Release: January 5th, 2021
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Heartdrum
Source: Amazon
Find it at Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, TBD.
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In this evocative and heartwarming novel for readers who loved The Thing About Jellyfish, the author of I Can Make This Promise tells the story of a Native American girl struggling to find her joy again.
It’s been a hard year for Maisie Cannon ever since she hurt her leg. And she could not keep up with her ballet training and auditions.
Her blended family is loving and supportive. But Maisie knows that they can’t understand how hopeless she feels. Maisie is not excited about their family midwinter road trip along the coast, near the Makah community where her mother grew up with everything she’s dealing with.
But soon, Maisie’s anxieties and dark moods start to hurt as much as the pain in her knee. How can she keep pretending to be strong when she feels as roiling and cold as the ocean on the inside?
About the Author:
Christine Day (Upper Skagit) grew up in Seattle, with pages of her favorite books. H CAN MAKE THIS PROMISE (Harper), her debut novel was the best book of the year from Kirkus, School Library Journal, NPR, and the Chicago Public Library. The book was chosen for Charlotte Huck Award Honor Book and an American Indian Youth Literature Award Honor Book. Her second novel, THE SEA IN WINTER, is coming to the shelves on January 5, 2021. She also wrote the forthcoming SHE PERSISTED: MARIA TALLCHIEF (Philomel), an early reader biography in a new series inspired by Chelsea Clinton’s bestselling picture book. Christine lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband.
Suzie Townsend represents her work at New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc.
The Sea in Winter Review:
The Sea in Winter is a beautiful, emotional tale about feeling hopeless and struggling to move on.
Firstly, before I get into Maisie’s storyline, I must applaud the author for the details she put into the novel. Although targeted for middle grade, I learned a lot from reading this story about the Makah Nation and the Native tribes. Moreover, this book was an eye-opener for me, from the Elwha Dam to the Duwamish Tribe. The author beautifully includes many facts for a simple tale, and it made the book stand out.
Coming to the plot, I thought the author portrayed a beautiful message about how people cope with hopelessness and failure and have trouble moving on. It was interesting to see how Maisie struggles and fights this battle at such a young age. Additionally, Maisie’s family is terrific and strengthens the story very nicely. Also, I loved Conor! He sparks the tale with his innocence and charm in this otherwise serious novel. Another part that stood out for me was the bond between Jack and Maisie. The author wrote their relationship realistically, and I loved the scenes at the motel where they share popcorn.
However, there were a few minor parts that I felt could have been slightly better. For instance, I would have liked the author to give more details of the accident that made Maisie behave this way. Also, I felt like, at times, there was a shift of focus from Maisie’s issues to her mother’s problems.
Apart from that, I enjoyed “The Sea in Winter.” It is a quick, simple, but beautiful, heartwarming story about hope and family, with many interesting facts. Overall, I enjoyed it and thought that a reader of any age would appreciate it.
