Hope at Sea: An Adventure Story

by Daniel Miyares (Author)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

Hope doesn't only want to listen to her father's stories about his voyages at sea, she wants to be part of those stories.

And so, unbeknownst to her parents, she stows away on her father's 19th-century merchant vessel. But look... The wind has picked up and the sky is darkening... Could there be such a thing as an adventure that is too exciting?

Join high-spirited Hope on a trip of a lifetime in this exquisitely illustrated picture book that also captures the love between a father and child.

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Kirkus Reviews

A skillfully presented tale of the sea and beyond.

Publishers Weekly

Hope, a white, brown-haired child in a pink dress, longs to go to sea: "I don't want to hear Papa's stories after he returns. I will stow away!" Ship carpenter Papa finds Hope's hiding place aboard the 19th-century vessel almost immediately and offers forgiveness, and Hope's life at sea begins. Father introduces the child to many seafaring chores (and allows a cozy cabin berth). In one spread, he holds a sextant up to the night sky and shows Hope how to navigate: "Papa has shown me that even the smallest twinkle of light can guide us." Journey's end is marred by disaster for the ship and crew, but redeemed with triumph--and a coda that warms the heart. Miyares (Night Walk to the Sea) delivers an adventure with all the excitement an old-fashioned sea voyage can extend. Handsome line drawings show rigging and sails, period costumes for the largely white cast, great sweeps of seascape, and cinematic storm scenes. Most illustrations have only a sentence or two of text, including lively sea jargon ("Batten down the hatches!"), offering lots of action that can be followed visually. Ages 4-8. Author's agency: Studio Goodwin Sturges. (Oct.)

Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

K-Gr 3--From the rocky shore, young Hope daydreams of sailing the seas like her father. When a new clipper ship is ready to cast off with Papa aboard, Hope decides to stow away. She's quickly discovered by her father (displaying a range of emotions any parent will recognize), who is initially angry and then relieved that she's safe. Now that she's aboard, Hope commits to a sailor's life, learning to tie knots and navigate by the stars. When the ship hits rocks in a mighty storm, all must take to the lifeboats, guided home by the lanterns of loved ones on shore. The broken ship isn't done yet, though. The shipwreck detritus is repurposed to build a brand new lighthouse, with Hope and her family as keepers, ready to guide future sailors (and stowaways) to safety. Throughout the perilous journey, Hope learns that even the smallest hands can be a big help. The illustrations effectively paint a picture of the thrilling and dangerous 19th-century adventure. The ship is shown in dark, iceberg-infested waters and then resting in the sunny tropics. Readers will appreciate that the enormity of the craft in port is insignificant when it is shown in the wild, stormy sea. As a bonus, nautical lingo is included. VERDICT For collections in need of stories about independent girls or maritime adventures, this stirring seafaring tale will have even landlubbers wishing to set sail.--Alyssa Annico, Youngstown State Univ., OH

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

Praise for That is My Dream!

A must-read illustrated poem that breathes new life into Hughes' 'Dream Variation.' —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

With luminous washes of watercolor and the lyrical language of Hughes's 1924 poem as his text, Miyares (That Neighbor Kid) presents a resonant vision of an African-American boy who imagines a more just world. —Publishers Weekly, starred review
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781984892836
Lexile Measure
640
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Anne Schwartz Books
Publication date
November 20, 2021
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039140 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
JUV001010 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure | Survival Stories
JUV041020 - Juvenile Fiction | Transportation | Boats, Ships, & Underwater Craft
Library of Congress categories
Seafaring life
Shipwrecks
Stowaways

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