Avis Dolphin

by Frieda Wishinsky, Willow Dawson (Illustrations)

Inspired by the story of actual passengers on the ill-fated Lusitania, this is a novel of great adventure and suspense, including graphic novel-style illustrations.

Avis Dolphin doesn’t want to leave New York and sail to England on the Lusitania. War is raging in Europe, and the Germans threaten to sink the ship. Avis is lonely and afraid until she meets a kindly professor whose stories of a magical island help her face an uncertain future.

When the Lusitania is attacked, Avis must draw on all her newfound strength to cope with the confusion, terror and despair. How can she survive the sudden devastation of the ship? Will the people she cares about, especially the professor, live through the horror and danger? 

The immediacy of Frieda Wishinsky’s voice will engage readers in this thrilling story based on real events. They will identify with Avis and Professor Holbourn as they grapple with a stubborn captain, encounter German stowaways and contend with the feud between Avis’s two cabin mates. In an atmosphere of growing anxiety, readers will be glued to the dramatic events as they unfold and the surprising fate of the people they have come to know.

Willow Dawson’s art depicts the stories the professor tells Avis in enchanting graphic-novel form. They provide a riveting magical element to the story, creating a story-within-a-story.

Like Avis, readers will fall in love with Foula and will dream of the island long after they have reached the last page of this exciting story.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Middle Grade, Graphic Novels, War, Juvenile, Childrens

168 pages, Hardcover

First published March 25, 2015

Reviews

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting, unusual story, from a child’s point of view, about the fateful sailing of the Lusitania and it’s sinking after being torpedoed by German U-boats off the coast of Great Britain during WWI. I didn’t love the graphic novel story-within-a-story. Although the illustrations were well done, I wasn’t captivated by the story. Good historical fiction for 4th, 6th and 6th grade readers.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The journey of reluctant traveler Avis, a clever twelve-year-old, on the steamship Lusitania is both a growing up and a creative way of telling a difficult story in both words and pictures—one the dramatic reality and the other an escape. That Lusy's final voyage came a year after that of the Empress of Ireland makes similarities in their stories understandable: first-, second-, and third-class passengers, plush surroundings and delicious food (for at least two of those groups), carrying the mail, and anticipating multiple days on the open sea. Surprising was the identical experience of the long-resident mascot cat deserting the ship just prior to the fateful trip. It's a mystery how Dowie and Emmy knew not to board. Kudos to author Frieda Wishinsky and illustrator Willow Dawson for a shipwreck story well told.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't really know much about the sinking of the Lusitania - this was a good book to pique my interest.
Avis Dolphin was a real person who actually did sail on the Lusitania and while most of the story is fiction there is enough true life scenes and characters to make it hold your interest even though it is a juvenile novel.
The bits and pieces of graphic novel telling the tale of the Island of Foula (that is related to Avis by her shipboard friend, author professor Holbourn) are a little out of place or maybe it's just that the illustrations are very busy and a little hard to follow. I would have liked a little more clarity there because the tale is intriguing.

[Caitlin Snyder · Rating 2 out of 5]

completely snowed by the design and graphic novel bits. the illustrations are gorgeous, the writing is garbage. one of those books that make kids sound simple. woof.

[Andrea Balsara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning about the Lusitania, and the character of Avis was charming. This book seemed to be written for the 8-10 crowd, as it was quite simple in its sentences, and story telling. For that age group, it’s an exciting read. I was intrigued by the graphic novel parts, and as an illustrator myself, I thought I would love them more. Perhaps it’s because the artwork was done in a way that is very different from how I illustrate, and my bias is showing. I felt, however, that it was hard to decipher the illustrations, as there was so much going on. The focal point in each illustration was really hard to figure out for me. Having said that, the illustrations were very creative, and they added a wildness to an otherwise fairly safe story. At the end, and I won’t spoil it for young readers who don’t know what happened historically, I felt it came too abruptly. I would have liked to have seen more story on the back end of the event, versus 99% happening beforehand.

A very well done book, with interesting illustrations. I am giving this book a four because of the creative use of graphic novel inserts, along with the engaging story.

[Kaitlyn Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about the Lusitania. If you're looking for action, this isn't the book for you. The actual sinking takes about two pages, the majority of the book is about the main character, Avis Dolphin, and her mild drama and doesn't focus on the ship itself. It's a good book, but when I read it, I was disappointed in the lack of focus on the sinking and ship since I knew little about the Lusitania. If you're a fan of the Titanic, you'll be pleased to know there are quite a few references to the magnificent ship. Although the book is short, the author describes the characters in such a way that they're easy to love and connect with. I personally loved the professor.

[Meaghan Steeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fantastic, and I did cry at the end. I only docked off a star because some of the language seemed unrealistic in what a character would say, especially some of the adult characters. The artwork was good too, a very pro-vegan message which may not have been the intention but was interesting all the same.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ha was a beautiful yet near pennas. Im mel i iuithi- -o pictures na treneri- i sinnarn -o Foula. Cin tur- reallui know how i núr who survived i disaster, like Avis, felt.

[Colette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part novel, part graphic novel, Avis Dolphin will appeal to young readers who have an interest in Titanic-style fiction. Avis is 12 years old and sailing aboard the Lusitania from New York to Liverpool in company of Sarah and Hilda. Avis befriends Professor Holbourn who begins to tell her stories about a magical island called Faula. The illustrations tell the story of Faula within the story of the sinking of the Lusitania in a beautiful way. Wishinsky's story is calm and leisurely up until the dramatic events after the vessel is torpedoes. Sensitive readers are spared the goriest of details, placing the novel as a good choice for newly independent readers.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an odd little book--inspired by two real people, part graphic novel, historical fiction, and sort of a nebulous audience.

Avis Dolphin was a real person, and her life is so interesting that the story compels. Yet, Avis' voice sort of falls flat. The description of vital scenes often just sits there on the page--I can't tell if it's because Wishinsky is gearing the story at young readers or if it's just dull writing.

But the ideas are good, and you root for Avis and the others. I think this is sure to interest a few different kinds of readers, with a good book talking.

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

Agree with other Goodread review, the information on the Lusitania was info and the idea of relating a story to that, as was the info on which of the characters were based on real people. Otherwise, although there were elements to like and the incorporation of the graphic content was an innovative way of telling the story of Foula, overall it was an okay but not great book for this reader.

[Katie Farmer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is physically beautiful, the design and the illustrations- but that's where it ends. The story felt stilted and the dialogue was so choppy and nothing in the story felt believable. The only interesting thing about this book were the facts about the Lusitania and the real people the characters were based on. Sadly, I did not enjoy this at all.

[Jonine Bergen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the concept of the book - the story within a story, the historical component, and the graphic component. However, I was disappointed that the two stories didn't intersect. Also, although the story is about the sinking of the Lusitania and there is a lot of details about the ship, it is missing the drama and excitement of the ship.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Canadian Avis Dolphin sails for England aboard the Lusitania. Gripping historical fiction with interesting wordless graphic interludes depicting the fantastical stories a professor traveling on board tells Avis.

[Karla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I reviewed this book for Mabel's Fables Bookstore. http://mabelsfablesraves.blogspot.ca/...

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating account of the sinking of the Lusitania - Avis's story is paired with a fantasy story that she is told while on board - a lovely wordless story beautifully rendered by Willow dawson

[Tammy Flanders · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the format but found the writing a bit flat.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good, but not much more than that.

[Forreste · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice little fictional novel to read in companion with Dead Wake, the nonfiction account of Lusitania.

[Woff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. The two stories didn't really blend together that well. And I could have gone more about the disaster itself and less about the snooty boat folk.