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The Lampfish of Twill
On the unforgiving coast of Twill, a boy is sucked into a fantastic adventure
The country of Twill has a notoriously treacherous coastline: rough, rocky, and primed for shipwrecks and drownings. In the salt-scarred port town of Twickham, the locals are dependent on fishing. Everyone pitches in, devising new ways to catch fish and crabs without falling prey to the dangerous rocks and waves. Of all the fish that dart around their deadly shore, none is more prized than the lampfish, a glowing creature whose bones provide the hooks that sustain life on Twill. It takes a group of men to land a lampfish, but once in a lifetime, a hero comes along who can do it single-handed. And Eric wants to be the next champion. Eric, an orphan since infancy, has become mesmerized by the swirling Cantrip’s Spout—a deadly whirlpool where he has recently spotted a colossal lampfish. Trying to catch that glowing beast will take him on a magnificent journey into the sea and beyond, deep into the darkest parts of himself. This ebook features a personal history by Janet Taylor Lisle including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author’s own collection.
The country of Twill has a notoriously treacherous coastline: rough, rocky, and primed for shipwrecks and drownings. In the salt-scarred port town of Twickham, the locals are dependent on fishing. Everyone pitches in, devising new ways to catch fish and crabs without falling prey to the dangerous rocks and waves. Of all the fish that dart around their deadly shore, none is more prized than the lampfish, a glowing creature whose bones provide the hooks that sustain life on Twill. It takes a group of men to land a lampfish, but once in a lifetime, a hero comes along who can do it single-handed. And Eric wants to be the next champion. Eric, an orphan since infancy, has become mesmerized by the swirling Cantrip’s Spout—a deadly whirlpool where he has recently spotted a colossal lampfish. Trying to catch that glowing beast will take him on a magnificent journey into the sea and beyond, deep into the darkest parts of himself. This ebook features a personal history by Janet Taylor Lisle including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author’s own collection.
161 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 1991
3 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
Janet Taylor Lisle
43 books49 followersJanet Taylor Lisle was born in Englewood, New Jersey, and grew up in Farmington, Connecticut, spending summers on the Rhode Island coast.The eldest child and only daughter of an advertising executive and an architect, she attended local schools and at fifteen entered The Ethel Walker School, a girl’s boarding school in Simsbury, Connecticut.
After graduation from Smith College, she joined VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America). She lived and worked for the next several years in Atlanta, Georgia, organizing food-buying cooperatives in the city’s public housing projects, and teaching in an early-childcare center. She later enrolled in journalism courses at Georgia State University. This was the beginning of a reporting career that extended over the next ten years.
With the birth of her daughter, Lisle turned from journalism to writing projects she could accomplish at home. In 1984, The Dancing Cats of Appesap, her first novel for children, was published by Bradbury Press (Macmillan.) Subsequently, she has published sixteen other novels. Her fourth novel, Afternoon of the Elves (Orchard Books) won a 1990 Newbery Honor award and was adapted as a play by the Seattle Children’s Theater in 1993. It continues to be performed throughout the U.S. Theater productions of the story have also been mounted in Australia and The Netherlands.
Lisle’s novels for children have received Italy’s Premio Andersen Award, Holland’s Zilveren Griffel, and Notable and Best Book distinction from the American Library Association, among other honors. She lives with her husband, Richard Lisle, on the Rhode Island coast, the scene for Black Duck(2006), The Crying Rocks (2003) and The Art of Keeping Cool, which won the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction in 2001.
After graduation from Smith College, she joined VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America). She lived and worked for the next several years in Atlanta, Georgia, organizing food-buying cooperatives in the city’s public housing projects, and teaching in an early-childcare center. She later enrolled in journalism courses at Georgia State University. This was the beginning of a reporting career that extended over the next ten years.
With the birth of her daughter, Lisle turned from journalism to writing projects she could accomplish at home. In 1984, The Dancing Cats of Appesap, her first novel for children, was published by Bradbury Press (Macmillan.) Subsequently, she has published sixteen other novels. Her fourth novel, Afternoon of the Elves (Orchard Books) won a 1990 Newbery Honor award and was adapted as a play by the Seattle Children’s Theater in 1993. It continues to be performed throughout the U.S. Theater productions of the story have also been mounted in Australia and The Netherlands.
Lisle’s novels for children have received Italy’s Premio Andersen Award, Holland’s Zilveren Griffel, and Notable and Best Book distinction from the American Library Association, among other honors. She lives with her husband, Richard Lisle, on the Rhode Island coast, the scene for Black Duck(2006), The Crying Rocks (2003) and The Art of Keeping Cool, which won the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction in 2001.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 30, 2020
I actually unknowingly read another one of Lisle’s books before: The Afternoon of the Elves, and to be honest, liked that one better. This book follows young Eric, an orphan being raised by his aunt in the perilous fishing community of Twill. Twill is settled on harsh cliffs near rough waters. Fishing is all they know, and it is a dangerous game on their shores–they are used to lives being lost constantly. However, the lampfish brings them hope. These legendary fish are huge and provide a ton of meat as well as bones and oil for deeply needed supplies. However, they are rare and extremely tricky to hunt and catch. After meeting weird, mystical old Mr. Cantrip, he begins to change his mind on fishing lampfish after he learns the truth about them.
I am unsure on how I feel about this book. I think the writing could’ve been better. The ending was a bit anti-climatic, as was the climax itself. It just kind of fizzled out with no real resolution. It was also confusing at times. But, I did like the culture that Lisle created for the village of Twill. It would definitely be an interesting read for a junior high class to do together!
I am unsure on how I feel about this book. I think the writing could’ve been better. The ending was a bit anti-climatic, as was the climax itself. It just kind of fizzled out with no real resolution. It was also confusing at times. But, I did like the culture that Lisle created for the village of Twill. It would definitely be an interesting read for a junior high class to do together!
August 31, 2020
Kinda boring to be honest. Nothing was offensive though, just hard to get through as it's mostly uninteresting. It does have some nice drawings and almost tells an interesting myth with going to another world where shipwrecked sailors have gone. Plus maybe the lesson of a slow and safe life vs. the dangerous yet rewarding one.
September 2, 2020
This is one of those childhood books that has stayed with me for almost 30 years. I can't say I remember loving it but it was slow and strange which is my favorite type of story and I never forgot it. Rereading it it is still slow and strange and I'm glad I got to experience Twill, the lampfish and especially Sir Gullstone the seagull again.
March 21, 2018
Magical, but ultimately unsatisfying, as only one life was improved.
August 14, 2019
Mysterious and melancholy, it meanders around and never really seems to mean anything.
December 9, 2022
Read this in high school in '92 - '93 and have never forgotten it.
August 15, 2014
The boy lives on a remote island where half of the year is full of bad weather. The people of the island spend their time fishing during the better seasons of the year to be able to have food year round. There are mystery lampfish that everyone tries to catch. There is a whirlpool off the coast that is dangerous.
The boy meets a man who has traveled through the whirlpool and back again. The story tells about how the man friends the boy and eventually takes him on a trip into the whirlpool to visit another mystery land.
It is not realistic fiction. The characters travel similarly to how they travel in, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe."
The boy meets a man who has traveled through the whirlpool and back again. The story tells about how the man friends the boy and eventually takes him on a trip into the whirlpool to visit another mystery land.
It is not realistic fiction. The characters travel similarly to how they travel in, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe."
August 16, 2013
Gorgeous, old-school middle grade magical realism along the lines of The Fledgling and Tuck Everlasting. Totally unexpected and sweetly haunting. Would have been one of my faves as a kid for sure. I think I'll read it to my kids.
April 23, 2022
I read this book multiple times as a youngster. Though the story haunted my mind I could never remember the title. I am comfortably in my mid thirties now and a stranger has placed the title in my lap. I read it once again. What special experiences to have, 30 years apart.
August 16, 2011
Definitely a juvenile, and it leaves several questions unanswered, but still pretty good.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews