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Girl. Boy. Sea.
Storm, shipwreck, survival. Chris Vick's novel delves deep into the might and majesty of the unpredictable ocean, the strength of an unlikely friendship between a British boy and a Berber girl and their will to survive against all the odds.
A young British boy called Bill narrowly survives the sinking of his yacht in a huge storm off the coast of Morocco. After many days alone at sea in a small boat he rescues another survivor, clinging for her life to a barrel. She is a girl called Aya, from the nomadic Berber tribe, whose migrant ship was destroyed by the same storm. Through endless days, a mere speck on the vast, empty sea – hungry, sunburned, and with no idea what will happen next – Aya recounts the tales of Shahrazad of the Arabian Nights, who told 1000 stories to quell the murderous desire of the Persian King. As hope of rescue begins to fade, from Aya's tales of magic, brave heroes, wily thieves, greedy kings and cruel sultans, they find the strength they need to stay alive.
When they land on a desert island they're confronted by a strange young man who is not what he seems... and back out on the waves once more in the dark deep, a shadow follows and waits...
A young British boy called Bill narrowly survives the sinking of his yacht in a huge storm off the coast of Morocco. After many days alone at sea in a small boat he rescues another survivor, clinging for her life to a barrel. She is a girl called Aya, from the nomadic Berber tribe, whose migrant ship was destroyed by the same storm. Through endless days, a mere speck on the vast, empty sea – hungry, sunburned, and with no idea what will happen next – Aya recounts the tales of Shahrazad of the Arabian Nights, who told 1000 stories to quell the murderous desire of the Persian King. As hope of rescue begins to fade, from Aya's tales of magic, brave heroes, wily thieves, greedy kings and cruel sultans, they find the strength they need to stay alive.
When they land on a desert island they're confronted by a strange young man who is not what he seems... and back out on the waves once more in the dark deep, a shadow follows and waits...
320 pages, Hardcover
Published August 8, 2019
37 people are currently reading
651 people want to read
About the author
Chris Vick
7 books45 followersChris Vick writes books for young people about the sea, danger and the wonder of magic and stories.
He spent years working in whale and dolphin conservation and a lot of time surfing before enrolling on the Bath Spa MA in Writing for Young People. He has written four books, published in several countries.
Chris has appeared at festivals including Hay, Bath Children's Literature festival and Mare di Libri (Sea of Books) in Italy and has written blogs/features for the Guardian and Bustle.com. on YA issues. He lives near Bath, with his wife and daughter.
Girl. Boy. Sea.
Shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie medal
'Perfect for your 14 yr old,' 'A world of near death and the discovery of an unlikely friendship.'
Jasbinder Bilan (The Guardian)
'Moral dilemmas, spiritual guidance and human cruelty underpin this rollicking adventure of unlikely friends.' (The Daily Mail)
Kook
'A no-holds-barred love story set in the Cornish surfer scene' 'A fast-paced read for older teens.' 'Kook is a gripping and heartbreaking story of love and obsession.' (The Guardian)
He spent years working in whale and dolphin conservation and a lot of time surfing before enrolling on the Bath Spa MA in Writing for Young People. He has written four books, published in several countries.
Chris has appeared at festivals including Hay, Bath Children's Literature festival and Mare di Libri (Sea of Books) in Italy and has written blogs/features for the Guardian and Bustle.com. on YA issues. He lives near Bath, with his wife and daughter.
Girl. Boy. Sea.
Shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie medal
'Perfect for your 14 yr old,' 'A world of near death and the discovery of an unlikely friendship.'
Jasbinder Bilan (The Guardian)
'Moral dilemmas, spiritual guidance and human cruelty underpin this rollicking adventure of unlikely friends.' (The Daily Mail)
Kook
'A no-holds-barred love story set in the Cornish surfer scene' 'A fast-paced read for older teens.' 'Kook is a gripping and heartbreaking story of love and obsession.' (The Guardian)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
July 12, 2019
This is such a beautiful and enchanting middle grade book.
I absolutely adored this. It was such a warm hearted tale about survival, friendship, life, hope etc.
Even though this is aimed at children, I think it could be adored by all ages. It talks about so many important themes that will resonate with all ages.
The writing is lovely, although very simplistic which is to be expected if aimed at children.
I loved both of the main characters, Bill and Aya.
I think this would be a perfect summer read. Either at the beach or on a cruise. Actually maybe not on a cruise....
I think this is a wonderful book, that would be enjoyed by everyone. Its magical, beautiful and just completely heart warming. I can't wait to check out Chris's other books in the future
I absolutely adored this. It was such a warm hearted tale about survival, friendship, life, hope etc.
Even though this is aimed at children, I think it could be adored by all ages. It talks about so many important themes that will resonate with all ages.
The writing is lovely, although very simplistic which is to be expected if aimed at children.
I loved both of the main characters, Bill and Aya.
I think this would be a perfect summer read. Either at the beach or on a cruise. Actually maybe not on a cruise....
I think this is a wonderful book, that would be enjoyed by everyone. Its magical, beautiful and just completely heart warming. I can't wait to check out Chris's other books in the future
January 30, 2022
This is a book I picked because it looked pretty. Yep, I am that shallow with books. But the cover is gorgeous and it sounded halfway decent and I am terrible at resisting adding new books to my collection. It's not my usual sort of story, but we should all try new things once in a while.
This was kind of Life of Pi for kids, but without any twisty metaphors at the end.
A boy and a girl lost at sea in a boat, trying to survive. They see things, do things they never thought they'd be capable of, and sometimes Ava entertains them by retelling what she remembers of 1001 Dark Nights. That part didn't really add much to the story, but I'm guessing it was intended to make kids want to go out and read some of the tales from themselves once they're done with this. For the record: I have no compulsion to do so.
I loved the survival aspects of this book, (which as you can imagine got pretty terrible), but it was told in a way that wasn't brutal and horrific, although it could have been. The struggle in here is real, and I have a feeling was inspired by some Man vs Wild marathons. Bill and Ava go through a lot together, and it was their interactions that really made the story work, and their slow descent of dehydration and starvation.
It doesn't have a definitive end, but it's not a tear jerker or anything that's emotionally draining to read.
This was kind of Life of Pi for kids, but without any twisty metaphors at the end.
A boy and a girl lost at sea in a boat, trying to survive. They see things, do things they never thought they'd be capable of, and sometimes Ava entertains them by retelling what she remembers of 1001 Dark Nights. That part didn't really add much to the story, but I'm guessing it was intended to make kids want to go out and read some of the tales from themselves once they're done with this. For the record: I have no compulsion to do so.
I loved the survival aspects of this book, (which as you can imagine got pretty terrible), but it was told in a way that wasn't brutal and horrific, although it could have been. The struggle in here is real, and I have a feeling was inspired by some Man vs Wild marathons. Bill and Ava go through a lot together, and it was their interactions that really made the story work, and their slow descent of dehydration and starvation.
It doesn't have a definitive end, but it's not a tear jerker or anything that's emotionally draining to read.
December 5, 2020
The sea and sky were our universe, and the boat was our world. A planet that had broken gravity and left its star. Drifting in the inky blue.
This was utterly absorbing from start to finish. I could easily have binged this if I'd had a spare day to just spend on reading! (And isn't that cover just stunning?)
Bill and Aya are very compelling characters, especially as we're meeting them under such life/death circumstances. The situations they need to respond to meant they had to showcase very full-saturation personalities, and their willpower to survive was honestly palpable. I loved the layered development of their friendship, a forever bond wrapped around with mutual life debts, Aya's Arabian Nights retellings, and fending off threats from sky, land, sea and human alike. I really liked how Bill and Aya gradually learned bits of each other's language, as well as the slow unpeeling of Aya's backstory. Subtly done and this badass girl is one of the biggest reasons to read this book. Another great thing was that even the minor characters had a strong character voice! Obviously Bill and Aya dominate the story, but it's nice when other characters feel like more than just filler or stock.
The plot never felt boring or repetitive despite being largely centred around 'what happens next for these kids marooned on a boat?' and 'what happens next for these kids marooned on an island'? - which I thought was a pretty amazing feat of writing. The plot pacing was excellent, hooks in the reader like a fish on a line and I certainly experienced my share of OMG moments. What surprised me most was probably the way I suddenly burst into tears near the end (and kept crying even after I finished). I got so attached to both Bill and Aya and my heart was just so overwhelmed!
"Live. Long life. Live. Do not die. Live. I beg you."
This was literally me, with my sister staring at me in confusion from across the dining table
Vick writes simply yet so vividly, and I really felt everything the characters were feeling, even when it's from the POV of a minor character just observing!
An incredible story of survival, humanity and hope, threaded through with magical tales like jewels on a necklace, defies the imagination yet somehow remained completely believable. It reminded me a little of 'Life of Pi' (another excellent read) and also reminds me never to go sailing...I have a sizeable fear of the open ocean... I think this is marketed towards an MG/YA audience, but I'd recommend this for all ages. Certainly one of my 2020 favourites!
And so what now? What is the end of our story? The story of the girl and the boy and the sea.
Do you think I know?
^ I remember highlighting that quote above while struggling to see through my tears HAHAHA
Me after finishing this book...
Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the ebook for an honest review.
January 7, 2021
This book sucks you in and doesn't let go until the very end.
I didn't have high hopes based on the first few chapters of this book. A boy is shipwrecked, he wanders around looking for food, he laments about said wandering. Enter Aya and her mysterious past and head full of stories--some familiar, some new. I flew through this, eager to find out what was really going on with Aya and how her and Will would manage (or fail) to survive.
This is the kind of book where you never fully know what's going on in the best way possible, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I didn't have high hopes based on the first few chapters of this book. A boy is shipwrecked, he wanders around looking for food, he laments about said wandering. Enter Aya and her mysterious past and head full of stories--some familiar, some new. I flew through this, eager to find out what was really going on with Aya and how her and Will would manage (or fail) to survive.
This is the kind of book where you never fully know what's going on in the best way possible, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
April 17, 2020
Fifteen-year-old Bill is with a group of young boys and their captain on a yacht when a storm appears seemingly from nowhere. The others manage to get off the boat but Bill turns back to get supplies. Before he has finished, the storm has blown the life raft away and the yacht is quickly taking on water. Bill is forced to cast off alone in a small wooden boat into the raging storm. He survives the storm - a small miracle in itself - but he has no way of knowing where he is and if he has enough provisions to last until he is found or if he will be found. But fate has another miracle in store for him - he spots what he first thinks is the dead body of a young girl draped over a barrel. When she opens her eyes, he knows he has to rescue her even though he realizes this means even less chance of survival. But, together, Bill, the young British boy and Aya, a young Berber girl may just be able to beat the odds.
Girl. Boy. Sea. by author Chris Vick is a YA adventure story that will appeal to both young boys and girls and one that adults can also enjoy with plenty of action to keep the reader glued to the page. It is also the story of how the human spirit, faced with seemingly insurmountable odds, can overcome if they ignore differences like birth place and gender and work together, an important lesson right now. It also shows the importance of storytelling in helping us to overcome our differences. I thoroughly enjoyed Girl. Boy. Sea. and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a well-written YA adventure.
Thanks to Netgalley and Zephyr for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
Girl. Boy. Sea. by author Chris Vick is a YA adventure story that will appeal to both young boys and girls and one that adults can also enjoy with plenty of action to keep the reader glued to the page. It is also the story of how the human spirit, faced with seemingly insurmountable odds, can overcome if they ignore differences like birth place and gender and work together, an important lesson right now. It also shows the importance of storytelling in helping us to overcome our differences. I thoroughly enjoyed Girl. Boy. Sea. and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a well-written YA adventure.
Thanks to Netgalley and Zephyr for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
March 25, 2020
Took me a bit to get into this book but when I did I found I was very invested in the characters and what happened to them. Reminded me a lot of a teen version of 'Life of Pi'.
January 19, 2022
I really liked this book- a calm, relaxing read with hidden meanings between the lines of stories within stories <3
August 5, 2019
Intriguing survival story set at sea. Bill finds himself struggling when his yacht is swamped in a sudden storm and he's separated from his friends. Lack of food, lack of water and lack of shade combine to make things hellishly difficult. And all of that is before he meets his fellow survivors...
This story left me breathless and feeling very warm. It's so vividly described. I loved the interweaving of 1001 Nights with their own efforts, and the way Bill changed and grew as a character. Also a very creepy character I won't name here for spoilers. Brr.
A great read, I think it'll go well with kids looking for an adventure story.
Aya's breathing steadied and she fell asleep, leaving me alone.
When she had told the story, she's been alive. She wasn't just Aya, or even Shahrazad. She was the king, clenching his fists, spitting and grimacing. She was the bride, scared and running.
We'd eaten our food and drank water and I'd listened to a story. It was as if I'd been drunkon those things.
I lay beside Aya, head to toe. Hunger returned and gnawed at my insides. Thirst rasped my throat. The skin on my arms stung with burning.
I tried to think about the story to distract myself. But it didn't work. All the bad things from Pandora's vase came back and sat inside me. Hateful hunger, hateful thirst and tiredness. I counted stars until I fell asleep too.
This story left me breathless and feeling very warm. It's so vividly described. I loved the interweaving of 1001 Nights with their own efforts, and the way Bill changed and grew as a character. Also a very creepy character I won't name here for spoilers. Brr.
A great read, I think it'll go well with kids looking for an adventure story.
Aya's breathing steadied and she fell asleep, leaving me alone.
When she had told the story, she's been alive. She wasn't just Aya, or even Shahrazad. She was the king, clenching his fists, spitting and grimacing. She was the bride, scared and running.
We'd eaten our food and drank water and I'd listened to a story. It was as if I'd been drunkon those things.
I lay beside Aya, head to toe. Hunger returned and gnawed at my insides. Thirst rasped my throat. The skin on my arms stung with burning.
I tried to think about the story to distract myself. But it didn't work. All the bad things from Pandora's vase came back and sat inside me. Hateful hunger, hateful thirst and tiredness. I counted stars until I fell asleep too.
September 13, 2019
I was completely unaware of this author until a couple of weeks ago, when I was lucky enough to win a bundle of 6 uncorrected proof copies from Publishing house, Head of Zeus in a Twitter competition. Well, the first thing that drew me to the book was its cover. Isn't it just beautiful? I was immediately intrigued, and then after reading the blurb I just had to start it. The book tells the story of Bill, who is marooned at sea. He comes across Aya, a girl from a foreign land, also marooned at sea but through a completely separate incident, and pulls her into his life raft. The story that follows is exquisite. The descriptions of their trials and tribulations out at sea with little hope of being rescued really pulled at my heartstrings. Whilst this is a book for young adults, I would encourage everyone to read it. I know it will stay with me for a long time, and it has shot straight into my Top Ten longlist for 2019. I'm now off to look for more books by this wonderfully talented author!
May 23, 2020
Young 'Life of Pi', shades of Morpurgo - friendship in adversity.
An ocean-set drama of different cultures that bolster each other up through the toughest circumstances. A yacht sinks in a storm, with one boy left alone on a small boat. A few days later, a girl clinging to a barrel, from a very different world in Africa, causes him the moral dilemma of rescuing her or keeping his rations for his own survival.
Aya keeps Bill motivated, with her stories of Shahrazad and the 1001 Nights. The two hope for rescue, but have many hardships to conquer in the wide ocean world that surrounds them.
Lyrical and quite tender, their budding friendship will be tested, their survival never assured.
I found this quite slow-moving, but the references to the Arabian Nights intriguing and the similarities to Life of Pi and Morpurgo's Kensuke's Kingdom target the audience for me at 12-15 year olds. The narrator was quite gentle, making the Audible version a listen I had to concentrate hard on without, not to lose flow occasionally.
A Carnegie-shortlisted title, it won't appeal to every reader, but it does contain some beautiful writing and images.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.
An ocean-set drama of different cultures that bolster each other up through the toughest circumstances. A yacht sinks in a storm, with one boy left alone on a small boat. A few days later, a girl clinging to a barrel, from a very different world in Africa, causes him the moral dilemma of rescuing her or keeping his rations for his own survival.
Aya keeps Bill motivated, with her stories of Shahrazad and the 1001 Nights. The two hope for rescue, but have many hardships to conquer in the wide ocean world that surrounds them.
Lyrical and quite tender, their budding friendship will be tested, their survival never assured.
I found this quite slow-moving, but the references to the Arabian Nights intriguing and the similarities to Life of Pi and Morpurgo's Kensuke's Kingdom target the audience for me at 12-15 year olds. The narrator was quite gentle, making the Audible version a listen I had to concentrate hard on without, not to lose flow occasionally.
A Carnegie-shortlisted title, it won't appeal to every reader, but it does contain some beautiful writing and images.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.
October 19, 2019
**Warning: this text may contain spoilers** Part 'Life of Pi', 'Robinson Crusoe' & 'Lord of the Flies' this novel gripped from the opening. Chris Vick's language is poetic yet spare, and we are immediately thrown into a survival story.
What marks this survival story as different is the character of Aya, the Berber girl, who along with Bill, is struggling to exist.
Her struggles, we gradually discover, reach back much further, for she has stared the Sun-Lord from her stories in the face before, and lost everything - and this has made her fearless and fierce.
As Bill's emotional journey becomes tied to Aya's, he too confronts the extremity of horror. What the two young people experience will unite them forever, and join their stories into one.
A powerful piece, wonderfully written. You won't be able to put it down!
What marks this survival story as different is the character of Aya, the Berber girl, who along with Bill, is struggling to exist.
Her struggles, we gradually discover, reach back much further, for she has stared the Sun-Lord from her stories in the face before, and lost everything - and this has made her fearless and fierce.
As Bill's emotional journey becomes tied to Aya's, he too confronts the extremity of horror. What the two young people experience will unite them forever, and join their stories into one.
A powerful piece, wonderfully written. You won't be able to put it down!
May 15, 2020
This is the best book I have read so far this year. It's a brilliant adventure story, full of amazing and terrifying moments that will stay with me for a while.
After a freak storm, Bill is left alone and adrift somewhere near the Canary Islands. He discovers a girl, nearly dead, floating in the storm wreckage and decides to save her. The girl is Aya - and she has a mysterious past....
It's written in short chapters in a sparse no-nonesense style. It's one of those books where, although you can guess at the ending you really don't know what is going to happen next, and it's full of surprises.
I won't spoil the ending - other than to say it's brilliant!
If you are a fan of adventure or survival stories, this will not disappoint! If you liked Martel: The Life of Pi, or Rundell: The Explorer, you will love this!
After a freak storm, Bill is left alone and adrift somewhere near the Canary Islands. He discovers a girl, nearly dead, floating in the storm wreckage and decides to save her. The girl is Aya - and she has a mysterious past....
It's written in short chapters in a sparse no-nonesense style. It's one of those books where, although you can guess at the ending you really don't know what is going to happen next, and it's full of surprises.
I won't spoil the ending - other than to say it's brilliant!
If you are a fan of adventure or survival stories, this will not disappoint! If you liked Martel: The Life of Pi, or Rundell: The Explorer, you will love this!
December 13, 2020
Loved this book about a girl and boy lost at sea in a rowing boat - very Life of Pi. To help stay alive the girl recounts tales based on the Arabian nights the messages of which weave themselves into the experiences they are having. Survival skills abound.
August 7, 2019
I really enjoyed this adventure novel. Bill is a teenager completing a Youth Sail Challenge when the yacht is caught in a storm off the coast of Morocco. After many days surviving in a tiny rowing boat, he rescues Aya, a girl clinging for her life to a barrel in the ocean. They drift on through endless days and long, dark nights; hungry, thirsty, sunburnt and scared. Aya tells Bill stories from her nomadic tribe to pass the time and to give them hope.
Vick's writing follows the ebb and flow of the sea and he places the reader in the scene effectively, making them feel as if they too are out at sea. The structure of the sentences and Bill's narrative mimics the rise and fall of the stormy waves and then captures the hopelessness of staring out across an endless horizon.
The two characters are very well crafted and the dynamics between them is beautifully developed - slowly and gradually showing how they become closer and the effect their experience has on them and their relationship. Aya is mysterious, alluring and intriguing. She seems magical and her storytelling shows how important the hope of rescue is - almost as lifesaving as food and drink.
For me, this echoed Robinson Crusoe, Lord of the Flies and Island of the Blue Dolphin. It's a perfect mix of adventure, drama, tension and coming of age. Perfect for 11-14 year olds, this is a great summer holiday read for anyone who dreams of desert islands, wonders how they would survive at sea or loves that blend between reality and the magical. This is a treat - enjoy!
Vick's writing follows the ebb and flow of the sea and he places the reader in the scene effectively, making them feel as if they too are out at sea. The structure of the sentences and Bill's narrative mimics the rise and fall of the stormy waves and then captures the hopelessness of staring out across an endless horizon.
The two characters are very well crafted and the dynamics between them is beautifully developed - slowly and gradually showing how they become closer and the effect their experience has on them and their relationship. Aya is mysterious, alluring and intriguing. She seems magical and her storytelling shows how important the hope of rescue is - almost as lifesaving as food and drink.
For me, this echoed Robinson Crusoe, Lord of the Flies and Island of the Blue Dolphin. It's a perfect mix of adventure, drama, tension and coming of age. Perfect for 11-14 year olds, this is a great summer holiday read for anyone who dreams of desert islands, wonders how they would survive at sea or loves that blend between reality and the magical. This is a treat - enjoy!
May 1, 2020
I came across this on NetGalley and could not resist the bright cover nor the mystery and adventure of the title.
The synopsis had me hooked- a 15-year-old, Bill and his friends are at sea off the coast of the Canary Islands near Morocco when a storm hits so suddenly that Bill is separated from his friends. I love the Canary Islands and was thrust into the action and setting.
I immediately felt for Bill and his friends, and worried for their wellbeing.
Quickly, things get tough for Bill as he must single-handedly fight to survive. However, he won't be alone for long.
This adventure will test him and a girl he rescues more than they ever imagined.....
Girl, Boy Sea is a beautiful, escapist uplifting book and the title is perfect- punchy and romantic at the same time. I also think it captures the essence of what the plot is about, and that's very effective.
Despite the simple language, author Chris Vick has taken what should have been a nice day ay sea with friends and all at once turned it into an adventure that is part thrilling part romantic and a whole lot action-packed!
I think young adults will like the themes of friendship, adventure and love just as much as older adults. The pace is quick and the language used is obviously skilfully chosen to make an impact because every single word is gripping, atmospheric and emotive. And that makes this a real page-turner.
Thanks to Chris Vicks and Head of Zeus for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
4 stars because I'd have liked more description of each character's appearance and more of their backstory as I felt they were a bit too abstract. Maybe this was intentional to make the reader's imagination run wild. If so, good writing tactic. But if not, it made me feel like I couldn't visualise the characters enough.
The sea visuals and everything about sea-related objects was amazing though. And there were unexpected things and reveals sprinkled throughout which was clever. The novel is like a YA version of Life of Pi, but with a distinct style of its own.
The synopsis had me hooked- a 15-year-old, Bill and his friends are at sea off the coast of the Canary Islands near Morocco when a storm hits so suddenly that Bill is separated from his friends. I love the Canary Islands and was thrust into the action and setting.
I immediately felt for Bill and his friends, and worried for their wellbeing.
Quickly, things get tough for Bill as he must single-handedly fight to survive. However, he won't be alone for long.
This adventure will test him and a girl he rescues more than they ever imagined.....
Girl, Boy Sea is a beautiful, escapist uplifting book and the title is perfect- punchy and romantic at the same time. I also think it captures the essence of what the plot is about, and that's very effective.
Despite the simple language, author Chris Vick has taken what should have been a nice day ay sea with friends and all at once turned it into an adventure that is part thrilling part romantic and a whole lot action-packed!
I think young adults will like the themes of friendship, adventure and love just as much as older adults. The pace is quick and the language used is obviously skilfully chosen to make an impact because every single word is gripping, atmospheric and emotive. And that makes this a real page-turner.
Thanks to Chris Vicks and Head of Zeus for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
4 stars because I'd have liked more description of each character's appearance and more of their backstory as I felt they were a bit too abstract. Maybe this was intentional to make the reader's imagination run wild. If so, good writing tactic. But if not, it made me feel like I couldn't visualise the characters enough.
The sea visuals and everything about sea-related objects was amazing though. And there were unexpected things and reveals sprinkled throughout which was clever. The novel is like a YA version of Life of Pi, but with a distinct style of its own.
August 20, 2019
A brave ten-year-old could handle this, but I’d suggest it for twelve and up, on the whole. Bill, a young English boy, is on a sailing summer course off Gran Canaria when a storm separates him from his shipmates. Drifting in the Atlantic, he comes across another shipwrecked adolescent: Aya, a Berber girl, who is keeping secrets of her own. Bill and Aya’s growing ability to communicate and trust one another is beautifully rendered, as are the stories Aya tells to keep them going (as not-so-subtle but still very moving symbols of the power of narrative to provide hope). Sort of like a junior Life of Pi without all of the clever-clever religiosity. Also a genuinely scary and thrilling survival/adventure story.
November 22, 2023
This was a really good book, although I found it a little confusing at the end because it went from a dreadful life at sea to lying in a hospital bed in his home land. I didn't like the part when Bill killed the shark that much, but I do understand why he did it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2022
Spitzen Buch, für jede Altersklasse geeignet, da man auf der Metaebene die Gefühle auch im echten Leben empfindet und manchmal ist man auch so alleine im Leben.
November 12, 2023
Wow. Heart wrenching. Powerful book. Would highly recommend
February 9, 2022
Ist das nicht ein atemberaubend schönes und bewegendes Cover? „Allein auf dem Meer“
heißt dieser Jugendroman von Chris Vick. Doch auf dem Cover entdeckt man sogleich, dass der englische Titel „Girl. Boy. Sea“ noch treffender ist.
Unten der unermessliche gefährliche, unberechenbare Ozean, oben die erbarmungslose heiße Sonne, dazwischen ein Mädchen und ein Junge in einer winzigen Nussschale.
Inhalt
Der 13 jährige britische Junge Bill ist mit anderen Jugendlichen auf einer Yacht in der Nähe der Kanarischen Inseln unterwegs, als sie in einen orkanartigen Sturm geraten. Bill verpasst den rettenden Sprung aufs Rettungsboot und treibt nun alleine auf einem schmalen Ruderboot mit wenigen Nahrungsmitteln. Alles ändert sich, als er ein weiteres Sturmopfer, ein Mädchen auf den Wellen entdeckt, das bewusstlos, dem Tode nahe in einem Wrackteil liegt. Was für eine Geschichte trägt Aya, das Berbermädchen mit sich, und was für ein kostbares Geheimnis schützt sie? Beide jungen Menschen stehen der schier übermächtigen Herausforderung sehr unterschiedlich gegenüber.
Will Ben wirklich eine Art Testament, eine letzte Nachricht für seine Familie hinterlassen? Nein, noch ist der Tod keine Option für ihn. Auch Aya hat ein Ziel, für das sie kämpfen will.
Meine Meinung
Von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite hat mich das Buch völlig absorbiert, sodass ich Unterbrechungen absolut störend empfand.
Mir haben die beiden Protagonisten außerordentlich gut gefallen. Bill und Aya sind sehr eindrückliche, authentische Charaktere. Sie treffen unter extremen Bedingungen aufeinander, in denen es nur noch um Leben und Tod geht. So müssen sie die ganze Kraft und Tiefe ihrer Persönlichkeiten, Willensstärke und Überlebenswillen offenbaren.
„Und ich tat es. Ich fühlte mich nicht gut dabei. Ich fühlte mich auch nicht schlecht. Es war eine ernste Sache. Und ich war dankbar. Die Schildkröte und der Fisch waren Gaben. […] Keine Mörder mehr. Jäger. […] „Du tötest für Leben. Du kannst. Jeder kann. Mann, Frau, Kind.“ „Ich weiß. Ich hätte nur nicht gedacht, dass ich das jemals tun müsste.“ S. 85
Aya ist ein sehr spezieller Charakter, dessen Tiefe sehr allmählich und sorgsam im Laufe der Handlung enthüllt wird. Magisch erzählt sie ganz eigen und persönlich gefärbte Geschichten aus 1001 Nacht nach. Unbeugsam verteidigt sie sich gegen Bedrohungen vom Himmel, auf festem Land, auf der See und auch von menschlicher Seite her. Mich hat berührt, was für ein knallhartes Mädchen Aya eigentlich ist.
Absolut nachvollziehbar und ehrlich fand ich die Darstellung der Handlungs- und Denkweise der jugendlichen Protagonisten. Spannend ist die vielschichtige Entwicklung ihrer Freundschaft zu beobachten. Man nimmt es ihnen gerne ab, dass hier eine lebenslange Verbindung entstehen könnte.
Ja, das Prinzip der Entwicklung ist ein wesentlicher Punkt in diesem Roman. Wie schön zu beobachten, wie Bill und Aya allmählich Elemente der Sprache des anderen lernen. Langsam enthüllt sich auch Ayas tragischer Hintergrund.
Auch wenn Aya und Bill den Plot bestimmen, hinterlassen ebenso Nebencharaktere einen intensiven Eindruck. Das wird gerade gegen Ende des Buches klar.
Die Schauplätze der Handlung sind rar und klein. Trotzdem kommen nie Langeweile oder Wiederholungen auf. Im Gegenteil. Die Spannungsführung in den kurzen Kapiteln ist exzellent. Wenn man beim Bild des Meeres bleiben will, so werden die Köder für die Lesenden perfekt ausgeworfen. Die in der Geschichte berührten Themen sind vielfältig: Sklaverei, Selbstüberwindung, Freundschaft, Überlebenswillen, Tod.
Fazit
Auch nachdem ich das Buch zugeklappt hatte, ließ es mich nicht so schnell los. Es ist zwar erst Februar, aber dieses Buch ist jedenfalls schon mal ein Highlight des Jahres.
Vom Verlag wird als Lesealter ab 11 Jahren angegeben. Da würde ich nach der Entwicklung des jeweiligen Kindes schauen. Auf jeden Fall ist das Buch nicht nur für Jugendliche, sondern auch für Erwachsene eine brillante Lektüre.
Eine absolute Leseempfehlung!
heißt dieser Jugendroman von Chris Vick. Doch auf dem Cover entdeckt man sogleich, dass der englische Titel „Girl. Boy. Sea“ noch treffender ist.
Unten der unermessliche gefährliche, unberechenbare Ozean, oben die erbarmungslose heiße Sonne, dazwischen ein Mädchen und ein Junge in einer winzigen Nussschale.
Inhalt
Der 13 jährige britische Junge Bill ist mit anderen Jugendlichen auf einer Yacht in der Nähe der Kanarischen Inseln unterwegs, als sie in einen orkanartigen Sturm geraten. Bill verpasst den rettenden Sprung aufs Rettungsboot und treibt nun alleine auf einem schmalen Ruderboot mit wenigen Nahrungsmitteln. Alles ändert sich, als er ein weiteres Sturmopfer, ein Mädchen auf den Wellen entdeckt, das bewusstlos, dem Tode nahe in einem Wrackteil liegt. Was für eine Geschichte trägt Aya, das Berbermädchen mit sich, und was für ein kostbares Geheimnis schützt sie? Beide jungen Menschen stehen der schier übermächtigen Herausforderung sehr unterschiedlich gegenüber.
Will Ben wirklich eine Art Testament, eine letzte Nachricht für seine Familie hinterlassen? Nein, noch ist der Tod keine Option für ihn. Auch Aya hat ein Ziel, für das sie kämpfen will.
Meine Meinung
Von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite hat mich das Buch völlig absorbiert, sodass ich Unterbrechungen absolut störend empfand.
Mir haben die beiden Protagonisten außerordentlich gut gefallen. Bill und Aya sind sehr eindrückliche, authentische Charaktere. Sie treffen unter extremen Bedingungen aufeinander, in denen es nur noch um Leben und Tod geht. So müssen sie die ganze Kraft und Tiefe ihrer Persönlichkeiten, Willensstärke und Überlebenswillen offenbaren.
„Und ich tat es. Ich fühlte mich nicht gut dabei. Ich fühlte mich auch nicht schlecht. Es war eine ernste Sache. Und ich war dankbar. Die Schildkröte und der Fisch waren Gaben. […] Keine Mörder mehr. Jäger. […] „Du tötest für Leben. Du kannst. Jeder kann. Mann, Frau, Kind.“ „Ich weiß. Ich hätte nur nicht gedacht, dass ich das jemals tun müsste.“ S. 85
Aya ist ein sehr spezieller Charakter, dessen Tiefe sehr allmählich und sorgsam im Laufe der Handlung enthüllt wird. Magisch erzählt sie ganz eigen und persönlich gefärbte Geschichten aus 1001 Nacht nach. Unbeugsam verteidigt sie sich gegen Bedrohungen vom Himmel, auf festem Land, auf der See und auch von menschlicher Seite her. Mich hat berührt, was für ein knallhartes Mädchen Aya eigentlich ist.
Absolut nachvollziehbar und ehrlich fand ich die Darstellung der Handlungs- und Denkweise der jugendlichen Protagonisten. Spannend ist die vielschichtige Entwicklung ihrer Freundschaft zu beobachten. Man nimmt es ihnen gerne ab, dass hier eine lebenslange Verbindung entstehen könnte.
Ja, das Prinzip der Entwicklung ist ein wesentlicher Punkt in diesem Roman. Wie schön zu beobachten, wie Bill und Aya allmählich Elemente der Sprache des anderen lernen. Langsam enthüllt sich auch Ayas tragischer Hintergrund.
Auch wenn Aya und Bill den Plot bestimmen, hinterlassen ebenso Nebencharaktere einen intensiven Eindruck. Das wird gerade gegen Ende des Buches klar.
Die Schauplätze der Handlung sind rar und klein. Trotzdem kommen nie Langeweile oder Wiederholungen auf. Im Gegenteil. Die Spannungsführung in den kurzen Kapiteln ist exzellent. Wenn man beim Bild des Meeres bleiben will, so werden die Köder für die Lesenden perfekt ausgeworfen. Die in der Geschichte berührten Themen sind vielfältig: Sklaverei, Selbstüberwindung, Freundschaft, Überlebenswillen, Tod.
Fazit
Auch nachdem ich das Buch zugeklappt hatte, ließ es mich nicht so schnell los. Es ist zwar erst Februar, aber dieses Buch ist jedenfalls schon mal ein Highlight des Jahres.
Vom Verlag wird als Lesealter ab 11 Jahren angegeben. Da würde ich nach der Entwicklung des jeweiligen Kindes schauen. Auf jeden Fall ist das Buch nicht nur für Jugendliche, sondern auch für Erwachsene eine brillante Lektüre.
Eine absolute Leseempfehlung!
August 7, 2021
Review of Rachel’s favourite book:
Girl.Boy.Sea by Chris Vick
Girl.Boy.Sea is one of my favourite books by far. It includes many subjects such as slavery, doing what is right even if it’s the hardest thing, survival, friendship, never giving up and in some ways, death.
It’s about a girl called Aya and a boy called Bill. They embark on a perilous journey on a little rowing boat in the Pacific Ocean with only a few tins of food and a couple of bottles of water.
Although these two characters see the journey in quite different ways.
Bill, a thirteen-year-old boy from England who loses his family, dog and friends when he and his friends go out to sea on their yacht and find themselves in a huge storm that leaves Bill all alone in a small rowing boat with not much for resources. However, everything changes when he sees a girl who is floating on a barrel, unconscious.
Aya was an African girl being shipped to America to become a slave for the rich when their boat was caught in a terrible storm and sank, killing everyone but Aya. Aya survived by clinging onto a barrel full of priceless jewels and gemstones that would have been sold for millions. Originally, they were her ancestor’s jewels and she wasn’t going to let them go.
Bill had started writing a journal about what had happened while on the boat having covered many pages, he had also starting writing a letter to his parents about how he was sorry about everything, about the shipwreck, and about not being able to return to them. He wrote to tell them that he missed them and to say goodbye. However, he never finished his letter, he told himself that this letter would be like giving up. Caving into death and that was not an option.
It seems like Aya wasn’t the only one who survived the shipwreck for Bill and Aya find an island but it’s already been clamed by a boy and this boy was a slave trader’s son! The same one who caught Aya and put her on a ship. Things get violent when Aya and the boy meet because the slave trader’s son believes the Aya belongs to him, finders’ keepers. The slave trader’s son is angry at Aya for disobeying him and he punishes Aya accordingly. Bill hates seeing Aya being treated this way and steps in resulting in a terrible accident including sharks, jagged rocks, the slave trader’s son and blood. Aya and Bill stock up on coconuts and head back out onto the sea. With they survive until help comes?
I loved this book because it was so gripping and well written. The characters were amazing and I felt like I was truly inside the book itself. I was surprised by the ending because after all the tragedy and death in the book you’d think that then ending look be something like, “They returned home safely, fell in love, got married and lived happy ever after” but that definitely didn’t happen. There was more blood, less love and no happily ever after. I liked the ending because it was different and left you on your toes. I would like to see a sequel to the book because the ending is like a start of a new story and I’d love to see what Chris Vick comes up with next.
I loved the relationship between Bill and Aya because it seemed so impossible and yet Aya learns English and tells stories to Bill about her homeland and what happened to her I was surprised by the ending and I felt that that is one of the things that makes it such a good book. It isn’t predictable and I loved it.
5 stars!
Also I just want to point out how beautiful the cover it.
Girl.Boy.Sea by Chris Vick
Girl.Boy.Sea is one of my favourite books by far. It includes many subjects such as slavery, doing what is right even if it’s the hardest thing, survival, friendship, never giving up and in some ways, death.
It’s about a girl called Aya and a boy called Bill. They embark on a perilous journey on a little rowing boat in the Pacific Ocean with only a few tins of food and a couple of bottles of water.
Although these two characters see the journey in quite different ways.
Bill, a thirteen-year-old boy from England who loses his family, dog and friends when he and his friends go out to sea on their yacht and find themselves in a huge storm that leaves Bill all alone in a small rowing boat with not much for resources. However, everything changes when he sees a girl who is floating on a barrel, unconscious.
Aya was an African girl being shipped to America to become a slave for the rich when their boat was caught in a terrible storm and sank, killing everyone but Aya. Aya survived by clinging onto a barrel full of priceless jewels and gemstones that would have been sold for millions. Originally, they were her ancestor’s jewels and she wasn’t going to let them go.
Bill had started writing a journal about what had happened while on the boat having covered many pages, he had also starting writing a letter to his parents about how he was sorry about everything, about the shipwreck, and about not being able to return to them. He wrote to tell them that he missed them and to say goodbye. However, he never finished his letter, he told himself that this letter would be like giving up. Caving into death and that was not an option.
It seems like Aya wasn’t the only one who survived the shipwreck for Bill and Aya find an island but it’s already been clamed by a boy and this boy was a slave trader’s son! The same one who caught Aya and put her on a ship. Things get violent when Aya and the boy meet because the slave trader’s son believes the Aya belongs to him, finders’ keepers. The slave trader’s son is angry at Aya for disobeying him and he punishes Aya accordingly. Bill hates seeing Aya being treated this way and steps in resulting in a terrible accident including sharks, jagged rocks, the slave trader’s son and blood. Aya and Bill stock up on coconuts and head back out onto the sea. With they survive until help comes?
I loved this book because it was so gripping and well written. The characters were amazing and I felt like I was truly inside the book itself. I was surprised by the ending because after all the tragedy and death in the book you’d think that then ending look be something like, “They returned home safely, fell in love, got married and lived happy ever after” but that definitely didn’t happen. There was more blood, less love and no happily ever after. I liked the ending because it was different and left you on your toes. I would like to see a sequel to the book because the ending is like a start of a new story and I’d love to see what Chris Vick comes up with next.
I loved the relationship between Bill and Aya because it seemed so impossible and yet Aya learns English and tells stories to Bill about her homeland and what happened to her I was surprised by the ending and I felt that that is one of the things that makes it such a good book. It isn’t predictable and I loved it.
5 stars!
Also I just want to point out how beautiful the cover it.
April 20, 2020
This. Book.
Being a book aimed at a younger audience, this book used language that was very easy to understand. This made it a quicker read than usual for me which, once I started to get into the plot, I was very grateful for. I quickly found myself needing to know what happened next, and the easy readability of the book helped me find out faster. I read most of this book in one sitting as – like I said – I got tied up in needing to know what happened next and just couldn’t put it down!!
I loved both of our main characters, Bill and Aya, as well as the friendship between them. I liked that it felt like a realistic friendship; it took time for them to warm up to and trust one another, as is normal in friendships, even when they don’t begin trapped on a boat together in the middle of the ocean. Watching them slowly trust and become friends with one another was one of my favourite parts of the book, especially due to the differences between them; language barriers, differing cultures, and differing beliefs.
The plot itself was rather simple, but that didn’t make it boring. At the beginning of the story, Bill is on the boat Pandora with the rest of its crew, before a storm comes through and separates him from them. Not long after, he finds Aya, who he initially believes to be dead, but who ends up being alive. The two become stranded together, making water and catching fish to try and survive. I won’t go into too much more detail than tat to avoid spoilers, but the plot itself takes several twists and turns that had me hungry to find out what was going to happen to Bill and Aya.
My favourite part of the book by far was, as mentioned above, the friendship between Bill and Aya. It was beautiful, but it also felt very realistic and honest. Of all the strengths in this book, their friendship felt the strongest to me. If you love beautiful and slow-developed friendships, I definitely recommend giving this book a read!
Being a book aimed at a younger audience, this book used language that was very easy to understand. This made it a quicker read than usual for me which, once I started to get into the plot, I was very grateful for. I quickly found myself needing to know what happened next, and the easy readability of the book helped me find out faster. I read most of this book in one sitting as – like I said – I got tied up in needing to know what happened next and just couldn’t put it down!!
I loved both of our main characters, Bill and Aya, as well as the friendship between them. I liked that it felt like a realistic friendship; it took time for them to warm up to and trust one another, as is normal in friendships, even when they don’t begin trapped on a boat together in the middle of the ocean. Watching them slowly trust and become friends with one another was one of my favourite parts of the book, especially due to the differences between them; language barriers, differing cultures, and differing beliefs.
The plot itself was rather simple, but that didn’t make it boring. At the beginning of the story, Bill is on the boat Pandora with the rest of its crew, before a storm comes through and separates him from them. Not long after, he finds Aya, who he initially believes to be dead, but who ends up being alive. The two become stranded together, making water and catching fish to try and survive. I won’t go into too much more detail than tat to avoid spoilers, but the plot itself takes several twists and turns that had me hungry to find out what was going to happen to Bill and Aya.
My favourite part of the book by far was, as mentioned above, the friendship between Bill and Aya. It was beautiful, but it also felt very realistic and honest. Of all the strengths in this book, their friendship felt the strongest to me. If you love beautiful and slow-developed friendships, I definitely recommend giving this book a read!
July 9, 2020
Girl. Boy. Sea. by Chris Vick is a beautiful tale of companionship & survival, with two different people from different backgrounds coming together in extraordinary circumstances - who traverse an ocean, language & culture to find each other, while adrift and lost.
As our two main characters, Bill and Aya, are serendipitously conjoined to the same boat together, they are starved and spend time sharing short stories. Without giving away any of the stories, let’s just say it’s extremely worth the time and effort to become entranced by Mr Vick’s use of vocabulary, culture and mythical symbolism within the context of this book of his. His words definitely mirror the tone and the character’s aching chance of survival after every page turn.
This novel was something else. I found it very original and fresh - felt like a mix of a classic and postmodern literary book. You can make the comparison that this book is Life of Pi and Arabian Nights in a blender - it’s very vignette-heavy with its structure. We go back and forward between stories as if we’re in a tapestry - that takes on the image of an ocean. Because that’s what stories are. Not only do they keep us alive and sane, but they’re also boundless like our imaginations and the oceans that surround us.
I’m glad this novel made it to the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2020 shortlist because it deserves the recognition by all means!
As our two main characters, Bill and Aya, are serendipitously conjoined to the same boat together, they are starved and spend time sharing short stories. Without giving away any of the stories, let’s just say it’s extremely worth the time and effort to become entranced by Mr Vick’s use of vocabulary, culture and mythical symbolism within the context of this book of his. His words definitely mirror the tone and the character’s aching chance of survival after every page turn.
This novel was something else. I found it very original and fresh - felt like a mix of a classic and postmodern literary book. You can make the comparison that this book is Life of Pi and Arabian Nights in a blender - it’s very vignette-heavy with its structure. We go back and forward between stories as if we’re in a tapestry - that takes on the image of an ocean. Because that’s what stories are. Not only do they keep us alive and sane, but they’re also boundless like our imaginations and the oceans that surround us.
I’m glad this novel made it to the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2020 shortlist because it deserves the recognition by all means!
August 8, 2019
'Girl, Boy, Sea' is a lyrical hymn to life and being alive.
From start to finish of its salt-soaked pages, Bill and Aya's journey of survival against the elements, against the darkness and death, this is a tale about what we're about, what we fail to comprehend, what we aspire to be.
There's a hypnotic surge and sway to its storytelling. In one rise of the waves, this is about two young people who traverse an ocean, language and culture to find each other, while trapped adrift and lost. In another drop of the swell, it's a story about stories themselves, as Aya weaves her Arabian Nights tale of clever Shahrazad and her adventures. And these drift in your imagination, into the adventure that this most assuredly is, with its heart-thumping drama, its humour, love, animals and birds - like all the best adventures, right?
I can't quite put my finger on what makes this a special book. But perhaps that's the point. We grasp to understand life, while it slips through our fingers. Bill and Aya cling to survival, and through their longing to live, their refusal to let go, they glimpse something else, something we only hear and feel in our stories, our dreams and fairytales...
So if you want a stirring tale, a romance, a story about the beauty and shock of nature, then 'Girl, Boy, Sea' is packed to the gunnels. Or if you want to wonder at the stars, why we tell stories, then there's a pearl here waiting to be found.
A book for us all then, on that terrible, wonderful sea.
From start to finish of its salt-soaked pages, Bill and Aya's journey of survival against the elements, against the darkness and death, this is a tale about what we're about, what we fail to comprehend, what we aspire to be.
There's a hypnotic surge and sway to its storytelling. In one rise of the waves, this is about two young people who traverse an ocean, language and culture to find each other, while trapped adrift and lost. In another drop of the swell, it's a story about stories themselves, as Aya weaves her Arabian Nights tale of clever Shahrazad and her adventures. And these drift in your imagination, into the adventure that this most assuredly is, with its heart-thumping drama, its humour, love, animals and birds - like all the best adventures, right?
I can't quite put my finger on what makes this a special book. But perhaps that's the point. We grasp to understand life, while it slips through our fingers. Bill and Aya cling to survival, and through their longing to live, their refusal to let go, they glimpse something else, something we only hear and feel in our stories, our dreams and fairytales...
So if you want a stirring tale, a romance, a story about the beauty and shock of nature, then 'Girl, Boy, Sea' is packed to the gunnels. Or if you want to wonder at the stars, why we tell stories, then there's a pearl here waiting to be found.
A book for us all then, on that terrible, wonderful sea.
August 23, 2019
This is one of those novels that I just cannot find the right words to describe how stunning and beautiful it is. From the cover, the story and every single word, this book is simply stunning. I am a huge fan of Life of Pi (so much that I wanted to name the cat Richard Parker) and although very different, it’s easy to feel and see the influence.
Despite being written for the younger side if YA (12+), it never really felt like that. The storytelling was so compelling and breathtaking that I just fell straight into it and never wanted to leave.
The setting of the story is at sea, with nothing else around. Pretty difficult to make interesting? Not for Chris Vick! Every smell, sight and sound jumped from the pages which were filled with vivid details of the wonder and danger of the open sea.
The relationship between Bill and Aya is told tenderly and with love. Both have faced difficult times and the way they care for each other brought me to tears so many times. Their vulnerability and immaturity shone through at times giving the reader reminders that these characters are just children. I adored the way they learned to communicate through the language barriers too.
This novel is just utterly stunning for adults and young adults alike and I really cannot recommend it enough.
Despite being written for the younger side if YA (12+), it never really felt like that. The storytelling was so compelling and breathtaking that I just fell straight into it and never wanted to leave.
The setting of the story is at sea, with nothing else around. Pretty difficult to make interesting? Not for Chris Vick! Every smell, sight and sound jumped from the pages which were filled with vivid details of the wonder and danger of the open sea.
The relationship between Bill and Aya is told tenderly and with love. Both have faced difficult times and the way they care for each other brought me to tears so many times. Their vulnerability and immaturity shone through at times giving the reader reminders that these characters are just children. I adored the way they learned to communicate through the language barriers too.
This novel is just utterly stunning for adults and young adults alike and I really cannot recommend it enough.
May 25, 2020
More of a 3.5, but rounding up. First of all, the writing here was beautiful. Even when things were terrifying, I still spent most of this read in awe of the sea's beauty. I grew up on an island, so I have a lot of love and respect for the ocean and this did a good job of showing both those elements together. I was a big fan of survival/shipwreck novels in elementary school and this really felt like bringing it back to that in the nostalgia factor, which was also a fun part. There were also big Life of Pi vibes with the ending. I also really enjoyed the way the stories were weaved throughout and tying everything together.
Where it did lose me a bit was how much of the subplot depended on Aya's heritage and the political conflicts in her region. That's just a little uncomfortable for me, personally, to read coming from a white, English author. As a slight disclaimer, I don't know much about Aya's culture or everything mentioned in the book, so I can't comment on whether it was done well or not, I can just say it made me uncomfortable at times because of the implications of it being written by a white man in England. Just something to consider.
Rounding it off to a four, like I mentioned, because at the end of the day, I did enjoy the survival aspects and the nostalgia.
Where it did lose me a bit was how much of the subplot depended on Aya's heritage and the political conflicts in her region. That's just a little uncomfortable for me, personally, to read coming from a white, English author. As a slight disclaimer, I don't know much about Aya's culture or everything mentioned in the book, so I can't comment on whether it was done well or not, I can just say it made me uncomfortable at times because of the implications of it being written by a white man in England. Just something to consider.
Rounding it off to a four, like I mentioned, because at the end of the day, I did enjoy the survival aspects and the nostalgia.
Read
January 18, 2022Storm, shipwreck, survival. Chris Vick's novel delves deep into the might and majesty of the unpredictable ocean, the strength of an unlikely friendship between a British boy and a Berber girl and their will to survive against all the odds.
A young British boy called Bill narrowly survives the sinking of his yacht in a huge storm off the coast of Morocco. After many days alone at sea in a small boat he rescues another survivor, clinging for her life to a barrel. She is a girl called Aya, from the nomadic Berber tribe, whose migrant ship was destroyed by the same storm. Through endless days, a mere speck on the vast, empty sea – hungry, sunburned, and with no idea what will happen next – Aya recounts the tales of Shahrazad of the Arabian Nights, who told 1000 stories to quell the murderous desire of the Persian King. As hope of rescue begins to fade, from Aya's tales of magic, brave heroes, wily thieves, greedy kings and cruel sultans, they find the strength they need to stay alive.
When they land on a desert island they're confronted by a strange young man who is not what he seems... and back out on the waves once more in the dark deep, a shadow follows and waits... (less)
A young British boy called Bill narrowly survives the sinking of his yacht in a huge storm off the coast of Morocco. After many days alone at sea in a small boat he rescues another survivor, clinging for her life to a barrel. She is a girl called Aya, from the nomadic Berber tribe, whose migrant ship was destroyed by the same storm. Through endless days, a mere speck on the vast, empty sea – hungry, sunburned, and with no idea what will happen next – Aya recounts the tales of Shahrazad of the Arabian Nights, who told 1000 stories to quell the murderous desire of the Persian King. As hope of rescue begins to fade, from Aya's tales of magic, brave heroes, wily thieves, greedy kings and cruel sultans, they find the strength they need to stay alive.
When they land on a desert island they're confronted by a strange young man who is not what he seems... and back out on the waves once more in the dark deep, a shadow follows and waits... (less)
August 6, 2019
After enjoying Chris Vick's previous books, I was really looking forward to reading Girl.Boy.Sea. I haven't been disappointed! It is a beautiful story, written with heart. The plot is concise and the writing is so tight, it appears simple - but of course this can only be achieved by talented writing.
Bill, the main protagonist, is a likeable teenage boy, who has strength of character but is also vulnerable at times. But I must admit, I was particularly drawn to Aya, the Berber girl whose stories give hope to the pair and keep them strong until the end. And what an ending - it will have me thinking for a long time to come, and not many books do that.
Traditional tales interwoven with modern storytelling - this book is a classic in the making. I highly recommend for boys and girls.
Bill, the main protagonist, is a likeable teenage boy, who has strength of character but is also vulnerable at times. But I must admit, I was particularly drawn to Aya, the Berber girl whose stories give hope to the pair and keep them strong until the end. And what an ending - it will have me thinking for a long time to come, and not many books do that.
Traditional tales interwoven with modern storytelling - this book is a classic in the making. I highly recommend for boys and girls.
August 8, 2019
‘This isn’t a place. This is nowhere.
I’m alone, in a rowboat, in the Atlantic.’
When Bill is shipwrecked in a storm his chances of survival, as the long days pass, look bleak. Then Aya, a migrant Berber girl drifts into his path on a barrel. Together they fight to overcome hunger, thirst and language and cultural barriers out in the middle of the unforgiving ocean. And all the while a mysterious shadow lurks in the deep…
Laced with Aya’s retellings of The Arabian Nights in which Shahrazad must tell 1001 stories to save her life, Chris Vick has written a powerful, raw tale of two children improbably thrown together on a sea so vividly described that I could taste the salt.
Unputdownable, unforgettable, and ultimately life affirming, this is a tale of courage, endurance and the power and magic of stories through the ages.
I’m alone, in a rowboat, in the Atlantic.’
When Bill is shipwrecked in a storm his chances of survival, as the long days pass, look bleak. Then Aya, a migrant Berber girl drifts into his path on a barrel. Together they fight to overcome hunger, thirst and language and cultural barriers out in the middle of the unforgiving ocean. And all the while a mysterious shadow lurks in the deep…
Laced with Aya’s retellings of The Arabian Nights in which Shahrazad must tell 1001 stories to save her life, Chris Vick has written a powerful, raw tale of two children improbably thrown together on a sea so vividly described that I could taste the salt.
Unputdownable, unforgettable, and ultimately life affirming, this is a tale of courage, endurance and the power and magic of stories through the ages.
January 3, 2020
This is a great adventure about a boy who is sailing but, in a storm, ends up alone on a small boat. He rescues a girl stranded on a barrel and slowly they get to know each other though there is a language barrier. Together they try to survive the sun, storms, the sea, sharks and other problems. The two young people become friends but there is still a mystery as to the girl's background.
This survival adventure is interspersed with stories that the girl tells the boy. They are based on the story of Scheherazade and the 1001 Arabian Nights tales. The stories have meaning for the children's current predicament.
This is really well told and I thoroughly enjoyed it and was sorry when it ended. I read it very quickly and couldn't put it down as I wanted to know if they survived.
I recommend this to ages 9+ and to anyone who enjoyed "The Life of Pi".
This survival adventure is interspersed with stories that the girl tells the boy. They are based on the story of Scheherazade and the 1001 Arabian Nights tales. The stories have meaning for the children's current predicament.
This is really well told and I thoroughly enjoyed it and was sorry when it ended. I read it very quickly and couldn't put it down as I wanted to know if they survived.
I recommend this to ages 9+ and to anyone who enjoyed "The Life of Pi".
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