Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Scholastic Inc.
Pages
276
Description
On her sixteenth birthday, Sky and River, the boy with whom she has shared Island since she was a toddler, are "rescued" and taken to California, where Sky is separated from River, forced to live with a grandmother she has just met, and learn new rules for survival.
Description
Sky and River have always lived on Island, the only world they've ever known. Until the day River spots a boat. Across Ocean, in a place called California, Sky is separated from River and forced to live with a grandmother she's just met. Here the rules for survival are different. People rely on strange things like cars and cell phones. They keep secrets from one another. And without River, nothing makes sense. Sky yearns for her old life where she was strong and capable, not lost and confused. She must find River so they can return to Island, but the truth behind how they ended up there in the first place will come as the biggest shock of all.
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
276 p.; 8 inches
ISBN
0545782406 / 9780545782401
Similar in this library
Lexile
790L
User reviews
LibraryThing member BornBookish
This book was nothing like what I was expecting. It was oh so much more. It dealt with issues I had no clue were going to be in there and most importantly, it captivated me and wouldn’t let go.
This book is being marketed as a “reverse dystopian,” a term I had never heard used before.
Main characters Sky and River have always lived on island, for as long as they can remember at least. Then one day a boat shows up and “rescues” them, bringing them to California where they are supposedly from (though neither of them remember.) Forced apart in this foreign new place, thrust into new lives with family members they don’t know, Sky & River start to discover things about their past that neither one of them ever suspected.
Not a lot of books make me cry. I cry a lot when it comes to movies and other stuff but for some odd reason only a handful of books have ever made me cry. I never imagined this would be one of those books but something about Sky & River’s story really grabbed ahold of my heart and I loved them both immensely.
It was so frustrating to see how everyone treated these two teenagers after returning to California. Doctors, family, everyone, were so ignorant to what life was like for Sky & River on the island and how hard it was for them coming back. They all assumed they knew more about the situation from reading newspapers or watching the news than the kids who actually lived it themselves. Sky’s grandmother in particular drove me absolutley nuts. She believed what she wanted to believe whether it was the truth or not, EVEN when Sky told her otherwise. I can honestly say I’ve never wanted to hit an old woman before but I would have slapped her grandmother if given the chance! (Thanks a lot Ms. Cantor, you’ve turned me into a monster.) LoL.
I do want to mention that this story does start out slow, and the language could be considered annoying by some. Sky & River’s use of language was very basic: referring to an omlet as a weird yellow leaf, cars as caves, or doors as weird coming in places. I was worried this would get on my nerves after a while but if you can get past that and see that it was a neccesity that enabled readers to honestly see things the way Sky did and really connect with her on a deeper level, you’ll be glad you did.
Overall, this was a beautiful and emotional story that knocked me off my feet and captured my heart.
This book is being marketed as a “reverse dystopian,” a term I had never heard used before.
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Basically what that means is that the main characters were raised outside of modern society and then enter modern day life but to them it’s like a whole new world; completely strange and foreign.Main characters Sky and River have always lived on island, for as long as they can remember at least. Then one day a boat shows up and “rescues” them, bringing them to California where they are supposedly from (though neither of them remember.) Forced apart in this foreign new place, thrust into new lives with family members they don’t know, Sky & River start to discover things about their past that neither one of them ever suspected.
Not a lot of books make me cry. I cry a lot when it comes to movies and other stuff but for some odd reason only a handful of books have ever made me cry. I never imagined this would be one of those books but something about Sky & River’s story really grabbed ahold of my heart and I loved them both immensely.
It was so frustrating to see how everyone treated these two teenagers after returning to California. Doctors, family, everyone, were so ignorant to what life was like for Sky & River on the island and how hard it was for them coming back. They all assumed they knew more about the situation from reading newspapers or watching the news than the kids who actually lived it themselves. Sky’s grandmother in particular drove me absolutley nuts. She believed what she wanted to believe whether it was the truth or not, EVEN when Sky told her otherwise. I can honestly say I’ve never wanted to hit an old woman before but I would have slapped her grandmother if given the chance! (Thanks a lot Ms. Cantor, you’ve turned me into a monster.) LoL.
I do want to mention that this story does start out slow, and the language could be considered annoying by some. Sky & River’s use of language was very basic: referring to an omlet as a weird yellow leaf, cars as caves, or doors as weird coming in places. I was worried this would get on my nerves after a while but if you can get past that and see that it was a neccesity that enabled readers to honestly see things the way Sky did and really connect with her on a deeper level, you’ll be glad you did.
Overall, this was a beautiful and emotional story that knocked me off my feet and captured my heart.
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LibraryThing member DarkFaerieTales
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Though in the end I enjoyed Searching for Sky, certain problems kept me from loving it.
Opening Sentence: On the afternoon of my sixteenth birthday, River spears a fish.
The Review:
In this novel Sky is yanked from a peaceful life with River on their
The character and love interest, River, wasn’t my favorite, especially because my feelings for him were so scrambled. One day he abandons her, the next he has an excuse so everything is ok? I just wasn’t a fan of how easily he was forgiven, among other things. He also seemed a too innocent, which ended up fine because he lost it during the course of the plotline, for the most part. However, Sky was a character I enjoyed and loved. You are totally immersed into her feelings and perspective, which is mainly focused on: Island. Island is her home, and it has always been her home. Getting home is her goal the whole way through, and she doesn’t stray from it. This leaves little room for development but it is still there. The other boy, Ben, I don’t know his purpose. Is he a love interest or a good friend? By the end I still have my doubts about which he has become, so I never concluded my thoughts about that… Nevertheless I do like his steady, warm presence through when Sky needs him. He is always there for her.
Island, when I was reading, always seemed mysterious and beautiful, swathed in the tropical magic that inspires people to go to Hawaii. It was described so simply, yet so richly. The style of writing in this one was easy to read as it flowed very simply (as I said above) but held much meaning in every sentence. Every time she talked of the ocean and the sand and the palm trees, I had a setting swoon. It made me want a vacation.
As the book continues, Sky learns of her heritage and who the man she lived on the island with, the stand-in father, really was. It unfolds too on and off for me to really be invested in this part of the novel. I started the book under the pretense that something huge and monumental would be discovered, and it was, but I was too confused by it when it was revealed. Supposedly this man’s past isn’t nice, but on the island he was, and Sky has to distinguish the two. I kept expecting something had happened between not-so-nice past and somewhat-strict-father-figure. But in the end, nothing like that happens and I was left with arguing feelings about him, comparing the mean and nice sides to see which would rule.
I actually really enjoyed this novel, and though not much action was present, I was able to keep reading. The reason it got three stars lies in the problem stated above and the fact that this huge twist happens at the end that didn’t affect me. With such a plot twist, if I was truly invested, I would have been shocked or angry or sad. I felt more of a muted acceptance with not much emotion. Probably, it was because I wasn’t such a fan of the character. In goodreads reviews, many mentioned crying nonstop, but I certainly wasn’t. Anyway, another reason it was knocked down a star was the rushed ending with a blurry resolution. I enjoyed the book and expected clarity and closure. Instead I was slightly confused and puzzled through the scenes as I reread the last few pages. However, despite these problems I truly liked the novel Searching for Sky and would recommend it to those who are fans of contemporaries and tropical settings!
Notable Scene:
He catches his balance, and I notice he’s holding a thin white stick between his teeth now, grabbing onto it with his other hand, and then he jabs it into my arm, through the flesh of the poncho.
I feel like I’ve been stung by the biggest and worst insect I have ever felt, but I am still trying to run. “Where the hell does she think she’s going?” I hear Sergeant Sawyer say.
And then the entire world goes black.
FTC Advisory: Bloomsbury USA Childrens provided me with a copy of Searching for Sky. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Though in the end I enjoyed Searching for Sky, certain problems kept me from loving it.
Opening Sentence: On the afternoon of my sixteenth birthday, River spears a fish.
The Review:
In this novel Sky is yanked from a peaceful life with River on their
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own, personal island to the real world. Suddenly Sky doesn’t need to catch her food, she can get purified water from supermarkets, and she has been reunited with her grandmother. But she is far from happy. She yearns for the simple life on Island before entering a world where her past is unearthed messily, reporters crowd her, and she has been separated from River- but as the book progresses, she begins to see that nothing can ever be the same.The character and love interest, River, wasn’t my favorite, especially because my feelings for him were so scrambled. One day he abandons her, the next he has an excuse so everything is ok? I just wasn’t a fan of how easily he was forgiven, among other things. He also seemed a too innocent, which ended up fine because he lost it during the course of the plotline, for the most part. However, Sky was a character I enjoyed and loved. You are totally immersed into her feelings and perspective, which is mainly focused on: Island. Island is her home, and it has always been her home. Getting home is her goal the whole way through, and she doesn’t stray from it. This leaves little room for development but it is still there. The other boy, Ben, I don’t know his purpose. Is he a love interest or a good friend? By the end I still have my doubts about which he has become, so I never concluded my thoughts about that… Nevertheless I do like his steady, warm presence through when Sky needs him. He is always there for her.
Island, when I was reading, always seemed mysterious and beautiful, swathed in the tropical magic that inspires people to go to Hawaii. It was described so simply, yet so richly. The style of writing in this one was easy to read as it flowed very simply (as I said above) but held much meaning in every sentence. Every time she talked of the ocean and the sand and the palm trees, I had a setting swoon. It made me want a vacation.
As the book continues, Sky learns of her heritage and who the man she lived on the island with, the stand-in father, really was. It unfolds too on and off for me to really be invested in this part of the novel. I started the book under the pretense that something huge and monumental would be discovered, and it was, but I was too confused by it when it was revealed. Supposedly this man’s past isn’t nice, but on the island he was, and Sky has to distinguish the two. I kept expecting something had happened between not-so-nice past and somewhat-strict-father-figure. But in the end, nothing like that happens and I was left with arguing feelings about him, comparing the mean and nice sides to see which would rule.
I actually really enjoyed this novel, and though not much action was present, I was able to keep reading. The reason it got three stars lies in the problem stated above and the fact that this huge twist happens at the end that didn’t affect me. With such a plot twist, if I was truly invested, I would have been shocked or angry or sad. I felt more of a muted acceptance with not much emotion. Probably, it was because I wasn’t such a fan of the character. In goodreads reviews, many mentioned crying nonstop, but I certainly wasn’t. Anyway, another reason it was knocked down a star was the rushed ending with a blurry resolution. I enjoyed the book and expected clarity and closure. Instead I was slightly confused and puzzled through the scenes as I reread the last few pages. However, despite these problems I truly liked the novel Searching for Sky and would recommend it to those who are fans of contemporaries and tropical settings!
Notable Scene:
He catches his balance, and I notice he’s holding a thin white stick between his teeth now, grabbing onto it with his other hand, and then he jabs it into my arm, through the flesh of the poncho.
I feel like I’ve been stung by the biggest and worst insect I have ever felt, but I am still trying to run. “Where the hell does she think she’s going?” I hear Sergeant Sawyer say.
And then the entire world goes black.
FTC Advisory: Bloomsbury USA Childrens provided me with a copy of Searching for Sky. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
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LibraryThing member JanaRose1
Living on a deserted island, Sky and River are thrust into an unfamiliar and scary world after a boat chances across their home. Knowing little about the real world, Sky and River discover that they are the sole survivors of a cult group, ran by River's father. Claimed by her grandmother, Sky has
I thought this was a fascinating book. I would love to read a sequel and find out what happens to Sky next. The premise of the story was intriguing, and the plot unraveled in an interesting way. Overall, highly recommended.
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problems adapting to all of the strange things around her. I thought this was a fascinating book. I would love to read a sequel and find out what happens to Sky next. The premise of the story was intriguing, and the plot unraveled in an interesting way. Overall, highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member HeatherLINC
I was surprised by how much I actually enjoyed this book, and had it read in a day. I loved Sky's narration. Seeing the modern world from her point of view, a girl who had spent most of her life on a secluded island with only her mother, River and River's father for company, was fascinating. I
Sky's development was believable as she struggled to assimilate back into a world far more complicated than her island home. Her feelings of confusion, anger, hopelessness and longing pulled on my heartstrings. However, Sky was lucky. She had her grandmother and Ben to support and guide her, even though I thought the 'experts' her grandmother employed to help her were basically useless. There were many times I wanted to shake the older woman for trying to force Sky to be 'normal'.
Despite feeling sorry for Sky, it was River who tore at my heart. He had been Sky's best friend for fourteen years and, even though it was he who wanted to be rescued from the island, his assimilation was far more difficult. In fact, I found it hard to believe that he would have been treated the way he was by authorities who were supposed to help him. I also hated how so many people assumed he was evil based on something that happened when he was a young boy. I just wanted to give him a big hug and take him home.
As for the ending, it was heart-breaking. I was wondering how the author was going to resolve River and Sky's dilemma, but I never suspected the tragic conclusion, but it made sense.
"Searching for Sky" was a refreshing, well-written novel about survival, family, love and friendship. It was a thought-provoking read that would lead to some interesting discussion.
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loved her innocence and the simplistic way she saw her new environment. While she could survive and thrive on her island, she was like a toddler when it came to exploring her new way of life. Sky's development was believable as she struggled to assimilate back into a world far more complicated than her island home. Her feelings of confusion, anger, hopelessness and longing pulled on my heartstrings. However, Sky was lucky. She had her grandmother and Ben to support and guide her, even though I thought the 'experts' her grandmother employed to help her were basically useless. There were many times I wanted to shake the older woman for trying to force Sky to be 'normal'.
Despite feeling sorry for Sky, it was River who tore at my heart. He had been Sky's best friend for fourteen years and, even though it was he who wanted to be rescued from the island, his assimilation was far more difficult. In fact, I found it hard to believe that he would have been treated the way he was by authorities who were supposed to help him. I also hated how so many people assumed he was evil based on something that happened when he was a young boy. I just wanted to give him a big hug and take him home.
As for the ending, it was heart-breaking. I was wondering how the author was going to resolve River and Sky's dilemma, but I never suspected the tragic conclusion, but it made sense.
"Searching for Sky" was a refreshing, well-written novel about survival, family, love and friendship. It was a thought-provoking read that would lead to some interesting discussion.
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Awards
Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing (Nominee — 2015)
Call number
J4D.Can