The Boy Who Sailed the Ocean in an Armchair

by Lara Williamson

Becket Rumsey is all at sea.His dad has run away with him and his brother Billy in the middle of the night. And they've left everything behind, including their almost-mum Pearl. Becket has no idea what's going on – it's a mystery.So with the help of Billy and a snail called Brian, Becket sets out on a journey of discovery. It's not plain sailing but then what journeys ever are?A story of new beginnings, and learning that goodbye isn't always the end, from the bestselling author of A Boy Called Hope.

Genres: Middle Grade, Childrens, Fiction, Contemporary, Young Adult, Family, Relationships

252 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2015

About the author

Lara Williamson is currently attached to her computer keyboard in London. Before this she studied Fashion Design and was attached to a sewing machine in Northern Ireland. Her début MG novel A BOY CALLED HOPE will come out on March 1st 2014. Meanwhile, she is spelling out exciting words in potato alphabet shapes, looking at Uranus, thinking of zombie dogs and counting the days until she can tell everyone she is a proper author.

Reviews

[Camille · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was funny in someways and had hints of jokes and humor but also a tragic background with the kid's parents. I loved the contrast. I remember being like Billy. Trying to be bigger than I actually was. 'SNOOP', their spy agency, was really funny. It made me remember of the days where me and my sister would make things up.

[Kerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5
Beautiful and heartfelt with a far more emotional journey than I had been expecting. 🐌

[Kyra · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5/5)

I'm not sure what grabbed my attention first when I saw this book, perhaps it was the enchanting title or perhaps the cover that promised me a heartwarming, endearing story or the synopsis that drew me in immediately. Or perhaps it was all three. All I know was that I was beyond excited for this book and my heightened expectations were met and even exceeded. The Boy Who Sailed the Ocean in an Armchair was part heartbreaking, part whimsical and fully and completely breathtaking.

The Boy Who Sailed the Ocean in an Armchair centers around ten year old Becket, his seven year old brother Billy and Billy's pet snail, Brian. Billy and Becket are upset and confused when their dad packs their furniture up and whisks them away in the dead of the night, away from their home and their almost-second-mother, Pearl. They are furious with their dad and are determined to find their way back to Pearl and back to their home. Along the way they form a detective agency, meet a delightful cast of characters, grieve, believe and discover that just because someone's gone doesn't necessarily mean it's something as permanent as goodbye.

If I somebody asked me what I loved most about this book, the only possible answer would be everything. I fell in love with this book in the best way possible: from the very first page, a love that surmounted throughout the story until by the end of the last page my heart was exploding with love for this book. I fell in love with the authentic, charismatic characters that have taken up a space in my heart, the witty, scrumptious writing and the meaningful, insightful lessons intertwining this delectable delight, making it a perfect read.

I'll start with the characters as, even after days later, my mind still wanders to them. I loved Becket. I loved his honesty, his snark and the perfect way the author captured the coinciding natures of childhood imagination and curiosity as well as the questions and complex thoughts that accompany those nearing the cusp of adolescence. He just felt so real and was written with so much depth. I found it fascinating how he read medical books and how he wanted to be a doctor and how incredibly smart he was, but it was never unrealistic. He was still quite naive and innocent especially with some of the situations he was faced with and I think that proves what exceptional talent Lara Williamson, to write a character so brilliantly and capture the genuine voice of a child. Reading this book took me back to when I was 10 and it was like being able to rekindle the friendship with my childhood which takes a special sort of novel to accomplish.

I also ADORED Billy, Becket's little brother. He was written so magnificently. He was innocent and imaginative and said exactly what was on his mind and I loved his character. Billy, broke my heart though, he really did. He often wondered whether it was his fault that people left them and he wondered if it was all his fault that his mother died (she passed away during childbirth due to an illness she had) and it tore my heart apart that such a loving, kind, imaginative child could wonder if it was doing that people left them. I just wanted to both grab him and Becket into a massive hug and protect them from the evils of the world. I too loved Billy's friendship with Brian the snail, who has the most personality I've ever seen in a snail before!

Another thing that made me feel warm and fuzzy inside was Becket and Billy's relationship. It was - like everything else - written marvelously and so genuinely. Becket and Billy are brothers, they bicker, the tease each other, at times they think the other is the stupidest creature to ever walk the earth, but they are also unafraid to show each other how much they love and deeply care for the other. I really appreciated that Becket went along with his brother and Brian's shenanigans, the way he allowed Billy's imagination to run wild and set his free as well to run alongside his little brother's. I loved the scenes where Becket would take care of Billy and try to protect him from the monsters that were starting to reveal themselves in this world. It was beautiful, truly.

The other characters were written extremely well too! Every single character in this book had a unique character with interesting backstories interwoven throughout the novel. I loved that. I loved how Lara Williamson made these characters feel so real, it's one of those books where you can picture the characters existing right now, in this world, doing extraordinary things and I find that truly magical. I adored the secondary characters. I loved Cat (my favorite besides Becket and Billy), she was so kind and supportive and I really hope she'll be a constant figure in the boys' lives. I also adored Nevaeh and the faith she had in the world, as well as Knuckles who loved his father and believed in him despite everything. The relationships in this book were written so incredibly brilliant and it was so heartfelt.

That's something else that I loved about this book, was the tenacity and faith the Becket and his friends had. They all had experienced their fair share of difficulties and heartbreak but they never stopped believing, they never lost their belief that things will get better and that really spoke to me. Even though they had times where they doubted themselves and the things they thought they knew, they held onto hope, they saw magic in the world around them instead of allowing themselves to be plagued by the calamities around them. We could all learn to be a little bit more like the characters in this book.

The Boy Who Sailed the Ocean in an Armchair captured my heart from the first page and still hasn't relinquished its grip. The writing was simple, yet touching, the most exquisite writing of all. This book took me back to how it feels to be ten years old, it taught me to never lose faith, to view the world in a magical light, to believe in miracles...and it taught me that just because someone leaves, doesn't mean you have to ever say goodbye to them. The Boy Who Sailed the Ocean in an Armchair had me laughing out loud, it had tears gathering in the corners of my eyes and it had my heart filling itself with love for this book. It's a magical gem of a novel and I highly advise you to read this book so you can fall in love with it just as I have.

[Serendipity Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published on www.serendipityreviews.co.uk

Lara Williamson writes quiet stories with a BIG VOICE! Her main characters are so unique they practically explode out of the book. In this book we meet Becket Rumsey, whose voice is heartwarming, poignant at times, yet also extremely funny. His brother, Billy and his pet snail, are brilliantly written characters too. You find yourself wanting to hug them all.
I absolutely adore the way that Lara writes. In fact, her comical voice is so unique, from now on I shall refer to her turns of phrase as Laraisms! 'Sweet Baby Cheeses' has already become an addition to my conversations. And let's not forget Williamson's hilarious choice of business names - Crops and Bobbers, the hairdressers, Burger She Wrote, the burger bar and The Codfather, Dad's fish delivery service. Where does she get her ideas from?
Lara excels at writing stories that walk a fine line between humour and sadness. One minute, you are wiping a sad tear away, the next you're crying with laughter.
This story has a surprising twist, which I didn't see coming. You'll discover the story doesn't go the way you think it will.
Being a big fan of magical realism, it was fantastic to find it within this story. I loved the story about the origami cranes and how it was weaved into the main story. I also love the idea of butterflies being loved ones who come back to us.
I really think Lara Williamson has outdone herself with her second novel and I can't wait for more from her in the future. This will be a firm favourite within the Middle Grade market and an ideal book for children who are grieving for a loved one. Don't be surprised if this book wins awards over the next year.

[Ben Trevail · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was lent to me by a boy in my class to read over the summer and I'm really glad I have. Probably the funniest book I've read in ages with laugh out loud moments on most pages but dealing with big issues of grief, family relationships and even abusive ones, I will definitely be recommending this to my Y4s next year.

[emaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

NOT ME TEARING UP

[Angela Groves · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this! I think i preferred A Boy Called Hope, but this is certainly a close second. It's a beautiful book, written with so much humour and innocence. The sense of loss throughout is profound, but not depressing, it's a wonderful story of new beginnings and deals excellently with issue of loss in childhood.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet novel of love, hope and friendship in troubled times that shows that sometimes things have to get worse before they get better (I now also want a pet snail!)

[Karen Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eleven year old Becket is struggling to come to terms with how his life has changed recently. For reasons he doesn’t know, their father has taken Becket and his younger brother away from the family home. His girlfriend Pearl isn’t with them, and they are now living in a rather run-down flat and living off takeaways.
Becket and Billy miss Pearl and decide to try and investigate. Well-meaning though their actions are, they inadvertently end up causing more trouble.
Settling into a new school is tough. Becket tries to look after his brother, telling him wonderful stories connected to their mother’s armchair, but he cannot get comfortable with his brother’s pet snail.
As is often the way, the story comes from misunderstandings and there’s a definite sense that a lot of issues would not have arisen if the family members trusted each other.
Eventually a dramatic rescue brings things to a head,but by the end of the book things are looking up for Becket and his family.

[Bethany Sawford · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is told from the point of view of Bennett, who along with his Dad and brother have moved house in the middle of the night, leaving their Dad's girlfriend behind. Bennett and Billy are left confused and bewildered by all the changes (unsurprisingly) so decide to turn detective to find out what is going on. We also follow Bennett as he starts a new school and makes new friends, while dealing with his home life and trying to deal with the fact that his mother died years before. I wasn't entirely convinced by the characters in this story, perhaps it was the voice but I spent most of the story bemused and the ending still left me with questions. I did like that this book tackled some tough problems, like grief and adult relationships, but it seemed to have a lot of these things included which I found overwhelming. I liked the story within the story about the armchair, where the boys would curl up and listen to stories, and wished it was a bigger part of the story. This would be a great book for children who have experienced similar things, to show them that they are not alone.

[Ellie (bookmadbarlow) · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a really enjoyable middle grade book that was poignant but also laugh out loud funny in places.
The boys have grown up with just a dad after their mother died, and they don't quite understand all the adult things going on around them, but they try to. They start a spy agency called SNOOP and end up starting a butterfly effect with the people around them.
The book delves into grief, death, and single parenting, but also friendship and familial bonds.
The paper crane element was lovely and I loved how the brothers looked out for each other.
I definitely recommend this for older middle grade readers. Wonderful.

[Heli Künnapas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taas üks raamat, mille puhul ma ei suutnud lõpuni välja selgeks saada, kas see raamat meeldib mulle väga või ei meeldi üldse. Fakt on aga, et ega lugemine väga kiiresti edasi ei läinud ja samas ... mulle nii meeldis, kuidas mitmeid teemasid oli käsitletud. Ehk siis segased tunded.

Pikemalt kirjutan blogis: https://midaheliluges.blogspot.com/20...

[Len · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first thought when I saw the title was that this book must be by an American author. Then a synopsis with mentions of bereavement, dead mother, father tearing himself apart emotionally as he struggles to look after his children and give them a new family life, two young boys grieving inwardly while trying to help their father, made me think - yes, it must be by an American. Counselling and psychotherapy everywhere, it couldn't be shouted louder. Then I began reading and what came out was a very, very British sense of humour. Most of it in the form of little jokes and repartee, especially between the boys, Becket and Billy.

This is the boys concluding the making of a plan to find out why they have had to move house:

"I know," I mumble back, "exactly what I was thinking."
Billy squeezes my hand again, but more urgently this time. I squeeze his hand back. Then I remember that he picked his nose.

And there is an ongoing motif of Billy's pet snail, Brian, and the little mollusc's several reincarnations. However, the prize has to go to a little bit of typically risque British humour when the boys are searching for Pearl's - their dad's last girlfriend - whereabouts. They track her down to a local church hall where she is giving art lessons. Now, before they went out, their father had promised Billy that he could have a battered sausage (a sausage deep-friend in batter) with his chips later. Billy insists Brian wants it. Meanwhile, at the church hall, the boys are outside the public toilet when the door opens and out walks the artist's model.

"A man wearing a loose dressing gown walked out. Colour: beige (the dressing gown, not the man). The front of it fell open as he was trying to tie the cord around his waist. He was naked underneath.
Billy said, 'Brian doesn't want a battered sausage any more.' Then he said the man must be very cold. I could neither confirm nor deny this."

It all keeps the sentiment from overflowing and there is a great of suppressed sentimentality in the story. Dad's desperation to end his affair with Pearl after he accepts she would never really care for his children; Becket's Goodbye List to his mum and his origami cranes; Billy's accidental brush with drowning and his listening to Becket's story in their mother's favourite armchair. It would be enough to either bring tears to the eyes or wobbles to the chin - if the jokes and everyday conversation of small boys were not there to anchor everything down.

It is a really enjoyable story with believable characters and dialogue and, naturally, a happy ending.

[Eleanor Turnbull · Rating 4 out of 5]

My housemate suggested I read this book even though it is a children's book & I'm glad I did because it was beautiful but so sad. I think it just sends a really beautiful message, and I did have a lump in my throat for quite a lot of it.

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this book based on the fun cover thinking it would be a light read about growing up. Instead it is a beautifully written book about losing a loved one, trauma and grief written from an 11 year old perspective. Easy to follow.

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

well I didn't expect this book to be so soul crushing and emotional as it was....

[Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book

[Elizabeth Appenheimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kind of story that will comfort a kid in a similar situation, bring understanding a kid who doesn't understand their friend's difficulties, and give adults an idea of how their choices affect the kids around them.

[Rameen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review:
5/5
Becket Rumsey and his little brother Billy and his pet snail Brian start to investigate as soon as their father had taken them away in the middle of the night, without their almost to step mum Pearl who didn’t know anything about it. Without any explanation from their father, Becket, Billy and Brian are left in the dark, so they create “SNOOP” – Secret Network of Observations, Operations, and Probing. A secret spy organization they created to figure out why the moved and to get back Pearl. In this story, it shows how Becket is struggling to say goodbye to his deceased mother as well as his classmates and friends learn morals from each other.

THE NEXT PARAGRAPH ARE SPOILERS (THE SUMMARY OF THE BOOK) ABOVE IS THE REVIEW.




Becket Rumsey and his younger brother Billy and their father live in a very big house with their almost to be step mum Pearl. Becket is an 11-year-old with an interest in science and the human body. Billy is a 7-year-old with a very big interest in bugs.Until the three of them leave in the middle of the night without pearl and without her knowing with no explanation. They move into a medium sized flat with a neighbor named Cat who also owns a hair salon called crops and bobbers underneath their flat. Because everything is unclear the two brothers create “SNOOP” – Secret Network of Observations, Operations and Probing. A secret spy organization they created to figure out why the moved and to get back Pearl.

Later, Becket and Billy must go to a new school called “Bleeding Hart” with a new teacher. On the first day of school his father gives him a paper crane to take with him because the crane reminded him of his mother who had died when Billy. Was born. He learns in school the legend of the paper crane which is whoever makes 1000 paper cranes gets one wish. After he spends his time trying to make 1000 paper cranes. And figures out how to say goodbye to his mom by creating “The Goodbye list” and their neighbor Cat helping him.

The first snoop mission is when Becket, Billy and his pet snail Brian, visit their old house in Honey Down hills only to find strangers moving in with a destroyed portrait of pearl in the backyard and disappointment. They had tried a couple of more times finding her and texting her with no luck. As school progressed the more kind off friend's becket made who were: Knuckles, Neveah and Mimi who later help him. Next off Billy finds a flyer for where Pearl is giving art classes and visits with becket finding her with someone else and disliking her.

Eventually, Becket decides to call Pearl and invite her to their housewarming party where everything takes a turn. Pearl starts to become furious when she sees Cat and their father having a good time which turns into a massive argument and Pearl telling Billy he was the result his mother died. Which results their dad attacking Pearl and down at the Police station. The more the mysteries unravel the harder it become for Becket to put everything in Place.

Sooner or later Billy falls of the harbor and becket tries to go after him to save him which he manages to. And their friends knuckle and Neveah calling the ambulance taking them to the hospital, however there father not able to come due to being at the police station again. However, Cat coming to pick them up.

The reason that they snuck out in the middle of the night is that Pearl has been shouting and destroying many things and their dad wanted to protect his two sons and turns out that Pearl had been attacking their father all along by destroying things, pushing him and digging her nails into him.





Overall, this is a really good book that I had enjoyed.

[Malak Mahmoud · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a great book if you are interested in mystery, emotion and action!

[Ms Kirby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is quite similar to Wonder (by R.J.Palacio) as it concerns a young boy who has many troubles, but overcomes them and there is a happy ending.
Becket's Mum has died and he is missing her and trying to look after his younger brother. He also tries to look after his Dad, who mysteriously moves them to a new flat overnight without any warning. This means they lose contact with their father's girlfriend, who was almost like a mother to the boys.
Some parts of this are really good. I liked the plot and characters. I wasn't as keen on some of the thoughts/ conversation from the young boys which didn't seem realistic for such young children.
However, the story shows relationships at school and the brother's attempts to reconcile their father with his girlfriend, leading to a dramatic rescue near the end of the book.
I didn't really like the ending as much as it is sugar-sweet and a bit too much like fairy-tale for my my liking.

[Mike Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!

5 🌟 doesn’t come easy.
This book had sat on my shelf for quite a long time, and I never really knew when I would get round to reading it. When I did pick it up I didn’t really put it down again... apart from when I went to sleep!
If you have suffered a loss or a trauma or grief in your life, then Becket and little Billy are easily identifiable characters. For me, it was my Grandma, and even though I was older than Becket when it happened, his fear and regret reminded my so closely to my own.
Add into that story, Dad’s struggles and the inclusion of a really tough theme (one I don’t think I have ever come across before in middle grade fiction) and you have a fantastic story of survival, hope and the power of friendship.
The Boy Who Sailed the Ocean in an Armchair, is a must read for adults, let alone 10-12 year olds!

[Hannah Firek · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good read but with some dark issues throughout it. Not appropriate for anyone less than mid teenage years in my opinion. Basically, the story is about saying goodbye to a parent who has died, however there is also a chapter that suggests a child commits suicide, however late goes on to clarify he just fell in the water. Near the end of the story, it also touches on domestic abuse (woman hurting man). A good read but one that needs to be read with caution as it will bring up questions and issues for younger readers.

[Kirsty · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can see this is going to be a really sweet read but not at all what I'm in mood for at the moment. Leaving until I'm in better reading frame of mind.

[Ida · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew so little about this that it was a surprise to find it a children’s book but quickly that became more about style than anything, it’s written in a way which is accessible to children and though at times I wondered if I had more understanding than the intended reader it was short lived and the reveals showed me that in fact, no, I hadn’t. Another huge thing this book has taught me is that a lack of communication isn’t frustrating when it’s believable even before the even more believable explanation, I thought that everything in this was so well handled.
The only real fault I found in this was that the story told from the armchair felt a little out of place, like our narrator had some foreknowledge of what was to come in his life, something about it just didn’t sit quite right with me. It also wasn’t quite as prominent as I’d expect from the title, but it was still a beautiful story within the story and I did like how it related on different levels.
The writing was engaging, there were some brilliant puns, and the plot gripping, so much happened without overwhelming and I was hooked from the start. It hit harder than I’d anticipated and it’s definitely one I’ll return to.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lara Williamson is a first rate children's writer, and this is another great book by her. Beckett and his brother Billy begin this story with a sudden move to a new home with their dad. They leave behind Pearl, Dad's girlfriend. Their natural mother died a few years before, and Beckett feels like he never got to say goodbye, and now they want Pearl back too. Beckett and Billy set to work on making that happen, and the results are hilarious.

Billy has a pet snail called Brian. Brian gets up to mischief, but Billy doesn't. I know you think that it is Billy getting up to mischief, and that Brian cannot even talk, but Brian told Billy you would say that.

Indeed Billy is adorable. A lot of the humour of this story comes from him. As with other stories by this author, this one plays with your emotions a bit, but it all comes right in the end.

Thoroughly recommended for mid grade readers and anyone who likes stories for mid grade children. This is a heartwarming tale that could entertain any age.

[Milan Nathani · Rating 4 out of 5]

There aren't many people in our world today who can survive such trauma suffered by 11 year old Becket Rumsey in this book. After his mom's death when he was really young, he has been struggling to find his own happy place. When dad found his new partner, Becket was finally having a speedy recovery. But of course, he couldn't hold on to the small amount of happiness he had inside. This book zooms in on the traumatic life of one boy, a boy who hasn't been able to regain his happiness after his disturbing experiences of trying to be part of a loving, cheerful family.

Aside from being a heart wrenching first person narrative on grief and how to cope with it, The boy who sailed the ocean in an armchair also includes suspense, plot twists, and more, which makes this an interesting read for all kinds of readers.

[Hanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like the relationship between the boys and their father. Their father messes up a LOT and the boys endure his consequences. I know no one is perfect, but the boys come out all good, forgive their dad and seem to have no trauma from the experiences. And the dad doesn't do anything to help his boys through their grief or what he's put them through. This comment is solely for the story itself (not judging parents or real world life, etc. etc... don't @ me), but there should have been a more redemptive arc to the relationship between the boys and their dad. Overall, it was a very heartfelt read. I did enjoy the book. The author does a great job pulling you into Becket's world and empathizing with his frustrations, fears, and sadness.

[Luisina Yannicelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Becket Rumsey is a smart, creative and sensitive boy who loves his brother Billy and father. He struggles to find a way to say goodbye to his mother, who sadly passed away when his brother was born. Suddenly one night the three of them run away in the middle of the night leaving dad's girlfriend behind. Lara Wilson has found a way to make this story relate for both young teens and adults. A lovely reflection about the importance of not underestimating children's capacities to deal with serious problems, relationships and bonding.

[Susan Grigsby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Told from the perspective of Becket, the reader is kept guessing about why his father has mysteriously moved them from what he and his brother Billy considered a happy home. Realistically written in the child's voice with a child's thought processes, the actions of Becket and Billy are believable and (sometimes) hilarious. The brotherly bond was lovely, too.
This book covers a topic that is rarely addressed in children's literature (Spoiler Alert): spousal abuse when the abuser is the female in the relationship.