Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
HarperCollins Children's Books (2007), Edition: New Ed, 320 pages
Description
How far would you go to find yourself? The lyrical, life-affirming new novel from the bestselling author of Private Peaceful There were dozens of us on the ship, all ages, boys and girls, and we were all up on deck for the leaving of Liverpool, gulls wheeling and crying over our heads, calling good-bye, I thought they were waving good-bye. None of us spoke. It was a grey day with drizzle in the air, the great sad cranes bowing to the ship from the docks as we steamed past. That is all I remember of England... When orphaned Arthur Hobhouse is shipped to Australia after WWII he loses his sister, his country and everything he knows. The coming years will test him to his limits, as he endures mistreatment, neglect and forced labour in the Australian outback. But Arthur is also saved, again and again, by his love of the sea. And when he meets a nurse whose father owns a boat-building business, all the pieces of his broken life come together. Now, at the end of his life, Arthur has built a special boat for his daughter Allie, whose love of the sea is as strong and as vital as her father's. Now Allie has a boat that will take her to England solo, across the world's roughest seas, in search of her father's long-lost sister... Will the threads of Arthur's life finally come together?… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member HatsForMice
I very much enjoyed this. Both narrators were likable and believable, though I preferred Arthur's story to the diary/email format of Allie's.
Some aspects of Arthur's story could probably have benefitted from a little more detail, as it felt a bit rushed toward the end, but this is explained in
Allie made a far more interesting character than I first predicted she would, and the format of her section was less irksome than I usually find diary-style, which I am glad of, as it could have easily spoiled an otherwise pretty excellent book.
Some aspects of Arthur's story could probably have benefitted from a little more detail, as it felt a bit rushed toward the end, but this is explained in
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the book and will probably make the story more approachable for younger readers. In general, though, this first part of the book tells an engaging and emotional story.Allie made a far more interesting character than I first predicted she would, and the format of her section was less irksome than I usually find diary-style, which I am glad of, as it could have easily spoiled an otherwise pretty excellent book.
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LibraryThing member pussreboots
Alone on a Wide Wide Sea by Michael Morpurgo for the longest while had the honor of being the second book on my wishlist. It had been on there I think since the book was first published. For whatever reason it doesn't seem to have been published here in the States even though many of Morpurgo's
When the book came out I was very active in BookCrossing especially with book relays, rings and RABCKs (random acts of BookCrossing kindness). Although I don't remember receiving the book via the site, I did, a couple years ago. At the time I received the book I wasn't actively trying to read wishlist books. Thus, out of sight, out of mind.
Flash forward to June 2010. I am participating in the On My Wishlist meme. At the time I had 309 books on my wishlist and Alone on a Wide Wide Sea was number two. Except I had forgotten that I had a copy!
Go forward to the end of the year when I was culling my shelves for books I realized I would never read and should donate to the Friends of the Library. What does my hand fall on? Of course... Alone on a Wide Wide Sea.
The book takes its title from Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. It's a poem I've read in pieces many times but still need to sit down and read as an epic poem. The poem itself provides the warp which the plot is woven through.
The book is told in two parts: Arthur Hobhouse's story of life in Australia as a transplanted WWII orphan and Allie Hobhouse's solo sailing trip to England to find her aunt. Arthur's story is one of trying to find a sense of family and belonging. Along the way he grows up and gains the skills he needs to return to England, namely, ship building.
The journey home though isn't Arthur's to take and must instead be taken by his daughter. At the time I was reading the book, there was a girl of similar age making a solo sailing journey around the globe. To keep herself sane on the trip she memorizes the Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
At the close of the book Morpurgo explains that the book was inspired by actual families who were split up during the war and adopted off to families in Australia and Canada.
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other books are in print here.When the book came out I was very active in BookCrossing especially with book relays, rings and RABCKs (random acts of BookCrossing kindness). Although I don't remember receiving the book via the site, I did, a couple years ago. At the time I received the book I wasn't actively trying to read wishlist books. Thus, out of sight, out of mind.
Flash forward to June 2010. I am participating in the On My Wishlist meme. At the time I had 309 books on my wishlist and Alone on a Wide Wide Sea was number two. Except I had forgotten that I had a copy!
Go forward to the end of the year when I was culling my shelves for books I realized I would never read and should donate to the Friends of the Library. What does my hand fall on? Of course... Alone on a Wide Wide Sea.
The book takes its title from Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. It's a poem I've read in pieces many times but still need to sit down and read as an epic poem. The poem itself provides the warp which the plot is woven through.
The book is told in two parts: Arthur Hobhouse's story of life in Australia as a transplanted WWII orphan and Allie Hobhouse's solo sailing trip to England to find her aunt. Arthur's story is one of trying to find a sense of family and belonging. Along the way he grows up and gains the skills he needs to return to England, namely, ship building.
The journey home though isn't Arthur's to take and must instead be taken by his daughter. At the time I was reading the book, there was a girl of similar age making a solo sailing journey around the globe. To keep herself sane on the trip she memorizes the Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
At the close of the book Morpurgo explains that the book was inspired by actual families who were split up during the war and adopted off to families in Australia and Canada.
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LibraryThing member LibrarianAbi
This is the life story of a boy who is shipped to Australia from the UK at the beginning of the twentieth century. He moves around Australia, always wanting to return home to find his sister. He doesn't make it but his daughter does, she sails single-handed to Britain and the story of this voyage
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takes up the second half of the book. The split narrative didn't really work for me, first we have the whole life of a man skimmed over and then a lengthy account of a ship journey of the daughter. I didn't believe in the characters and their emotions particularly and felt several interesting areas, for example the man's experiences in the Vietnam War, were given only a few sentences when they could have been explored in more depth. Also not sure how interesting the younger teen audience whom it is aimed at would find it. Disappointing. Show Less
LibraryThing member hughryder
Touching story of a boy shipped to Australia after WW2, having been separated from his sister, Kitty. Arthur goes to live on a farm run by a nasty farmer at Coopers Station. He is rescued by 'bushmen' (Aboriginal people) and taken to an animal rescue where he lives happily with 'Aunty Meg' along
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with his friend Marty. Eventually Arthur grows up and has a daughter, Ellie, who sails back to UK to find Arthur's long lost sister. Readable but maudlin and unduly sentimental. Show Less
LibraryThing member brendanmatarau2012
It was sad at times but still very good
LibraryThing member Sarahm1998
An ace book!!!
LibraryThing member runner56
During and after the 2nd ww, children were evacuated from England to countries of the commonwealth namely Australia, Canada and New Zealand. This was done in order to safeguard the children and find a safe refuge for them in a loving family. Alone on a wide wide sea is a fictional story of the
Arthurs story is aimed at a reading audience of 10+ and told with elegance and a certain aplong. In short it is beautifully written with many stand out moments. From the horror that was everyday life with " The Piggys"......" you're a slave they don't just take away your freedom, they take away everything else as well because they own you" The young man's journey has many unexpected moments and a beautifully orchestrated conclusion showcasing the author's love of the ocean and his utlimate belief in human nature....."Death, I discovered that day, is not frightening, because it is utterly still. And it is still because death, when it comes, is always over"....." Someties, though, the fog does clear, and you see the icebergs all around. You can hear them groaning, and grinding and you just want to sail through the field of iceberg and out the other side, or just long for the fog again".....
Highly recommended for young and old alike :)
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young life of one Arthur Hobhouse despatched on a boat to Australia and hopefully safety. Unfortunately it was not uncommon for these young people to be mistreated, beaten and used as a form of slave labour.Arthurs story is aimed at a reading audience of 10+ and told with elegance and a certain aplong. In short it is beautifully written with many stand out moments. From the horror that was everyday life with " The Piggys"......" you're a slave they don't just take away your freedom, they take away everything else as well because they own you" The young man's journey has many unexpected moments and a beautifully orchestrated conclusion showcasing the author's love of the ocean and his utlimate belief in human nature....."Death, I discovered that day, is not frightening, because it is utterly still. And it is still because death, when it comes, is always over"....." Someties, though, the fog does clear, and you see the icebergs all around. You can hear them groaning, and grinding and you just want to sail through the field of iceberg and out the other side, or just long for the fog again".....
Highly recommended for young and old alike :)
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Awards
Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing (Nominee — 2008)
Independent Booksellers' Book Prize (Winner — Children's — 2007)
Concorde Book Award (Shortlist — 2008)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2006
Physical description
320 p.; 5.12 inches
ISBN
0007230583 / 9780007230587
Other editions
Alone on a Wide Wide Sea by Michael Morpurgo (Paperback)