Gifts from the Sea

by Natalie Kinsey, Judy Pederson (Illustrator)

Quila MacFarlane is devastated by the death of her mother, especially now that it’s just her and her father on Devils Rock where her father is the lighthouse keeper. They can’t leave and almost no one ever comes to visit them. But the morning after a storm, something floats ashore that changes their lives Two small mattresses strapped together, and inside, a baby! They name her Cecelia, which means “a gift from the sea,” and call her Celia. She makes them a family again–and helps heal the hurt left by Quila’s mother’s passing. Two years later, though, another stranger arrives, one who changes everything all over A woman named Margaret, come looking for the final resting place of her sister, whose ship had gone down in a storm two years before. Her sister’s baby had never been found, either, she explains, and now she has no family of her own. Could this be Celia’s aunt? Will Quila have to give up Celia so Margaret can have her own family back? This is a gripping tale full of love, loss, and healing. Natalie Kinsey-Warnock is the author of many wonderful books for young readers.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Childrens

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Sawda P · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite part of the book was when Cecelia was walking off the cliff and almost into the sea. Then Aquila caught her with one arm grabbing the hem of her dress. This was just before Cecelia disappeared over the cliff.
Well it was so sad at first the it got so much better I was crying when margret said she was leavening and taking cacelia I started to cry and when papa said tale her with you it just broke my heart to think of him there alone.The main characters in this story were Aquila a older girl who found Cecelia, Papa. Papa is always making sure the light in the lighthouse is always on and he always says, "A good lighthouse keeper never lets his light go out". Then came Cecelia. Cecelia is the baby that was found by Aquila while Cecelia got washed up in the shore between two mattresses. Margaret. Margaret is the lady who is supposedly Cecelia's sister who then becomes part of their family towards the end of the story. It was a good book, but a little hard to understand. The main character was interesting. I like the story.

[Nora Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book was amazing, because it made me want to read more and more. In my opinion, this book was okay at first, because at first the writer said that the mother died and that made me depressed and a little uncomfortable. But after the first chapter it got really interesting, because it was talking about how Quilas mother died affected Quila's life. This writing is powerful, because it tells how powerful love is. I would recommend this book for people who like it when the people in the book have the emotions of love, nervousness, sadness, and happiness.

[Yolanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was encouraged to read this by a young friend of mine, and I'm so glad that I did.

[shelby]

What an enchanting middle grade book! I picked it up based on the cover from the thrift store and read it on a rainy afternoon. Very cute and heartwarming.

[C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review won't be very long because I don't have much I can express about this book....BECAUSE I LOVE IT SO MUCH. I have read it a total of 6 times since the 5th grade. The last time I read it was freshman year of high school, where I read it in two hours.

I can't explain why I love this book so much; I have no idea. A simple---shall we say---children's story that is barely over 100 pages gives me the most joy I have ever felt for a book.

Maybe it's because I can relate to it so much. I love the ocean, and I love being alone.I'm such an introvert. My best friends are books, and the best dream home I can think of is a house isolated by the ocean with only the wind and the birds to keep me company. Just like the tiny light house on Devil's Rock.

This is a book I think everyone should read, if only for the love that it expresses between its pages.

[Jeana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet little book. I grabbed it at the library with a bunch of other books for Bianca to read while she's off track. When I looked at the back of the book and read about the author's inspiration, I had to read it. It takes place on a small island in Maine in the mid-1800's about the daughter of a Lighthouse keeper.

The language was pretty; the story sweet and tender and truthful.

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

i meant to read GIFT FROM THE SEA.
maybe i would have liked this more if i hadn't had such high expectations.
many of the reviews for this book are actually talking about Gift(no 's') From the Sea.

[Susan Clark-cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each chapter gives you something about life to think about either for the first time or anew. The connections she draws from shells to life is truly no only a "gift from the sea" but from her own life and mind. I love to reread this book as well and keep it near.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet children's book set in 1858 about a girl and her father who live on an isolated island in Maine because he is the lighthouse keeper there. It is based on a true story and was very enjoyable to read.

[Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

I totally read the wrong book - correct name but wrong author. I couldn't figure out why people liked the book or thought it was so deep! Now I know!

[Kaden Herchenroether · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m somewhat ashamed to mention that I picked this up on a complete whim, scouring for something to fill the last few hours of my day with. But I’m glad it could be this. This book was brimming with beautiful prose, important messages, and inspiring pictures. It happens to remind me of The Little Prince, in its stature and innocence. If I hadnt been introduced to maturity, im sure I could have Whipped up a more meaningful approach to this book, something shimmering with fantastical and otherworldly significance. But all I can say is that I’m glad they found each other, and I’m infinitely glad they are continuing to, each day. Family is not just those who you are born to, it is those who you surround yourself with. That; and light. Both the light and the heart need tended to. Don’t forget that. Don’t ever forget that. Bury it in a jar of sea glass, send it with the seals, let it bounce on the fiddle notes. Let it thrive in such childlike wonder, beside the sea.

[Emily Clifford · Rating 4 out of 5]

A father and young daughter care for a lighthouse as well as a baby who survived a shipwreck. A setting like that calls for beautiful nature writing, understated emotions, and an emphasis on the fragility of life and relationships. The writer does a fine job with that task, as well as moving this short novel along, and there are multiple points-of-view to consider. It's a poignant character arc for Quila, and even though the ending can be spotted a mile away, it's still such a nice experience to see some healing for these tough souls.

The illustrations are so poorly drawn. How someone thought they would add to the story is beyond me.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved that it was a quick read and the words flowed with ease. I like how it’s different than your average fiction book too. I only wish it was more than novella length, so I could grow with the emotions more. I also think this would be a great book to share with children of parents with lost/passed on spouses.l, helping them get through the conflicting feelings of new love between a parent and another.

[Kylee Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gifts from the Sea is probably one of the best books I have read. I loved how the author described everything so detailed it was like I was in the book seeing the lighthouse and the waves of the ocean. If you like books that are young adult reads than you will love this book, I highly recommend this book.

[Merrill Medansky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I happened to see this young reader book, based on a true story of a baby washed ashore after a shipwreck, and I decided to read it. I liked the writing style, quite descriptive, and the character development. Though an adult reader can easily predict the outcome, the young protagonist cannot, and the conclusion emerges in a heartwarming way.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a pleasant book to read, and I was very much in the mood for something pleasant. I borrowed this from my daughter's stack of library books and finished it in a little more than an hour. Although it is a very quick read I still felt like the characters and setting were well done. The ending felt a bit predictable but was still satisfying.

[Ellie Reddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for kids in upper elementary.

Its a fairly good length we chapter book for kids that age. If the teacher did it as
a read- aloud many other activities could go along with it such as ting it in with that historical period, having a guest fiddle player, creative writing, etc.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this short book. Although it’s a children’s book, it was great! It’s very well written. I really liked the characterisation of Aquila and the way there were some imaginative loose threads that weren’t tied up but it added to the story.

I would have liked more and my main complaint is that it was too short and the ending was slightly too neat and also a little abrupt.

[Willow Lausier · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good book. It was a quick read. It had some sad parts to it but also some happy parts to it. I liked how the character changed through the story and the how the book ended. It was a good book I would recommend it.

[Joe Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was amazing! This book was sad and happy at some points. This book showed a lot of mercy. It was by far the best little book I read. I recommend this book 100% if you are in a rush or you just want to read something short.

[Eliana C · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was cute I guess… I don’t know. The book was so damn short that I made no attachment to anything and I simply didn’t care.

Closed it and said eh.

UPDATE
I was recommended “GIFT from the sea” not “GIFTS from the sea” so I read the wrong damn book 😭

[Kiersten · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is a good quick read

[Hope Irvin Marston · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read children's book that blesses the heart.

[Taniesha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice story. I like that it was based off a real life event. It's a junior book but I found that it kept my interest and I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet and yet sad story! Very powerful and wonderfully written!

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminds me of The Light Between Oceans. This is another favorite book when I was in elementary school.

[Kennedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, it has twists and turns that lead to an awesome ending. I definitely recommend!

[Kayla Schaap · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter (nearly 10) loved this book. The storyline is relatively predictable but very enjoyable nonetheless.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, beautiful story with lovely illustrations. I read this on Vacation as I sat by the ocean….
And it was a quick read, perfect for sitting by the sea.

[Angelo · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a mystery how this book ended up on my reading list, but I’m glad it did. I’ll leave it at that :)