One of the best things about books by Michael Morpurgo is their value for money. Every book of his that enters this house is read by a minimum of three people. Once I, the pseudo-adult has read the book it either passes to the teen-ish daughter or the nine year old son (or there’s a massive fight, it all gets messy and we have to toss a coin.) The most magical thing is though, regardless of our differing ages, interests and tastes, we all love the stories. Michael Morpurgo’s writing has a quality that appeals to everyone and that is a rare and wonderful thing.
Alone on a Wide Wide Sea is no exception. Taking its title from the Rime of the Ancient Mariner, this is a book of two halves. It begins with Arthur Hobhouse, who is transported to Australia after being orphaned in the Second World War. He suffers cruelty on a working farm before being rescued by the aborigines and landing up with Aunty Meg, a collector of strays. Arthur carries with him a key that he thinks was given to him by his sister, but his memory isn’t clear. All that sticks in his head is the song, London Bridge is Falling Down. The second section of the book is about his daughter Allie, who also makes a journey, this time back to England. She sails single handed in a boat built by her father to try to discover if Arthur really did have a sister.
The first half of the story, I think, is slightly stronger than the second. However, I think this is really in the most part because Allie is alone on the boat and interaction is limited. This book has a compelling narrative and I was sucked into Arthur’s world. The dangers he faced as an orphan alone in the Australian outback are mirrored by the dangers faced by his daughter alone on a boat in the Pacific, but there’s always someone or something to pull them both through.
I have yet to find a book by Michael Morpurgo that leaves me straight after finishing, there is always a feeling that the story is living on long after I’ve closed the book. And with the added value for money you can’t really go wrong.
This sounds like one I’d like to read. I like the mirror stories, yet it sounds realistic with what the boy suffers. But I’m glad that he gets rescued. I’ve not heard of this author before, so your piece was a nice introduction to him. I hope he’s better known to other Americans, because he sounds very worthwhile.
The cover too, conveys what you said about the story. There’s a feeling of isolation, yet wonder, by the expression on the child’s face in the porthole looking at the albatross.
Great to see you back, I’ve missed your cheerful & insightful reviews.
I have also never heard of this author before. The plot sounds quite complex, not something I’d imagine successfully crossing the boundaries between children and adults. So I’m very intrigued about this author – I’ll have to check him out!
Hey Jackie and Nikki, thanks for commenting
Michael Morpurgo is one of the UK’s best loved authors for children, he was our Children’s Laureate from 2003 to 2005 and he’s been nominated or won most of the major kids lit prizes . He’s a prolific author, I have a whole shelf of his books in the shop and I don’t have close to all of them.
His books are wonderful, there’s a real warmth in his writing that reaches out to you. And once kids start reading them, they get totally hooked and tend to come in for one after the other – he’s got a really loyal readership out there. I do hope you have a try at one or two.
Lovely to be back Jackie, just easing myself in gently here
My son (10) has just finished this and it moved him to tears (good job he can;t read this, or he’d divorce me). Said it was one of the best books he’d ever read. I’m planning to read it soon, having enjoyed War Horse by MM recently.