If Ever I Return Again

by Corinne Demas

In 1856, twelve-year-old Celia Snow sets sail with her parents on her father's whaling ship and chronicles her subsequent adventures on the more than two-year voyage in a series of letters written to her cousin Abigail

Genres: Historical Fiction

197 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Corinne Demas is the award-winning author of thirty-nine books, including six novels (Daughters, The Road Towards Home, The Writing Circle), two short story collections, a memoir (Eleven Stories High, Growing Up in Stuyvesant Town, 1948--1968), a poetry chapbook, and numerous books for children (The Littlest Matryoshka, Saying Goodbye to Lulu, The Disappearing Island, The Perfect Tree). She is a Professor Emerita of English at Mount Holyoke College and a Fiction Editor of The Massachusetts Review. Along with her family, two donkeys, and a precocious puppy, she divides her time between Western Massachusetts and Cape Cod, two settings that have inspired her books.

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1856, twelve-year-old Celia Snow leaves her little brother and a comfortable life in a small New England seaport village to join her father, a sea captain, and her mother on a whaling voyage that could last up to four or five years. Desperatley lonely on the monotanous journey, with whales few and far between, Celia writes long, detailed letters to her cousin Abigail, back home. She describes the daily routine of life on board a whaling ship, a stay on the beautiful Sandwich Islands (now Hawaii), where her mother's difficult pregnancy leads to the birth of a frail baby girl that does not live long, a whaling venture into the Arctic, a first love, and more, as she matures over two long, difficult years filled with hardship, illness, and even death. This book would most likely appeal to girls who enjoy other historical fiction such as the Dear America books. In addition, for another story about a young girl's experiances on a whaling voyage, take a look at Hurricane: Open Seas, 1844, written by Kathleen Duey and Karen A. Bale.

[Miss Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

gr 5-8 197 pgs


the whaling ship the Jupiter, 1856. Told through the letters that 12 year old Celia Snow writes to her cousin about her experiences aboard her father's whaling ship. Celia is excited that she is considered old enough to travel with her mother and father while her younger brother is left with her cousin. Celia describes daily shipboard life, how they harvest the whale oil from the whales they catch, traveling around the horn, a stop in the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) etc

Good adventure story

[Lonette · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main character, a twelve year old girl, learns a lot about life, sailing, and relationships as she spends two years aboard a whaling ship of which her father is captain. Her views of the world, whaling, and most especially her mother, who is traveling with them, change during the course of this journey.

[Morgan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't like this book. The heroine of the story and her father have a twisted view of God. They believe that He created them and everything, but that prayer is futile and that He (God) leaves it up to them to determine the course for their life. The only things you can trust in is yourself. It left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Would not recommend.

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kind of a rash decision but I was very bored. Every journal talked about how much she missed home and it didn't feel like it was going anywhere...
It's a short children's book so I don't feel too bad for ending it short.
I gave it a go because it was on my bookshelf and I thought it'd be interesting. : /

[LeeAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good coming-of-age book told from the perspective of a daughter. It seems there are many of these about boys, not so many about the travails of a girl during this time.

[Lindsee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not very far in this book, but I like it a lot!

[Wynter M · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was ver boring, the mom was really mean, and a baby dies at 3 weeks

[Laura]

whaling boat

[Carrie Dalby · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE by Avi you'll probably enjoy this seafaring adventure told in the form of letters by the captain's daughter to her cousin back home.

[Kaylee T · Rating 3 out of 5]

IF EVER I RETURN AGAIN
In 1856 a twelve year old named Celina Snow leaves her little brother and her comfortable life in a small New England village to join her father, a sea captain and her mother on a whaling voyage that could last up to 5 years. She describes the daily on board a whaling ship, a stay on the beautiful sandwich Islands. This book would most likely appeal to people who enjoy historical fiction.