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Big Water
Seventeen-year-old Christina McBurney, grieving the loss of her twin brother, Jonathan, to consumption, has run away from her Parkdale home. She believes her mother wishes she had been the one to die, and she plans to find work far away as a nursemaid or teacher. Christina's cousin Peter is the first mate on the Asia, a steamship that transports passengers and freight throughout the Great Lakes, so she seeks him out to secure passage to Sault Ste. Marie.
But when a violent storm suddenly rises, the overloaded and top-heavy steamship begins to sink. Christina, heeding the warnings from her cousin, somehow makes her way to the hurricane deck. A large wave tosses her overboard, but just before she loses consciousness, she is pulled to safety.
Hours later, adrift on the wide-open water of Georgian Bay, in a lifeboat full of corpses, Christina is nervous about being alone with Daniel, a brooding young man with a likely criminal past and the only other passenger left alive. But they both know that working together is the only way they will find the strength to make it to safety.
Big Water is a fictional account of the real-life story of the only two survivors of the sinking of the SS Asia in 1882.
But when a violent storm suddenly rises, the overloaded and top-heavy steamship begins to sink. Christina, heeding the warnings from her cousin, somehow makes her way to the hurricane deck. A large wave tosses her overboard, but just before she loses consciousness, she is pulled to safety.
Hours later, adrift on the wide-open water of Georgian Bay, in a lifeboat full of corpses, Christina is nervous about being alone with Daniel, a brooding young man with a likely criminal past and the only other passenger left alive. But they both know that working together is the only way they will find the strength to make it to safety.
Big Water is a fictional account of the real-life story of the only two survivors of the sinking of the SS Asia in 1882.
192 pages, Paperback
Published March 6, 2018
60 people are currently reading
323 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Curtis
22 books25 followersAndrea Curtis is an award-winning writer in Toronto whose books have been published around the world. She writes for both adults and children.
Her most recent kids' books are Barnaby (Owlkids) and City of Water (Groundwood). She is also the author of A Forest in the City (Groundwood), Eat This! How Fast Food Marketing Gets You to Buy Junk (and How to Fight Back) and What's for Lunch? from Red Deer Press.
Her first YA novel is Big Water, published by Orca. It's inspired by the true story of a shipwreck on Georgian Bay, Lake Huron, and the harrowing experience of the two teenaged survivors.
Her most recent adult book, written with Nick Saul, is the National Bestseller, The Stop: How the Fight for Good Food Transformed a Community and Inspired a Movement. It is published by Random House Canada and Melville House Press in the US and UK. It was shortlisted for the Toronto Book Award and won the Taste Canada Award for Culinary Narratives.
Andrea's critically acclaimed creative nonfiction book Into the Blue: Family Secrets and the Search for a Great Lakes Shipwreck (Random House) won the Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction.
Andrea lives in Toronto, Canada, with her family.
Her most recent kids' books are Barnaby (Owlkids) and City of Water (Groundwood). She is also the author of A Forest in the City (Groundwood), Eat This! How Fast Food Marketing Gets You to Buy Junk (and How to Fight Back) and What's for Lunch? from Red Deer Press.
Her first YA novel is Big Water, published by Orca. It's inspired by the true story of a shipwreck on Georgian Bay, Lake Huron, and the harrowing experience of the two teenaged survivors.
Her most recent adult book, written with Nick Saul, is the National Bestseller, The Stop: How the Fight for Good Food Transformed a Community and Inspired a Movement. It is published by Random House Canada and Melville House Press in the US and UK. It was shortlisted for the Toronto Book Award and won the Taste Canada Award for Culinary Narratives.
Andrea's critically acclaimed creative nonfiction book Into the Blue: Family Secrets and the Search for a Great Lakes Shipwreck (Random House) won the Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction.
Andrea lives in Toronto, Canada, with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
December 26, 2017
The author laid bare the internal strife of a heart-wrenching side of grief. Hard to watch. Painful to read. Mourning the loss of a loved one, much too unbearable to face drove the main protagonist to flee. Anywhere. Leave it all behind. Only, she couldn't run away from herself. Risking what would be an unlucky role of the dice, she would soon find herself set on a collision course destined for disaster. Right place - wrong time. Luck of the draw. This well-written narrative took me on a perilous journey. A tailspin I won't soon forget.
With horrifying clarity, Andrea Curtis recounted the chilling last moments of life on board the doomed steamship Asia. More suited for ferry service than that of an open water going vessel, it filled-in for another ship on that ill-fated morning. A great disaster in the making. The vessel with passengers and crew of more than 100 entered stormy waters for which it was not designed. Without warning, enormous rogue waves slammed the ship with a vengeance. I felt the terror rise within me with every wave that furiously swept overboard. It was all so palpable. This catastrophe still stands as the worst disaster of the Great Lakes. The tragedy occurred on September 14th, 1882 on the waters of Georgian Bay. The steamship Asia was sent to Davy Jones' Locker. The voyage of the damned. Everyone on board lost - save two.
As had been known to suddenly happen, a storm gathered in from nowhere. In shocking detail, the author described how the defenseless ship was repeatedly bashed with mountainous waves. Tossed about like a child's toy in a bathtub. It's hull shuttered and groaned. Finally, gave-way to the menacing water. There were no lifeboat drills prior to departing port. Panic seized the ship. It was everyone for themselves. Pandemonium broke out. In altered states of shock, some dove into descending lifeboats causing serious injuries - broken limbs. Others never made it that far.
Afloat somewhere in the middle of Georgian Bay, Christina McBurney and several others clung perilously aboard an ill-suited 20-foot Lifeboat. The small craft was all that stood between them and the gaping jaws of the bloodthirsty water. The wind whipped violently as the waves pounded the dinghy with an anger heard deep within the bowels of hell. Gigantic swells flipped it over a few times dumping everyone into the frigid water. With never-ending freezing winds and punishing waves, it came down to a matter of survival of the fittest. Barely making it, only two lived to tell its horrific tale.
My thanks to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
With horrifying clarity, Andrea Curtis recounted the chilling last moments of life on board the doomed steamship Asia. More suited for ferry service than that of an open water going vessel, it filled-in for another ship on that ill-fated morning. A great disaster in the making. The vessel with passengers and crew of more than 100 entered stormy waters for which it was not designed. Without warning, enormous rogue waves slammed the ship with a vengeance. I felt the terror rise within me with every wave that furiously swept overboard. It was all so palpable. This catastrophe still stands as the worst disaster of the Great Lakes. The tragedy occurred on September 14th, 1882 on the waters of Georgian Bay. The steamship Asia was sent to Davy Jones' Locker. The voyage of the damned. Everyone on board lost - save two.
As had been known to suddenly happen, a storm gathered in from nowhere. In shocking detail, the author described how the defenseless ship was repeatedly bashed with mountainous waves. Tossed about like a child's toy in a bathtub. It's hull shuttered and groaned. Finally, gave-way to the menacing water. There were no lifeboat drills prior to departing port. Panic seized the ship. It was everyone for themselves. Pandemonium broke out. In altered states of shock, some dove into descending lifeboats causing serious injuries - broken limbs. Others never made it that far.
Afloat somewhere in the middle of Georgian Bay, Christina McBurney and several others clung perilously aboard an ill-suited 20-foot Lifeboat. The small craft was all that stood between them and the gaping jaws of the bloodthirsty water. The wind whipped violently as the waves pounded the dinghy with an anger heard deep within the bowels of hell. Gigantic swells flipped it over a few times dumping everyone into the frigid water. With never-ending freezing winds and punishing waves, it came down to a matter of survival of the fittest. Barely making it, only two lived to tell its horrific tale.
My thanks to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
January 21, 2018
Most people know where the Great Lakes are, that straddle the Canadian and American border. On a map they look odd, and even though, if you compare them with the size of the nearby states and provinces, you can see that they are huge, you really can’t realize how large they really are. Most people are more familiar with the lakes they visit in their cities, those man made things that have paddle boats on them, and people fish in them, and they are not threatening at all.
And yes, most of us know about the song, The Edmand Fitzgerald which is written about a ship wreck on one of the Great Lakes, Lake Superior. Just the way that people know this song, there is a great ship wreck that happened on Lake Huron, where all but two people died. That is what this story is written about. The author read the newspaper accounts of the rescue, helped by First Nations people, and wondered if there was more to the story.
I love the concept of this, which is why I chose to read this book. But, as I have mentioned in other books, I had “journey” books, and this felt very much like this. We were trying to journey from the wreck, to dry land. And it took almost the whole book to get there. And it wasn’t clear what everyone was dying of. I assume it was hypothermia, but that doesn’t explain why Christina and Daniel were able to survive, other than they were young and healthy?
I found myself getting bored of Christina saying she was hungry, and tired. And perhaps that is what being on a life boat is like, but if you are trying to fill in a story, I just wish there was another way to do so.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
And yes, most of us know about the song, The Edmand Fitzgerald which is written about a ship wreck on one of the Great Lakes, Lake Superior. Just the way that people know this song, there is a great ship wreck that happened on Lake Huron, where all but two people died. That is what this story is written about. The author read the newspaper accounts of the rescue, helped by First Nations people, and wondered if there was more to the story.
I love the concept of this, which is why I chose to read this book. But, as I have mentioned in other books, I had “journey” books, and this felt very much like this. We were trying to journey from the wreck, to dry land. And it took almost the whole book to get there. And it wasn’t clear what everyone was dying of. I assume it was hypothermia, but that doesn’t explain why Christina and Daniel were able to survive, other than they were young and healthy?
I found myself getting bored of Christina saying she was hungry, and tired. And perhaps that is what being on a life boat is like, but if you are trying to fill in a story, I just wish there was another way to do so.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
October 9, 2022
This book opens with Christina McBurney running away from home on the SS Asia in 1882 in the middle of a storm. The ship sinks, and she ends up on a lifeboat with a handful of other wounded, suffering passengers. One by one they die until only Christina and another young teen boy named Daniel are alive. They manage to survive. The end.
1. This is fine? I guess? It's just messy and melodramatic. Christina is struggling under a lot of internalized guilt over the death of her twin brother a year earlier that is beaten into every line of this story to try and add depth. It opens in a super confusing maelstrom of a terrible tempest with a hard to like narrator. It ends abruptly after two chapters of Christina's unfocused fevered narration and an unsatisfying farewell with Daniel.
2. To add to the disappointment of the experience, the author acknowledges that it's almost entirely fictionalized (beyond the fact that there were only 2 survivors of the shipwreck of the SS Asia), and doesn't provide a bibliography or reference any elements of what else was actually true about the tragedy. Had I known it was that fictionalized, I would have steered clear: I like my stuff to have some learnings in them.
3. I wanted to like Christina because she was prickly and struggling but the narration did her no favors. Daniel was a nothing of a character. The attempt to swell emotionally at resolution was trite and terrible.
I don't recommend.
1. This is fine? I guess? It's just messy and melodramatic. Christina is struggling under a lot of internalized guilt over the death of her twin brother a year earlier that is beaten into every line of this story to try and add depth. It opens in a super confusing maelstrom of a terrible tempest with a hard to like narrator. It ends abruptly after two chapters of Christina's unfocused fevered narration and an unsatisfying farewell with Daniel.
2. To add to the disappointment of the experience, the author acknowledges that it's almost entirely fictionalized (beyond the fact that there were only 2 survivors of the shipwreck of the SS Asia), and doesn't provide a bibliography or reference any elements of what else was actually true about the tragedy. Had I known it was that fictionalized, I would have steered clear: I like my stuff to have some learnings in them.
3. I wanted to like Christina because she was prickly and struggling but the narration did her no favors. Daniel was a nothing of a character. The attempt to swell emotionally at resolution was trite and terrible.
I don't recommend.
March 6, 2018
To my blog
Release Date: March 6th, 2018
Nothing really compares to reading a book that’s set in a place you know and have been to many times. Learning about the history of my country and having an interesting, exciting story to explore really was quite special to me. Although I do have some critiques to make, i enjoyed the book.
Andrea Curtis is a good writer. She clearly outlined and planned the story she wanted to convey long before she set to writing it out and you can actually see that clear line she was following. Entertaining and educational, i think she wrote a very lovely novel. However, it does start in a rather odd place that doesn’t help you to connect to the character. I think it would have been much better if the book started long before Christina actually got on the SS Asia, as the story is mostly about her life, not so much the accident and it made it feel all just a little too rushed.
That being said i found it extremley difficult to connect to the characters. Christina is a 17-year-old girl who has run away from home in search of herself after her twin brother Johnathan dies. This is something that plays a major role through the book, and you can really feel her agony over the whole traumatic event, however, it is a bit disconcerting that she is more put out by that than the actual sinking of the ship.
The only other real main character in this tragic tale is Daniel. He has had a lot of ups and downs through not only his life but this event as well. He seems strong but you definitely get the sense that he is only just a boy and needs help along the way. I did like him a bit more than Christina but again, its hard to connect with characters in such a short amount of time (especially when they’re knocked out a lot of the time).
Basically, i just didn’t find their actions nor the romance to be believable. I just think after being in a shipwreck that you would be a little more freaked out and kissing would be the last thing on your mind.
The setting itself is really good. I have been to Georgian Bay many times before and i definitely got the sense I was there from the writing. I love how i was able to really picture a place i have been so many times before and just connect to the story on a whole other level. It makes me want to read more fiction set in Canada just to get that feeling back again.
I feel like the conclusion, compared to the beginning is very strong. The event is over and it is all tied up nicely with the characters going on their path with newfound resolve. So altogether it was a good story but the execution is a bit messy, it definitely was just too short. I did enjoy it though and would read something from this author in the future.
Thank you to ORCA Publishing for sending me an early copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affects my opinions or views found in my review.
Release Date: March 6th, 2018
Nothing really compares to reading a book that’s set in a place you know and have been to many times. Learning about the history of my country and having an interesting, exciting story to explore really was quite special to me. Although I do have some critiques to make, i enjoyed the book.
Andrea Curtis is a good writer. She clearly outlined and planned the story she wanted to convey long before she set to writing it out and you can actually see that clear line she was following. Entertaining and educational, i think she wrote a very lovely novel. However, it does start in a rather odd place that doesn’t help you to connect to the character. I think it would have been much better if the book started long before Christina actually got on the SS Asia, as the story is mostly about her life, not so much the accident and it made it feel all just a little too rushed.
That being said i found it extremley difficult to connect to the characters. Christina is a 17-year-old girl who has run away from home in search of herself after her twin brother Johnathan dies. This is something that plays a major role through the book, and you can really feel her agony over the whole traumatic event, however, it is a bit disconcerting that she is more put out by that than the actual sinking of the ship.
The only other real main character in this tragic tale is Daniel. He has had a lot of ups and downs through not only his life but this event as well. He seems strong but you definitely get the sense that he is only just a boy and needs help along the way. I did like him a bit more than Christina but again, its hard to connect with characters in such a short amount of time (especially when they’re knocked out a lot of the time).
Basically, i just didn’t find their actions nor the romance to be believable. I just think after being in a shipwreck that you would be a little more freaked out and kissing would be the last thing on your mind.
The setting itself is really good. I have been to Georgian Bay many times before and i definitely got the sense I was there from the writing. I love how i was able to really picture a place i have been so many times before and just connect to the story on a whole other level. It makes me want to read more fiction set in Canada just to get that feeling back again.
I feel like the conclusion, compared to the beginning is very strong. The event is over and it is all tied up nicely with the characters going on their path with newfound resolve. So altogether it was a good story but the execution is a bit messy, it definitely was just too short. I did enjoy it though and would read something from this author in the future.
Thank you to ORCA Publishing for sending me an early copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affects my opinions or views found in my review.
May 3, 2018
I had never hear of the sinking of the SS Asia before reading Big Water so I was interested in the subject right away. Two of the reasons why I love historical fiction are that it allows me to discover and learn about new places and events and to escape to a different time period. Andrea Curtis manages both to perfection here. Everything comes to life as if you were there.
It is a very compelling read - I actually couldn't put it down and stayed up late to finish it. To put it into perspective, I have a toddler who wakes up multiple times through the night and I'm shattered on a daily basis, so I don't stay up late. Mum has to get some sleep to stay sane. But I just had to keep reading Big Water. Curtis is very good at ending her chapters with cliffhangers to make you want to read. "I'll read the next chapter and then I'll go to sleep", you tell yourself. Rinse and repeat until the book is finished!
The book is quite short, but bearing in mind the target audience is Teens&Ya, then it does make sense. I do wish it was a bit longer though as it seems to stop quite abruptly. I want to know more of the characters' stories. I could also have done without the insta-love. I'm not sure if it's just a YA trope or if it was more of a comfort thing for two characters lost in the middle of a freezing lake.
A compelling read about a rarely talked about event.
Note - Thanks to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for providing me with a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
It is a very compelling read - I actually couldn't put it down and stayed up late to finish it. To put it into perspective, I have a toddler who wakes up multiple times through the night and I'm shattered on a daily basis, so I don't stay up late. Mum has to get some sleep to stay sane. But I just had to keep reading Big Water. Curtis is very good at ending her chapters with cliffhangers to make you want to read. "I'll read the next chapter and then I'll go to sleep", you tell yourself. Rinse and repeat until the book is finished!
The book is quite short, but bearing in mind the target audience is Teens&Ya, then it does make sense. I do wish it was a bit longer though as it seems to stop quite abruptly. I want to know more of the characters' stories. I could also have done without the insta-love. I'm not sure if it's just a YA trope or if it was more of a comfort thing for two characters lost in the middle of a freezing lake.
A compelling read about a rarely talked about event.
Note - Thanks to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for providing me with a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2018
I received an e ARC of this book. Thank you to Orca Book and NetGalley for allowing me to read Big Water. All opinions and thoughts are my own and do not represent the publisher or author.
Overall this was a fast paced and easy read. I enjoyed reading the characters of Christina and Daniel and the plot that the author created based on the real life event. Historical fiction is always a favourite of mine to read, because it is based in truth. I finished this book in about an hour and half, it was a lot shorter than I expected, but still a good read. The only issue I had was that the ending was very abrupt and left a few unanswered questions. I would recommend this if you enjoy easy reads, historical fiction and small amount of romance as well.
Overall this was a fast paced and easy read. I enjoyed reading the characters of Christina and Daniel and the plot that the author created based on the real life event. Historical fiction is always a favourite of mine to read, because it is based in truth. I finished this book in about an hour and half, it was a lot shorter than I expected, but still a good read. The only issue I had was that the ending was very abrupt and left a few unanswered questions. I would recommend this if you enjoy easy reads, historical fiction and small amount of romance as well.
March 17, 2019
This was a really fascinating fictionalized tale of survival on the Great Lakes: the story of the Asia. I hadn't known anything about shipwrecks on the lakes before reading this so it was nice to learn about. I liked the survival story, but I couldn't really connect with the characters and didn't think the romance added much to the story. If anyone wants to learn about a relatively unknown piece of Canadian history, this is a quick historical read to go for.
February 28, 2018
***I received this book through Netgalley from Orca Book Publishers for a honest review*** First off this book made me feel like my very soul was being ripped from my body! The heartbreak, the unfairness! The author made relate to the main character, even though I have been through such heartbreak I now after reading this book feel like I have glimpsed it ! Christina McBurney is just trying to get away from the pain of so much lose but she soon realizes no mater how far she goes from what in her mind is the place of that pain she can never flee from herself! The fact that the author wrote in such a way is what makes me love this book! Big Water was very detailed where it needed to be for me it was also a fast paced book! This was the first book I have read by this author but it won't be the last!
December 11, 2018
This is an excellent little book. Undemanding but totally gripping, and it even broke my heart a little bit. Based on true events, it involves two strangers, a boy and a girl, who come to rely on one another when disaster strikes the ship they are travelling on. I think both younger and older readers can enjoy this book, especially readers who have an interest in history. I know I had a hard time putting it down. (I also enjoyed the local Toronto scenery, as I live in the area where Christina's flashbacks unfold.) I can still picture them breathless in the lifeboat on a cold black night...
January 13, 2018
Christina finds herself in a lifeboat with Daniel after their ship, Asia, sinks in one of the Great Lakes. This story is based on the actual event and the two teenage survivors. The premises and idea were strong, but the story was lacking in almost all other departments. For one thing, there was a lot of telling instead of showing and the sentences felt off. Christina regularly thought about memories of her twin brother Jonathon, and likewise, Christina reiterated that Jonathon was her mother’s favorite, that he was the best child, that he was kind and loving and thoughtful, and yet we were never shown instances of this. We could only take Christina’s word and how unwanted she felt.
She runs away without telling her parents (something she did once before) and finds herself as a passenger on the Asia. Her cousin is one of the mates so he is the only family member who knows where she is. The ship sails into the heart of a destructive storm and a group of survivors make it to a lifeboat among the wreckage and churning, towering waves. Over the course of a day, Christina and Daniel are the only survivors remaining and find themselves in a lifeboat with dead bodies. They eventually make it to land dehydrated, feverish, and Daniel concussed, and wonder where they are located, if anyone will find them, or if they will perish without a soul knowing.
I really wanted to like this book. Christina was flat and showed no emotion. Daniel wasn’t much better. They both fell in love within 24-36 hours which further increased my level of frustration. I believe this story would have been stronger if it consisted of more emotion or if it were written as a journal entry with Christina looking back on the events.
I received an ARC of Big Water from NetGalley.
She runs away without telling her parents (something she did once before) and finds herself as a passenger on the Asia. Her cousin is one of the mates so he is the only family member who knows where she is. The ship sails into the heart of a destructive storm and a group of survivors make it to a lifeboat among the wreckage and churning, towering waves. Over the course of a day, Christina and Daniel are the only survivors remaining and find themselves in a lifeboat with dead bodies. They eventually make it to land dehydrated, feverish, and Daniel concussed, and wonder where they are located, if anyone will find them, or if they will perish without a soul knowing.
I really wanted to like this book. Christina was flat and showed no emotion. Daniel wasn’t much better. They both fell in love within 24-36 hours which further increased my level of frustration. I believe this story would have been stronger if it consisted of more emotion or if it were written as a journal entry with Christina looking back on the events.
I received an ARC of Big Water from NetGalley.
March 13, 2018
I received an e-ARC of Big Water by Andrea Curtis from NetGalley and the Publishers in exchange for an honest review.
As the synopsis suggests, Big Water follows the story of Christina, a seventeen year old girl who narrowly survives the shipwreck of SS Asia and now has to fend for her life while adrift at sea. In a moment of stupidity, I selected the day I was travelling on a 4 hour flight alone to read this book and take my word on this – it’s not a good idea to read books about shipwrecks while flying overseas.
Big Water was a short yet intense read. From the very first page itself, the mood of the novel was set and reading Christina’s Point of View in a desperate struggle for survival was surreal. The novel didn’t beautify or exaggerate any relationship/romance between Christina and Daniel and that’s one of the things I loved about the book. The scene of the shipwreck was written beautifully, giving the reader the ability to understand the desperation and helplessness of the passengers of the boat without handling it insensitively.
That being said, the book was not perfect. There were slight pacing issues and I found myself losing interest even though it was a pretty short book. Christina and Daniel were likeable enough but I didn’t feel any real connect to the characters which disappointed me. When I read the synopsis, I thought they would be characters that would turn out really complex and make me root for them absolutely, but that wasn’t really the case here.
As the synopsis suggests, Big Water follows the story of Christina, a seventeen year old girl who narrowly survives the shipwreck of SS Asia and now has to fend for her life while adrift at sea. In a moment of stupidity, I selected the day I was travelling on a 4 hour flight alone to read this book and take my word on this – it’s not a good idea to read books about shipwrecks while flying overseas.
Big Water was a short yet intense read. From the very first page itself, the mood of the novel was set and reading Christina’s Point of View in a desperate struggle for survival was surreal. The novel didn’t beautify or exaggerate any relationship/romance between Christina and Daniel and that’s one of the things I loved about the book. The scene of the shipwreck was written beautifully, giving the reader the ability to understand the desperation and helplessness of the passengers of the boat without handling it insensitively.
That being said, the book was not perfect. There were slight pacing issues and I found myself losing interest even though it was a pretty short book. Christina and Daniel were likeable enough but I didn’t feel any real connect to the characters which disappointed me. When I read the synopsis, I thought they would be characters that would turn out really complex and make me root for them absolutely, but that wasn’t really the case here.
June 22, 2021
This book is really good, the story takes place when a young teenage girl runs away from home after her twin brother sadly passes away. She gets on a boat where her cousin Peter is, Peter who works on the boat allows her on. And she sails to start a new life. But things don't go as planned, because the boat sinks, in the middle of freezing water. Christina our protagonist gets on a lifeboat, with a young man and her cousin Peter and several other people. But as more and more people die from freezing to death. Christina wonders if she will surive. And after all these people pass away, it makes me wish all these people didn't have to die only one young man is left on the boat...
August 4, 2020
Entirely underwhelming. The novel was too short (just under 200 pages!) to properly flesh out these characters and their traumas. And because of that the pacing was off and felt very rushed. She definitely should have pushed herself and expanded upon nearly everything. This novel had the opportunity to be great and sadly it wasn’t.
July 1, 2020
3.5 stars, rounded to three
I enjoyed this!
I enjoyed this!
Read
May 17, 2022A really interesting read. Recognized a lot of places in this, which was cool to read about.
August 7, 2021
This is a wonderful book that I enjoyed thoroughly. It was a great way to learn about a historical event. It had a strong female character as the central focus and it held my attention so much that I read it in one day.
November 4, 2020
I really enjoyed it. It was really dramatic and immersive. I just didn't like the romance because it felt unnecessary. In my opinion, it would have been better without it.
March 24, 2018
This review has been originally posted on jasmin's library.
I received an eARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Orca Book Publishers and NetGalley.
“Thinking about facing one's fate head on is perfectly fine when it's theoretical, distant, a glimmer of an idea, not even the idea itself.”
To be honest, I only asked for this book for two reasons: first, I really liked the cover (especially with its pastel colors) and second, I love to read about nautical disasters. Mostly because they are heart wrenching and often tend to be forgotten by the majority. The sinking of the SS Asia was unknown to me to this point but because I am generally interested in this kind of topic, I started researching about this tragedy even before I received the eARC.
Grieving over her twin brother's death, seventeen-year-old Christina McBurney decides to run away from home and with the help of her cousin ends up on the SS Asia – a steamship that transports passengers and freight throughout the Great Lakes. The weather conditions are bad and a storm arises faster than expected, causing the heavily laden Asia to sink. Christina is lucky enough to be rescued by one of the lifeboats before drowning or freezing to death. Ultimately she ends up with Daniel – a boy her age –, the two of them being the only survivors of the shipwreck.
Overall this was a really interesting and intense story, but still I found some flaws within. I guess the story would have been better off as a short story – the book itself is only around 190 pages long but the beginning felt somehow too rushed for a book and I would have loved to see the story evolving some time before Christina boards the SS Asia. In this case Big Water would have been a wonderful book with no need to cropping it down to a short story. But as it is, I sometimes got the feeling of a pace that was much too slow and would have been improved with a fast pacing short story. I Hope you'll get what I mean. The story itself is interesting nonetheless.
I really enjoyed the writing and flow of the author – the description of the scenery was well-written and helped me to picture the surroundings of Christina. What distracted me were Christina's flashbacks to her twin brother and the portrayal of the characters themself. While I could retrace especially Christina's feelings and emotions, I still couldn't quote connect to her or Daniel. They seemed distant to me and I felt more like an observer instead of being part of the story. Furthermore I was somehow surprised how the teenagers reacted to each other, but I guess this came through shock and the dramatic situation. With that being said, I was actually glad how the book ended concerning their connection.
In conclusion, this was a solid read that I overall enjoyed. There are some thing I would have changed, but I definitely recommend the book if you're looking for a nice short read to wind down. Personally, I probably won't reread the book but I'd read another story written by Andrea Curtis. Worth mentioning once again is the beautiful cover – a wonderful piece of art which compliments the story it presents.
I received an eARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Orca Book Publishers and NetGalley.
“Thinking about facing one's fate head on is perfectly fine when it's theoretical, distant, a glimmer of an idea, not even the idea itself.”
To be honest, I only asked for this book for two reasons: first, I really liked the cover (especially with its pastel colors) and second, I love to read about nautical disasters. Mostly because they are heart wrenching and often tend to be forgotten by the majority. The sinking of the SS Asia was unknown to me to this point but because I am generally interested in this kind of topic, I started researching about this tragedy even before I received the eARC.
Grieving over her twin brother's death, seventeen-year-old Christina McBurney decides to run away from home and with the help of her cousin ends up on the SS Asia – a steamship that transports passengers and freight throughout the Great Lakes. The weather conditions are bad and a storm arises faster than expected, causing the heavily laden Asia to sink. Christina is lucky enough to be rescued by one of the lifeboats before drowning or freezing to death. Ultimately she ends up with Daniel – a boy her age –, the two of them being the only survivors of the shipwreck.
Overall this was a really interesting and intense story, but still I found some flaws within. I guess the story would have been better off as a short story – the book itself is only around 190 pages long but the beginning felt somehow too rushed for a book and I would have loved to see the story evolving some time before Christina boards the SS Asia. In this case Big Water would have been a wonderful book with no need to cropping it down to a short story. But as it is, I sometimes got the feeling of a pace that was much too slow and would have been improved with a fast pacing short story. I Hope you'll get what I mean. The story itself is interesting nonetheless.
I really enjoyed the writing and flow of the author – the description of the scenery was well-written and helped me to picture the surroundings of Christina. What distracted me were Christina's flashbacks to her twin brother and the portrayal of the characters themself. While I could retrace especially Christina's feelings and emotions, I still couldn't quote connect to her or Daniel. They seemed distant to me and I felt more like an observer instead of being part of the story. Furthermore I was somehow surprised how the teenagers reacted to each other, but I guess this came through shock and the dramatic situation. With that being said, I was actually glad how the book ended concerning their connection.
In conclusion, this was a solid read that I overall enjoyed. There are some thing I would have changed, but I definitely recommend the book if you're looking for a nice short read to wind down. Personally, I probably won't reread the book but I'd read another story written by Andrea Curtis. Worth mentioning once again is the beautiful cover – a wonderful piece of art which compliments the story it presents.
May 23, 2018
Traveling the great lakes was a dangerous proposition through the early part of the twentieth century—especially on the Georgia Bay in Canada. Many ships and lives were lost on the uncharted and unpredictable waters. In 1882, the SS Asia, a converted river steamship, set out from the Georgia Bay in Lake Huron, overloaded and top heavy, heading straight into a storm. Equipped only with life vests and flimsy lifeboats unfit for the dangerous waters, the passengers and crew were entirely unprepared when the ship sank. One hundred and twenty three lives were lost, the sole survivors two teenagers. This fictional account of a real historical tragedy explores the circumstances that led those two teenagers onto the Asia and how they managed to survive freezing water, treacherous conditions, and several days among dying men on a lifeboat.
I had never heard the story of the SS Asia before reading this book (perhaps not surprising since I live nowhere near any of the Great Lakes), but the tragic sinking of the ship and Curtis’ compelling recounting of what might’ve happened in the days that followed completely drew me in, and I found myself unable to put the book down until I had finished it. Though the story is a fictionalized version of accounts and changes some details and facts for the sake of the narrative, I thought Curtis did an excellent job of staying true to the spirit of what happened and respectfully handling a terrible tragedy in the history of the Great Lakes.
Other than my desire for more depth of characterization and maybe some more lead up to the brief romance between Christina and Daniel, I really did enjoy this book. A little more grounding in context and historical facts might also have been helpful (for instance, I didn't understand that this was taking place on Lake Huron while reading the book). Still, it’s very engaging—hooks you in from the beginning and refuses to let you go until the teenagers are on dry land again. And even though you know they’ll survive, the sense of very real and present danger creates a surprising amount of story where the ending is already set in stone.
Overall, a very engaging and interesting YA historical fiction novel based on a true story that, likely, very few people have heard of.
**I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**
I had never heard the story of the SS Asia before reading this book (perhaps not surprising since I live nowhere near any of the Great Lakes), but the tragic sinking of the ship and Curtis’ compelling recounting of what might’ve happened in the days that followed completely drew me in, and I found myself unable to put the book down until I had finished it. Though the story is a fictionalized version of accounts and changes some details and facts for the sake of the narrative, I thought Curtis did an excellent job of staying true to the spirit of what happened and respectfully handling a terrible tragedy in the history of the Great Lakes.
Other than my desire for more depth of characterization and maybe some more lead up to the brief romance between Christina and Daniel, I really did enjoy this book. A little more grounding in context and historical facts might also have been helpful (for instance, I didn't understand that this was taking place on Lake Huron while reading the book). Still, it’s very engaging—hooks you in from the beginning and refuses to let you go until the teenagers are on dry land again. And even though you know they’ll survive, the sense of very real and present danger creates a surprising amount of story where the ending is already set in stone.
Overall, a very engaging and interesting YA historical fiction novel based on a true story that, likely, very few people have heard of.
**I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**
February 2, 2018
Seventeen-year-old Christina McBurney, grieving the loss of her twin brother, Jonathan, to consumption, has run away from her Parkdale home. She believes her mother wishes she had been the one to die, and she plans to find work far away as a nursemaid or teacher. Christina's cousin Peter is the first mate on the Asia, a steamship that transports passengers and freight throughout the Great Lakes, so she seeks him out to secure passage to Sault Ste. Marie.
But when a violent storm suddenly rises, the overloaded and top-heavy steamship begins to sink. Christina, heeding the warnings from her cousin, somehow makes her way to the hurricane deck. A large wave tosses her overboard, but just before she loses consciousness, she is pulled to safety.
Hours later, adrift on the wide-open water of Georgian Bay, in a lifeboat full of corpses, Christina is nervous about being alone with Daniel, a brooding young man with a likely criminal past and the only other passenger left alive. But they both know that working together is the only way they will find the strength to make it to safety.
Big Water is a fictional account of the real-life story of the only two survivors of the sinking of the SS Asia in 1882.
Upon reading the summary for this book, I immediately thought of both Titanic and Salt to the Sea, and considering how much I love both of those stories, I knew I would love this one too. It astounds me that I haven’t seen it around much anywhere and that more people don’t know about it, and I suspect that this is because it takes place in Canada, and sometimes we fall off the radar. We start off with Christina on the Asia, immediately prior to the ship’s wrecking. Now, I don’t know much about what passenger ships look like, having never been on one myself (and certainly not one from 1882), but the description of the ship and Christina’s surroundings seemed very realistic. I found it a bit funny that there were cows and horses on the ship’s main deck though. I did have to go back and reread the first few pages, because it wasn’t immediately obvious to me that they were in a storm. I wasn’t expecting the story to jump right into the wreck and instead was expecting a little bit of build-up at least.
Pretty quickly we find our characters on the lifeboat though, and try not to get too attached to Peter because spoiler alert, he is not the other survivor of the wreckage. At first, I didn’t quite make the connection between Daniel on the lifeboat and Daniel on the ship, and I think this is because when reading the section in which Christina witnesses Daniel’s argument with another man, you don’t realise that this is an introduction and not just something she happens to notice. I did find myself wishing that the book included a picture of the ship, and/or of Lake Huron/Georgian Bay - not being familiar with the Great Lakes, when I think bay I think of a small body of water, not a huge one that is more like a sea, really. But that’s just my own naivety I suppose. I found the scenes in the lifeboat to be quite realistic as well, and I’ve read a ton of Titanic fiction that takes place in lifeboats, so I was impressed. It did go a bit slow at times when the two characters were still paddling to nowhere trying to find land - but it’s not as if there’s a way, in a book based on a true story, to make that terribly exciting. I found it really well written when both Christina and Daniel were experiencing the mental effects of the wreck, the cold, and the trauma their bodies were sustaining. It’s not as if one can remain alert and entirely clear-headed in these kinds of environments. One of the best things I though the book did though was illustrate the pain and grief that Christina was going through in the loss of her brother. It kept her conscious, and I suspect that in some way, Daniel reminded her of her brother and that was partially how she was able to keep him alive.
The best section of the book was definitely when they were finally rescued by the indigenous couple. I felt a huge sigh of relief when their struggles were finally over. Even though they were referred to as Indians in the text, I really appreciated in the Author’s Note at the end when she explains why she used that language, and how it has evolved into non-usage in modern day. In fact the whole Author’s Note I appreciated, because it really illustrated the effort the author took in her research to make the story as accurate as possible. I wish the story didn’t end on such an ambiguous note though. I know that it might be a bit too far to expect Christina and Daniel to get married, but I don’t want to believe that they can experience what they went through and not have an eternal intimate connection. It reminded me of the quote from Harry Potter where you can’t knock out a troll together and not end up being friends. Even if their life paths would take them in different directions, I do wish we would have gotten a peek at what happened to them next. There is a quote at end though that I really loved, where Christina rises above her trauma to face her future. It might change in the final copy when it’s published, but I really hope it doesn’t, because it’s a beautiful ending to a beautiful story:
Also, the cover art for this book is STUNNING. I am in love.
I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
But when a violent storm suddenly rises, the overloaded and top-heavy steamship begins to sink. Christina, heeding the warnings from her cousin, somehow makes her way to the hurricane deck. A large wave tosses her overboard, but just before she loses consciousness, she is pulled to safety.
Hours later, adrift on the wide-open water of Georgian Bay, in a lifeboat full of corpses, Christina is nervous about being alone with Daniel, a brooding young man with a likely criminal past and the only other passenger left alive. But they both know that working together is the only way they will find the strength to make it to safety.
Big Water is a fictional account of the real-life story of the only two survivors of the sinking of the SS Asia in 1882.
Upon reading the summary for this book, I immediately thought of both Titanic and Salt to the Sea, and considering how much I love both of those stories, I knew I would love this one too. It astounds me that I haven’t seen it around much anywhere and that more people don’t know about it, and I suspect that this is because it takes place in Canada, and sometimes we fall off the radar. We start off with Christina on the Asia, immediately prior to the ship’s wrecking. Now, I don’t know much about what passenger ships look like, having never been on one myself (and certainly not one from 1882), but the description of the ship and Christina’s surroundings seemed very realistic. I found it a bit funny that there were cows and horses on the ship’s main deck though. I did have to go back and reread the first few pages, because it wasn’t immediately obvious to me that they were in a storm. I wasn’t expecting the story to jump right into the wreck and instead was expecting a little bit of build-up at least.
Pretty quickly we find our characters on the lifeboat though, and try not to get too attached to Peter because spoiler alert, he is not the other survivor of the wreckage. At first, I didn’t quite make the connection between Daniel on the lifeboat and Daniel on the ship, and I think this is because when reading the section in which Christina witnesses Daniel’s argument with another man, you don’t realise that this is an introduction and not just something she happens to notice. I did find myself wishing that the book included a picture of the ship, and/or of Lake Huron/Georgian Bay - not being familiar with the Great Lakes, when I think bay I think of a small body of water, not a huge one that is more like a sea, really. But that’s just my own naivety I suppose. I found the scenes in the lifeboat to be quite realistic as well, and I’ve read a ton of Titanic fiction that takes place in lifeboats, so I was impressed. It did go a bit slow at times when the two characters were still paddling to nowhere trying to find land - but it’s not as if there’s a way, in a book based on a true story, to make that terribly exciting. I found it really well written when both Christina and Daniel were experiencing the mental effects of the wreck, the cold, and the trauma their bodies were sustaining. It’s not as if one can remain alert and entirely clear-headed in these kinds of environments. One of the best things I though the book did though was illustrate the pain and grief that Christina was going through in the loss of her brother. It kept her conscious, and I suspect that in some way, Daniel reminded her of her brother and that was partially how she was able to keep him alive.
The best section of the book was definitely when they were finally rescued by the indigenous couple. I felt a huge sigh of relief when their struggles were finally over. Even though they were referred to as Indians in the text, I really appreciated in the Author’s Note at the end when she explains why she used that language, and how it has evolved into non-usage in modern day. In fact the whole Author’s Note I appreciated, because it really illustrated the effort the author took in her research to make the story as accurate as possible. I wish the story didn’t end on such an ambiguous note though. I know that it might be a bit too far to expect Christina and Daniel to get married, but I don’t want to believe that they can experience what they went through and not have an eternal intimate connection. It reminded me of the quote from Harry Potter where you can’t knock out a troll together and not end up being friends. Even if their life paths would take them in different directions, I do wish we would have gotten a peek at what happened to them next. There is a quote at end though that I really loved, where Christina rises above her trauma to face her future. It might change in the final copy when it’s published, but I really hope it doesn’t, because it’s a beautiful ending to a beautiful story:
“But I know now that I am large. I contain big water, big sky. For I have held a person in my arms as he died, found solace in the wind and sky, scared away wild animals with laughter. I have watched kindness and determination and grief exist at the same time in the same face. Maybe I will forge my own path, like Daniel said. Become a scientist or a teacher. Or maybe I’ll marry a farmer and live a quiet life in a quiet town and have babies and grandbabies, make jam in the summer and pickles in the fall. Maybe I’ll travel the ocean, or maybe I’ll never set another foot on a boat. I might never again hold someone’s hand and face the unknown together, frightened and defiant and alive. Or I might. I just might.”
Also, the cover art for this book is STUNNING. I am in love.
I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 15, 2018
You can see my full review here!
I'm a little conflicted. On one hand, the story went by fairly quickly, but the chapters felt long (there were only 14 chapters). While I appreciated and sympathized with the characters, I couldn't connect with them. I was expecting.... more. I wanted to feel for them, feel their desperation to survive, see them go through the stages of grief. What I didn't need was romance. It was so unnecessary— I understand intense situations can evoke intense emotions, but again, this was a story about grief and survival. With a romance that doesn't go anywhere I feel like it was a waste of page time. Overall, I liked it, but it didn't pull at my heart or evoke any emotions from me.
*I received an eArc of this book from the Publishers through Netgalley in exchange of an honest review*
01/16--I'm kind of neutral if I'm honest... Let me gather my thoughts.
I'm a little conflicted. On one hand, the story went by fairly quickly, but the chapters felt long (there were only 14 chapters). While I appreciated and sympathized with the characters, I couldn't connect with them. I was expecting.... more. I wanted to feel for them, feel their desperation to survive, see them go through the stages of grief. What I didn't need was romance. It was so unnecessary— I understand intense situations can evoke intense emotions, but again, this was a story about grief and survival. With a romance that doesn't go anywhere I feel like it was a waste of page time. Overall, I liked it, but it didn't pull at my heart or evoke any emotions from me.
*I received an eArc of this book from the Publishers through Netgalley in exchange of an honest review*
01/16--I'm kind of neutral if I'm honest... Let me gather my thoughts.
May 6, 2021
Final rating 3.5
May 25, 2019
before i start my review, i'd like to mention that i received a copy of this book, free of charge, from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. all opinions below are my own.
** this review may contain spoilers**
first off, let me clarify - before reading this book, i knew absolutely nothing about canadian history and geography. zilch. nada. this story is based on true events, and allowed me a tiny glimpse of this country's history, its indigenous peoples, and the great lakes.
two teenagers, shipwrecked, in a lifeboat full of corpses.
i went into this book knowing it wouldn't be an easy read. and i was completely right. the characters' lives are at risk, and there are many challenges they have to face before reaching safety. when they finally reach an island, i felt so relieved, and i thought they won't travel anymore. to my great surprise (and horror), daniel decides to row to another island in their lifeboat in hopes of getting rescued, and i crossed my fingers, hoping they won't sink and die in the middle of the lake.
i think another point worth mentioning is the indigenous people who appear in the story. they are the ones who send the teenagers to safety, but their heroic act is clearly not recognized by the general public, with a reporter asking christina whether they have demanded a gold watch in exchange for safe passage. as the author later said in the author's note, discrimination was pretty common back then. although discrimination still exists, i am glad that the situation has improved a bit, and i hope that it will disappear altogether in the near future.
although this book is gripping, and hard to put down, it also has a small amount of flaws. when daniel and christina kiss, i couldn't help thinking whether they do that because they are in love, or because of the fact that they are stranded on an island and need some comfort. i find it hard to believe that they have fallen in love in the short span of about three days. also, christina tells daniel that she's running away because she feels unloved by her family after her brother's death, which later turns out to not be true. her mother clearly loves her, taking the first boat to parry sound to see her daughter.
rating: 3.5 stars
** this review may contain spoilers**
first off, let me clarify - before reading this book, i knew absolutely nothing about canadian history and geography. zilch. nada. this story is based on true events, and allowed me a tiny glimpse of this country's history, its indigenous peoples, and the great lakes.
two teenagers, shipwrecked, in a lifeboat full of corpses.
i went into this book knowing it wouldn't be an easy read. and i was completely right. the characters' lives are at risk, and there are many challenges they have to face before reaching safety. when they finally reach an island, i felt so relieved, and i thought they won't travel anymore. to my great surprise (and horror), daniel decides to row to another island in their lifeboat in hopes of getting rescued, and i crossed my fingers, hoping they won't sink and die in the middle of the lake.
i think another point worth mentioning is the indigenous people who appear in the story. they are the ones who send the teenagers to safety, but their heroic act is clearly not recognized by the general public, with a reporter asking christina whether they have demanded a gold watch in exchange for safe passage. as the author later said in the author's note, discrimination was pretty common back then. although discrimination still exists, i am glad that the situation has improved a bit, and i hope that it will disappear altogether in the near future.
although this book is gripping, and hard to put down, it also has a small amount of flaws. when daniel and christina kiss, i couldn't help thinking whether they do that because they are in love, or because of the fact that they are stranded on an island and need some comfort. i find it hard to believe that they have fallen in love in the short span of about three days. also, christina tells daniel that she's running away because she feels unloved by her family after her brother's death, which later turns out to not be true. her mother clearly loves her, taking the first boat to parry sound to see her daughter.
rating: 3.5 stars
March 12, 2018
First of all, thank you to Netgalley and Orca Book Publishers for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for a review!
Big Water follows the story of two lone survivors who find themselves adrift after a shipwreck. It's based on historical truth, and I really liked the glimpse into a vibrant story I hadn't heard about before.
Our narrator, Christina, told the story with great detail and feeling. I thought the author did a good job of tackling such an unbearable tragedy and showing it honestly through the eyes of a teen. We find out in the course of the book that Christina is trying to understand the death of her twin brother, Jonathan. I thought that it as an interesting choice to frame the shipwreck through the lens of her brother's death. This had the benefit of taking the present part of the story (which could easily have become incomprehensibly grim) and distilling it into a grief that's more readily accessible.
However, I also found the amount of flashbacks to be distracting, and ultimately a bit stale. I think it might be because--though this particular story is definitely unique--the story of the perfect brother who died and the grieving parents isn't, particularly. I didn't really feel an emotional connection to Jonathan or Christina's life she left behind, because most of the characters in it felt fairly standard. I think this narrative device could have worked harder.
Similarly, there were two hooks--Why is Christina so guilty? and What is Daniel's secret?--that didn't really pan out satisfyingly. Christina's guilt is understandable but the reason isn't necessarily a revelation. Daniel's secret is interesting, but once it's out it's repeated several times, with nothing really coming out of it in the end--at least not at the point the story stops. Again, I felt these were two missed opportunities to propel the story deeper.
That said, I did read through in a rush, and enjoyed learning about this historical event. Overall, a really interesting story!
Also that cover is GORG.
Big Water follows the story of two lone survivors who find themselves adrift after a shipwreck. It's based on historical truth, and I really liked the glimpse into a vibrant story I hadn't heard about before.
Our narrator, Christina, told the story with great detail and feeling. I thought the author did a good job of tackling such an unbearable tragedy and showing it honestly through the eyes of a teen. We find out in the course of the book that Christina is trying to understand the death of her twin brother, Jonathan. I thought that it as an interesting choice to frame the shipwreck through the lens of her brother's death. This had the benefit of taking the present part of the story (which could easily have become incomprehensibly grim) and distilling it into a grief that's more readily accessible.
However, I also found the amount of flashbacks to be distracting, and ultimately a bit stale. I think it might be because--though this particular story is definitely unique--the story of the perfect brother who died and the grieving parents isn't, particularly. I didn't really feel an emotional connection to Jonathan or Christina's life she left behind, because most of the characters in it felt fairly standard. I think this narrative device could have worked harder.
Similarly, there were two hooks--Why is Christina so guilty? and What is Daniel's secret?--that didn't really pan out satisfyingly. Christina's guilt is understandable but the reason isn't necessarily a revelation. Daniel's secret is interesting, but once it's out it's repeated several times, with nothing really coming out of it in the end--at least not at the point the story stops. Again, I felt these were two missed opportunities to propel the story deeper.
That said, I did read through in a rush, and enjoyed learning about this historical event. Overall, a really interesting story!
Also that cover is GORG.
January 24, 2018
Got my ARC via LibraryThing, huzzah!
Big Water follows 17-year old Christine McBurney as she runs away from home following the death of her twin brother. In her quest to simply get away, she finds herself on the Asia, a boat her cousin works on... only to have the boat sink. The rest of the book details how Christina manages to survive, be it through luck or sheer determination.
It's semi based on a true story, in that there was an Asia and it did sink and tragically only two people did survive, but the names and details have been changed.
I wasn't familiar with the story of the Asia prior to reading Big Water and it's a little difficult to get into at first, as we're thrown in as the ship is already begining to fail. By virtue of reading the back of the book, the reader knows the ship is going down but Christine does not, and also we know that pretty much every person she comes into contact with is going to die or has died, considering she's already mourning her brother. I'm not sure if the actual sinking of the ship scene is meant to be as chaotic as it comes across, considering I read it in a waiting room and sometimes that means your attention is split more than you realize.
I'd give this 3.5 stars as I enjoyed the book. I liked the interactions between Daniel and Christina and there's a scene when they finally find land that is written so well that you can almost hear the jump scare that ends the chapter. The only reason I didn't rate it four stars is that for a book set in 1882, the dialog doesn't really reflect that aside from anytime Christina's mother is mentioned. For some this might even be a plus and others might not care one way or the other.
Big Water follows 17-year old Christine McBurney as she runs away from home following the death of her twin brother. In her quest to simply get away, she finds herself on the Asia, a boat her cousin works on... only to have the boat sink. The rest of the book details how Christina manages to survive, be it through luck or sheer determination.
It's semi based on a true story, in that there was an Asia and it did sink and tragically only two people did survive, but the names and details have been changed.
I wasn't familiar with the story of the Asia prior to reading Big Water and it's a little difficult to get into at first, as we're thrown in as the ship is already begining to fail. By virtue of reading the back of the book, the reader knows the ship is going down but Christine does not, and also we know that pretty much every person she comes into contact with is going to die or has died, considering she's already mourning her brother. I'm not sure if the actual sinking of the ship scene is meant to be as chaotic as it comes across, considering I read it in a waiting room and sometimes that means your attention is split more than you realize.
I'd give this 3.5 stars as I enjoyed the book. I liked the interactions between Daniel and Christina and there's a scene when they finally find land that is written so well that you can almost hear the jump scare that ends the chapter. The only reason I didn't rate it four stars is that for a book set in 1882, the dialog doesn't really reflect that aside from anytime Christina's mother is mentioned. For some this might even be a plus and others might not care one way or the other.
February 26, 2018
I was given an ARC copy of Big Water by Netgalley and Orca Book Publishers in exchange for an honest review!
I wanted to read Big Water because it is a fictional tale on a real life event, the sinking of the SS Asia on a Great Lake in 1882. I spent the first 18 years of life growing up in Michigan so I was immediately drawn to a story that relates to one of the Great Lakes and a story of survival when a steamboat sinks in its freezing waters.
I must say, the writing in this story was phenomenal. Everything was described so beautifully, and I felt more connected to the murky depths of the lake than I ever have before. You are shown how truly deadly these "lakes" can be considering their size, depth, and temperature.
With that being said though, the story itself was lacking. There was not a lot of dialogue, but when there was it was mostly in past events which confused me sometimes as to whether what I was reading was taking place before or after the sinking. Most of the story was inner monologue also of the main character, Christina, trying to survive and wondering why she survived and why events in her life before the sinking had to happen. Honestly, it got old quick. I began skimming parts in her past to get back to the present because her past didn't seem to actually affect what was happening to her in the present.
I also thought this was a shorter less detailed retelling of Life of Pi. I saw a lot of similarities and couldn't get past that to actually be immersed in this story. In the end, not a lot actually happened in this story. Nothing gripped me enough or made me want to care about these characters. But I am giving 3 stars because the writing was still beautiful.
I wanted to read Big Water because it is a fictional tale on a real life event, the sinking of the SS Asia on a Great Lake in 1882. I spent the first 18 years of life growing up in Michigan so I was immediately drawn to a story that relates to one of the Great Lakes and a story of survival when a steamboat sinks in its freezing waters.
I must say, the writing in this story was phenomenal. Everything was described so beautifully, and I felt more connected to the murky depths of the lake than I ever have before. You are shown how truly deadly these "lakes" can be considering their size, depth, and temperature.
With that being said though, the story itself was lacking. There was not a lot of dialogue, but when there was it was mostly in past events which confused me sometimes as to whether what I was reading was taking place before or after the sinking. Most of the story was inner monologue also of the main character, Christina, trying to survive and wondering why she survived and why events in her life before the sinking had to happen. Honestly, it got old quick. I began skimming parts in her past to get back to the present because her past didn't seem to actually affect what was happening to her in the present.
I also thought this was a shorter less detailed retelling of Life of Pi. I saw a lot of similarities and couldn't get past that to actually be immersed in this story. In the end, not a lot actually happened in this story. Nothing gripped me enough or made me want to care about these characters. But I am giving 3 stars because the writing was still beautiful.
January 15, 2018
Big Water is a historical fiction novel that accounts of two survivors of the wrecked ship, the SS Asia. Though the story is fiction, it is based on a real event that took place in 1882. The story follows our MC, Christina, who has recently lost her twin brother, Jonathon, to consumption. She decides to run away from home by going on the SS Asia. As an impending storm reaches, the ship is destroyed and the passengers end up on lifeboats but unfortunately, the storm continues to affect the passengers and before long Christina, and another boy, Daniel are the only ones left alive. The story explores how the two handle and survive horrendous circumstances like the freezing water, treacherous conditions, and several days among dying men on a lifeboat. It also covers Christina still grieving the loss of her brother through different memories and trying to make sense of how different they've always been.
I do think there wasn't a lot of depth but I think given the situation of being stranded, hungry and surrounded by death and uncertainty, the lack of depth almost seems appropriate. I appreciate the short romance between Daniel and Christina for the sole reason that being close to death for 36+ hours makes one grateful, at least, to not be alone. I also liked how succinct the story and plot was. I honestly don't think this needed to be drawn out unnecessarily - there's so much you can describe happening on a boat before it's just boring. Short and pungent did this story well.
This book is another one that makes me want more historical fiction.
My thanks to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for this ARC.
I do think there wasn't a lot of depth but I think given the situation of being stranded, hungry and surrounded by death and uncertainty, the lack of depth almost seems appropriate. I appreciate the short romance between Daniel and Christina for the sole reason that being close to death for 36+ hours makes one grateful, at least, to not be alone. I also liked how succinct the story and plot was. I honestly don't think this needed to be drawn out unnecessarily - there's so much you can describe happening on a boat before it's just boring. Short and pungent did this story well.
This book is another one that makes me want more historical fiction.
My thanks to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for this ARC.
July 24, 2018
Musings:
Big Water is a survivalist story through and through. It’s that mixture of harsh reality mixed with emotional turmoil that keeps you holding on as desperately to each moment as the characters hold on to the small strands keeping them alive.
What I Loved:
Christina is battling her memories as much as she battles the sea. Christina came to be on the ship after loosing her twin brother who was seen in her family to be the better twin. She’s there to prove something of herself and to get over her guilt and wish that she had been the twin to die instead.
Christina’s uncle. Her uncle is with her on the boat and struggles along with her for survival. The little things she does like singing to him to keep him awake as people in the boat begin dying were lovely touches.
Daniel’s backstory. I loved reading about Daniel and his uncle. Especially when there was a lot of mystery surrounding why they had an argument the night before the ship went down. It made Daniel layered as a character in a really great way.
Based in history. I really like that this is a fictional story inspired by real events. It’s something that causes a reader to really think about what they would have done in that situation. It adds a grounded reality to the fiction.
It’s ugly. Survival is never pretty. It’s awful and ugly and sad. It’s ultimately you vs. your demons vs. nature and you have to have the mental strength and will to do what it is necessary to come out of everything alive. The rules when it comes to straight survival are totally different from any other situation. It’s gritty and I loved that this book showcases all of that.
Final thoughts:
Big Water is emotional, edge of your seat, fast paced read based in history. It’s beautifully written and will make you wonder if you would have the grit to survive.
Big Water is a survivalist story through and through. It’s that mixture of harsh reality mixed with emotional turmoil that keeps you holding on as desperately to each moment as the characters hold on to the small strands keeping them alive.
What I Loved:
Christina is battling her memories as much as she battles the sea. Christina came to be on the ship after loosing her twin brother who was seen in her family to be the better twin. She’s there to prove something of herself and to get over her guilt and wish that she had been the twin to die instead.
Christina’s uncle. Her uncle is with her on the boat and struggles along with her for survival. The little things she does like singing to him to keep him awake as people in the boat begin dying were lovely touches.
Daniel’s backstory. I loved reading about Daniel and his uncle. Especially when there was a lot of mystery surrounding why they had an argument the night before the ship went down. It made Daniel layered as a character in a really great way.
Based in history. I really like that this is a fictional story inspired by real events. It’s something that causes a reader to really think about what they would have done in that situation. It adds a grounded reality to the fiction.
It’s ugly. Survival is never pretty. It’s awful and ugly and sad. It’s ultimately you vs. your demons vs. nature and you have to have the mental strength and will to do what it is necessary to come out of everything alive. The rules when it comes to straight survival are totally different from any other situation. It’s gritty and I loved that this book showcases all of that.
Final thoughts:
Big Water is emotional, edge of your seat, fast paced read based in history. It’s beautifully written and will make you wonder if you would have the grit to survive.
January 29, 2018
Christina runs from home unable to get over the loss of her twin brother. She boards the steamship Asia which her cousin works on to begin her new life. While crossing the Great Lakes a massive storm capsizes the Asia and only a handful of survivors manage to get away in a single lifeboat. Sadly , no help comes and they must fight off injuries, shock, cold and no food until just Christina and another young man are left. Based on the true sinking of the Steamship Asia in 1882, this is an amazing story of how strong the will is to survive and how people from different walks of life come to depend on each other for comfort.
This book is listed as a young adult novel but I think younger kids and adults would enjoy it as well.
For fans of historical disasters and adventure. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
This book is listed as a young adult novel but I think younger kids and adults would enjoy it as well.
For fans of historical disasters and adventure. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
March 4, 2018
“I’m looking around, trying to make sense of where we are and what’s going on, when, without warning, a wave the height of s two-story house crests over us. A curtain of water descends. We’re thrown to the side, and the boat heels wildly. It seems to pause momentarily uncertain whether to flip over or return to stability.
The lifeboat flips over.”
I enjoyed this quick-read based on the real-life wreck of the steamship Asia on Georgian Bay. The story begins in the middle of the storm and follows the fate of the only survivors—two teenagers—over the course of the following three days adrift on Lake Huron.
The Ontario setting and first-person present tense point of view will make this especially appealing to my reluctant readers who sometimes shy away from historical fiction.
The lifeboat flips over.”
I enjoyed this quick-read based on the real-life wreck of the steamship Asia on Georgian Bay. The story begins in the middle of the storm and follows the fate of the only survivors—two teenagers—over the course of the following three days adrift on Lake Huron.
The Ontario setting and first-person present tense point of view will make this especially appealing to my reluctant readers who sometimes shy away from historical fiction.
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