Secret Sisters of the Salty Sea

Starred review from February 19, 2018
Newbery Medalist Perkins’s (Criss Cross) vividly captures the world through a child’s eyes in this quiet novel chronicling Alix Treffrey’s weeklong vacation on the beach with her parents and her “more mature” sister, Jools. In the first chapter, Perkins conveys the excitement and coziness of beginning a journey before dawn (“As the car began to move, she snuggled under the sleeping bag.... pictured herself wearing her newer bathing suit, floating maturely on her boogie board in the turquoise water”). Each chapter that follows highlights a discovery or event that makes the trip memorable. Some incidents, such as temporarily getting separated from her parents at a crowded service plaza and having a giant june bug plant itself on her arm, aren’t very pleasant, but most experiences—making a new friend, holding an injured falcon in her arms, finding sea glass on the beach—are wondrous reminders of how small miracles make life worth living. Perkins draws on all five senses to evoke nature’s beauty and show the ebb and flow of Alix’s emotions as she eagerly explores new territory. As in her previous novels, Perkins’ sensitive spot art illuminates the characters’ inner and outer worlds. Ages 8–12.

March 1, 2018
Sisters expand their world after a memorable week at the ocean with their parents. Driving to the ocean for their first time ever, "adventure-y" Alix and her older, more cautious sister, Jools, envision "white sand and turquoise water and palm trees." Arriving at the rental beach house, they discover "grayish green" water with "large and startling" waves. Nevertheless, as the week unfolds, they take long beach walks, build fabulous sand castles, search for periwinkles to eat, and fashion beach glass into necklaces. Alix becomes pals with their landlady's granddaughter while Jools and her father visit an interesting old lighthouse. A family outing to a wildlife refuge seems like a "boring walk through deserted places" until they spy raccoons and Alix holds an injured falcon. By week's end, Alix thinks how different their vacation has been than she expected and wonders "what amazing thing would happen next." Perkins proves experiences do not have to be extraordinary to be life-changing as she insightfully describes Alix's and Jools' savoring the sights, smells, sounds, and simple pleasures of the ocean, perfectly captured in comfortable prose. Precise black-and-white illustrations add humor and insight to the sisters' seaside adventures, depicting Alix's family with pale skin and their landlady's with dark.Gentle, satisfying family-oriented fare for pre-vacation reading. (Fiction. 8-12)

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March 1, 2018

Gr 3-5-Alix Treffrey is spending a week at the seashore with her family, a place she and her sister Jools have never been. Each chapter covers a new day and new experiences: discovering the ocean, boogie boarding, meeting new friends, and building sand castles. The girls' personalities emerge in the telling. Younger Alix is imaginative and adventurous, climbing to the top of the lighthouse with her dad, holding a peregrine falcon at the raptor center, while cautious, serious Jools holds back. Told in a light, breezy style with rich but accessible language and touches of humor, the conflict is mild, with minor crises quickly resolved and without much of the drama typical in novels of this length. Though a quiet tale, there is enough action and character development to create empathy and hold the reader's interest. Appealing black-and-white illustrations scattered throughout provide visual context for the setting which is also vividly described in the text. VERDICT A great choice for young readers ready for longer fiction and for parents or teachers seeking a pleasant, multi-session read-aloud.-Marie Orlando, formerly at Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Sisters Alix and Jools set off with their parents on a week-long summer vacation at the ocean. Narrator Brittany Pressley captures each sister's personality perfectly. The family rents a house for the week from Mrs. Kerr, who lives upstairs. Alix and Jools have some wonderful adventures, including going to the beach, collecting sea glass, and making new friends. Pressley voices each of the girls with spunk, inquisitiveness, and love. The way Pressley speaks makes listeners feel that they are being pulled through the story by a warm ocean breeze. This wonderful light summer read will leave listeners with a happy feeling. A.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine