A Tear in the Ocean

A Crack in the Sea

by H.M. Bouwman, Yuko Shimizu (Illustrations)

This stunning middle grade historical fantasy adventure is a companion to the critically acclaimed A Crack in the Sea . Now in paperback.

Putnam, the future king of Raftworld, wants more than anything to prove himself. When the water in the Second World starts to become salty and his father won't do anything about it, Putnam sees his chance. He steals a boat and sneaks off toward the source of the salty water. He doesn't know he has a stowaway onboard, an island girl named Artie. As the two face uncertainty and danger in their shared adventure, an extraordinary friendship forms. Meanwhile, a hundred years in the past, Rayel, princess of Raftworld, flees to southern waters, escaping an arranged marriage, and foiling a plot to kill her father.

Told in alternating perspectives with Putnam and Artie traveling further and further into the uncharted southern sea--and Rayel, the key to the saltwater mystery, sailing the same sea in her own time--Putnam and Artie must put aside their differences and figure out why the sea is salty before it's too late.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Adventure, Friendship, Young Adult, Childrens, Dystopia

320 pages, Paperback

First published February 5, 2019

About the author

H.M. Bouwman is the author of middle grade fantasy and historical fantasy, including Gossamer Summer, as well as the Owen and Eleanor chapter book series. She lives in St. Paul, MN with her family, where she teaches literature and creative writing at the University of St. Thomas. She is probably reading a book right now.

Reviews

[Hannah]

Okay so A Crack in the Sea was possibly my favorite book that I read all of last year, and it's certainly the in the top 5 fantasies I've ever read, because I don't like fantasy. I love that it's heartfelt and diverse and political and really unique in its world design. So when I saw this book was coming up, I was super excited to dive into the Second World again but also terrified that it would ruin the original book that I loved so much. I can say that A Tear in the Ocean is really solid and did not leave me with a sour taste in my mouth, and what I think was intended to be a pun in the title for those who read the first book is A+. I can say the plot and the worldbuilding (since less needs to be done as far as that is concerned both because it's a companion novel and because nothing happens in the First World is not sociopolitical in the way the first book was, so it just cannot be as brilliant as the first one, but it's still really, really good. I love the way Bouwman crafts her storylines because the books aren't meandering character musings with nothing going on but they're also not standard, trope-y plot plots where you can anticipate every turn. I really can't describe it very well, but it's unlike other books I've read, and I cannot for the life of me understand why more people are not suuuuuper about the first book, and I hope they'll get into it if they read this new one.

[April Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy fiction with mainly a calm/tranquil mood. The content is great for those who like cozy fiction mixed with deep seated family trauma jazzed up with some mythical and fantasy genres. Love how the author was able to weave two stories and two time lines.

[Allison Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This companion book to A CRACK IN THE SEA begins in two time periods, present and past, and follows the journeys of three children across an ocean in an alternate world of mostly water. One of these children is Putnam, the son of the Raft King, who learns that the sea is growing too salty to drink or fish from, and vows to do what his cautious father refuses, and discover the cause of this problem. Another is Artie, who flees from her abusive stepfather on the islands, determined to find solitude and safety. Finally, there's Rayel, who flees an arranged marriage to a murderous man, and discovers she has a supernatural gift for surviving the freezing south. All are fleeing something they can't control, and all must eventually somehow conquer the beast that stalks them through the icy waters... A great fantasy read, different from the first book which blends real history with the alternate fantasy world, but still compelling on its own.

[Miz Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A companion prequel to A Crack in the Sea, this book spends time with Putnam, who becomes the Raft King in A Crack in the Sea, as a child. Like the previous book, several other young people and their stories intertwine. The theme in this venture is healing, both the sea and the children. It is a captivating adventure but I found the symbolism of the bears a little heavy-handed, especially with the author's note at the end.

Book Pairings:
Of course, the companion book, A Crack in the Sea.

Grace Lin's series starting with Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. I love that it's both an adventure story and an allegory, that it shows readers why history is important and talking to each other is crucial without being pedantic or preachy. I love that the characters are not white. I love that each character has their own special competencies as well as a bunch of common ones. I love that it's full of terrific description and resists easy answers and has character growth and doesn't have a fairy tale ending. It's a perfect book for kids and for parents and for kids and parents and families to read together.

[LeeAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle grade dystopian fantasy fairytale with dual times lines, three main characters, and appearances by two polar bears and a dolphin.

It's a classic coming-of-age hero's journey. But definitely plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader interested!

Think dystopian like Waterworld.
Fantasy like Six of Crows.
Fairytale like Moana.

Each of the three main characters will pull at your heartstrings. I found myself pulling for each of them, hoping for their eventual survival!

Because this is definitely a fight-for-life struggle!

[Debbie Tanner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is actually two stories in one-the first one is about Putnam, who is the son of the king, who leaves on a quest to find out why their ocean is turning salty. The second is about a Rayel, who leaves home because her parents have arranged a marriage that she doesn't want. Both are stories about feeling unloved and unwanted, in completely different ways. And how they solve this problem is in the most fantastic way imaginable. This is lovely, complex story.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This prequel is even more beautiful than the first, a Crack in the Sea. In A Tear in the Ocean, we meet Putnam and Artie, seeking heroism and escape. This is a story about inner strength, and the bears that chase us and what it takes to defeat them. It's a wonderful mix of myth and fantasy and friendship.

Side note: I kept reading this title as a tear (rip) rather than tear (crying). The author may have intended the double meaning.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Putnam, the son of the Raft King, and Artie, a runaway from the island of Tathenn, escape Raftworld and the islands of Thathenland to try to find the source of salt that is slowly spoiling the ocean. 100 years prior, Rayel also escaped Raftworld to avoid an arranged marriage. Their stories come together when they find the Southernmost part of the world. This is a companion novel to A Crack in the Sea and is beautifully illustrated by Yuko Shimizu.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm always happy to find a well-written middle grades novel. I'm reading it aloud to the kids, and we're all enjoying it, though I read ahead to make sure Artie's tale wouldn't be too traumatic for them. I think it was handled well, though, and I'm sure they'll continue to enjoy the book. It certainly has some good talking points, too.

[Yvonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A unique fantasy with parallel stories of characters separated in time by a century. This story is a companion to the author's earlier work, A Crack in the Sea. I found it very enjoyable, not just for the story, but for the world that seemed drawn from Polynesian/Oceanic culture rather than Generic Medieval Europe (G.M.E., as I prefer to say).

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great companion novel to A Crack in the Sea. I really enjoyed the characters, but I didn't feel like the story was quite as good as the first one. However, it was still a great book and I would recommend both to pretty much anyone.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children's. Preequel to A Crack in the Sea. Interweaving of a number of folk tales, this fantasy has the readers hooked.

[Susan Bryson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neat little tale; wonderful payoff

[Chris Daily · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to show young people that life will always include the good and the bad? Write a rich fantasy story like this one.

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! A fun easy read with a great message!

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

i wish i could give this book 6 stars.