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Raft
When Charlie loses Ozzie, his best and only friend, the last thing he expects is to find Emmy. A lonely misfit like Charlie and Ozzie, she’s never had a friend and has no clue about finding one. And like the boys and their island, she has a secret.
The course of these rough-edged kids building a raft together, will never be smooth. But slowly discovering clues to the mystery of Ozzie’s death — why was he out there alone? They may just discover themselves.
What’s the real story behind Emmy’s dead mother, Tish? And who’s following Emmy, everywhere? And Charlie... his Dad wants to uproot him, send him off island to a boarding school. Revealing to everyone that one fierce secret he keeps.
So it’s summer. Can two Island kids adrift, find themselves — and much more — by building a raft before the fall?
The course of these rough-edged kids building a raft together, will never be smooth. But slowly discovering clues to the mystery of Ozzie’s death — why was he out there alone? They may just discover themselves.
What’s the real story behind Emmy’s dead mother, Tish? And who’s following Emmy, everywhere? And Charlie... his Dad wants to uproot him, send him off island to a boarding school. Revealing to everyone that one fierce secret he keeps.
So it’s summer. Can two Island kids adrift, find themselves — and much more — by building a raft before the fall?
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Published February 6, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 23, 2026
I found Jonathan Thomas Stratman’s “Raft” to be a wonderful ride. The book begins on an emotional high, followed quickly by a narrative gut-punch that seems to eliminate any possibility of a continuation of the story. But the response to that gut-punch IS the story, and it is a strong one.
I have enjoyed Stratman’s ability to weave complex and satisfying plots in his other books. He is a master at creating, and ultimately tying up, a Medusa’s tangle of believable loose ends. That being said, what I carried away from this book was not just the power of its plot, but a number of memorable and wholly-drawn characters. His younger characters especially are relatable, but also complex and containing surprising contradictions. In other words, they are drawn as real people. I found myself becoming quite attached to the characters as the book progressed.
As a native of the Pacific Northwest, I was also impressed by the accuracy of the physical and spiritual descriptions of a small coastal community. The town in which the story unfolds, and the ocean around it, become important characters in the story as well.
The book comes to a satisfying ending despite some seemingly insurmountable hard knocks along the way. However, I almost immediately found myself missing the characters after finishing the story. These were people I am glad I got to know, and who I came to care about deeply. I’m hoping perhaps Stratman will bring them to life again in future stories. But regardless, I will remember them fondly from “Raft”.
I have enjoyed Stratman’s ability to weave complex and satisfying plots in his other books. He is a master at creating, and ultimately tying up, a Medusa’s tangle of believable loose ends. That being said, what I carried away from this book was not just the power of its plot, but a number of memorable and wholly-drawn characters. His younger characters especially are relatable, but also complex and containing surprising contradictions. In other words, they are drawn as real people. I found myself becoming quite attached to the characters as the book progressed.
As a native of the Pacific Northwest, I was also impressed by the accuracy of the physical and spiritual descriptions of a small coastal community. The town in which the story unfolds, and the ocean around it, become important characters in the story as well.
The book comes to a satisfying ending despite some seemingly insurmountable hard knocks along the way. However, I almost immediately found myself missing the characters after finishing the story. These were people I am glad I got to know, and who I came to care about deeply. I’m hoping perhaps Stratman will bring them to life again in future stories. But regardless, I will remember them fondly from “Raft”.
October 30, 2023
I've read all of Jonathan's previous books, including his Alaska Father Hardy series.
This is my favorite book of his so far. It takes place in Western WA during the early 1950s. Charlie loses his friend, Ozzy, to drowning. He makes an unlikely friend, Emmy, as a result. These "misfits" work together to build a raft in Ozzie's honor. As they build the raft, they make a huge discovery, which changes things for both of them, their family and community, forever.
I think this is a great read for preteens through adults. It has delightful characters, which become endearing friends as you read the book.
This is my favorite book of his so far. It takes place in Western WA during the early 1950s. Charlie loses his friend, Ozzy, to drowning. He makes an unlikely friend, Emmy, as a result. These "misfits" work together to build a raft in Ozzie's honor. As they build the raft, they make a huge discovery, which changes things for both of them, their family and community, forever.
I think this is a great read for preteens through adults. It has delightful characters, which become endearing friends as you read the book.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews