What do you think?
Rate this book
Mellem havet og himlen
Pearl og hendes yngre søster, Clover, bor på en flydende østersfarm, isoleret fra dem, som bor på den landjord, der er ødelagt af miljøkatastrofer. De tilbringer dagene i havet sammen med marsvinene og på vaderne for at lede efter ting i mudderet, men livet er langtfra sorgløst. Clover er ulovlig, fordi hun er familiens andet barn – og Pearl vil gøre hvad som helst for at beskytte hende.
Så ankommer Nat for at tilbringe sommeren på østersfarmen. Han har forladt fastlandet og alle dets strenge regler, og med sig har han en hemmelighed. Men da de to søstre lover, at de ikke fortæller nogen om hans hemmelighed, ved de ikke, at de hermed risikerer at miste alt.
Mellem havet og himlen er en smuk og rørende fortælling om livet i en mulig fremtid. En fremtid efter det totale sammenbrud, hvor mennesket har måttet finde nye måder at leve på. Hvor bestøvere ses som mytiske dyr, der kun fandtes i gamle dage. Bogen er både en klimadystopi og en fortælling om venskab, kærlighed og håb.
Så ankommer Nat for at tilbringe sommeren på østersfarmen. Han har forladt fastlandet og alle dets strenge regler, og med sig har han en hemmelighed. Men da de to søstre lover, at de ikke fortæller nogen om hans hemmelighed, ved de ikke, at de hermed risikerer at miste alt.
Mellem havet og himlen er en smuk og rørende fortælling om livet i en mulig fremtid. En fremtid efter det totale sammenbrud, hvor mennesket har måttet finde nye måder at leve på. Hvor bestøvere ses som mytiske dyr, der kun fandtes i gamle dage. Bogen er både en klimadystopi og en fortælling om venskab, kærlighed og håb.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published July 8, 2021
19 people are currently reading
377 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
April 26, 2021
Somewhere, between the sea and the sky, there are other places.Pearl and Clover live with their father on the oyster farm. Clover yearns to go to school but Pearl is determined to never step foot on land again, certain the land’s poisons were responsible for her mother’s death. Pearl and Clover are keeping a big secret, one that will tear their family apart if anyone ever finds out.
Nat lives on the land with his mother, a science advisor who works hard to provide for her son. Nat enjoys playing with his friends but is always careful not to get caught doing anything that will accumulate civil disobedience points for his mother. The constant threat of peacekeepers and the visual reminder of the prison ship keep the people on the land in line.
“You don’t know what it’s like, living there,” he’d said quietly, gazing back to land. “Some rules are hard to keep.”Nat doesn’t want to stay at the oyster farm with his mother this summer and Pearl definitely doesn’t want “landlubbers” intruding on their lives but it’s the beginning of something new. Nat has his own secret, one that could change everything.
I couldn’t help comparing this book with the author’s debut, Where the World Turns Wild. Both feature worlds that ours could easily begin to resemble in the not too distant future if we don’t take climate change seriously.
My biggest delight came when I realised that the names of the characters in both books have been so carefully and cleverly chosen. There are some names in this book that foreshadow a character’s role or something about their personality. However, the ones that really stood out to me were those I could easily align with elements, which are a vital part of this story. For example, Sora is a Japanese name that means ‘sky’.
Water is the sea all around us. Earth the poisoned land. Air’s the sky where the gulls fly.The only thing I adored in Where the World Turns Wild that I missed in this book was a connection to a special adult. I love Annie Rose from Where the World Turns Wild as much now as I did the day I met her. While I liked many of the adult characters in this book there wasn’t someone that I got to know well enough to want to spend all of my time with. The closest I came was with Olive but, for reasons that will become clear as you read the book, she wasn’t ever going to be as knowable as Annie Rose was.
Fire is the Decline. Here it was floods and the rising storm water, but elsewhere it was fire. The world got too hot. Fire burned forests and villages, whole cities too.
Spirit is everything that was lost.
Kate Forrester, whose cover image was what initially drew me to Where the World Turns Wild, has also designed this cover. The details will all mean something to you once you’ve finished reading.
“But if people don’t try, things won’t ever change, will they?”Thank you so much to NetGalley and Stripes Publishing, an imprint of Little Tiger Group, for the opportunity to read this book. I’m rounding up from 4.5 stars.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
April 18, 2021
Between Sea and Sky is a rather special book. This is in part due to the story’s themes, which happen to be some of my personal favourites – environment, future survival, force control, and children who see things differently; it has all those in abundance. But its marvel is that, while we explore some themes that are generally imposed, in fact and fiction, by grown-ups, this is an adventure that’s firmly in the hands of the children. And it's so skilfully crafted.
Set in the future, after climate devastation, it tells the story of Pearl and Clover, two children who live on a floating oyster farm. The girls spend their days collecting shellfish, which they deliver to the off-shore prison. They have sea-legs and swim like fish; they have their own rituals; they’re at one with the elements – sea and sky – and the nature of their surroundings. They love the resident porpoises and treasure the findings that wash up on the mudflats. They’re feral but wise, and considered strange by their ‘landlubber’ peers who never go near the coast and whose compounds face away from the shore as a mark of respect to the many who drowned in the floods. Although, because of the one-child policy, the shape of the two girls out on the farm sparks rumours of a ghost… There can’t be two of them?... When Nat and his scientist mother spend a summer at the oyster farm, the girls’ secret is revealed. But Nat has a secret, too. One that could get them into deep trouble with authorities. But if they can just work together and keep the secret safe, it might just spell hope for the future.
The characters are great. Pearl and Clover are brilliantly drawn through their actions and reactions, and Pearl in particular, with her wild hair and eyes, her sea-witch ways, is fascinating. I loved reading about their life which shifts with the tides and is constantly challenged by the weather, their hopelessly sad father, and events out of their control. They stand for self-sufficiency and respect for nature, whereas Nat, the boy from the land, comes from a place of ignorance. Or so the girls believe. As they get to know each other, however, the story reveals that what divides them isn’t the shoreline, but the draconian laws that stand in the way of progress, understanding and freedom.
This is a truly thoughtful story with moments of drama, and the world-building is exceptional. Like an oil painting, the layers of storytelling create a vivid and raw scene – it’s one we can easily recognise but repurposed for this new futuristic existence, abandoned by nature. There’s a Swallows And Amazons feel about this in terms of freedom and discovery, and there are similarities with the grown-up book Where The Crawdads Sing in its otherworldliness and in the way details are drawn, and time drawn-out – as well as in Pearl’s chronicling of the bits and pieces she finds in the sea and out on the mudflats.
This is a beautiful heady read that will appeal to children who love nature and see themselves as pioneers of a better future.
Set in the future, after climate devastation, it tells the story of Pearl and Clover, two children who live on a floating oyster farm. The girls spend their days collecting shellfish, which they deliver to the off-shore prison. They have sea-legs and swim like fish; they have their own rituals; they’re at one with the elements – sea and sky – and the nature of their surroundings. They love the resident porpoises and treasure the findings that wash up on the mudflats. They’re feral but wise, and considered strange by their ‘landlubber’ peers who never go near the coast and whose compounds face away from the shore as a mark of respect to the many who drowned in the floods. Although, because of the one-child policy, the shape of the two girls out on the farm sparks rumours of a ghost… There can’t be two of them?... When Nat and his scientist mother spend a summer at the oyster farm, the girls’ secret is revealed. But Nat has a secret, too. One that could get them into deep trouble with authorities. But if they can just work together and keep the secret safe, it might just spell hope for the future.
The characters are great. Pearl and Clover are brilliantly drawn through their actions and reactions, and Pearl in particular, with her wild hair and eyes, her sea-witch ways, is fascinating. I loved reading about their life which shifts with the tides and is constantly challenged by the weather, their hopelessly sad father, and events out of their control. They stand for self-sufficiency and respect for nature, whereas Nat, the boy from the land, comes from a place of ignorance. Or so the girls believe. As they get to know each other, however, the story reveals that what divides them isn’t the shoreline, but the draconian laws that stand in the way of progress, understanding and freedom.
This is a truly thoughtful story with moments of drama, and the world-building is exceptional. Like an oil painting, the layers of storytelling create a vivid and raw scene – it’s one we can easily recognise but repurposed for this new futuristic existence, abandoned by nature. There’s a Swallows And Amazons feel about this in terms of freedom and discovery, and there are similarities with the grown-up book Where The Crawdads Sing in its otherworldliness and in the way details are drawn, and time drawn-out – as well as in Pearl’s chronicling of the bits and pieces she finds in the sea and out on the mudflats.
This is a beautiful heady read that will appeal to children who love nature and see themselves as pioneers of a better future.
April 11, 2021
Thank you to the author and her publisher for allowing me to read a proof copy of this wonderful book.
Nicola Penfold's second novel is gripping from the first page to the last. Set in a dystopian (but all too realistic) near future, one in which The Decline was followed by The Hungry Years - a time of deprivation caused by climate collapse, remembered now only by the older members of the community - we meet the characters of Nat, Clover, and Pearl. Nat is a boy born of the land; Clover and Pearl are sisters of the sea, girls who live on a floating oyster farm. When their lives collide, it spells the onset of huge and upsetting change.
I loved so much about this book, including the sibling relationship, Nat's wonderfully-described life on land (I could hear the humming of the solar fields...), the idea that a 'folktale' is centrally important to this new and uncertain society (the legend of Billy Crier), the evocative descriptions of the changed lives of the people who live in this strange, yet familiar, place. I only wish the book had been longer, with more detail about so many aspects of Nicola Penfold's skilfully built world.
A powerful call to protect the world we've got, and a reminder of what's important, all within a wonderfully constructed tale.
Nicola Penfold's second novel is gripping from the first page to the last. Set in a dystopian (but all too realistic) near future, one in which The Decline was followed by The Hungry Years - a time of deprivation caused by climate collapse, remembered now only by the older members of the community - we meet the characters of Nat, Clover, and Pearl. Nat is a boy born of the land; Clover and Pearl are sisters of the sea, girls who live on a floating oyster farm. When their lives collide, it spells the onset of huge and upsetting change.
I loved so much about this book, including the sibling relationship, Nat's wonderfully-described life on land (I could hear the humming of the solar fields...), the idea that a 'folktale' is centrally important to this new and uncertain society (the legend of Billy Crier), the evocative descriptions of the changed lives of the people who live in this strange, yet familiar, place. I only wish the book had been longer, with more detail about so many aspects of Nicola Penfold's skilfully built world.
A powerful call to protect the world we've got, and a reminder of what's important, all within a wonderfully constructed tale.
April 16, 2021
In Blackwater Bay, Nat and his Mum live strictly controlled lives in a compound on stilts close to the Edible Uplands farming complex. The threat of the prison ship hangs over them—home of those who commit even minor infractions against edicts issued by the Central District. Sisters, Pearl and Clover live a very different life on a floating oyster farm with their Dad—a small oasis from the one-child laws that condemn Clover’s very existence. When Nat’s Mum is sent to the Oyster farm to carry out some research, Nat brings with him a dangerous secret that could have far-reaching consequences for all of them.
The exact details of the environmental crisis that led to the current state of this dystopian world are not explained, and the politics remain in soft focus in the background (though the peacekeepers and the prison ship are a very real and immediate threat). Instead, this is a story of friendship and discovery. Pearl is suspicious of Nat at first and antagonistic towards all ‘landlubbers’, but the children realise that, through cooperation, they may perhaps have a way to improve their lives and those around them. But the thrumming heart of this story is the environmental theme—and in particular the importance of pollinators. Perhaps through cooperation, we can still save them.
‘Between Sea and Sky’ is a lyrical, stirring adventure story with a compelling environmental message. Highly recommended.
The exact details of the environmental crisis that led to the current state of this dystopian world are not explained, and the politics remain in soft focus in the background (though the peacekeepers and the prison ship are a very real and immediate threat). Instead, this is a story of friendship and discovery. Pearl is suspicious of Nat at first and antagonistic towards all ‘landlubbers’, but the children realise that, through cooperation, they may perhaps have a way to improve their lives and those around them. But the thrumming heart of this story is the environmental theme—and in particular the importance of pollinators. Perhaps through cooperation, we can still save them.
‘Between Sea and Sky’ is a lyrical, stirring adventure story with a compelling environmental message. Highly recommended.
February 24, 2024
Pretty good book. If I didn't know it was fictional I would have probably believed that this story was real. The messages within the book were really inspirational. I enjoyed reading the book but at times I felt as if it was a bit....blunt. The author made such an effort to elaborate
on scenes, characters and places but some things were too easy.
SPOILER PART!! --dont read this part if you have not finished/read the book (and willing to read)
I think there had to be more of Ezra but I LOVED the plot twist. Like, why did Atticus not tell the girls that EZRA IS THERE UNCLE?!?! Maybe the land didn't poison Vita? AND HOW DID EZRA MANAGE TO GET SORA OFF THE PRISON SHIP? Is Barnaby coming back? Will Clover ever go to school? So many questions and I wish I had just a couple more answers because this is a great book (and I want to know what happens...)
on scenes, characters and places but some things were too easy.
SPOILER PART!! --dont read this part if you have not finished/read the book (and willing to read)
I think there had to be more of Ezra but I LOVED the plot twist. Like, why did Atticus not tell the girls that EZRA IS THERE UNCLE?!?! Maybe the land didn't poison Vita? AND HOW DID EZRA MANAGE TO GET SORA OFF THE PRISON SHIP? Is Barnaby coming back? Will Clover ever go to school? So many questions and I wish I had just a couple more answers because this is a great book (and I want to know what happens...)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2025
I read this book with my 5th graders as our read aloud and we all loved it so much. We got to have a lot of important conversations through it- about grief, propaganda, control, power, growth, connection… will definitely be looking at this one again in a few years as another read aloud book.
February 11, 2024
Such a sweet & wholesome book. Showing that children truly have the most creative & powerful minds. Nothing to write home about in terms of the plot or ending etc. But a really lovely and easy read nonetheless. No complaints.
December 24, 2021
Set in a world where there as been an ecological disaster, this beautifully written middle grade story follows three children who find something that could change everything…
I really enjoy the authors gentle but effective way of delivering her message and I really came to care about Pearl, Clover and Nat as I learned about their world.
I would also throughly recommend her debut - Where The World Turns Wild - as she’s such an underrated author!
I really enjoy the authors gentle but effective way of delivering her message and I really came to care about Pearl, Clover and Nat as I learned about their world.
I would also throughly recommend her debut - Where The World Turns Wild - as she’s such an underrated author!
March 19, 2022
A thought provoking tale of a dystopian world that could worryingly be the future of our own delicate planet.
Pearl lives on a floating oyster farm on the sea with her illegal younger sister Clover. Second children are not allowed in this new world where a string of environmental disasters have left most of the land flooded. Clover is kept hidden from the mainland for fear she will be sent away with other surplus children.
Nat lives on what is left of a mainland ravished by human choices as climate change leaves it almost barren and rules and regulations dictate everyday life. He’s sent with his mother to spend the summer on the oyster farm and brings with him an indication that the world is finally healing itself…butterfly chrysalis.
Pollinators returning are an indication of the Recovery after the hungry years. But Nat and his friends are convinced that if Central get wind of the precious butterflies, they will attempt to destroy them so that district workers continue to work in the growing towers. Nat decided to keep the chrysalis safe until they are fully hatched.
Ecological disasters brought on by climate change have left most of the world uninhabitable and many species completely wiped out. This story hits far too close to home and lays out a fictional future that could be our own. It’s gripping throughout and proves our individual choices can make a difference.
Pearl lives on a floating oyster farm on the sea with her illegal younger sister Clover. Second children are not allowed in this new world where a string of environmental disasters have left most of the land flooded. Clover is kept hidden from the mainland for fear she will be sent away with other surplus children.
Nat lives on what is left of a mainland ravished by human choices as climate change leaves it almost barren and rules and regulations dictate everyday life. He’s sent with his mother to spend the summer on the oyster farm and brings with him an indication that the world is finally healing itself…butterfly chrysalis.
Pollinators returning are an indication of the Recovery after the hungry years. But Nat and his friends are convinced that if Central get wind of the precious butterflies, they will attempt to destroy them so that district workers continue to work in the growing towers. Nat decided to keep the chrysalis safe until they are fully hatched.
Ecological disasters brought on by climate change have left most of the world uninhabitable and many species completely wiped out. This story hits far too close to home and lays out a fictional future that could be our own. It’s gripping throughout and proves our individual choices can make a difference.
March 24, 2023
This was a fabulous book, I think I enjoyed it so much because of the environmental messages it provides alongside a sprinkle of magic. The book is about two sisters who live on an oyster farm out in the sea and Nat a boy from the land. There has been an environmental disaster - the seas rose and washed away while towns and now people have to live in towers and grow their food indoors due to the land being toxic. It’s a dystopian book that is really accessible for KS2 children, it has a great message without being overly preachy or scary.
April 13, 2021
Fabulous topical story. Vivid description which evokes all the senses. Shamelessly confronting sensitive issues so beautifully written for young readers. Courageous inspiring characters! A brilliant thought provoking read!
Thank you NetGalley and Little Tiger Group Publishing.
Thank you NetGalley and Little Tiger Group Publishing.
May 11, 2022
This very nicely written children's book is set in a world where ecological disaster has caused major extinctions (so, our world in a generation or two, really). In the wake of widespread ecological breakdown human society suffered from floods, hunger as well as the diseases caused by the poisoned land and sea. All this is touched on lightly throughout the book rather than in an information dump like I have just done.
I really REALLY loved the world building, that was the highlight for me, I loved the description of how society had created a solid bunker against the floods that used to come, the light descriptions of the growing tower producing food and the solar field producing energy. This is Nat's world, in which he and his friends live in a strongly controlled environment, in fear of losing points, which means being sent by the malevolently hovering 'Central' to the prison ship. Of course, as kids do, Nat and his friends break rules and it is during on of their illicit 'dares' that Nat finds the secret....
Moving on to the Pearl and her younger sister Clover who live with their dad, isolated from the mainland and the 'Central' control on a floating oyster (and other seafood) platform in the bay. I LOVED the oyster farm, which luckily occupied more of the book than the mainland. Part of their isolation is caused by their secret; Clover is a second child in a society that takes away second children. So when Nat and his mother come to spend the summer on the oyster farm so Nat's mother can research other forms of food - Pearl is angry and hostile, scared that the mainland will poison everything and terrified of Clover being discovered. Though I really don't see why, Clover is the nastiest, little mean brat you can imagine and I think Pearl would be better off without her.
So, why haven't I rated this higher as I loved the world building so much? I didn't love the characters is mostly the problem. All the adults seemed two dimensional cut-outs, we are not even really given a physical description of the main ones, there is barely any character for most of them. I know that adult descriptions tend to be lighter in children's books, but generally there is some at least, when they feature heavily in the plot.
In terms of characters, the children don't do that much better. The narrators shift between Nat and Pearl, so we know them from the inside and get some insight into their characters but there is not much. Nat, who we start with, I did not even realise Nat was a 'he' until about page 58 when someone else says 'him'. That is how unformed he is as a character. Pearl and Clover get more physical description so we can tell them apart but they seemed unformed to me. I loathed how mean, self absorbed and downright nasty Clover was, she is ten apparently, and the degree Pearl loves her makes no sense to me. I don't think we ever find out how old Nat and Pearl are 'a few' years older. How many 12 - 14 year old boys allow 10 year old girls to be their 'best friend' is this a really thing in other peoples lives?
The best part of this book was the oyster farm and the bay. I did enjoy the thinly veiled menace of Central control, which is probably exploiting and lying to the regions. I think it is very suited for young children who will be able to fill in the character details from their own imagination. It is an innocent, naïve little story when the conflicts are small (though they seem large to the child protagonists) and has a happy ending. The cover is lovely and is actually relevant to the story, so kudos to the publisher there. This would especially appeal to kids who love ocean stories.
I really REALLY loved the world building, that was the highlight for me, I loved the description of how society had created a solid bunker against the floods that used to come, the light descriptions of the growing tower producing food and the solar field producing energy. This is Nat's world, in which he and his friends live in a strongly controlled environment, in fear of losing points, which means being sent by the malevolently hovering 'Central' to the prison ship. Of course, as kids do, Nat and his friends break rules and it is during on of their illicit 'dares' that Nat finds the secret....
Moving on to the Pearl and her younger sister Clover who live with their dad, isolated from the mainland and the 'Central' control on a floating oyster (and other seafood) platform in the bay. I LOVED the oyster farm, which luckily occupied more of the book than the mainland. Part of their isolation is caused by their secret; Clover is a second child in a society that takes away second children. So when Nat and his mother come to spend the summer on the oyster farm so Nat's mother can research other forms of food - Pearl is angry and hostile, scared that the mainland will poison everything and terrified of Clover being discovered. Though I really don't see why, Clover is the nastiest, little mean brat you can imagine and I think Pearl would be better off without her.
So, why haven't I rated this higher as I loved the world building so much? I didn't love the characters is mostly the problem. All the adults seemed two dimensional cut-outs, we are not even really given a physical description of the main ones, there is barely any character for most of them. I know that adult descriptions tend to be lighter in children's books, but generally there is some at least, when they feature heavily in the plot.
In terms of characters, the children don't do that much better. The narrators shift between Nat and Pearl, so we know them from the inside and get some insight into their characters but there is not much. Nat, who we start with, I did not even realise Nat was a 'he' until about page 58 when someone else says 'him'. That is how unformed he is as a character. Pearl and Clover get more physical description so we can tell them apart but they seemed unformed to me. I loathed how mean, self absorbed and downright nasty Clover was, she is ten apparently, and the degree Pearl loves her makes no sense to me. I don't think we ever find out how old Nat and Pearl are 'a few' years older. How many 12 - 14 year old boys allow 10 year old girls to be their 'best friend' is this a really thing in other peoples lives?
The best part of this book was the oyster farm and the bay. I did enjoy the thinly veiled menace of Central control, which is probably exploiting and lying to the regions. I think it is very suited for young children who will be able to fill in the character details from their own imagination. It is an innocent, naïve little story when the conflicts are small (though they seem large to the child protagonists) and has a happy ending. The cover is lovely and is actually relevant to the story, so kudos to the publisher there. This would especially appeal to kids who love ocean stories.
June 17, 2021
I received an eARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
Dystopia is a rare genre these days, though it is starting to make a comeback. After the oversaturated days of the gritty, grim concrete worlds of totalitarian dictatorships in YA where the focus was on personal liberty not environmental, BETWEEN SEA AND SKY is like a breath of fresh air.
It's a lovely MG eco-dystopia full of hope for a better future, while the present is being kept rigid by rules and regulations. It has the feel of being both present day and near future, an idyllic sea bay that not quite able to provide enough of a refuge from the inland world.
It was really nice getting the perspectives of Pearl and Nat - one sea-dweller at home on the sea farm but suspicious of all things landlubber, and one land-dweller out of his depth but much more open. The contrast allowed for different perspectives on the plot, to see if from more than one angle - and how it affected everyone, just not in the same way. Plus, both the terror and the wonder of the sea can be shown (I am firmly with Nat on not liking boats and would not have been as brave as him in the storm!)
There are a lot of different relationships portrayed - close parent-children ones, strained parent-children, friendship, siblings (in all their very messy glory), and unofficial guardians. Plus the strain each one, particularly new ones, can have on other relationships. It felt like a very welcome change to see so many different relationships take centre stage, when often only one or two get the spotlight.
The writing reminded me of the sea, generally silky smooth, but able to become a tempest very quickly. It really helped unify the feel of the book, having the sentences mimic the water it was set around.
Dystopia is a rare genre these days, though it is starting to make a comeback. After the oversaturated days of the gritty, grim concrete worlds of totalitarian dictatorships in YA where the focus was on personal liberty not environmental, BETWEEN SEA AND SKY is like a breath of fresh air.
It's a lovely MG eco-dystopia full of hope for a better future, while the present is being kept rigid by rules and regulations. It has the feel of being both present day and near future, an idyllic sea bay that not quite able to provide enough of a refuge from the inland world.
It was really nice getting the perspectives of Pearl and Nat - one sea-dweller at home on the sea farm but suspicious of all things landlubber, and one land-dweller out of his depth but much more open. The contrast allowed for different perspectives on the plot, to see if from more than one angle - and how it affected everyone, just not in the same way. Plus, both the terror and the wonder of the sea can be shown (I am firmly with Nat on not liking boats and would not have been as brave as him in the storm!)
There are a lot of different relationships portrayed - close parent-children ones, strained parent-children, friendship, siblings (in all their very messy glory), and unofficial guardians. Plus the strain each one, particularly new ones, can have on other relationships. It felt like a very welcome change to see so many different relationships take centre stage, when often only one or two get the spotlight.
The writing reminded me of the sea, generally silky smooth, but able to become a tempest very quickly. It really helped unify the feel of the book, having the sentences mimic the water it was set around.
July 11, 2021
After a sensational debut with Where the World Turns Wild, Nicola Penfold is back with the sublime Between Sea and Sky – it’s absolutely unputdownable! A window into a world that will unfortunately become ours if we don’t start to treat it better.
Read on for exclusive access to Chapter One!
When you live at sea the sky’s everywhere. It’s a fifth element.
In a near future where a series of environmental disasters has left much of the country underwater, Pearl lives on a floating oyster farm with her father and younger sister, Clover. They spend their days swimming with porpoises and exploring the mudflats, but life is still far from carefree. Clover is an illegal second child and Pearl will do anything to protect her.
Following her mum’s death several years earlier, Pearl refuses to set foot on land, believing her illness was caused by the poisons in the ground. Meanwhile, Clover dreams of school, friends and a normal life.
Then Nat comes to spend the summer at the sea farm while his scientist mum conducts some experiments. Leaving behind the mainland, with its strict rules and regulations, he brings with him a secret. But when the sisters promise to keep his secret safe, little do they realize that they may be risking everything…
Nicola Penfold’s storytelling glides effortlessly between the three narrators Nat, Pearl and Clover, each completely unique and struggling to make sense of their own situations.
The dystopian society that we glimpse in the book is so eerily possible and this made the story all the more gripping. The people of Central District are living post climate-change disaster. The Greedy years, followed by The Decline and then The Floods and Hunger years map out the series of events that have ravaged the earth and caused immense suffering for all those who live on it.
Since the poisoned ground cannot yield any crops, food production drives much of the human activity in Central District and most of the adults in ‘Landlubber’ Nat’s compound work crippling shifts at Edible Uplands, a crop growing complex. Society is controlled by draconian measures and restrictions, with individuals receiving civil disobedience points for any minor misdemeanors or slips in conduct – too many points and adults are taken out to the prison ship, just visible on the horizon in Blackwater Bay, never to return. Written material is also censored and whole sections of history and knowledge have been erased from the few books left and online search engines. Nat has seen first hand a family torn apart by the strict 1 child policy in force, so he understands why Pearl is so fiercely protective of Clover.
Pearl’s spirituality is a beautiful element of the story – her ‘wishings,’ or offerings to the sea are her way of keeping faith. Objects placed on a pentangle traced on the sand, representing earth, air, fire, water and spirit… the sea takes them,the sea decides and Pearl believes that it will come through for her, she is full of hope.
I won’t say too much about why to avoid risking spoilers but the butterfly features heavily in the story; a metaphor for transformation and hope. In many cultures it is a symbol for rebirth and resurrection. Between Sea and Sky gives us hope for our earth and that healing and regeneration can take place after damage. Hope that our earth can recover.
I was utterly captivated from cover to cover. I was honoured to be invited to be part of the blog tour for this wonderful book and you only have to read the other bloggers' reviews to see what a profound effect Penfold’s writing has had on each of us.
Read on for exclusive access to Chapter One!
When you live at sea the sky’s everywhere. It’s a fifth element.
In a near future where a series of environmental disasters has left much of the country underwater, Pearl lives on a floating oyster farm with her father and younger sister, Clover. They spend their days swimming with porpoises and exploring the mudflats, but life is still far from carefree. Clover is an illegal second child and Pearl will do anything to protect her.
Following her mum’s death several years earlier, Pearl refuses to set foot on land, believing her illness was caused by the poisons in the ground. Meanwhile, Clover dreams of school, friends and a normal life.
Then Nat comes to spend the summer at the sea farm while his scientist mum conducts some experiments. Leaving behind the mainland, with its strict rules and regulations, he brings with him a secret. But when the sisters promise to keep his secret safe, little do they realize that they may be risking everything…
Nicola Penfold’s storytelling glides effortlessly between the three narrators Nat, Pearl and Clover, each completely unique and struggling to make sense of their own situations.
The dystopian society that we glimpse in the book is so eerily possible and this made the story all the more gripping. The people of Central District are living post climate-change disaster. The Greedy years, followed by The Decline and then The Floods and Hunger years map out the series of events that have ravaged the earth and caused immense suffering for all those who live on it.
Since the poisoned ground cannot yield any crops, food production drives much of the human activity in Central District and most of the adults in ‘Landlubber’ Nat’s compound work crippling shifts at Edible Uplands, a crop growing complex. Society is controlled by draconian measures and restrictions, with individuals receiving civil disobedience points for any minor misdemeanors or slips in conduct – too many points and adults are taken out to the prison ship, just visible on the horizon in Blackwater Bay, never to return. Written material is also censored and whole sections of history and knowledge have been erased from the few books left and online search engines. Nat has seen first hand a family torn apart by the strict 1 child policy in force, so he understands why Pearl is so fiercely protective of Clover.
Pearl’s spirituality is a beautiful element of the story – her ‘wishings,’ or offerings to the sea are her way of keeping faith. Objects placed on a pentangle traced on the sand, representing earth, air, fire, water and spirit… the sea takes them,the sea decides and Pearl believes that it will come through for her, she is full of hope.
I won’t say too much about why to avoid risking spoilers but the butterfly features heavily in the story; a metaphor for transformation and hope. In many cultures it is a symbol for rebirth and resurrection. Between Sea and Sky gives us hope for our earth and that healing and regeneration can take place after damage. Hope that our earth can recover.
I was utterly captivated from cover to cover. I was honoured to be invited to be part of the blog tour for this wonderful book and you only have to read the other bloggers' reviews to see what a profound effect Penfold’s writing has had on each of us.
July 3, 2021
In the near future, the planet has suffered from environmental calamity where many species have extinct, the land is poisoned and oceans have risen, causing floods and has left much of the country underwater.
Nat and his mother live in the compound at the mainland under strict rules, meanwhile, Pearl, Clover and their father live out at sea at a floating oyster farm. She believes that the land caused her mother’s death while her sister dreams of living on the land.
Nat and his scientist mother have come to Pearl’s home to do some research at their oyster farm. However, the boy brings a secret with him. The sisters agree to keep the secret, but they do not realize that they may risk everything in their life by keeping that secret.
First of all, thank you to Little Tiger Group and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In general, I really love this book. The writing, the story and the dynamic is just awesome for me. The writing just flows nicely and suits me. Told from Nat and Pearl POVs, it makes the plot quite clear and more intriguing. The dynamic of the characters really resonates with me. The characterization is also on point, and makes me feel many things about them, especially Pearl. I also really like the descriptions in this story such as the explanation about different types of animal species. There is a lot of new knowledge that I got from this story. Plus, the cover is really pretty!
This children’s fiction/middle grade dystopian novel is focusing more on the environmental aspect rather than the political one. It is still there but only in the background. For me, the theme of this book is what are the consequences of climate change to our future. This book shows several of them such as high ocean levels, poisoned sea and land and destruction of many species.
There are several phrases mentioned in this story that are directly related to the calamity such as Greedy Years, Decline, Hunger Years and Recovery. Events related to the calamity just changed how human society works. In this book, it shows the irony that the younger generation cares more about their environment compared to the older generation.
For me, this story should be shared to everyone especially the younger generations as an awareness of climate change. If you are really interested in environmental issues and what can happen in our near future, I highly suggest reading this book.
Nat and his mother live in the compound at the mainland under strict rules, meanwhile, Pearl, Clover and their father live out at sea at a floating oyster farm. She believes that the land caused her mother’s death while her sister dreams of living on the land.
Nat and his scientist mother have come to Pearl’s home to do some research at their oyster farm. However, the boy brings a secret with him. The sisters agree to keep the secret, but they do not realize that they may risk everything in their life by keeping that secret.
First of all, thank you to Little Tiger Group and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In general, I really love this book. The writing, the story and the dynamic is just awesome for me. The writing just flows nicely and suits me. Told from Nat and Pearl POVs, it makes the plot quite clear and more intriguing. The dynamic of the characters really resonates with me. The characterization is also on point, and makes me feel many things about them, especially Pearl. I also really like the descriptions in this story such as the explanation about different types of animal species. There is a lot of new knowledge that I got from this story. Plus, the cover is really pretty!
This children’s fiction/middle grade dystopian novel is focusing more on the environmental aspect rather than the political one. It is still there but only in the background. For me, the theme of this book is what are the consequences of climate change to our future. This book shows several of them such as high ocean levels, poisoned sea and land and destruction of many species.
There are several phrases mentioned in this story that are directly related to the calamity such as Greedy Years, Decline, Hunger Years and Recovery. Events related to the calamity just changed how human society works. In this book, it shows the irony that the younger generation cares more about their environment compared to the older generation.
For me, this story should be shared to everyone especially the younger generations as an awareness of climate change. If you are really interested in environmental issues and what can happen in our near future, I highly suggest reading this book.
July 3, 2021
In this vividly imagined dystopian world, much of the world is underwater and the recent past included mass starvation. Nat lives in the mainland in a compound of concrete and steel on stilted metal legs to protect people from recurrent floods; the Central District strictly controls every facet of life, with people being given ‘civil disobedience points’ for their own and their children’s transgressions – and if points are too high then they are removed to a prison ship on the horizon, never to be seen again. Nat finds some tiny living things which could be pollinators, and he is immediately supposed to turn them over to the Uplands people – but he is curious and he doesn’t. Meanwhile Pearl and her younger sister Clover live on a floating oyster farm and are at one with the sea. They have more freedom, but Clover is ‘illegal’ because only one child is allowed – second children are removed to work for the district, so Clover needs to be hidden from authorities and she can’t go to school. Their mother died several years earlier, and Pearl blames the poisons in the land for her mother’s illness. To Pearl’s enragement, ‘landlubber’ Nat comes for the summer to the sea farm with his mother, a researcher, and the living things he secretly brings with him represent hope and danger.
This is a thought-provoking environmental adventure about a potential future caused by climate change leading to catastrophic flooding and destruction of eco-systems. Penfold is superb at creating settings that make you feel like you are there, and her dual narrative protagonists are interesting and complex. This is an excellent addition to the burgeoning genre of environmental fiction, and will be enjoyed by young people from Year 6/7 and up.
This is a thought-provoking environmental adventure about a potential future caused by climate change leading to catastrophic flooding and destruction of eco-systems. Penfold is superb at creating settings that make you feel like you are there, and her dual narrative protagonists are interesting and complex. This is an excellent addition to the burgeoning genre of environmental fiction, and will be enjoyed by young people from Year 6/7 and up.
July 3, 2021
Wow! What a beautifully written book!
It is the near future, and the planet has suffered environmental catastrophe - the land is poisoned, the oceans have risen to flood much of the country and many species have been made extinct. The surviving humans are finding new ways to survive.
Pearl, Clover and their father live out at sea on a floating oyster farm. Their existence is simple, and they enjoy their isolation away from the land that Pearl believes is responsible for her mother's death.
Then strangers arrive and disturb their peace. A scientist has been sent to study their work on the farm, and accompanying her is her son, Nat. The secrets that he brings with him will unsettle Pearl and Clover's world more than they could ever imagine.
Penfold has written this novel with a real understanding of the concerns and preoccupations of her young characters, and encourages our empathy for all three, despite their conflicting points of view. She writes beautifully, from each of their three perspectives, and allows us to see the realistic consequences of continued climate change.
I love the fact that the children in this novel seem so much more concerned about their environment than the adults who have lived through both The Decline and The Hungry Years - by contrast, they are often jaded and lacking vision. The children are filled with a fascination of natural science and a thirst for knowledge, and I'm sure that this will appear with climate-conscious younger readers.
It is the near future, and the planet has suffered environmental catastrophe - the land is poisoned, the oceans have risen to flood much of the country and many species have been made extinct. The surviving humans are finding new ways to survive.
Pearl, Clover and their father live out at sea on a floating oyster farm. Their existence is simple, and they enjoy their isolation away from the land that Pearl believes is responsible for her mother's death.
Then strangers arrive and disturb their peace. A scientist has been sent to study their work on the farm, and accompanying her is her son, Nat. The secrets that he brings with him will unsettle Pearl and Clover's world more than they could ever imagine.
Penfold has written this novel with a real understanding of the concerns and preoccupations of her young characters, and encourages our empathy for all three, despite their conflicting points of view. She writes beautifully, from each of their three perspectives, and allows us to see the realistic consequences of continued climate change.
I love the fact that the children in this novel seem so much more concerned about their environment than the adults who have lived through both The Decline and The Hungry Years - by contrast, they are often jaded and lacking vision. The children are filled with a fascination of natural science and a thirst for knowledge, and I'm sure that this will appear with climate-conscious younger readers.
July 5, 2021
Be aware that this story starts in the middle and the backstory is only filled in in bits and pieces here and there.
Some unspecified time in the future, Earth is slowly recovering from a cataclysm of some kind. An authoritarian state has taken hold, controlling everyone with a strict series of laws. One of the laws state that things will ease up when there is evidence of pollinators - butterflies - returning to the wild, but the central authorities have been supressing evidence for years. Three kids, each of them breaking the laws in their own ways, are the only hope for their community to win their freedom.
I loved the writing in this book. It's lyrical, gentle, and absolutely lovely. The character were great, I loved how they were so much braver than they realised, and how deeply they cared about things. The story moved at a great pace as well, I was never bored or unimpressed.
This isn't so much an ecological warning as it is a story about how to be brave when you don't think you can be, and how to listen to each other and work together. A sequence during a storm had me on the edge of my seat watching to see what was going to happen.
This is a great adventure story and I really enjoyed it. I'd have liked to have known the back story earlier, but it worked out in the end, so I'm not too bothered by it. I think this will do well.
Some unspecified time in the future, Earth is slowly recovering from a cataclysm of some kind. An authoritarian state has taken hold, controlling everyone with a strict series of laws. One of the laws state that things will ease up when there is evidence of pollinators - butterflies - returning to the wild, but the central authorities have been supressing evidence for years. Three kids, each of them breaking the laws in their own ways, are the only hope for their community to win their freedom.
I loved the writing in this book. It's lyrical, gentle, and absolutely lovely. The character were great, I loved how they were so much braver than they realised, and how deeply they cared about things. The story moved at a great pace as well, I was never bored or unimpressed.
This isn't so much an ecological warning as it is a story about how to be brave when you don't think you can be, and how to listen to each other and work together. A sequence during a storm had me on the edge of my seat watching to see what was going to happen.
This is a great adventure story and I really enjoyed it. I'd have liked to have known the back story earlier, but it worked out in the end, so I'm not too bothered by it. I think this will do well.
January 1, 2023
A beautiful, powerful story set in what could be our future if we do not heed our planet’s message.
Sisters, Pearl and Clover, (an illegal second child), who live at sea on an oyster farm, and Nat, who lives a frustrating, restricted life on the poisoned land, meet when he and his mother visit the oyster farm for environmental research.
There are lots of secrets, prejudices, and strongly held beliefs about each other’s roles in their damaged environment, and Pearl is very untrusting of Nat and his mother, Sora. But Nat has brought a special secret to the sea farm, a secret that could bring the families together or tear them apart. On a bigger scale, his secret could offer hope to the struggling natural world.
It is a world where it is a battle to produce food for the community, population numbers are controlled with a law of only one child per family, broken rules can mean life on a prison ship out in the ocean. Some heavy stuff for young readers to digest.
“Between sea and sky” is full of life,colour and adventure, showing us that children really are the future; they can adapt and make change and fight for a better world. It is a call to care for our environment, wrapped up in an inventive story with lots of action and interesting characters.
Pearl, Clover, and Nat are stars, and I highly recommend this story for middle grade readers. It would also work as a longer read-aloud, with lots to discuss about the environment, sustainability etc., with a young audience.
Sisters, Pearl and Clover, (an illegal second child), who live at sea on an oyster farm, and Nat, who lives a frustrating, restricted life on the poisoned land, meet when he and his mother visit the oyster farm for environmental research.
There are lots of secrets, prejudices, and strongly held beliefs about each other’s roles in their damaged environment, and Pearl is very untrusting of Nat and his mother, Sora. But Nat has brought a special secret to the sea farm, a secret that could bring the families together or tear them apart. On a bigger scale, his secret could offer hope to the struggling natural world.
It is a world where it is a battle to produce food for the community, population numbers are controlled with a law of only one child per family, broken rules can mean life on a prison ship out in the ocean. Some heavy stuff for young readers to digest.
“Between sea and sky” is full of life,colour and adventure, showing us that children really are the future; they can adapt and make change and fight for a better world. It is a call to care for our environment, wrapped up in an inventive story with lots of action and interesting characters.
Pearl, Clover, and Nat are stars, and I highly recommend this story for middle grade readers. It would also work as a longer read-aloud, with lots to discuss about the environment, sustainability etc., with a young audience.
May 30, 2022
Just like Where the World Turns Wild, I think this is an absolutely great book for children, young adults, and even adults to think about the state of our world and society.
It's set in a dystopian but very real world, and there are mentions of life before and the years that periods that included The Greedy Years, The Decline, and The Hungry Years. Unlike other dystopian novels that focus on the dull dready urban landscapes and feel very 'grey', this one focuses on the beauty. Nicola Penfold is able to construct such believable but magical worlds, without it feeling too 'young' or cliche.
I also love in both of the books that they focus on sibling love and bonds, and how their dynamics change throughout.
Once again, Penfold reminds us to look at the world around us, appreciate what we have, and do what we can to look after it.
Thank you to littletiger, who very kindly sent me a copy of this book. I may not be the target demographic for these books, but I'm looking forward to Nicola's next book already.
It's set in a dystopian but very real world, and there are mentions of life before and the years that periods that included The Greedy Years, The Decline, and The Hungry Years. Unlike other dystopian novels that focus on the dull dready urban landscapes and feel very 'grey', this one focuses on the beauty. Nicola Penfold is able to construct such believable but magical worlds, without it feeling too 'young' or cliche.
I also love in both of the books that they focus on sibling love and bonds, and how their dynamics change throughout.
Once again, Penfold reminds us to look at the world around us, appreciate what we have, and do what we can to look after it.
Thank you to littletiger, who very kindly sent me a copy of this book. I may not be the target demographic for these books, but I'm looking forward to Nicola's next book already.
Currently reading
July 13, 2021The second book by this author that deals with a possible dystopia which humans have destroyed the planet.
This is a great book for Key Stage 2, Middle grade pupils to really explore what is important in terms of the worlds natural resources.
The author creates a believable yet harrowing world in which those who leave out on the sea and those on the land are divided. Rules such as only one child has led to heartache for some. Criminals are deemed those who break small rules and reach a certain number of points to then be taken away to a prison ship.
When two worlds collide as Pearl and Clover have to accept a stranger staying with them for the summer, friendships grow. The children are possibly the only ones who can really see how the world can be saved.
This book would be an amazing book to share with a class when looking at the environment and the role of pollinators, the impact of pollution and the harm we are doing to the planet now.
This is a great book for Key Stage 2, Middle grade pupils to really explore what is important in terms of the worlds natural resources.
The author creates a believable yet harrowing world in which those who leave out on the sea and those on the land are divided. Rules such as only one child has led to heartache for some. Criminals are deemed those who break small rules and reach a certain number of points to then be taken away to a prison ship.
When two worlds collide as Pearl and Clover have to accept a stranger staying with them for the summer, friendships grow. The children are possibly the only ones who can really see how the world can be saved.
This book would be an amazing book to share with a class when looking at the environment and the role of pollinators, the impact of pollution and the harm we are doing to the planet now.
July 21, 2023
Between Sea and Sky is another fantastic story from Penfold. The central topic in this book is the effects of climate change, and how humans are forced to live as a result. It shows the urgency of looking after our world before it's too late, however the message is pushed very gently and with so much hope.
I absolutely loved these characters and their small ways of finding the magic from their land. Clover was my favourite. She was often rude and dismissive, but you could tell it came from a place of fierce love and the need to protect her home, her family and the memory of her mother. Even though I winced each time she was mean to Nat, I understood why.
Penfold yet again has created a very special and spectacular middle-grade novel packed with so many important themes. She has such a talent for the genre she writes in, and you can really feel the passion coming from the pages through the story and the characters.
I absolutely loved these characters and their small ways of finding the magic from their land. Clover was my favourite. She was often rude and dismissive, but you could tell it came from a place of fierce love and the need to protect her home, her family and the memory of her mother. Even though I winced each time she was mean to Nat, I understood why.
Penfold yet again has created a very special and spectacular middle-grade novel packed with so many important themes. She has such a talent for the genre she writes in, and you can really feel the passion coming from the pages through the story and the characters.
July 6, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a surprisingly emotional read which demonstrated and managed complex issues and emotions such as forgiveness, protecting loved ones and fear. Issues were handled well. There were interesting character developments and histories revealed. The author was able to demonstrate well the importance of our environment and role that all ages can play in protecting it.
This book is set in a dystopian world where most of our flora and fauna is no longer in existence. We join a pair of sisters who live out on a sea platform with their Dad, one who dreams of joining those on land, the other who fears the land. They are joined by a Scientist who has come to carry out for experiments and her son. We see friendships develop and secrets that become shared.
The book was powerful and thought-provoking. I would definitely recommend this book.
This book is set in a dystopian world where most of our flora and fauna is no longer in existence. We join a pair of sisters who live out on a sea platform with their Dad, one who dreams of joining those on land, the other who fears the land. They are joined by a Scientist who has come to carry out for experiments and her son. We see friendships develop and secrets that become shared.
The book was powerful and thought-provoking. I would definitely recommend this book.
October 21, 2021
Between sea and sky-
5/5
This book is about a family onshore that move with in with a family living in the ocean after most of the world was underwater for research. The book circles around Nat and his mother Sora,and Clover, Pearl and their father. There is rumours and mistrust between the people who live on land and those who live on the sea, and Pearl shows this when Nat comes to stay with them. However, Nat has a secret that immerses them all...
This book had important recent topics as the backbone of this dystopian universe, with climate change and pollution, and governments that cause disagreements with their rules. The writing is really good and the duel narration helps to build the relatable characters and their emotions. It's a perfect middle grade book but could easy be enjoyed by everyone.
5/5
This book is about a family onshore that move with in with a family living in the ocean after most of the world was underwater for research. The book circles around Nat and his mother Sora,and Clover, Pearl and their father. There is rumours and mistrust between the people who live on land and those who live on the sea, and Pearl shows this when Nat comes to stay with them. However, Nat has a secret that immerses them all...
This book had important recent topics as the backbone of this dystopian universe, with climate change and pollution, and governments that cause disagreements with their rules. The writing is really good and the duel narration helps to build the relatable characters and their emotions. It's a perfect middle grade book but could easy be enjoyed by everyone.
March 9, 2022
3.5 rating
It was a nice book, but rather slow and I was a bit frustrated until the second half. The pace near the end ramped up and wrapped up within the last few pages, at the point where I start panicking because things haven't been wrapped up and the pages are looking very thin.
It was the end of the book I was really anticipating and personally I would have liked to have seen what happened around that in more detail and what happened next.
Perhaps that says more about my reading preferences though.
Mostly nicely written, I struggled to understand exactly what the farm was and how things were laid out for a while. Unsure if I was reading too impatiently or the author couldn't get their thoughts down on paper clearly enough.
Overall, it was a nice story, but a mundane story for the most part.
It was a nice book, but rather slow and I was a bit frustrated until the second half. The pace near the end ramped up and wrapped up within the last few pages, at the point where I start panicking because things haven't been wrapped up and the pages are looking very thin.
It was the end of the book I was really anticipating and personally I would have liked to have seen what happened around that in more detail and what happened next.
Perhaps that says more about my reading preferences though.
Mostly nicely written, I struggled to understand exactly what the farm was and how things were laid out for a while. Unsure if I was reading too impatiently or the author couldn't get their thoughts down on paper clearly enough.
Overall, it was a nice story, but a mundane story for the most part.
December 26, 2024
Sisters Clover and Pearl live on a floating oyster farm with their father, who since their mother’s death has spent most of his time sleeping or drinking. Clover is an illegal second child and her existence is largely hidden. And then Nat and his mother come from the land for the summer weeks as his mother is doing research. Nat brings with him his own secret, brought from the land and shared with the sisters. The father is in an accident and taken by Nat’s mother to the hospital on the land where they remain for many days, and meanwhile a storm threatens the oyster farm, and Nat’s secret. The relationships in the book are the best thing about it - Nat and his land friends, the sisters, very different, often at odds with each other but always there for the other when needed. The father and his daughters, Nat and his mother, all are real and relatable.
July 18, 2021
I really enjoyed Nicola Penfold’s debut Where the World Turns Wild, and after reading her second, she’s going to be an auto-read author for me from now on, I reckon. This one is a dual narrative story about a world changed forever by severe natural disasters, focusing on Pearl, who lives on a sea farm and will do anything to protect her illegal sister, and Nat, who comes to stay at the farm for the summer with his researcher mum. He brings with him a secret could change their whole world, and Pearl and Clover agree to help him even though they’re risking everything, including their relative safety from government control. All three of the main characters are so interesting and well fleshed out that they felt real to me, even though their world is very different to ours right now, although of course that could change if steps aren’t taken to remedy the climate crisis. The secondary characters are also fantastic, I especially liked Tally and Nat’s mum Sora. The way Nicola combines very realistic dystopian futures with hope and nature and light is the best I’ve ever seen it done, and Pearl’s religion/faith is another thing I loved about this. The worldbuilding is just amazing, and I can’t wait to read Nicola’s next book, which I believe is set in the Artic. There are some twists and reveals towards the end that had me absolutely hooked, and I think the ending was a perfect balance between not being neatly tied up in a bow and hopeful for the future.
August 28, 2021
I just adored this book! I was totally swept away into a not so distant dystopian future. One that is very different to today, however is framed in a way that it could become a reality.
Nat who lives on the land must travel to the sea with his mother. He brings a secret with him. When at sea he meets two sisters who also have a secret. Their secrets are important markers of the time and demonstrate the world they now live in. I instantly put myself in their shoes and wonder which life I would prefer?
It's a beautifully told story which tries to warn us, it's readers, of a future that we don't want.
I really hope there is a sequel as I want to know what happens in their world next.
Nat who lives on the land must travel to the sea with his mother. He brings a secret with him. When at sea he meets two sisters who also have a secret. Their secrets are important markers of the time and demonstrate the world they now live in. I instantly put myself in their shoes and wonder which life I would prefer?
It's a beautifully told story which tries to warn us, it's readers, of a future that we don't want.
I really hope there is a sequel as I want to know what happens in their world next.
August 19, 2021
3.75 stars
It feels stupid to say I wasn't expecting this to be a dystopian... but I guess I wasn't expecting a book that has all the hallmarks of your usual dystopian but also feel so imminently and terrifyingly possible at the same time.
Such mixed feelings, but it did made me cry on public transport, so. There's that. (Also, sidenote - a lot of books seem to be making me cry unexpectedly lately... maybe it's time to stop saying that books so rarely make me cry? 😅)
CW: environmental collapse; grief; past death of a parent; family separation; incarceration; references to alcoholism
It feels stupid to say I wasn't expecting this to be a dystopian... but I guess I wasn't expecting a book that has all the hallmarks of your usual dystopian but also feel so imminently and terrifyingly possible at the same time.
Such mixed feelings, but it did made me cry on public transport, so. There's that. (Also, sidenote - a lot of books seem to be making me cry unexpectedly lately... maybe it's time to stop saying that books so rarely make me cry? 😅)
CW: environmental collapse; grief; past death of a parent; family separation; incarceration; references to alcoholism
May 28, 2021
I was lucky enough to be given a proof copy of this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. Beautifully written with great description of how the world could be if we continue to destroy our planet during these current ‘Greedy Years’. A great concept, with characters you care about. This book keeps you hooked from start to finish. It makes you think about how life could be if we don’t change our ways. The target audience is age 9-12 but it definitely held my interest and I’m 39!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews