Faraway Things

by Dave Eggers, Kelly Murphy (Illustrator)

Lucian's father called them faraway things, those mysterious objects orphaned upon the windswept shore, their stories long lost in the shroud of ocean fog. Lucian's discovery on the beach this particular day, though, is no ordinary faraway thing. It's a cutlass: strong, shiny, and powerful. As its history comes to light, Lucian faces a choice: cling to the sword he loves or accept a gift that shines farther, wider, and deeper than he could have ever dreamed.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Adventure, Grief, Pirates, Realistic Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

First published June 8, 2021

About the author

Dave Eggers is an American writer, editor, and publisher. He is best known for his 2000 memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, which became a bestseller and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction. Eggers is also the founder of several notable literary and philanthropic ventures, including the literary journal Timothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern, the literacy project 826 Valencia, and the human rights nonprofit Voice of Witness. Additionally, he founded ScholarMatch, a program that connects donors with students needing funds for college tuition. His writing has appeared in numerous prestigious publications, including The New Yorker, Esquire, and The New York Times Magazine.

Reviews

[Elyse Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook…
a children’s story…by Dave Eggers. >
Kelly Murphy (illustrator)
11 minutes long

Soooo sweet -tender - (warm smiling inner giggling)… compassionate!

This is a mysterious-
—enchanting adventure story > a boy and his sword …and “how giving away something precious leads to an even more important discovery”

“Is it a far away thing he asked?”
“Yes”
“He never saw anything liked it”…
I’ll say no more!

“Faraway Things” would make a great gift to that little precious person in one’s life.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Living on the coast, Lucian finds a cutlass swept ashore by the sea. It becomes a prized possession, but sometimes a sacrifice needs to be made for the greater good.

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the story, the message, and the illustrations. Wonderful.

[Lindsi (Do You Dog-ear?) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the soft, dreamlike quality of the illustrations! I honestly thought Lucian would wake up at any moment and realize that everything had happened while he'd been sleeping, especially after he said his dreams "stayed with him, and became memories, and those dream-memories became, in Lucian's mind, almost as real as his real memories, which he worried were fading." I was a little disappointed when the story continued and we realize that he's definitely awake and just having a very unrealistic experience.

I liked the concept of faraway things and wish that aspect of the book had been expanded on. It was something Lucian shared with his father - a connection that continued even after his death (this is an assumption, since we're not actually told what happened to his father) - and I wanted to know more about the various objects he's found and collected on the beach. We see a few items around his room, but we can only assume those are things he's found and not been given over time. I wanted to explore Lucian's relationship with his father, and what faraway things meant to them both. Unfortunately, we only see Lucian find the cutlass and what happens afterwards. Do people still carry cutlasses?

I don't think this book was "a profound and resonant tale about the reward of letting go," because Lucian doesn't really have time to form an attachment to the cutlass. Everything happens really quickly, and if the synopsis meant that Lucian would learn to let go of the loss of his father (still an assumption), then that wasn't really portrayed or explained well either. Lucian should give back something that doesn't belong to him, whether it's a faraway thing or not. The captain didn't have to trade him anything for it, since it was his property to begin with. The blurb just makes you think this book is deeper than it actually is, because it really only addresses surface-level feelings.

I had to suspend my disbelief for this one to work, and I would've preferred a more realistic spin on the story. I think the author had a chance to explore a child's emotions regarding the loss of a parent, but we stick to light topics and mostly unbelievable occurrences. As a mother, I would not let my child play with a sword (or any sharp object) they discovered on the beach. It's incredibly dangerous, and Lucian misjudging a swing and chopping off a sleeve only proves my point. (I have no idea how he managed to cut his sleeve all the way off without removing his arm in the process.) If he had hidden the cutlass from his mother, that's one thing, but he showed it to her and she seemed perfectly fine with him having it.

Additionally, Lucian talks to strangers - even gets into his rowboat and boards their ship - all without telling his mother or getting her permission. My kids know they're not supposed to talk to strangers without me being there, and they are definitely not allowed to go anywhere with them. I think this aspect of the story should've been handled better, because it could give children the wrong idea.

Also, I don't think a lighthouse would be allowed to exist without a light. Don't they have to function so ships don't crash or get stuck? I'm not up-to-date on how lighthouses work, but I feel like they're there for a reason, which makes Lucian's "trade" seem like a waste. Would it have even worked?

Faraway Things was a quick read for me, but definitely more of a bedtime story. Eggers isn't stingy with his words, which makes for a longer children's book than most, so it might take them a while if they're reading it themselves. Murphy's illustrations are still my favorite part of the book, and I will definitely look for more of her work in the future. Parts of the story were problematic, but if you can suspend your disbelief and explain to your children what not to do, it's an okay read. (★★★☆☆)

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[Abbie Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations! I really enjoyed this one personally but I have always loved ships and sea adventures and lighthouses. Bea found it intriguing and happily listened even though the pagers where longer than some.

[Shiloah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures. Loved the imagination. The mom was an awesome example.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story feels real, while also feeling magical. I love that Eggers tells us just enough about both the boy and the captain to tell a good story but not so much that we are not left wondering a great many things by the end.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucian spent his time on the beach after storms, searching for “faraway things” that have been swept onto the shore. One day, he discovered a silver, gold and copper cutlass wrapped in seaweed. Lucian had never seen anything like it and hung it on the wall of his room. That night he dreamt of his father. The next day, he played with the sword on the beach, eventually turning one of his sleeves from long to short when he swung it. That afternoon, a great wooden ship appeared as the fog cleared and a rowboat came towards shore. The ship’s captain spoke with Lucian, explaining that not only was his ship caught on a sandbar due to the lighthouse being unlit, but he was missing his cutlass. Lucian tried to claim the cutlass was his, but the captain had the matching sheath on his belt. The captain offered a trade, and Lucian got to head to the ship and pick out anything he wanted from the captain’s stateroom. Out of all of the wonderful objects, Lucian picked out a lantern. When he returned home again, he took that lantern to the top of the lighthouse tower and once again the beam of light went out over the water.

Written in beautiful language and with sentences that sing with wind and saltwater, this picture book is one that should be shared out loud. The writing has a gorgeous cadence to it while it also has rich metaphors embedded in it. The story itself is well crafted with a lovely arc that begins with searching the beach and the discovery of the cutlass. That story is woven with the loss of Lucian’s father and the dimming of the lighthouse. When the captain arrives, the story takes a marvelous turn toward adventure and possibility.

Murphy’s art is a gorgeous study of foggy beaches, newly bright sun, and one great ship. She shares small details in her images, celebrating the crowded stateroom and the treasures of beachcombing in Lucian’s room. The illustrations play with sea and sky, each expansive and full of deftly applied color.

One to share aloud, this book is a treasure. Appropriate for ages 4-6.

[IvyInThePages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.4 leaves out of 5
Characters: 3.5/5
Cover: 5/5
Story: 4.5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Genre: Children/Picture book
Type: Book
Worth?: Yes

It was an okay book, maybe I was just in a kind of meh mood but I did like it and it had a small bit of sadness in the tone.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice story about a book living at a lighthouse and the faraway things he finds and cares for.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucian roams the beach every day, looking for faraway things - items that have washed up on the shore where he and his mother live. One day he finds a treasure - a cutlass! He loves the cutlass. But then the next day, people from a stranded ship visit his beach and when Lucian spies the empty scabbard hanging from the Captain's belt, he knows the cutlass is not his. Instead of just taking the cutlass, the Captain offers Lucian a trade. This is an introspective, adventuring sort of book. I loved the illustrations and the text. It reminded me a bit of something Gaiman might write. I think this would make a great read-aloud for older kids. And I would pair it with Sophie Blackall's Hello Lighthouse.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way this story unfolds. It's subtle and thoughtful, and the illustrations are lovely, worthy of framing.

[Helen Pugsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fantasyie. I dig it.

[Suezette Given · Rating 2 out of 5]

Illustrations were interesting, but I expected more from the story

[Relyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

What an odd little book.
I can't decide if I like it, or don't.
I can't decide if my students will like it, or won't.
Not sure.



Nope. Still not sure.


Maybe I'll read it to them and find out.

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice story, nice illustrations. Lucian finds a cutlass washed up on the shore. What happens when it's rightful owner shows up wanting it back?
For the right reader, this story with a cutlass and treasure will work as a pirate story.

[Susan Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Visually stunning. Written like a classic fairy tale. The message is clear and resonant. Some toys are fun, some save lives. Beautiful.

[RumBelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book caught my eye quite by accident, and I picked it up to peruse it, and read it in ten minutes. A wonderfully heartwarming tale.

Lucian was a young boy who lived in a coastal town, he actually lived in a cabin next to a lighthouse with his mother. His father used to man the lighthouse, but the light had broken since his father's death (this is an assumption, it is never directly addressed). Lucian's father used to call the objects that washed up on the beach faraway things. Things lost by their original owners and washed up on a new land. When Lucian finds one of those faraway things, a cutlass, he claims it for his own. When the actual pirate owner comes looking for it, Lucian does not want to abandon his treasure, until the pirate captain makes him a deal, the cutlass for one object of Lucian's choosing from his ship. The gift Lucian chooses has far reaching repercussions, not only for him, but also for those who sail the seas near his home.

This book was a picture book, and therefore short, but I still felt the emotion really came through. You felt Lucian's attachment to the cutlass, and his reluctance to part with his treasure. You also felt the truth in the pirate captain's words when he said the cutlass meant more to him than anything. Now, it's true that the pirate captain did not have to trade for the cutlass, it was his, but his diplomatic approach can really show a child about different ways of problem solving. Though I will say, I don't think any real life pirate would have been that nice! The gift Lucian chose showed a lot about him too. His choices demonstrated maturity and caring about others.

The illustrations were soft, but full of color. They really brought this tale to beautiful life.

This book is a wonderful story, on it's face, but if you look a little deeper, it can really teach some valuable lessons.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

FARAWAY THINGS is a lovely and dreamlike story about a boy who finds a sword on the beach. Lucian loves the days after a storm, when he can search the beach for items washed ashore. His father had called them faraway things, and they were his to keep. After a storm, he finds a particularly special cutlass. He loves playing with it, but then the owner, a captain of a ship, comes ashore to find it.

When Lucian refuses to return it, the captain offers him a trade for anything on his ship. Lucian takes a look and finds something else special to trade for.

The illustrations in this book are absolutely gorgeous and sweeping. They are really stunning throughout, and I loved the muted colors of the illustrations and the details of the ocean waves and ship that give it a magical feel. The dreamy quality of the images and text make this a lovely read. The book is well-written with a fully imagined story within.

The book would be better for older readers, who can understand that they should not play with real swords and that they cannot keep objects that belong to other people. The bartering for a sword that clearly belonged to someone else was slightly questionable, but it ended well with the cutlass returned to its owner. The length of the text would also be better suited to elementary school aged readers. The print of the text was a little small, making it tough to read in lowlight, such as at bedtime.

FARAWAY THINGS is a dreamy and lovely picture book that captures the imagination. Would recommend for older picture book readers. Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

[Annie MacPherson · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 I liked it, especially the illustrations of interior spaces. However, I think the major plot point of an unattended child autonomously deciding to accept a seafaring stranger's invitation back to his ship was presented poorly in the story. There are indications in the text that this story operates in the universe of reality, yet there are also frequent departures from realism... I think there is more tension than balance in that relationship in the presentation. I would have liked to see the story plant itself more firmly in the dream world instead of clinging to a false reality without clear motivation for that choice, for example the ever-pleasing bookend structure is usually successful, balanced, and clear. Unfortunately, in this case the intention to create a blurred or dreamy reality was, in my opinion, ineffective. Still, I loved the meta mentioning of the morphing of dreams and memories, even in the mind of a child. Apt considering the plot.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a storm, young Lucian is looking for "Faraway Things" - items which the sea has washed to shore. Besides the regular things - a couple of jellyfish and a piece of robe, Lucian also finds a cutlass! Although he hangs it on his wall for the night, the next day he takes it to the shore to play with. But when a rowboat full of strangers from the wooden ship stuck on a sandbar off shore approach Lucian, one of them wants the cutlass back - says he lost it in the storm. Giving Lucian the opportunity to trade the cutlass for another treasure on board the ship, Lucian agrees to see what the captain has to offer and rows out to the ship.

Such a sweet story - Lucian misses his father so much, and his choice of an item from the captain was perfect (sorry, not spoiling this great ending). The seascapes inKelly Murphy's illustrations as well as the treasure room were fantastic.

cross posted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com

[Maeve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucian lives with his mother in a lighthouse by the ocean. Lucian is exploring the tide pools when he discovers a cutlass and he instantly loves it (because it reminds him of his dad). The next day, Lucian spots a ship in the distance, and a short time later sailors come to land. The captain comments on the broken lighthouse and tells Lucian the cutlass belongs to him. Lucian is hesitant about returning the cutlass, so the captain agrees to a trade. After viewing all of the captain's treasures, Lucian picks a lantern...which he uses to fix the broken lighthouse.

[Munaya Al salhee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 Stars.

Cute, fast, and enjoyable fast read!

Sometimes you need to read a children's book to get to the joy of reading or after reading a thick book.

It's about a boy called Lucian who lives in a lighthouse with his mother. And one day when he is playing by the beach he finds a "Faraway Thing" as his father called them. Objects you can say that are found on the beach after a storm and such. When he finds this "Faraway Thing" it lets him meet someone to bargain for it and it's such an enjoyable read. The illustrations are beautiful as well.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucian lives on an island in the ocean near a lighthouse with his mother. We don't know what has happened to his father although it's obvious that he is gone--whether dead or away we're not sure. One day a mysterious object washes ashore. It's a cutlass. Later Lucian faces a choice. He can keep the cutlass that he loves or accept a gift from a stranger. This book has themes of letting go and it's rewards

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The soft focused illustrations create the mood for Lucian's quest to find items that have washed up on their shore. He is excited to find a cutlass and regards it as a treasure to keep. He has to make a hard decision when the sword's owner comes ashore with his crew. The two agree to trade and Lucian comes home with something even more precious to his family. Grief for his father overlays the story and is handled in subtle ways.

[Vickie McEntire · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover of "Faraway Things" got my attention from the store shelf. The inside flap promised "a profound and resonant tale about the reward of letting go." Lucian lives in a fantasy world. Kelly Murphy's illustrations are top-notch and carry the mood of the story. Some questions are not answered and may lead to teachable moments. A glossary would have been nice. Great book to introduce nautical terminology.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book are really beautiful with a very dreamlike/ocean feel. But the story seems very incomplete. I have to admit at the end that I wasn't sure at all what had happened or what the reader is supposed to take away from the story. It's always interesting to read the publisher's synopsis because sometimes their intention is not what comes through in the story!

[Peyton Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and the illustrations are absolutely beautiful. I would love to have this book in my classroom library for a read-aloud during a transition or simply for storytime. This story was really good and could lead to many discussions and lessons about elements of stories. This book could also just be read for entertainment and encourage students to read.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucian lives along the shore where he collects what his dad called "faraway things." One day, he finds a cutlass that he keeps with him all the time until the owner shows up and offers a trade: the cutlass for whatever Lucian picks from the owner's treasures. A mystical tale for fans of Journey or other imaginary adventures (like pirates)!

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

A boy named Lucian lives with his mother on the shore at a light house. He finds a cutlass. Some people come along on a ship, and the captain says the cutlass is his and Lucian can have whatever treasure he wants from the ship if he returns the cutlass. I was annoyed because the story didn't explain what happened to the father.