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Candle Island
A moving portrait of loss and the restorative power of art from Lauren Wolk, the Newbery Honor-winning author of Beyond the Bright Sea.
Lucretia Sanderson has a secret.
Lucretia and her mother have come to tiny Candle Island, Maine ( Summer, 986; Winter, 315) to escape—escape memories of the car accident that killed her father and escape the journalists that hound her mother, a famous and reclusive artist. The rocky coast and ocean breeze are a welcome respite for Lucretia, who dedicates her summer days to painting, exploring the island, and caring for an orphaned osprey chick.
But Candle Island has secrets of its own—a hidden room in her new house, a mysterious boy with a beautiful voice—and just like the strong tides that surround the shores, they will catch Lucretia in their wake.
With an unforgettable New England setting and a complex web of relationships old and new, Candle Island is a powerful story about art, loss, and the power of being true to your own voice.
Lucretia Sanderson has a secret.
Lucretia and her mother have come to tiny Candle Island, Maine ( Summer, 986; Winter, 315) to escape—escape memories of the car accident that killed her father and escape the journalists that hound her mother, a famous and reclusive artist. The rocky coast and ocean breeze are a welcome respite for Lucretia, who dedicates her summer days to painting, exploring the island, and caring for an orphaned osprey chick.
But Candle Island has secrets of its own—a hidden room in her new house, a mysterious boy with a beautiful voice—and just like the strong tides that surround the shores, they will catch Lucretia in their wake.
With an unforgettable New England setting and a complex web of relationships old and new, Candle Island is a powerful story about art, loss, and the power of being true to your own voice.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published April 22, 2025
93 people are currently reading
5545 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Wolk
10 books836 followersLauren Wolk is an award-winning poet and author of the bestselling Newbery Honor–winning Wolf Hollow, described by the New York Times Book Review as "full of grace and stark, brutal beauty." She was born in Baltimore and has since lived in California, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Canada, and Ohio. She now lives with her family on Cape Cod.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 335 reviews
April 11, 2025
An author that can tell you at the beginning of their book that there’s a big secret lurking in its pages, then subsequently make you completely forget all about it until the right time is, to my mind, a good writer. And I surprise absolutely no one when I say that Lauren Wolk? She is a good writer. Not an easy writer. After all, none of her books ever strike me as particularly simple to plot out and write, but a strong one just the same. When I see a new Wolk, I don’t know what to expect or even, in many ways, when or where I am until she tells me. With her latest book, Wolk tackles recovering from trauma (personal, economic, etc.) within the context of a small class war. She also takes time to focus on the process of creating art and what it means to both the creator and the recipients. And that secret? Don’t be surprised if you forget all about it… until it’s too late.
Change can be good. After her father was killed in a car crash, Lucretia and her mother run away from the world to Candle Island, a tiny tourist destination just off the coast of Maine. They’re not going for a vacation, though, but to stay. In the real world, Lucretia and her mother paint and her mother sustains them both with selling paintings. The subsequent fame has turned into a curse. On Candle Island they hope to be anonymous, but that hope is dashed fairly early on. While Lucretia befriends a local boy named Seb and attempts to come to terms with the prickly girl her age, Murdock, her mother discovers an art critic on the island who is determined to interview her. Then there are the wary locals, as well as the snide tourists. Lucretia takes time to tend to a wounded osprey chick, paints in her barn, rides her horse, and tries to avoid three rich teens with trouble on their minds. But when one of the docks is set alight one evening, things on the island take a turn for the serious.
Like many people I first came to Ms. Wolk’s books through her unforgettable Newbery Honor winning title Wolf Hollow. There are elements to that book that still haunt me to this day. Somehow, in the span of just a few pages, Lauren managed to conjure up the most unrepentantly evil little blonde girl you will ever find in a work of realistic fiction for kids. My lingering discomfort has had longstanding consequences, of course. Mainly, that I have difficulty reading other Lauren Wolk books without constantly looking over my proverbial shoulder every page or so for similar villains. Are there bad children in Candle Island? Of course there are. Three little wealthy weasels that pose a threat to our heroine’s happiness. Are they at the same level as Betty Glengarry? They are not, for while Betty was a burgeoning sadist, these three are precisely what they appear to be: rich and bored. That didn’t stop me from worrying about them constantly during my read, which is not the worst way to go through this book. They’re just not on her level.
That Lauren Wolk has given herself the unforgiving goal of writing about the magic of the artistic process is clear. It is also a thankless task, to say the least. While art can be defined in words, the effect it has on the artist, in the midst of their creativity, often defies explanation. Not content to simply discuss Lucretia and her paintings, Wolk doubles down by making two of the other kids on island a singer and a poet. They discover one another’s gifts late in the game but the clear indication is that this is a bond they share, whether known or unknown. And since our heroine is Lucretia, the key to the book are the moment when she paints. She can recognize art in other people, whether it’s a song or a poem, but when she’s in the zone, that’s when Wolk has to put the reader in a similar kind of zone as well. Some kids will come out of this book wanting to paint themselves. Others will take a broader interpretation, and may feel inclined to pursue their own art. Still others, without any artistic inclinations at all, may read Candle Island and come away from it with a slightly better understanding of what it means to either create or appreciate art. That’s what we can hope for anyway.
As for her writing itself, it’s what we come for, isn’t it? There are certain authors for children that are capable of the kind of writing that is not merely full of strong character growth and interesting plotting, but legitimately lovely prose as well. On a single page I found lines that end with glimpses of a “bruise-blue sea.” Or, when Lucretia thinks about befriending the prickly Murdock, she is thinking of, “How adding even a little yellow to the coldest gray could warm it toward something altogether new. But Murdock was a girl, not a painting. I would have to remember that.” I mark in my copy of this book the lines I like best. What’s remarkable about them is how seamlessly they’re integrated into the plot. I suppose, when you get right down to it, not a ton of things happen in this story. There are tense, and sometimes even terrible, moments but at no point did I ever quite figure out where the book was going. I figured that Lucretia would befriend Murdock eventually, and there would be some big scene involving the three spoiled preps, but when the big reveal does happen in the book it caught me wholly off-guard. So off-guard, in fact, that I actually needed one of the characters to spell everything out to me (which, nice guy that he is, he did readily). It’s really a talented title from start. You get what you come for when you read a Lauren Wolk book, even if you’re not certain why you came.
If I seek to find flaw, finding flaws is hard to do. However, there were a couple elements of the book I would have liked to see tightened up. The time period, for one thing, is fairly unclear throughout the book. If I had to guess, I’d say that the story takes place before the advent of cell phones. Otherwise, the book could easily take place today. It’s not like class warfare has gotten any less acute in recent decades. Of course, thinking about it, I’m not entirely certain that Ms. Wolk has ever given a strict date to any of her books. Wolf Hollow and its sequel did, but that may have been because there was a specific war that the plot hinged around. This book could technically take place today, but only if you squint and try to imagine cell phones and the internet not being a thing. It’s easy if you try.
At the end of the day, this is the kind of book that can include a Mark Twain quote like, “The very ink with which history is written is merely fluid prejudice,” without anyone batting an eye. Or, my personal favorite, the Edith Wharton line, “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” And remember that secret I alluded to earlier? The Prologue is where you’ll find it. Lucretia tells you that six mysteries waited for her on Candle Island, and she ticks them off. Then she ends by saying, “Each of them exciting in its own way. But none more interesting than the mystery I took there with me.” Challenge the kid you hand this book to (the kind of kid who doesn’t get scared off by slower realistic titles) to try and figure out what that mystery is as they read the book. Odds are, they’ll get so wrapped up in Ms. Wolk’s writing that they completely forget to search for it. That’s Wolk’s power. The ability to intrigue, enchant, and eventually surprise. A beautiful book that is about art while being art.
Change can be good. After her father was killed in a car crash, Lucretia and her mother run away from the world to Candle Island, a tiny tourist destination just off the coast of Maine. They’re not going for a vacation, though, but to stay. In the real world, Lucretia and her mother paint and her mother sustains them both with selling paintings. The subsequent fame has turned into a curse. On Candle Island they hope to be anonymous, but that hope is dashed fairly early on. While Lucretia befriends a local boy named Seb and attempts to come to terms with the prickly girl her age, Murdock, her mother discovers an art critic on the island who is determined to interview her. Then there are the wary locals, as well as the snide tourists. Lucretia takes time to tend to a wounded osprey chick, paints in her barn, rides her horse, and tries to avoid three rich teens with trouble on their minds. But when one of the docks is set alight one evening, things on the island take a turn for the serious.
Like many people I first came to Ms. Wolk’s books through her unforgettable Newbery Honor winning title Wolf Hollow. There are elements to that book that still haunt me to this day. Somehow, in the span of just a few pages, Lauren managed to conjure up the most unrepentantly evil little blonde girl you will ever find in a work of realistic fiction for kids. My lingering discomfort has had longstanding consequences, of course. Mainly, that I have difficulty reading other Lauren Wolk books without constantly looking over my proverbial shoulder every page or so for similar villains. Are there bad children in Candle Island? Of course there are. Three little wealthy weasels that pose a threat to our heroine’s happiness. Are they at the same level as Betty Glengarry? They are not, for while Betty was a burgeoning sadist, these three are precisely what they appear to be: rich and bored. That didn’t stop me from worrying about them constantly during my read, which is not the worst way to go through this book. They’re just not on her level.
That Lauren Wolk has given herself the unforgiving goal of writing about the magic of the artistic process is clear. It is also a thankless task, to say the least. While art can be defined in words, the effect it has on the artist, in the midst of their creativity, often defies explanation. Not content to simply discuss Lucretia and her paintings, Wolk doubles down by making two of the other kids on island a singer and a poet. They discover one another’s gifts late in the game but the clear indication is that this is a bond they share, whether known or unknown. And since our heroine is Lucretia, the key to the book are the moment when she paints. She can recognize art in other people, whether it’s a song or a poem, but when she’s in the zone, that’s when Wolk has to put the reader in a similar kind of zone as well. Some kids will come out of this book wanting to paint themselves. Others will take a broader interpretation, and may feel inclined to pursue their own art. Still others, without any artistic inclinations at all, may read Candle Island and come away from it with a slightly better understanding of what it means to either create or appreciate art. That’s what we can hope for anyway.
As for her writing itself, it’s what we come for, isn’t it? There are certain authors for children that are capable of the kind of writing that is not merely full of strong character growth and interesting plotting, but legitimately lovely prose as well. On a single page I found lines that end with glimpses of a “bruise-blue sea.” Or, when Lucretia thinks about befriending the prickly Murdock, she is thinking of, “How adding even a little yellow to the coldest gray could warm it toward something altogether new. But Murdock was a girl, not a painting. I would have to remember that.” I mark in my copy of this book the lines I like best. What’s remarkable about them is how seamlessly they’re integrated into the plot. I suppose, when you get right down to it, not a ton of things happen in this story. There are tense, and sometimes even terrible, moments but at no point did I ever quite figure out where the book was going. I figured that Lucretia would befriend Murdock eventually, and there would be some big scene involving the three spoiled preps, but when the big reveal does happen in the book it caught me wholly off-guard. So off-guard, in fact, that I actually needed one of the characters to spell everything out to me (which, nice guy that he is, he did readily). It’s really a talented title from start. You get what you come for when you read a Lauren Wolk book, even if you’re not certain why you came.
If I seek to find flaw, finding flaws is hard to do. However, there were a couple elements of the book I would have liked to see tightened up. The time period, for one thing, is fairly unclear throughout the book. If I had to guess, I’d say that the story takes place before the advent of cell phones. Otherwise, the book could easily take place today. It’s not like class warfare has gotten any less acute in recent decades. Of course, thinking about it, I’m not entirely certain that Ms. Wolk has ever given a strict date to any of her books. Wolf Hollow and its sequel did, but that may have been because there was a specific war that the plot hinged around. This book could technically take place today, but only if you squint and try to imagine cell phones and the internet not being a thing. It’s easy if you try.
At the end of the day, this is the kind of book that can include a Mark Twain quote like, “The very ink with which history is written is merely fluid prejudice,” without anyone batting an eye. Or, my personal favorite, the Edith Wharton line, “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” And remember that secret I alluded to earlier? The Prologue is where you’ll find it. Lucretia tells you that six mysteries waited for her on Candle Island, and she ticks them off. Then she ends by saying, “Each of them exciting in its own way. But none more interesting than the mystery I took there with me.” Challenge the kid you hand this book to (the kind of kid who doesn’t get scared off by slower realistic titles) to try and figure out what that mystery is as they read the book. Odds are, they’ll get so wrapped up in Ms. Wolk’s writing that they completely forget to search for it. That’s Wolk’s power. The ability to intrigue, enchant, and eventually surprise. A beautiful book that is about art while being art.
October 16, 2025
"A moving portrait of loss and the restorative power of art from Lauren Wolk, the Newbery Honor-winning author of Beyond the Bright Sea."
This middle grade book is written beautifully with descriptive language and a lot of sensory images capturing Candle Island's beauty. The New England setting is home now to Lucy and her mother. Even though she is 12 years old her actions are much older. After losing her father in an accident, she mourns for him daily but finds life in her animals, a horse, goat and an osprey. She finds dangerous behavior that comes with the tourists compared to the islanders. Three wealthy teens (bullies) try to wreak havoc on the island and even though she wants to belong, she remains true to herself. She is mature for her age showing empathy for others and caring for her mother. The author displays the artistic talent in Lucy and her mother, although her mother is reclusive, she is very famous for her artwork. This tender story delivers atmospheric with the rocky coast and ocean breeze makes this very enjoyable for all ages. All of her books deliver emotional and realistic characters that are not easily forgotten. There are some mysteries to be solved as Lucy explores the island, a mysterious boy and a hidden room.
This middle grade book is written beautifully with descriptive language and a lot of sensory images capturing Candle Island's beauty. The New England setting is home now to Lucy and her mother. Even though she is 12 years old her actions are much older. After losing her father in an accident, she mourns for him daily but finds life in her animals, a horse, goat and an osprey. She finds dangerous behavior that comes with the tourists compared to the islanders. Three wealthy teens (bullies) try to wreak havoc on the island and even though she wants to belong, she remains true to herself. She is mature for her age showing empathy for others and caring for her mother. The author displays the artistic talent in Lucy and her mother, although her mother is reclusive, she is very famous for her artwork. This tender story delivers atmospheric with the rocky coast and ocean breeze makes this very enjoyable for all ages. All of her books deliver emotional and realistic characters that are not easily forgotten. There are some mysteries to be solved as Lucy explores the island, a mysterious boy and a hidden room.
April 7, 2025
I'm not on the 2026 Newbery committee, but if I was, we would be talking about this book.
July 18, 2025
This is my sixth Lauren Wolk book, and the fifth of hers I've given five stars (the sixth only 4 stars). So I guess I'm a fan, I do indeed love her writing.
Here our MC is Lucretia (Lucy) who is just moving to Candle Island off the coast of Maine, from Vermont, with her mum. Lucy is 12 and both are trying to get a new start. Both love to paint and recently lost their father/husband in an accident because of black ice. This is a classic tale of locals (townies) versus the rich summer people. Lucy starts out as a flatlander (as the outsiders are called, both in Maine and in Vermont) as the locals see her as one of 'them'.
This is a feel good story with surprises, animals (both rescue and domestic), hidden talents, but in the end, the locals getting it over the rich blow ins. Five stars.
Here our MC is Lucretia (Lucy) who is just moving to Candle Island off the coast of Maine, from Vermont, with her mum. Lucy is 12 and both are trying to get a new start. Both love to paint and recently lost their father/husband in an accident because of black ice. This is a classic tale of locals (townies) versus the rich summer people. Lucy starts out as a flatlander (as the outsiders are called, both in Maine and in Vermont) as the locals see her as one of 'them'.
This is a feel good story with surprises, animals (both rescue and domestic), hidden talents, but in the end, the locals getting it over the rich blow ins. Five stars.
May 1, 2025
Lauren W does it again! So much wisdom and beauty in this middle grade book. I’ll need to read it again to catch all the snippets one more time!
Read
June 5, 2025DNF.
I started this book back in March but got really bogged down in it, set it down, and have had no desire to return to it. Even though I read over 75%, I am not motivated to pick it back up. My biggest issue was that our main character felt too grown up and her mother felt more like the child than the adult in their relationship. I just didn’t find it believable and the bullying also got to be too much for me.
I started this book back in March but got really bogged down in it, set it down, and have had no desire to return to it. Even though I read over 75%, I am not motivated to pick it back up. My biggest issue was that our main character felt too grown up and her mother felt more like the child than the adult in their relationship. I just didn’t find it believable and the bullying also got to be too much for me.
March 12, 2025
First, Lauren Wolk knows how to craft a beautiful sentence. She writes in a really lovely, vivid way. I felt invested in this book’s characters and setting (I wanted to spend much more time on Candle Island). I was interested until the end, and I think kids would find this story appealing overall.
But… the credibility. This is about 12-year-old Lucretia (white), who moves to fictional Candle Island off the coast of Maine with her mom. They’re grieving Lucy’s dad’s death, and Lucy’s mom wants to be left alone to paint in peace. After the First Lady bought one of her paintings, she’s been hounded by art critics wanting an interview. There’s tension on Candle Island between “townies,” who live there year-round, and “summer people,” and Lucy quickly stirs the ire of individuals from both groups. Three truly horrible summer kids target her, and a townie named Murdock immediately dislikes Lucy because Lucy and her mom live in Murdock’s old house, which had been seized by the bank. Murdock, whose parents are deceased, is close with her cousin, Bastian, who becomes Lucy’s friend.
There are several threads that come together in this story. First, there’s the osprey chick that Lucy finds and takes home; she plans to care for him until he’s old enough to survive on his own, though she knows that doing so is illegal. There’s the mysterious Italian aria that Lucy hears when she is out exploring. There's a secret about the paintings. And there’s the rash of crimes taking place around the island. These threads all come together in a satisfying, yet rather contrived, way.
There is just so much in this novel that is either 1) an incredible coincidence (i.e. contrived), or 2) simply unrealistic. For instance. I suppose I could accept–grudgingly–And then there are the coincidences. Of course Lucy finds the missing cat from the posters she sees in town, and naturally it belongs to an art critic who lives on the island and is familiar with her mother's art.
There's also the matter of the remarkable competence and skill of Bastian and Murdock. Everywhere Lucy goes, she runs into one or both of them. She wants to learn how to sail around the rocky island? Bastian can teach her. She looks out at the water and sees a lobster boat? Bastian and Murdock are working it. She goes to the library to look something up? Murdock works there. She peeks into the forge? There are Murdock and Bastian MAKING BELLS OUT OF MOLTEN BRASS. These kids are twelve. Related to that, Lucy has the emotional maturity of a 30-year-old. The way she talks and reasons and responds to situations… no 12-year-old would ever.
On the one hand, I was really invested in this story and enjoyed the writing, and on the other, I felt myself getting more and more incredulous as I read. But perhaps this won't bother young readers at all!
But… the credibility. This is about 12-year-old Lucretia (white), who moves to fictional Candle Island off the coast of Maine with her mom. They’re grieving Lucy’s dad’s death, and Lucy’s mom wants to be left alone to paint in peace. After the First Lady bought one of her paintings, she’s been hounded by art critics wanting an interview. There’s tension on Candle Island between “townies,” who live there year-round, and “summer people,” and Lucy quickly stirs the ire of individuals from both groups. Three truly horrible summer kids target her, and a townie named Murdock immediately dislikes Lucy because Lucy and her mom live in Murdock’s old house, which had been seized by the bank. Murdock, whose parents are deceased, is close with her cousin, Bastian, who becomes Lucy’s friend.
There are several threads that come together in this story. First, there’s the osprey chick that Lucy finds and takes home; she plans to care for him until he’s old enough to survive on his own, though she knows that doing so is illegal. There’s the mysterious Italian aria that Lucy hears when she is out exploring. There's a secret about the paintings. And there’s the rash of crimes taking place around the island. These threads all come together in a satisfying, yet rather contrived, way.
There is just so much in this novel that is either 1) an incredible coincidence (i.e. contrived), or 2) simply unrealistic. For instance. I suppose I could accept–grudgingly–And then there are the coincidences. Of course Lucy finds the missing cat from the posters she sees in town, and naturally it belongs to an art critic who lives on the island and is familiar with her mother's art.
There's also the matter of the remarkable competence and skill of Bastian and Murdock. Everywhere Lucy goes, she runs into one or both of them. She wants to learn how to sail around the rocky island? Bastian can teach her. She looks out at the water and sees a lobster boat? Bastian and Murdock are working it. She goes to the library to look something up? Murdock works there. She peeks into the forge? There are Murdock and Bastian MAKING BELLS OUT OF MOLTEN BRASS. These kids are twelve. Related to that, Lucy has the emotional maturity of a 30-year-old. The way she talks and reasons and responds to situations… no 12-year-old would ever.
On the one hand, I was really invested in this story and enjoyed the writing, and on the other, I felt myself getting more and more incredulous as I read. But perhaps this won't bother young readers at all!
September 11, 2024
I received an ARC of this book for my honest opinion.
This is my favorite middle-grade book that I have read in a long time. The characters are well-rounded, interesting, and dealing with real troubles at a young age. This is not a book where kids are talked down to but shown how to process their tough emotions and that they can be managed with time. Although two of the characters are dealing with the death of a parent (or for one of them, both parents), their grief is diverse and realistic without this being a downer of a book. The most fun is in the animals, an orphaned osprey chick, family horse, and sweet goat. Wolk writes nature in its full beauty, with the stunning and ugly hand in hand while reminding us that humans are also part of the natural world. I also appreciate the reality of what it is like to live in a place of extreme ruralism and yet also of tourism, holding the latter with a level of respectful responsibility that this is still someone’s home. Lastly, there is a great call to parents on the importance of childhood freedom even, and perhaps more so, if the child has some level of prodigy. A wonderful book for any home or classroom and especially for any kids who are dealing with the loss of a parent or need to be reminded to embrace their childhood.
This is my favorite middle-grade book that I have read in a long time. The characters are well-rounded, interesting, and dealing with real troubles at a young age. This is not a book where kids are talked down to but shown how to process their tough emotions and that they can be managed with time. Although two of the characters are dealing with the death of a parent (or for one of them, both parents), their grief is diverse and realistic without this being a downer of a book. The most fun is in the animals, an orphaned osprey chick, family horse, and sweet goat. Wolk writes nature in its full beauty, with the stunning and ugly hand in hand while reminding us that humans are also part of the natural world. I also appreciate the reality of what it is like to live in a place of extreme ruralism and yet also of tourism, holding the latter with a level of respectful responsibility that this is still someone’s home. Lastly, there is a great call to parents on the importance of childhood freedom even, and perhaps more so, if the child has some level of prodigy. A wonderful book for any home or classroom and especially for any kids who are dealing with the loss of a parent or need to be reminded to embrace their childhood.
Read
December 16, 2024DNF. This writing is good and the story engaging. It's just not for me. Also, the MC is 12, but seems like she's at least 25. 🤷♀️
July 3, 2025
This would be a 4.5. I love this author’s writing style. There is not a lot of action/ it is more of a slow burn. This would be a great character study for a book club. If you know a student that has experienced loss or is in the “have not”group, it would be a great relatable title. One part I would change is to give more background story to the kids that were the bullies. There is enough to make an inference- but more in this area would but this up to a five.
October 29, 2025
Wow--there was a lot in this middle grade novel: a car accident that left a grieving 12-year-old daughter and a wife; a secret closet; an orphaned osprey chick named 'Gulliver'; a goat named 'Nellie'; a horse named 'Hog'; a mother-daughter secret; a missing painting; ill will between islanders and 'the summer people' and some pretty impressive artistic talents! There's a lot here and Lauren Wolk is such a descriptive and beautiful writer that you feel you're right on Candle Island with the characters. My two favorite quotes:
* "There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it".
* "I would not become a better artist because of their praise. Or their complaints. I would become a better painter by painting".
* "There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it".
* "I would not become a better artist because of their praise. Or their complaints. I would become a better painter by painting".
September 28, 2024
This fine middle grade is about a 12YO artistic girl and her famous artist mom moving to the titular island (1960s?) after the much-loved father's accidental death. All they want is to be left alone to grieve in peace and quiet, but the tense vacationer-townie culture, the presence of a persistent art critic, and a helpless (and protected) osprey chick threaten upheaval in their lives. Many secrets are held and revealed; traumas are brought to life and moved toward healing. I only wished the main younger characters had been a couple of years older, say 14. The book and the first person narrative would have been more believable, the big reveal no less a surprise.
April 30, 2025
There is something very timeless about Candle Island and the beautifully moving story that Lauren Wolk weaved so seamlessly. If this does not win a Newbery, I will lose hope in all that is good and right in the world.
Wolk pulls you right into the world of Lucretia, a girl who is wise beyond her years, and is starting a new life with her mother on Candle Island.
Lucretia is learning how to deal with grief from losing her father, while also embracing happiness and the many nuances of life. The Islanders are not easy to please or impress, but she is able to find friendship with a boy named Bastian, and purpose, as she saves a young osprey and takes care of her sweet horse named Mahogany (Hog). Most of all, Lucretia and her mother hold tight a secret that, if discovered, could completely shatter their already fragile life.
There are so many important quotes and themes in this story (fighting for what's right, friendship, grief, the loss of a parent, being true to oneself, the importance of community), but this one quote stood out amongst the rest:
"There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it."
This book is like a warm hug. A reminder that we can choose how we fight for what's right, and that people can always find connection - they just have to be willing to look for it.
Thank you, Lauren Wolk, for writing this.
Wolk pulls you right into the world of Lucretia, a girl who is wise beyond her years, and is starting a new life with her mother on Candle Island.
Lucretia is learning how to deal with grief from losing her father, while also embracing happiness and the many nuances of life. The Islanders are not easy to please or impress, but she is able to find friendship with a boy named Bastian, and purpose, as she saves a young osprey and takes care of her sweet horse named Mahogany (Hog). Most of all, Lucretia and her mother hold tight a secret that, if discovered, could completely shatter their already fragile life.
There are so many important quotes and themes in this story (fighting for what's right, friendship, grief, the loss of a parent, being true to oneself, the importance of community), but this one quote stood out amongst the rest:
"There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it."
This book is like a warm hug. A reminder that we can choose how we fight for what's right, and that people can always find connection - they just have to be willing to look for it.
Thank you, Lauren Wolk, for writing this.
September 6, 2025
It is summer and Lucretia and her mother are moving onto an island off the coast of Maine. She is first greeted by a mean islander who snarkily calls her New York to let Lucretia know she doesn’t belong there. But Lucretia and her mother have a secret just like Murdock and other islanders. Lauren Wolk’s character portraits never disappoint.
October 27, 2025
NOTE: GREAT READ-ALOUD OPTION, esp for kids into the arts (painting, music, poetry, writing)
Again Lauren has written such a beautiful story. Her books always incite a longing to move to whatever rural location she has chosen (which for this was an island off the coast of Maine). Also love the characters - a trio of children, each with a pull toward some form of artistic beauty (art, music, poetry) - although they are more than just what they appear on the surface. Meanwhile Wolk again brings in characters who display the evils of bullying, selfishness, and an overall disregard for other lives. While these ones did seems a little stereotypical (selfish rich kids from “the cities” who vacation on the island in the summers and go around in polo shirts and Sperrys), their impact on the story and the development of the main characters is important.
And the storyline with the bird was endearing. 😊
Again Lauren has written such a beautiful story. Her books always incite a longing to move to whatever rural location she has chosen (which for this was an island off the coast of Maine). Also love the characters - a trio of children, each with a pull toward some form of artistic beauty (art, music, poetry) - although they are more than just what they appear on the surface. Meanwhile Wolk again brings in characters who display the evils of bullying, selfishness, and an overall disregard for other lives. While these ones did seems a little stereotypical (selfish rich kids from “the cities” who vacation on the island in the summers and go around in polo shirts and Sperrys), their impact on the story and the development of the main characters is important.
And the storyline with the bird was endearing. 😊
August 14, 2025
This book is beautifully written, using gorgeous visual metaphors to capture feelings, environments, and states of mind. I think it expresses how art and nature can heal, but its message is subtle.
As Lucretia’s relationships with islanders develop, we see her healing from the grief that brought her and her mother to this remote spot. Those friendships don’t come easily, and I enjoyed the character development that happens as these relationships grow. There are also interesting insights into why characters act the way they do.
I think my only quibble is one that I have seen in professional reviews: the subplot with the spoiled summer kids doesn’t really add much to the book. But I definitely won’t be surprised if it at least gets a Newbery Honor next year.
As Lucretia’s relationships with islanders develop, we see her healing from the grief that brought her and her mother to this remote spot. Those friendships don’t come easily, and I enjoyed the character development that happens as these relationships grow. There are also interesting insights into why characters act the way they do.
I think my only quibble is one that I have seen in professional reviews: the subplot with the spoiled summer kids doesn’t really add much to the book. But I definitely won’t be surprised if it at least gets a Newbery Honor next year.
May 4, 2025
One of my favorite YA authors, Lauren Wolk, has done it again--created the most beautiful story with a very special young lady at the center. Lucretia (Lucy) and her mother move to Candle Island, Maine to recover from the death of her father and the ongoing pressure from the outside world on her privacy. Her books remind me very much of E.B. White with their blend of humans and animals and the natural world. Highly recommend.
July 2, 2025
3.75 stars
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December 13, 2025
Such an amazing read. Very unpredictable, which equals a good book!
June 13, 2025
"There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it." -Edith Wharton
November 15, 2025
Brilliant. Heart. Soul. All of it.
STOP EVERYTHING & BUY/BORROW A COPY OF THIS BOOK.
All the stars. & then some.
It’s a feel good book like TJ Klune’s work. Gorgeous writing, a great story, a story of healing and courage. It’s brilliant. I laughed, and I cried for all the right reasons.
STOP EVERYTHING & BUY/BORROW A COPY OF THIS BOOK.
All the stars. & then some.
It’s a feel good book like TJ Klune’s work. Gorgeous writing, a great story, a story of healing and courage. It’s brilliant. I laughed, and I cried for all the right reasons.
December 12, 2025
I was incredibly bored. The story is all over the place. The main character lowkey stalks two other kids. The "rich kids" are awful, but the main characters sail and horseback ride and paint and sing opera (all pretty expensive hobbies, last I checked). There is a TON of animal cruelty in this, which I was not a fan of. Yet another book I read for Mock Newbery that was just...what books are adults choosing? What child is sitting through this?
2.5 rounded to a 2. This wasn't it at all.
2.5 rounded to a 2. This wasn't it at all.
July 16, 2025
Wow! Wow! Wow! This book was AMAZING! I know I keep saying this in my other reviews, but for this book, it's true. Probably my favorite read of the summer so far! This book deserves a round of applause!
February 26, 2025
I loved reading this book. I loved it so much that
I immediately started reading it again after I finished it the first time because I wanted to spend more time on Candle Island with all these characters—human and otherwise. If you’re only going to read one Lauren Wolk book, I’m not sure this is the right one. Maybe start with Echo Mountain or Beyond the Bright Sea. But if you’re from away and missing coastal Maine (as I am), this might be just what you need.
I don’t know if there has ever been a twelve-year-old human as grounded and mature as Lucretia is. I myself have never met one, but the world is vast.
I immediately started reading it again after I finished it the first time because I wanted to spend more time on Candle Island with all these characters—human and otherwise. If you’re only going to read one Lauren Wolk book, I’m not sure this is the right one. Maybe start with Echo Mountain or Beyond the Bright Sea. But if you’re from away and missing coastal Maine (as I am), this might be just what you need.
I don’t know if there has ever been a twelve-year-old human as grounded and mature as Lucretia is. I myself have never met one, but the world is vast.
May 7, 2025
I have no words. I just finished this book about thirty seconds ago and had to write this review immediately. I have loved all of Lauren Wolk's books, but this was in my opinion, the best. The ending left me speechless. Well done, Lauren Wolk.
-My favorite quotes-
"You're going to be sad forever, Lucy. But that's not all you'll be. There's room for much more. You'll see."
"You're going to change every time you take a step, take a risk, meet someone, learn something new, get hurt. Either that or you'll plant your feet and atrophy."
-My favorite quotes-
"You're going to be sad forever, Lucy. But that's not all you'll be. There's room for much more. You'll see."
"You're going to change every time you take a step, take a risk, meet someone, learn something new, get hurt. Either that or you'll plant your feet and atrophy."
August 28, 2025
Who knew this middle grade novel would become one of my favorite books of summer, maybe even this year?
Lauren Wolk writes her novels with such a strong sense of place. I can still clearly see this island, the cliffs and houses of coastal Maine.
After tragedy strikes, Lucretia and her mother move to Candle Island to get away and start over. A hidden room, a mysterious boy with a beautiful singing voice - I loved this world Wolk created.
Lucretia learns about the power of her voice, art, and friendship in this beautiful book.
Lauren Wolk writes her novels with such a strong sense of place. I can still clearly see this island, the cliffs and houses of coastal Maine.
After tragedy strikes, Lucretia and her mother move to Candle Island to get away and start over. A hidden room, a mysterious boy with a beautiful singing voice - I loved this world Wolk created.
Lucretia learns about the power of her voice, art, and friendship in this beautiful book.
May 15, 2025
I absolutely love everything Lauren Wolk writes- her use of descriptive language, her ability to create a beautiful setting, and her knack for creating complex characters is remarkable. This was a well crafted story with a big heart. Loved it.
April 7, 2025
Wow.
May 22, 2025
Wolk, Lauren. Candle Island. Dutton, 04/2025. 352pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-0593698549. GRADES 5–7. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Twelve-year-old Lucretia and her mother are looking for a fresh start. Candle Island, Maine is far enough from their Vermont home to offer refuge from reminders of the father and husband they have lost, and is big enough to afford privacy for their art making. But before the pair have driven off the ferry, they are drawn into an escalating conflict between wealthy summer kids and working class islanders. Wolk draws an evocative portrait of both an island and an artistic child. At the center of the many dramatic events is the tension between Lucretia’s desire to avoid harm and her need to connect. Readers can lose themselves in specifics of art making, secret keeping, animal rescue, serious bullying, and friendship. Some characters, and events, seem too bad, or too good, to be true. Readers seeking a lively summer read and a thoughtful life primer will be more than satisfied. Lucretia and most islanders read as white. Review based on an ARC. Thanks to Netgalley and Dutton for a review copy in return for an unbiased review.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired
Twelve-year-old Lucretia and her mother are looking for a fresh start. Candle Island, Maine is far enough from their Vermont home to offer refuge from reminders of the father and husband they have lost, and is big enough to afford privacy for their art making. But before the pair have driven off the ferry, they are drawn into an escalating conflict between wealthy summer kids and working class islanders. Wolk draws an evocative portrait of both an island and an artistic child. At the center of the many dramatic events is the tension between Lucretia’s desire to avoid harm and her need to connect. Readers can lose themselves in specifics of art making, secret keeping, animal rescue, serious bullying, and friendship. Some characters, and events, seem too bad, or too good, to be true. Readers seeking a lively summer read and a thoughtful life primer will be more than satisfied. Lucretia and most islanders read as white. Review based on an ARC. Thanks to Netgalley and Dutton for a review copy in return for an unbiased review.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired
June 26, 2025
In Lauren Wolk’s newest middle grade book, a recent widow and her twelve year old daughter, Lucretia, leave their Vermont home and move to an island in northern Maine. They are looking for a quiet place to pursue their painting.
From the moment they arrive on the ferry, Lucretia receives negative comments and snubs from the local teens. The town people don’t like the summer people, and they let the newcomer know that she is not welcome. With surprising grace and understanding, Lucretia stands up for herself.
I resisted accepting Lucretia’s story because twelve year old's are not wise like Lucretia. It is unrealistic that she knows how to develop friends when, at her Vermont school, she had problems building relationships with her classmates. And despite Lucretia’s young age, her mother trusts her in everything she does when she leaves the house. Gradually, Candle Island won me over, and I accepted the unrealistic elements.
After adjusting to their new house and furnishings, mother sets up her easel and Lucretia does the same as she also likes to paint. This leads to a surprising revelation about their work near the end of the book.
Candle Island was a monthly selection of the Goodreads’ Mock Newbery 2026 group.
Rating: 4 -
From the moment they arrive on the ferry, Lucretia receives negative comments and snubs from the local teens. The town people don’t like the summer people, and they let the newcomer know that she is not welcome. With surprising grace and understanding, Lucretia stands up for herself.
I resisted accepting Lucretia’s story because twelve year old's are not wise like Lucretia. It is unrealistic that she knows how to develop friends when, at her Vermont school, she had problems building relationships with her classmates. And despite Lucretia’s young age, her mother trusts her in everything she does when she leaves the house. Gradually, Candle Island won me over, and I accepted the unrealistic elements.
After adjusting to their new house and furnishings, mother sets up her easel and Lucretia does the same as she also likes to paint. This leads to a surprising revelation about their work near the end of the book.
Candle Island was a monthly selection of the Goodreads’ Mock Newbery 2026 group.
Rating: 4 -
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