Becca at Sea

The episodic tale Becca at Sea describes one girl's series of adventures at her grandmother's house throughout the year. Becca's grandmother lives on an island off of the Canadian coast, lending to the story a very cozy and unique environment filled with midnight swims, oysters, and seals. In every adventure, Becca is able to come out on top and save the day. By the book's end, Becca has come to realize just how capable of a person she really is and just how much she has grown in the past year.

While the book is beautifully written, the episodic nature may be problematic for very young readers. Some elements, such as the impending arrival of Becca's new baby sibling and Becca's aunt's budding yet troubled romance with the local plumber, weave their way in and out of each story, but as a general rule a new adventure begins with each chapter with much time sometimes passing between events. Whether or not readers view this as a pro or con is a matter of personal preference. What all readers will certainly agree on is that author Deirdre Baker has created a beautifully inviting setting for Becca's story, one that will make this book stand out from other coming-of-age or new-sibling stories for this age group.

Overall Grade: A-