Seaside

What an engaging adventure! Children will easily empathise with many of the characters and be enthralled by the events which unfold. In the coastal town of Seaside all the boys dream of being one of Blackbeard’s Boys and ten year old Robert Grace O’Malley is no different. In this story read how he tries to complete challenges to enable him to become on of Blackbeard’s Boys, meets up with Walter, a young octopus, and Pucello the Pelican and has an adventure with them which changes their lives and the attitudes of most inhabitants of Seaside.

This is the sort of story I used to love sharing with my daughter when she was younger or with my class. It is well written with plenty of adventure, great characters, humorous moments, a little romance and an inspirational story. The chapters make it easy to stop at key points and the story shows how unexpected friends can help change each others lives for the better by working together. For children who are moving on to reading their first novels, this would also be a delightful book. The illustrations are cute and really bring the story to life, enhancing the whole experience of sharing the book. In class the story could be used to stimulate work on friendships, coping with peer pressure, caring for the environment, ecology, art, craftwork and so much more as well as so many aspects of writing! Children could create their own newspaper reports about key events, write character or setting descriptions based on the book or devise their own further adventures for some of the characters, hottest characters and discuss the moral/citizenship implications of certain key events - the list is endless because the story is superb.

I cannot praise highly enough the first book by this author that I read - “The Possible Police” - a rhyming, beautifully illustrated and inspiring story that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed sharing with children. When I was invited to read this latest book I was intrigued as the target audience is older, it is a chapter book and prose rather than rhyme so I wondered if I’d like it as much - and I’m very pleased to say that I do!

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley, too, for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for this, an honest review.

Description (Goodreads):

 

Every boy in Seaside wants to be one of Blackbeard's Boys. From the time ten year old Robert Grace O'Malley could hold his very first fishing pole, it was all he thought about. Every captain of every ship had been one, and now he was well on his way. That is, until he meets Walter, the young octopus who will change his life forever. In Seaside, Wylde Scott takes you on an exciting voyage through a fairy-tale fishing village and a pivotal moment in the life of two unexpected friends. An adventurous story perfect for young readers graduating into their first novels or parents reading their little ones to sleep, it's a book that's bound to be a staple in every family's library for years to come. 

 

My Thoughts:

 

This is an amazing book. Between the illustrations, the talking animals, and the constant adventure this really grabs a child's undivided attention. I really think this is one of those children's novels that will be a child's favorite, and could possibly become a future classic novel. I could see this becoming the next big animated children's movie.

 

This is a book about determination, friendship, and family. We have an unlikely friendship between an octopus, Walter, who is trying to save his mother from a fisherman and a boy, Bobby, who one day dreams of being a fisherman. The way the author describes things makes you feel like you have visited the places in this novel and witnessed the events as they occur with your own eyes. 

 

I know my son made sure to be tucked in bed by nine o'clock. I made a deal with him that I would read one chapter a night if got to bed before nine thirty, or three chapters a night if he was there by nine. 

 

This is definitely a book that I will reread with my children, and that my son will reread himself. My daughter is reading it now. She is eleven and is enjoying it despite the fact that it is a bit young for her.

 

Excerpt:

 

As Bobby walked the very streets he had been on the night before, he was excited by the buzz of townsflok. Jeremiah Wheeler, owner of the bicycle shop, hopped down the street with a shoe in one hand and pulled on his suspender with the other, in such a hurry he had forgotten to ride his own bicycle. Henny Trottstone, a widow with seven boys, hurried the lot of them toward the market square with their arms full of scarves she nitted by hand. Mrs. Pickler are hung her husband's shirts out to dry as Mr. Pickler are loaded barrels of cream onto the back of a cart.

 

Bobby and his father entered the busy market square and were met with a flurry of sights and sounds. Fish vendors had brought carts with their fresh catches. Mr. Butterburger, the town's short, round butcher, was fighting with his dog over a fresh piece of meat he had just cut for a customer.

 

"Let go before I feed you to the birds!" He souted.

 

A man riding one of Mr. Wheeler ' shiny new bicycles whizzed by with a cat on his head. A tall snake - oil salesman wearing bright red tails and a tall red hat barked from the front of his carriage at everyone who passed by... 

 

Recommendation:

 

IF YOU HAVE KIDS, BUY THIS NOW! I read this as a bedtime story, it was perfect. It would also be great for children graduating to novel length chapter books. I also admit to loving this book, I am in my thirties. I will warn you that in the beginning of the story it would be a good idea to make sure you read far enough in because if you don't a child may be left thinking that a little boy drowned and a little octopus still has hopes of reuniting with his mother.