The Boy Who Brought the Sea

by Annie James Thomas

When silence speaks, won't you listen?

Fiona Teuling suffers home confinement with a sickly twin and craves days beyond school lessons, imaginary adventures, and her sister's medical needs. Trapped in a prison with her mother as warden, Fiona longs for escape.

When her father abandons the family and a sea captain takes his place, Fiona's need for the outside world escalates as she seeks forbidden solace in Damon, a boy from the docks. Damon convinces Fiona to flee aboard a departing ship. With home a distant echo, Fiona braves a world she could have only imagined as the line between fantasy and reality blurs. Will Fiona discover the life she seeks, or will Damon be her complete undoing?

THE BOY WHO BROUGHT THE SEA is a character study that brings to light isolation's horrors, the need for human connection, and the consequences of reality unraveled.

PRAISE FOR THE BOY WHO BROUGHT THE

"My favorite book this year, no joke!" - John E. Meredith, author

"“The Boy Who Brought the Sea is a gothic fairytale with psychological elements that will keep you turning pages deep into the night." -Fred Charles, editor for Loud Coffee Press

289 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 2, 2024

Reviews

[Matthew Kushin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. The best work of fiction I have read this year. The Boy Who Brought the Sea is a hauntingly beautiful story about two isolated sisters and what is real and what isn't. I quickly jumped in along with Fiona, the protagonist, due to her bright, observant, witty voice. Annie James Thomas does a remarkable job of establishing a sense of place, and a feeling of youthful curiosity and rebellion bucked by isolation and the power that adults possess over children. The characters, setting, and tension couldn't have felt more real. Bravo! As Fiona's struggle becomes revealed during the progression of the story, I was straddled between the mystery of the journey (I won't say more as to not spoil it) and the slow reveal of a secondary storyline (again, I'm trying to avoid spoilers). This book flows. It's well-paced. It's voicy. It's smart. It's both innocent and eary. It sucks readers in. Read this book now!

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story blew me away and I’ll be thinking about it for many days to come. Part adventure, part mystery, and part psychological, The Boy Who Brought the Sea is so well written, so smart, so well paced, you’ll not want to put it down. It’s haunting and sad and even terrifying at times. But so incredibly good!

This story broke my heart in the worst and best way and left me wanting more from this author ASAP.

[C.L. Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Great debut! This books is if Sandra Cisneros The House on Mango Street met Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and had a book baby. It’s lyrical and different and intriguing.

[Anthea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This smart, atmospheric psychological drama will quickly draw you in and then linger in your head long after you’ve finished it. You just might find yourself returning to page 1 to read it again.
I hope to read more from this author!