Once at the Edge of the Sea

by Sue Saliba

Alice has always been devoted to the natural world. One day she inadvertently betrays what matters to her and so she leaves her island home, planning to begin again, to be the person she thinks she should be. Clinging to a mysterious wooden box, Alice begins a new life in Melbourne where she meets Esmeralda. As their friendship deepens, Alice is forced to choose between living a comforting lie or accepting a more difficult truth. Once, at the edge of the sea is a captivating, poetic and beautifully written novel about friendship and creativity, about losing what you treasure, and then finding it again in the most unexpected way.

Genres: Young Adult

166 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2021

About the author

Sue Saliba lives on Phillip Island on a winding dirt road called Teddy Bear Lane. She has spent many summers protecting endangered birds on the beach and often rescues various strays in the neighbourhood. She loves that blue-black colour just before night-time and the music of Amy Winehouse, Rodriguez and Cesaria Evora. She still cries every time she reads The Snow Goose and wishes Jane Goodall and Buddhist nun, Pema Chodron could live forever. Her favourite poet is Mary Oliver because she so beautifully captures animals and nature.

Sue’s young adult novel, 'Something in the World Called Love' won the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award and her young adult novel 'Alaska' was shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Award. 'For the Forest of a Bird' was a CBCA Notable Australian Children’s Book.

An experienced English and Creative Writing teacher, Sue taught at Melbourne University and RMIT. These days she’s lucky enough to write full-time with the company of her much-loved fur friends, Teddy, Mer and Charbon.

'once, at the edge of the sea', is available at Turn the Page Bookstore, Phillip Island and Readings Kids, Carlton.

Reviews

[ALPHAreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Once at the edge of the sea' is a self-published verse novel by Australia author Sue Saliba. If you'd like to know where you can purchase a copy, check out Sue's website; http://www.suesaliba.com/

Here is a novel about belonging and longing, mystery, friendship, the natural world and maybe above all else - coming to understand your surrounds as a way to know yourself, and create something from the chaos;

and she printed very clearly:
a novel is
a place to forget,
a novel is a place to begin again.

I loved this book - which is made all the more magic by the illustrations of Ann Shenfield. It's also now part of a beautiful oeuvre of nature and human-nature that has been Saliba's previous books; 'Alaska' and 'For the Forest of a Bird'.

Stunning.

[Saturday's Child · Rating 3 out of 5]

With its lovely illustrations by Ann Shenfield this novel in verse was a gentle read.

[Jean Papillon · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been quite a while since Sue Saliba's previous book but the wait was worth it. What a wonderful book. A touching story of belonging, friendship, angst and love. But what makes this story special is not just the way it blends poetry and philosophy but mainly how well paced is the evolution of the words on the page. Unlike a great majority of books where whole pages are filled with sentences all blending anonymously in large paragraphs, the writing here is carefully spaced out on the page making each sentence stand on its own adding meaning, rhythm and pace to the storytelling which is emphasized by the beautiful illustrations. Even though this book is targeted at a young adult market, it isn’t a book just for young adults. It appeals to all readers who seek beauty in a story and in its telling. Life is short and in my judgement very few books are worth the time to read more than once or twice. “once, at the edge of the sea” is a delight to read over and over.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

once, at the edge of the sea is full of gentle, astonishing moments, delving into how we experience our sense of self within the world around us.

Fifteen-year-old Alice leaves her wild Phillip Island home to live in Melbourne. Alice grapples in storming emotions. New friendships and relationships rise and fall like a great tide. Alice’s struggle becomes how to traverse this without eroding her own sense of identity. Entangled with Alice is her connection to the fragile life of endangered shorebirds, Hooded Plovers, on the beaches of her island home.


Full review and author interview:
https://readingtime.com.au/once-at-th...

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

this wonderful novel has growing quite near and dear to me! self-published by sue saliba, once, at the edge of the sea is told in lovely verse, sometimes quite plain in the best of ways. it is an important story to me and i imagine it is to others too. i won’t try and summarise the premise, because of course i’d go into too much detail, but know that if you have little regrets that dig trenches, if you have places you’ve had to leave, if you have been young and a bit achy, if you are a person—there will be a line that will shout out to you. i picked it up at the library this afternoon and have read it twice, crying a bit. very typical of me.

[Hollie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a little unrealistic with a 15 year old moving to a new place all on her own. The story was good until Alice created her main character, Alexandra. Alexandra rubbed me the wrong way - she was not an interesting character. She was self absorbed, rude, and toxic. This book needs trigger warnings for intrusive thoughts, disordered eating, and implied animal cruelty.

Esmeralda was the more interesting character and I feel more of her relationship with Alice would have made a better focus.

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful <3 <3 <3