Safe Return

by Catherine Dexter, Wendell Minor (Illustrator)

After struggling with the death of her mother and father, Ursula worries about her beloved Aunt Dana who boarded a ship during very rough seas weeks ago and has not returned home, and finds herself faithfully waiting with fear and hope.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Knitting, Childrens

96 pages, Hardcover

First published October 7, 1996

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a small little book, this one certainly packs a punch. My fourth grade class really enjoyed this novel! They learned to knit this year, and I read this novel because of that.

There is a lot going on beneath the surface here, and plenty to unpack. Dexter does an excellent job of inferring many emotions... also- knitting!

I recommend getting “The Mitten Book” by Inger and Ingrid Gottfridsson as a companion to this one.

[Lidija · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple and spare in plot, this story nevertheless knits a whole sense of place. A forgotten childhood favorite, the island in the book has lived on in my imagination. A real pleasure to rediscover and read this little novel with my children.

[Julie P · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a knitter, you'll love this book. If you're not a knitter, you'll still love it. It's a sweet little tale about an orphan girl who lives with her aunt and uncle on a Swedish isle. Ursula, the young girl, does not know how to knit, and everyone on the isle knits. Even the men. This causes her a lot of anxiety, and adds to her feeling of being an outcast amongst the island-born natives. As Ursula's aunt prepares to leave for her annual pilgrimmage to Stockholm to sell sweaters at the market, Ursula's fears of being orphaned by yet another mother figure are all too present. For adults this is a quick, yet enjoyable read, and for the younger crowd this is a good life lesson in self-sufficiency and faith. That this tale is based on a historic event makes it even more interesting, and the author has added depth to the supporting characters so that Ursula's fears and daily anxieties are much more tangible, and all too real.

[Cecilia Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember first reading this book on a family holiday when I was 10 years old and willing the travel time between destinations to be longer so I could read on and on undisturbed. Re-reading it 20 years later, having gained a much deeper understanding of hope and emotional nuance, was an experience just as special.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because my local yarn shop offered a mitten knitting class using a pattern based on this book and had a few copies of the book to give away as well. It was a sweet story! Even though it is clearly intended for young readers, I am counting it as one of the books I read in 2024.

[Sally]

Found written on a paper.

[Barbara]

"A gift from Andrea January 2004.

And now I am sending it to you, me dear Gun-Britt! What a precious story of the country of your birth and my Ancestry!
Love, Barbara
Please share!"

[Knitology]

Based on a true incident in 1824 on an island in the Baltic Sea. The story is told with simple beauty in the voice of 11-year-old orphan Ursula. Her beloved aunt is one of the women who sailed to Stockholm to sell the island's sweaters, which were knitted by everyone--men, women, and children--from the wool of the local sheep. An outsider on the island, Ursula has never been able to learn to knit, but while she scans the horizon and hears the wind, she gets out her knotted mess of wool and painstakingly teaches herself to knit those rows in a pattern of waves. The knitting metaphor is rooted in a very real craft of needles, stitches, and yarn.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a quiet gem of a book, slim and polished and finely wrought. Dexter balances a poignant story with keen insights into the emotional landscape of the child and beautiful details from daily life. This book reminds me of Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan--it has a similar tone and beautifully spare writing that reveals a complexity beneath. This is my second time reading Safe Return, and it holds up beautifully to a second reading.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Safe Return by Catherine Dexter. It’s a sweet short read that I picked up in the young adult section of our library book sale. An orphan, a Swedish island setting, a little bit of suspense and a little bit of knitting make this a charming read, even for adults. The happy ending might not appeal as much to today’s young readers, but it was just right for me.

[Dorothy A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book for my granddaughter. Laugh, cry, what a great book. For kids. My granddaughter is 9 and will be here this coming week. We knit together. I hope she likes it. It is based on a true story.

[Partridge Public]

Dexter, Catherine PB

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well written book for young readers facing fear, possible loss and uncertainty.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this was a quick read, it was also a very enjoyable one! The story unfolded well and even though it is marked for a younger audience, I think any adult would enjoy it as well!