Review of BEYOND THE BRIGHT SEA

I recently the finished the book Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk. It was a fantastic book, full of details about the Elizabeth Islands and the surrounding area. The story felt authentic, though it was fictional. The characters (Crow, Osh, and Miss Maggie) were easy to root for, each trying to reach their own goals. Wolk describes each character's thoughts so that I know what they're thinking, but I still have to solve some of the puzzle myself. The author immediately starts the mystery by saying Crow came to Osh on a skiff when she was hours old. The plot truly kicks off when Crow begins to wonder where she came from.

When each character is described, it is with vivid detail, and the reader can mostly tell whether they are going to be friendly or not. One of the bird keepers is big, and he is not friendly. The other is very small, and he is friendly. There is also consistency throughout the book about Crow possibly being a leper. People who don't know her as well as Osh or Miss Maggie, but still know she could be from Penkenese (an old leper colony), they stay away from her. The reader wants Crow to know where she's from so this frightenedness can be justified. She definitely doesn't have leprosy, but this is what kicks off her want to know where she's from. However, the quest she goes on to find the answers to her questions turns dangerous after she finds out something she didn't think possible.

This book was really a fantastic book. I couldn't put it down, mostly because I wanted to know where Crow came from. The answer and her journey really surprised me, and it was a complete plot twist, but the good kind. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a fantastic mystery set on a beautifully described setting.