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Little Ships: A Novel
After adolescent sisters Juni and Tilde Becker wake up one morning to find their mother dead, their grandmothers appear the very next day to scoop up the girls and their inconsolable father, Nick, and take them home to small-town Oregon. The women are full of loving resolve, but good intentions are small guns against the waves of adolescence and the young family's shocking history. Besides, the women, at ages sixty and seventy, are at their own crossroads. Across the months of spring, Nick reels from heartbreak and guilt; the sisters drift apart in the shoals of middle school; three marriages are tested; and the grandmothers seek new footing--in their own lives and with each other. There's no best way forward, but making-do offers the girls--who need it most--a path to the future; and the women discover they have surprising futures of their own yet to live.
339 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 3, 2024
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35 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 3, 2024
Profoundly moving family tale
Little Ships broke my heart in so many ways. Scofield’s nuanced portrayal of a family in crisis rang so true to events I have witnessed in my own extended family that this story resonated powerfully with me. While I was initially wrapped up in the situation of young Juni and Tilde, soon it was Eleanor’s story that swept me up. I think it is the richness of Scofield’s characterizations and her deft handling of the minefield of contemporary family life that I found most compelling. Eleanor became my focus because she was the one I identified with; however, I think for other readers the girls, Helve, or Nick might be the storyline they become most entangled in. With such well-drawn characters, there is no single person to root for. Instead I found myself rooting for this family to find their way from the opening pages to the well-earned conclusion.
Little Ships broke my heart in so many ways. Scofield’s nuanced portrayal of a family in crisis rang so true to events I have witnessed in my own extended family that this story resonated powerfully with me. While I was initially wrapped up in the situation of young Juni and Tilde, soon it was Eleanor’s story that swept me up. I think it is the richness of Scofield’s characterizations and her deft handling of the minefield of contemporary family life that I found most compelling. Eleanor became my focus because she was the one I identified with; however, I think for other readers the girls, Helve, or Nick might be the storyline they become most entangled in. With such well-drawn characters, there is no single person to root for. Instead I found myself rooting for this family to find their way from the opening pages to the well-earned conclusion.
March 24, 2024
“Little Ships: A Novel” by Sandra J Scofield is an intricately crafted family drama with unforgettable characters trying to find their way in the world. The Becker sisters, Juni and Tilde, are adolescents who discover their mother Karin deceased one morning. They are picked up by their grandmothers the following day, as is Nick, their father, who is beyond grief. They are taken to Oregon, where life is simpler. These grandmothers are determined and compassionate, but will it be enough to steer the girls through the family’s past?
The grandmothers are seniors who have their own choices to consider. Nick grapples with heartache while the sisters find themselves becoming distant from each other during middle school. Multiple marriages are at stake, and the older women try to gain new ground, for themselves and each other. At a crossroads that feels more like a dilemma, they move forward with the girls’ best interests and future in mind but end up realizing their own futures await.
Scofield’s character-driven novel draws you into a place and feeling all its own, introducing you to this family and these people, so convincingly you believe you are a witness to what’s going on with them, not merely a reader. The interpersonal dynamics ring true, offering deep life lessons along the way. The subject of generational patterns is addressed effectively and profoundly.
This author is exceptionally skilled at weaving psychological aspects into compelling, entertaining drama. Even though this family is in focus, readers can connect the dots with their own family patterns. Rich detail and vivid descriptions add to the appeal of the plot and characters. This is a novel to lose yourself in, and when you finish, you’ll feel wiser and fuller for having read it. The emotional layers will resonate with you, and you’ll find yourself drawn to their situations in an empathetic way.
One of my favorite things about the way Scofield wrote the grandmother characters Eleanor and Helve, is that they don’t always mesh. They have differences, their own strengths, and needs. But they unite when it matters most.
She thought of Catholics and their obsession with Jesus’ mother. That was what she needed: a holy mother. A Mother God.
Mother, guide me. Like a pinch appeared the memory of her foster mother, who had once whispered to her—she had been Catholic—that a priest could never understand who Mary was; that only a mother would admit that Mary was the true source of a woman’s strength. “And you,” she had said to motherless Eleanor, “must remember she will look after you if you ask.”
If you want an emotionally driven family drama with a satisfying conclusion, “Little Ships: A Novel” by Sandra J Scofield, is a must-read.
The grandmothers are seniors who have their own choices to consider. Nick grapples with heartache while the sisters find themselves becoming distant from each other during middle school. Multiple marriages are at stake, and the older women try to gain new ground, for themselves and each other. At a crossroads that feels more like a dilemma, they move forward with the girls’ best interests and future in mind but end up realizing their own futures await.
Scofield’s character-driven novel draws you into a place and feeling all its own, introducing you to this family and these people, so convincingly you believe you are a witness to what’s going on with them, not merely a reader. The interpersonal dynamics ring true, offering deep life lessons along the way. The subject of generational patterns is addressed effectively and profoundly.
This author is exceptionally skilled at weaving psychological aspects into compelling, entertaining drama. Even though this family is in focus, readers can connect the dots with their own family patterns. Rich detail and vivid descriptions add to the appeal of the plot and characters. This is a novel to lose yourself in, and when you finish, you’ll feel wiser and fuller for having read it. The emotional layers will resonate with you, and you’ll find yourself drawn to their situations in an empathetic way.
One of my favorite things about the way Scofield wrote the grandmother characters Eleanor and Helve, is that they don’t always mesh. They have differences, their own strengths, and needs. But they unite when it matters most.
She thought of Catholics and their obsession with Jesus’ mother. That was what she needed: a holy mother. A Mother God.
Mother, guide me. Like a pinch appeared the memory of her foster mother, who had once whispered to her—she had been Catholic—that a priest could never understand who Mary was; that only a mother would admit that Mary was the true source of a woman’s strength. “And you,” she had said to motherless Eleanor, “must remember she will look after you if you ask.”
If you want an emotionally driven family drama with a satisfying conclusion, “Little Ships: A Novel” by Sandra J Scofield, is a must-read.
June 5, 2024
Little Ships is a slice of life novel following a family and is written by Sandra J. Scofield. Juni, Tilde, and their father Nick have a tremendous upheaval in their life when their mother and wife, respectively, passed away. They move to a small town in Oregon and try to love their life from that moment on.
If you like reading about real life, aka slice of life, this book is for you! We follow this family as they deal with loss together but we also get to see their personal struggles. The father takes the loss hard and struggles to take care of himself and his daughters, who are taken in by their grandmother's while the fathers Nick battles within himself and addiction. It's a raw, character focused story that really feels so true to real life. I think people could read this book and relate to some of what this family goes through and how the resulting consequences of loss.
I think Scofield does such a good job moving the story through the characters as well. It's definitely like watching or even living your own familial life. There are a lot of characters and a lot of storylines happening within it, which can be a lot for some people. However, I think it does add a layer of reality to the book. In real life we have a lot of people and a lot going on, and sometimes that makes things hard and complicated. Scofield is able to show the messiness of life in such an authentic way because of this. Additionally, it deepens the characters and the human connection with these characters due to learning more about them. Overall, I think it's an emotional ride that can be thought providing. As such, I really think people who like to read about life and human emotion and connection will enjoy this book.
If you like reading about real life, aka slice of life, this book is for you! We follow this family as they deal with loss together but we also get to see their personal struggles. The father takes the loss hard and struggles to take care of himself and his daughters, who are taken in by their grandmother's while the fathers Nick battles within himself and addiction. It's a raw, character focused story that really feels so true to real life. I think people could read this book and relate to some of what this family goes through and how the resulting consequences of loss.
I think Scofield does such a good job moving the story through the characters as well. It's definitely like watching or even living your own familial life. There are a lot of characters and a lot of storylines happening within it, which can be a lot for some people. However, I think it does add a layer of reality to the book. In real life we have a lot of people and a lot going on, and sometimes that makes things hard and complicated. Scofield is able to show the messiness of life in such an authentic way because of this. Additionally, it deepens the characters and the human connection with these characters due to learning more about them. Overall, I think it's an emotional ride that can be thought providing. As such, I really think people who like to read about life and human emotion and connection will enjoy this book.
April 11, 2024
"Little Ships" begins with drama—the death of a young mother. Yet this novel’s real impact comes from the undramatic, understated way it probes the complications of family and love.
That tone is especially on-target for describing the empty life of Nick Becker (a chain-store pharmacist in Oregon), his wife Karin, and their two daughters, 13-year-old Juni and 12-year-old Tilde. While Nick works long hours traveling among stores, Karin essentially lies around their filthy apartment, stoned, asserting herself only enough to buy expensive jewelry hawked on TV.
Then, abruptly, she dies of an undefined infection.
As Nick plunges into depression and drugs, the two grandmothers step in to take care of Juni and Tilde. That turn of events brings out their long-unacknowledged rivalry.
Eleanor, Nick’s mother, is well-intentioned but can’t stop micromanaging the lives of everyone around her. She insists that Juni, Tilde, and Nick must all stay together, even if that means she is now overseeing their daily upkeep, along with working at her job as a high school attendance counselor plus helping Nick’s divorced sister Alison, who has moved into Eleanor’s crowded house with her own young daughter.
Juni, though, resists Eleanor’s efforts and constantly turns to Helve–Karin’s Swedish-born and widowed mother. Helve is only too happy to open her lonely home to her granddaughter.
The main problem with this novel is that it tries to explore too many relationships and complications. In addition to the plot lines mentioned above, Juni is alienated and bullied at school; Alison’s ex-husband threatens a custody fight; her stepson from a new marriage is seriously injured in a car accident; Helve uncovers a family secret that upsets her view of her own marriage and her financial assumptions; Eleanor’s marriage to Walter was recently shaken by suspected adultery; Walter’s hardware store faces bankruptcy; Eleanor’s neighbor’s dementia is getting worse, and her tenant has failed to pay his rent; Eleanor has become increasingly unsatisfied with her job; and Nick reveals a damning secret about his strange marriage.
The good part of having so many plot lines, however, is that the book can show the characters in their full complexity, through a range of emotions, crises, and relationships.
Author Sandra Scofield (a National Book Award finalist for a previous novel) clearly cares about the people in her fictional world, and the reader will, too. All of them—even Nick and Karin—have done the best they can. Sometimes, there are no good answers.
(Adapted from my review for Story Circle Network)
That tone is especially on-target for describing the empty life of Nick Becker (a chain-store pharmacist in Oregon), his wife Karin, and their two daughters, 13-year-old Juni and 12-year-old Tilde. While Nick works long hours traveling among stores, Karin essentially lies around their filthy apartment, stoned, asserting herself only enough to buy expensive jewelry hawked on TV.
Then, abruptly, she dies of an undefined infection.
As Nick plunges into depression and drugs, the two grandmothers step in to take care of Juni and Tilde. That turn of events brings out their long-unacknowledged rivalry.
Eleanor, Nick’s mother, is well-intentioned but can’t stop micromanaging the lives of everyone around her. She insists that Juni, Tilde, and Nick must all stay together, even if that means she is now overseeing their daily upkeep, along with working at her job as a high school attendance counselor plus helping Nick’s divorced sister Alison, who has moved into Eleanor’s crowded house with her own young daughter.
Juni, though, resists Eleanor’s efforts and constantly turns to Helve–Karin’s Swedish-born and widowed mother. Helve is only too happy to open her lonely home to her granddaughter.
The main problem with this novel is that it tries to explore too many relationships and complications. In addition to the plot lines mentioned above, Juni is alienated and bullied at school; Alison’s ex-husband threatens a custody fight; her stepson from a new marriage is seriously injured in a car accident; Helve uncovers a family secret that upsets her view of her own marriage and her financial assumptions; Eleanor’s marriage to Walter was recently shaken by suspected adultery; Walter’s hardware store faces bankruptcy; Eleanor’s neighbor’s dementia is getting worse, and her tenant has failed to pay his rent; Eleanor has become increasingly unsatisfied with her job; and Nick reveals a damning secret about his strange marriage.
The good part of having so many plot lines, however, is that the book can show the characters in their full complexity, through a range of emotions, crises, and relationships.
Author Sandra Scofield (a National Book Award finalist for a previous novel) clearly cares about the people in her fictional world, and the reader will, too. All of them—even Nick and Karin—have done the best they can. Sometimes, there are no good answers.
(Adapted from my review for Story Circle Network)
June 3, 2024
Little Ships, by Sandra J. Scofield, offers a poignant exploration of grief, loss, and the delicate process of rediscovering joy in life. This novel is artfully composed, treating its characters with a tender yet determined touch that echoes Lynne Bryant's The Mother Gene. Set in Oregon, the narrative centers on the Beckers and the Sunderssons, two families linked by the marriage of Nick Becker and Karin Sundersson. Nick, Karin, and their daughters, Juni and Tilde, form a close-knit unit. However, Karin's sudden death uproots them to the Becker household—home to Nick's parents, Eleanor and Walter, his sister Alison, and her daughter Fiona.
The story unfolds through their adjustments and accommodations, from reallocating space in the house to managing personal keepsakes like Karin’s jewelry and planning the girls' weekends with their grandmother Helve. Eleanor, at 59, anticipates retirement but instead finds herself at the center of her family’s needs, embodying a quiet determination to nurture her granddaughters and support her son. Her efforts to reconcile with past resentments and cope with emerging family secrets add depth to her character and the family dynamics. Scofield's narrative style combines clarity with evocative brevity, effectively painting vivid scenes and emotions without overwrought descriptions. The early chapters, laden with pathos, gradually transition to reveal the complex relationships within the family, offering insights into how everyday life can both challenge and heal those in mourning.
Little Ships stands out for its balanced portrayal of tragedy and the essential role of a supportive family network in fostering hope and resilience. This novel skillfully captures the myriad ways life’s everyday flow can both erode and soothe the sharp edges of grief.
The story unfolds through their adjustments and accommodations, from reallocating space in the house to managing personal keepsakes like Karin’s jewelry and planning the girls' weekends with their grandmother Helve. Eleanor, at 59, anticipates retirement but instead finds herself at the center of her family’s needs, embodying a quiet determination to nurture her granddaughters and support her son. Her efforts to reconcile with past resentments and cope with emerging family secrets add depth to her character and the family dynamics. Scofield's narrative style combines clarity with evocative brevity, effectively painting vivid scenes and emotions without overwrought descriptions. The early chapters, laden with pathos, gradually transition to reveal the complex relationships within the family, offering insights into how everyday life can both challenge and heal those in mourning.
Little Ships stands out for its balanced portrayal of tragedy and the essential role of a supportive family network in fostering hope and resilience. This novel skillfully captures the myriad ways life’s everyday flow can both erode and soothe the sharp edges of grief.
June 20, 2024
Little ships offers characters we’ve come to expect from literary fiction. I found characters I rooted for and loved, characters I became exasperated with but also understood, and characters who earned my empathy in spades. Sandra Scofield has portrayed the messiness and devotion of families with both excruciating detail and fondness. The only quarrel I had with this book was the multiple times when her lapses into detail proved distracting enough to pop me out of the book. Most commonly, this occurred with the bewilderingly detailed descriptions of the floor plans of houses. I couldn’t understand why I should care. In contrast, the slowed-down action and detailed description of a grandmother’s care for her granddaughter in the midst of the minutia of a day was skillfully done.
If you are interested in the way we as humans repeat destructive patterns, in the meandering paths that can lead us to unproductive and even destructive places, and in the redemptive value of relationships, you will deeply enjoy this book.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am submitting this review voluntarily.
If you are interested in the way we as humans repeat destructive patterns, in the meandering paths that can lead us to unproductive and even destructive places, and in the redemptive value of relationships, you will deeply enjoy this book.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am submitting this review voluntarily.
March 11, 2024
Readers are immediately drawn into the story with the sudden and tragic death of Karin, leaving behind her husband Nick and their two daughters, Tilde and Juni. Struggling to cope with their grief and the harsh realities of their neglected living conditions, the family is thrust into a new chapter of their lives when they move in with Nick's parents, Eleanor and Walter.
In the midst of his own grief and personal struggles, Nick's emotional turmoil leaves him unable to provide the support and guidance his daughters desperately need. Tilde and Juni, neglected and isolated, face a challenging transition as they enter the unfamiliar territory of public school.
The essence of the story is revealed in the evolving relationship between the two grandmothers, Eleanor and Helve, as they navigate their own past grievances and suspicions. They discover a shared commitment to the well-being of their granddaughters and demonstrate a light-touch, no-holds love and devotion for their granddaughters. Scofield deftly explores the complexities of forgiveness and the transformative power of unconditional love.
The author's portrayal of the familial relationships and the small-town backdrop is vivid and authentic, evoking a strong sense of place and community. "Little Ships" is reminiscent of Elizabeth Strout's "Olive Kitteridge" series, with its richly drawn characters and evocative depiction of small-town life.
In the midst of his own grief and personal struggles, Nick's emotional turmoil leaves him unable to provide the support and guidance his daughters desperately need. Tilde and Juni, neglected and isolated, face a challenging transition as they enter the unfamiliar territory of public school.
The essence of the story is revealed in the evolving relationship between the two grandmothers, Eleanor and Helve, as they navigate their own past grievances and suspicions. They discover a shared commitment to the well-being of their granddaughters and demonstrate a light-touch, no-holds love and devotion for their granddaughters. Scofield deftly explores the complexities of forgiveness and the transformative power of unconditional love.
The author's portrayal of the familial relationships and the small-town backdrop is vivid and authentic, evoking a strong sense of place and community. "Little Ships" is reminiscent of Elizabeth Strout's "Olive Kitteridge" series, with its richly drawn characters and evocative depiction of small-town life.
June 9, 2024
Little Ships by Sandra Scofield is the work of a master storyteller. With the death of a mother, a nuclear family disintegrates. All the main characters in the story are affected by this event, the two daughters, the father, and the grandmothers. Three generations are in crisis. The grandmothers who step in to help don’t like each other much. A marriage shreds itself with jealousy. A revelation uncovers a deep betrayal in a marriage. As their lives unfold, we see what it takes for the two older women to throw life-lines to the struggling granddaughters. We see the profound impact of drug addiction on an extended family. Written seamlessly, this is a novel of tender details, subtle drama, and infinite care. Captivating. An excellent read, indeed.
July 1, 2024
I really loved this novel, as you can probably surmise by the rating. The characters were well-developed and the plot was believable and relatable. I enjoyed how the author weaved the story together and everything flowed together beautifully. The overall feeling of the novel stays with you after the ending of it. I also enjoyed how everything was concluded at the end of the novel. This ending left me with a sad feeling, maybe because I could understand "the life" of it (which I think can be attributed to a having just read a well-written novel) along with the fragility (and strength) of the characters. There were moments where I might have changed the outcome slightly, but I also understood the writer's choices. I would definitely love to read something else by this writer.
June 10, 2024
This book took a while to get into. The writing feels sharp and acute, using simple language to great effect. There are quite a few characters to get to know and I felt like being dropped straight in without much introduction or explanation.
As the book unfolded, I got to know and like or dislike the characters and wanted to find out more.
A great story about families, relationships and what it means to be a mother and woman, told with great insight.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
As the book unfolded, I got to know and like or dislike the characters and wanted to find out more.
A great story about families, relationships and what it means to be a mother and woman, told with great insight.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 21, 2024
Little Ships is a tender multi-generational family saga woven by the deft hand of National Book Award finalist Sandra Scofield. Her characters are relatable and layered, complex in ways that resonate with the reader. The plot moves and entertains. Turning the last page, the reader feels a deep satisfaction in having known Junie, Tilde, and their grandmothers. Put on your summer must-read list.
August 8, 2024
not sure
I had all kinds of trouble relating to anyone in this novel. I just thought they were all so weak and unable to see the forest for the trees. They all just seemed to liv3 in their own worlds, even when reality hit them in the face. The book wasn’t bad, the characters were awful.
I had all kinds of trouble relating to anyone in this novel. I just thought they were all so weak and unable to see the forest for the trees. They all just seemed to liv3 in their own worlds, even when reality hit them in the face. The book wasn’t bad, the characters were awful.
August 22, 2024
A nice read. Definitely a tale of three families who go through a great deal of trauma and joy together. The writing is tight and characters quite believable.
December 24, 2024
Poignant, reflective, breathtaking.
Little Ships follows a multi-generational family after the death of Karin, the mum of adolescent Juni and Tilde. We see the broader family - especially both grandmothers come to grips with what it will be to essentially raise the 2 girls.
Gorgeously written, authentic characters - every reader will have those they are more drawn to. Strength in adversity.
I can’t recommend this book highly enough.
Thanks to Book Sirens, Wellstone Press and the author Sandra Scofield for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Little Ships follows a multi-generational family after the death of Karin, the mum of adolescent Juni and Tilde. We see the broader family - especially both grandmothers come to grips with what it will be to essentially raise the 2 girls.
Gorgeously written, authentic characters - every reader will have those they are more drawn to. Strength in adversity.
I can’t recommend this book highly enough.
Thanks to Book Sirens, Wellstone Press and the author Sandra Scofield for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews