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The Sea Singer
Craig Moodie's finely crafted adventure novel tells the story of twelve-year-old Finn, who stows away to search for his lost father and brothers. It's a journey that brings storms, shipwreck, tense encounters with the inhabitants of an unexplored continent -- and a coming of age for Finn, who will in the end, face his father as a young man and a Viking. Dramatic and beautifully told, The Sea Singer is a first-rate literary sea story.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
17 people want to read
About the author
Craig Moodie
10 books4 followersCraig Moodie is a writer with a sailing habit. He has worked as a deckhand on commercial fishing vessels in the waters off Cape Cod and as an advertising copywriter in agencies in New York City and Boston. He now toils as a creative director and promotional writer to support his family and his vocation as a fiction writer—and to keep a small catboat in varnish and paint.
He is the author of The Sea Singer, Seaborn, and Into the Trap, as well as several works of adult fiction.
He lives in Franklin, Massachusetts.
He is the author of The Sea Singer, Seaborn, and Into the Trap, as well as several works of adult fiction.
He lives in Franklin, Massachusetts.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 11, 2009
The book cover art was impressive and the blurb for this story seemed promising. I decided to take a chance and buy this book on a hunch that it might perhaps be incredible. It was. This middle grade historical book will hold the attention of young readers and will take them on a fantastic adventure with twelve-year-old Finn as he bravely embarks on an unpredictable journey to find his father, explorer Olaf Farseeker.
February 7, 2015
This looked intriguing in the Daedelus catalog, and potentially a good read-aloud for my 9-year old. Then I looked it up online, and found very few reviews, so I wasn't sure what to expect. We just finished it and enjoyed it very much.
It's a retelling of a story from the sagas, from the viewpoint of teenage boy Finn, a "skald" or poet who may just be the author of the saga itself. His father and brothers previously sailed west and should have returned; so when Leif Erikson makes a brief stopover, Finn stows away to search for his family.
The adventure that follows is an interesting coming-of-age tale with a good balance of triumph and tragedy, loss and redemption. It had just the right amount of depth for a pre-teen.
I think the reason this does not have a stronger rating is the lack of distribution in the U.S. market. I would put it on a par with a lot of Newbery type books and other award winners that we have read.
It's a retelling of a story from the sagas, from the viewpoint of teenage boy Finn, a "skald" or poet who may just be the author of the saga itself. His father and brothers previously sailed west and should have returned; so when Leif Erikson makes a brief stopover, Finn stows away to search for his family.
The adventure that follows is an interesting coming-of-age tale with a good balance of triumph and tragedy, loss and redemption. It had just the right amount of depth for a pre-teen.
I think the reason this does not have a stronger rating is the lack of distribution in the U.S. market. I would put it on a par with a lot of Newbery type books and other award winners that we have read.
February 13, 2018
I really enjoyed this Viking story! It kept me on the edge of my seat. The main character makes some really poor choices, but is overcome with remorse, tries to do the best he can in spite of his mistakes, and keeps himself in a perpetual state of trouble-making as he attempts to repair the damage.
The history and culture were so much fun to read about, and it was just a good story. The language was clean. There were a few places in the text where someone swore "by God," but otherwise, it was free of profanity.
The history and culture were so much fun to read about, and it was just a good story. The language was clean. There were a few places in the text where someone swore "by God," but otherwise, it was free of profanity.
December 9, 2019
Not much characterization or emotional involvement, but the plot is a good adventure story.
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May 8, 2014When his father and brother sail off to explore North America, twelve-year-old Finn is told to stay behind and look after the family farm. He is none to pleased, and takes it upon himself to sneak onto Leif Eriksson’s boat that is headed that same direction. When he is discovered as a stow-away he is forced to work. Once ashore he resists the directions he is given to continually search for his father and brother.
Written for 5th grade and up this story is historical fiction because factual information about Greenland, Vikings, and their many sea voyages are woven into the fictional story of a young boy’s adventure.
This book would make a great literature addition to a unit on Viking culture and/or sea exploration. Because world history is not often covered in the elementary years, this book can also be used for a cultural heritage project; read by students with Scandinavian heritage.
Written for 5th grade and up this story is historical fiction because factual information about Greenland, Vikings, and their many sea voyages are woven into the fictional story of a young boy’s adventure.
This book would make a great literature addition to a unit on Viking culture and/or sea exploration. Because world history is not often covered in the elementary years, this book can also be used for a cultural heritage project; read by students with Scandinavian heritage.
February 23, 2011
The story was interesting, but not what seemed to be advertised by the title.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews