Lucy get to know each other, their secrets threaten their friendship, and Lucy has to decide if she is truely ready to move on.
Another beautiful historical fiction novel from Lauren Wolk.

Lauren Wolk brings so much intelligence and affection into her novels. Don't be fooled by the title, this is not a light summer beachy read: it's filled with grief and sadness. While the character development is well done, the overall dark theme felt a bit too much to make it an enjoyable read. It's a high quality work of literature, but I'd still be cautious to set proper expectations before handing it to a child.

Twelve-year-old Lucretia and her artist mother are looking for a fresh start. Candle Island, Maine is far enough from their Vermont home to escape the constant reminders of the father and husband they have lost, and it is big enough to offer the privacy their painting requires. But before the pair have driven off the ferry, they are drawn into an escalating conflict between wealthy summer kids and working class islanders. Wolk draws an evocative portrait of both an island and a creative child. At the center of the many dramatic events is the tension between Lucretia’s desire to avoid harm, and her need to connect. When do you stand up to a bully, when do you reach out to someone you wish were a friend? What if you make it worse? Readers can lose themselves in specifics of art making, secret keeping, animal rescue, serious bullying and friend seeking. Some characters, and events, seem too bad, or too good, to be true. Readers seeking a lively summer read, and a thoughtful life primer, will be more than satisfied. Lucretia and most islanders read as white. Thanks to Dutton and NetGalley for an Advance Readers Copy in return for an unbiased review.

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for the eARC!

Filled to the brim with little mysteries, this is a charming and poignant novel about identity, secrets, grief, and change. I absolutely devoured this. I found myself completely immersed in Lauren Wolk's writing and felt like I was right there on Candle Island with Lucretia, Murdock, and Bastion. This books is so alive, so vivid and lush. This is a perfect example of a book recommendation I would give to people who don't read children's/middle grade books because they are "for kids." Atmospheric and beautiful, this book positively shines, and I can't wait to read Lauren Wolk's backlog now.

The things Lauren Wolk says about change, kindness, and friendships really resonated me. I really hope everyone gives this book a chance!

When her father dies, 12-year-old Lucretia and her mother decide they need a fresh start. To rebuild their lives, they move to a tiny island called Candle Island. Life on the island turns out to be different than Lucretia expected. She ends up having to confront young sociopaths, hostilities towards seasonal vacationers, and a nosy art critic. As she finds her foothold as an islander, she makes friends with prickly Murdock and Batian, who have their own secrets. Amidst the feud, Lucretia struggles to discover her self-identity and purpose. Will Lucretia and her mom find the new life they are seeking? Will Lucretia figure out a way to fit in? What is the secret they are keeping?

The plot is immersive, engaging, and well written. The characters are realistic, relatable, and memorable. The vivid descriptions used to describe what Lucretia sees with her synesthesia are masterfully done and draw the reader into the story. People interested in realistic fiction, island life, and dealing with bullies will want to pick this one up. Recommended for most library collections. 4 stars, Gr 4 to 8.

This middle grade novel set on a small Maine island has a bit of a throwback vibe with its timeless setting and particularly non-modern activities by the young protagonists. In other words, not everyone is sitting inside on their phones or playing video games; these protagonists are actually outside doing real-world stuff like working, sailing, rescuing birds, and riding horses. And then there is the art–in every sense of the word: music, poetry, and painting. This is a primary focus of the book.

Although there is not break-neck action, stuff is constantly happening and the author’s strong writing style and multiple small mysteries steadily move the narrative forward. The kids do read a bit more like adults than kids. Lucretia, the primary character, reads more like a 29-year-old than a 12-year-old, but that is likely to be expected given that she isn’t really a typical 12-year-old. Those looking for a thoughtful read in a summer setting will enjoy this novel.

Candle Island is one of those books that I wish I could climb inside and exist in right alongside the characters. With stunning and detailed descriptions and vivid characters, this story leaps right off the page and into my heart. There is just something about how Lauren Wolk writes places and people that makes them feel real and genuine without falling into boring telling or lists of descriptions.

I wanted to read this book as fast as possible so I could devour the story and everything happening within it and I also wanted to take it slow and savor every word and sentence. I love Lucretia's journey as she and her mother pick up and move somewhere new for a fresh start. I love the connections she makes with the other people on the island and with the wildlife. And I love that this book is almost about nothing and everything all at once. I will definitely be revisiting this book again and again.

This is one of those books that has crossover appeal. While it’s marketed for middle grade readers, I think it will appeal much more to adults. Lucretia is an art prodigy and she thinks and acts much older than her twelve years. While some readers may find fault with this, I found that it didn't diminish my enjoyment of the story in any way.

It seems so early in the year to already pinpoint what might end up being my favorite book, but I think Candle Island has a strong head start on being the best book of 2025 for me.

Why do we love the things we love? Why do we create? Explore? Stay alone? Share? Live? How do we live? As I read Candle Island, I thought about so many things such as these, about my own life and the lives of others. The writing is beautiful. The imagery wonderful. The emotions I felt while reading this creation of Lauren Wolk’s are why I love to read.

I wanted to spend more time immersed in the setting of Candle Island. This story is filled with complex situations and emotions that are easily accessible to middle grade readers because of the way the story is crafted. The use of historical tidbits and quotes helps young readers trace development of themes. This book lends itself to discussions of conservation, social classes, friendship, creativity and art, loss, and so much more. I loved everything about this title!

Thank you to Penguin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Candle Island is a conundrum. Not the location so much as the book. There was a lot to like about the story, but the writing kept me at bay (see what I did there?). Ultimately the protagonist's thoughts coming across like a middle-aged narrator rather than a child made me feel overly conscious of the writing and made it difficult to settle into the story.

As with all of Lauren Wolk's books, I loved this, and I would recommend it for YA readers and adults alike.

In this story we follow Lucretia who has recently lost her father and now she and her mother have relocated to Candle Island off the coast of Maine. Lucretia grapples with her big secret of being a famous artist while she tries to befriend kids her ago on the island who are leery of newcomers. Along the way Lucy also befriends a osprey chick and a goat, and discovers that her new friends have hidden talents of their own. Together they each confront their own grief, share their secrets, and find comfort in one another.

I love Wolk's writing style, from her wonderful names (a horse named Hog, a dog named Tuppence) to her descriptions and clear love of nature ("lots of brave and determined oaks", "a shy toadstool", "the first chapter of night"), to lovely turns of phrase ("I gentled the bird into my basket"), and how she weaves intrigue into a coming of age story. I also loved the descriptions of color as Lucretia sees them in her life.

One aspect of the book that didn't ring as true for me is how unfailingly polite, helpful, and mature Lucretia always is to her mother. Perhaps 12 year olds really can be this way! But as the mom of an almost-12 year old, that has not been my experience. I think if there were even a few instances of sassiness or disrespect then the character would feel even more real to me, and perhaps even more relatable to other tweens and teens reading the book?

Still, an overall hearty recommend.

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group and Net Galley for the advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

After moving to Candle Island after an accident. This is a beautiful look of dealing with grief and trying to move forward. We get different points of view for dealing with grief. As they settle in on the island, they find some secrets and connections. Ones that might help them move forward.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

A gorgeous book of love and loss and healing. I loved these characters; imperfect, caring, broken and luminous. The setting is described so beautifully and made me want to visit. The writing is so moving, this book and the characters will stay with me forever. Highest of recommendations!

After her father’s tragic car accident, twelve year-old Lucretia Sanderson and her mother crave a new start so they move to the close-knit community on Candle Island, Maine. There is another reason for their move: privacy. They are sharing a deep secret about the origin of the notorious paintings, on whose sale profits they live. As Lucretia tries to fit into her new life, she becomes involved in the conflict between the townies and the summer folk. Lucretia's introspection permeates the book, making for lovely writing but not so relatable to the many typical twelve year olds.

The book did a great job of showing different ways people handle grief including children. It also was a great story about a girl learning how to make friends and be ok with who she is. I would recommend this book for preteens and teens.

Lauren Wolk's prose is always an absolute treasure. This book features much of what I expect from her work: a strong sense of place, caring for animals, complex characters without easy resolutions. I appreciated how the book showed, without feeling the need to outright explain, the difference between people who lash out from pain and people who lash out because they can. The plot unfolds slowly and yet sneaks up on the reader; I knew something was building but didn't see all the pieces until they came together.

Often when grieving a loved one, a person seeks solace and peaceful surroundings, and that is what Lucretia Sanderson and her mom, Eliza, are hoping to find by moving to Candle Island, Maine. As I was reading, I felt like I was watching a new Netflix series unfolding right before my eyes. I was totally immersed in the story. Lauren Wolk weaves together a wonderful story for middle grade readers, but I firmly believe all ages can benefit from reading this novel.

This was the first book I have read by Lauren Wolk, but it will definitely not be my last. In fact, I have already read Wolf Hollow after finishing Candle Island. Candle Island is a middle grade masterpiece and can be enjoyed by older students as well as adults. Wolk draws the reader in to the story with great characters, wonderful descriptions and a captivating setting. I wanted to keep reading to find out what happens to Lucretia and her mother along with the eclectic cast of island characters and animals. Wolk is able to keep the reader's attention by including some mysterious incidents as well as the conflict between the islanders and the rich summer inhabitants. I hated to see this book end and I can see myself reading it again in the future. Thank you to the publisher for the review copy - I received a digital eARC for my honest opinion.