When Net Galley offers a book by Karen Cushman, I know I need to make a request. Known best for her Newbery Award winners, Catherine, Called Birdy and The Midwife’s Apprentice, she is in her element when she sets her books in her home state of Oregon. In Karen’s newest release on March 25, When Sally O’Malley Discovered the Sea takes the reader through that territory when it was still the frontier.

Aging out of the orphanage at ten and being thrown out of the hotel where she worked as a hired girl at thirteen brings Sally to an offhand suggestion of going west at the local store and the desire to see the end of the land and, even more important, the sea. Heading west, she joins a lady named Major who has a wagon, a contrary donkey named Mable and a loyal dog named Sarge. Major’s business is making deliveries of various kinds along her route. On one of these deliveries, they pick up another orphan from better circumstances called Lafayette Maurice Winnbiggler, a thorn in Sally’s side, who is being sent to relatives in Astoria.

The journey to the sea for the group takes a hazardous trip through the wilderness landscape of Oregon in the 1800s with Sally learning coping skills as she faces each difficulty. Sally’s inner journey from distrusting almost everybody, including herself, to finding good people that she can rely on evolves during the time it gets to the sea. The parallel journeys form the arc of the story and will appeal to those who love Karen Cushman’s take on historical fiction.

Cushman is a good writer, and this title reinforces my opinion on this. So often I feel like historical books for kids slip into anachronisms and characters expressing themselves with modern sensibilities. Cushman avoids that; Sally is a strong young woman to join her other creations like Birdy, while still having her present her thoughts in a historically appropriate way. This book made me both laugh and get teary-eyed. I did feel like certain plot elements happened too quickly, for example what happens to Major and the ending of the book. But these are minor quibbles. A delightful read that I can't wait to recommend to young readers.

have always enjoyed Karen Cushmam's books. She is just so skilled at capturing the sights, dialects, historical details and social mores of an historical era, while also infusing humor and heart into the narrative. When Sally O'Malley Discovered the Sea is a book that features all these elements.This rollicking , historical adventure story is one that middle-grade readers ( especially girls) will likely enjoy.

The book has characters that have traditionally appealed to this age group: a plucky, resourceful orphan heroine who must face difficult challenges, a spoiled child who learns to appreciate others, and a wise mentor who guides both children to maturity before disappearing from their lives. The animal characters- a dog and a donkey- also have unique personalities, while infusing humor to the story. Several secondary characters are well developed and help Sally come to realize that there are good people in the world who are trustworthy and want to help others. Some of these characters are diverse, adding to the message that trustworthy people can be different from you and can come from many backgrounds.

Another strong element is the dialogue. Cushman integrates idioms and expressions from the era, adding authenticity to the narrative. Yet this language does not interfere with understanding the plot. Particularly fun are the metaphors that Sally uses like " slow as a herd of turtles" and "I squirmed and joggled so much, I would have turned into butter if I were cream". They help reveal her thoughtful, impulsive personality.

I also thought the historical references were skillfully integrated into the story. Vivid descriptions of the various locales the characters travel through, the foods they eat, the customs that guide people's lives, provide fascinating glimpses of the Far West in the late 1800s. Cushman includes a section at the end of the book in which she describes the research she did to ensure authenticity. She does a great job of integrating historical detail into the narrative without overwhelming it.

Yes, the plot is rather predictable. The children successfully navigate every challenge and elude bad people who try to stop them, all culminating in a satisfying ending. I contend this is the kind of plot that has traditionally appealed to the middle- grade age group- and will continue to do so. The historical setting of traveling West also has traditionally appealed to children in this age group.

Thanks to Random House Children's Books, Knopf Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Historical fiction is having a moment with kids. A lot of it is boy-geared, suspenseful, Alan Gratz style. This would appeal more to Little House on the Prairie fans (of which there are surprisingly many at my library). It's less of an exciting adventure and more of a gentle saga. Because of that, it could also appeal to younger girls who are advanced readers, or more conservative parents who are choosing for their children.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I will purchase for my library.

Orphan Sally O'Malley is ready to embark on a quest. Kicked out of yet another orphanage Sally is done with people. Her destination? The ocean. She doesn't quite know where it is, or even what it is really, but Sally is ready to make her own way. Along her trek Sally comes across Major, an older woman, in charge of her own destiny. Sally doesn't trust adults, so should she really trust Major to help her? Add in one loyal donkey, one brave dog, and one annoying boy and you have an exciting historical tale set in the Pacific northwest of the late 1800's.

There was a lot to like about this book. Sally was a plucky heroine who went on a genuine journey. The side characters felt alive and real, and served as effective foils to Sally, pushing her (slowly and reluctantly) toward growth. The moment Sally finally sees the sea, and the very ending, were emotionally affecting and mostly worth the wait.

I struggled with the plot structure, though. Besides the quest to deliver Jack and to see the sea, there wasn't a lot of internal plot momentum. It was unfortunately a slog to get through certain sections. The characters and the emotional arc saved it for me, but I wish the journey had been a little more fun.

Sally O’Malley is an orphan working at a hotel in Oregon until she gets chucked out. Hurting, empty bellied, and with only a few coins on her, she heads on an epic journey west to the sea. She soon finds herself taken under the wing of an older woman named Marge who drives a mule-powered wagon. Sally soon learns not everyone is as awful as her former boss. Soon, Marge is charged with transporting a spoiled 8-year-old boy to his relatives and the trio head across the county. Will Sally heal from her traumatic past? Will she learn to love herself as well as her new friend, Marge?
The plot is well written and endearing. The characters are likable, authentic, and easy to get to know. Readers who like adventure, discovering oneself, and a bit of humor will want to pick this one up. Recommended for most library collections. Gr 3-7, 5 stars

Take a trek across Oregon in the 1890s with feisty Sally O'Malley! Raised in an orphanage until she aged out at 10, then sent to work as a maid in a mineral spring hotel, decides to head west to the sea and the end of the country when she is fired. Along the way she meets up with plenty of people who help her, as she in turn helps others. A fun adventure with great information about the time. Recommended for grades 3 & up.

I very much enjoyed this book's spunky main character, Sally. She's everything an orphan who wants a family but is too proud to admit it would be. The plot was well-paced and the ending is quite satisfying. There was one part of the book involving loss that I thought was dealt with a little oddly but overall I think that kids will enjoy this fast-paced story from a children's lit master.

When Sally O'Malley Discovered the Sea by Karen Cushman is a fine middle grade adventure, historical tale The main character, Sally O'Malley, was raised in a harsh/abusive orphanage until sent to work at a early age. Then she is thrown out of the job with no resources but her own determination to survive and the adventures begin. Sally decides to head west to see the ocean and is picked up by an older woman named Major. With her donkey and dog, Major has been hauling freight in western Oregon which is still being settled. Sally learns much from the wise and savvy Major. In the end she gets to the sea and finds what she needs. Cushman does an excellent job creating the setting. The characters are diverse and interesting. The story arc is nicely paced and full of adventures. Strongly recommended for middle grade readers who love a rousing historical novel

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this middle grade novel.

I had high hopes for this one, but it was fine. It felt long and slow, and unfortunately, I don't think most kids will stick this one out.

Very Karen Cushman- Hopeful yet realistic historical fiction featuring a spunky, independent female protagonist. Somewhat reminiscent of The Ballad of Lucy Whipple, though I like Sally O’Malley better. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

This felt like a pretty typical Cushman novel. Strong and independent female protagonist, deep historical knowledge, and an uplifting ending. Fans of Cushman will like this book, those who don't like her style will still probably not.

Sally O’Malley is an orphan. She also got kicked out of the orphanage, as well as the place of business that she was sent to. So, she decides that she is going to see the ocean, and just sets off walking as though she could walk the whole width of Oregon to get there.

Lucky for her, she runs into Major, an older woman who is going her way, and offers her a ride. Sally has always depended on herself, and so reluctantly agrees.

This is one of those books that tears at your heartstrings, but in a good way. Because Sally has to learn to accept that sometimes people do things for you because they really do have your best interests at heart. It is hard to let others in when they have always betrayed you, so Sally is slow to do so.

I kept following her journey across Oregon, trying to picture how wild it must have been around the turn of the last century.

It is all quite believable, and a good historical fiction. I liked how independent Sally was, and how she grew to be full of love as well.

The author is great at writing historical, believable fiction, and if you end up liking this, you should check out her other books.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is being published the 25th of March 2025.

I grew up on Karen Cushman's works. Her characters spoke to me at a young age about learning to be myself. Sally O'Malley is here to do the same. Sally is an orphan who just wants to see the sea. She thinks it'll fix something inside of her and make her feel whole. Of course, on the journey she learns what she really craves and needs.
This book was a lovely read full of adventure and emotion. It was about Sally learning to be brave in more ways than one, and about belonging. While there was one scene that I felt lacked the emotional depth it deserved, the rest of the book was wonderful and very layered.
Any kid would benefit from having this book in their hands, and I hope they learn to see themselves in Sally.

Thank you to Random House Childrens, Knopf Books for Young Readers, and Netgalley for the ARC.