The Wanderer by Sharon Creech
A Great Adventure For Young And Old Alike
I am not always such a dreamy girl, listening to the sea calling me. My
father calls me Three-sided Sophie: one side is dreamy and romantic; one
is logical and down-to-earth; and the third side is hardheaded and
impulsive. Thirteen-year-old Sophie, skipping between dreamland or
earthland or muleland, hears the sea calling her. Much to the concern of
her adopted parents, she decides to join her uncles and male cousins on
a sailing voyage from Connecticut across the Atlantic to England (and her
grandfather Bompie) on a 45-foot sailboat. Not only does she want to
make the trip, she feels she has to. This perilous cross-Atlantic journey
will make young readers feel the wind in their hair and the salt spray on
their face. Newbery Medal winner Sharon Creech (Walk Two Moons)
describes the sailing experience with astonishing precision--from the smell
of the sea to the intricate workings of The Wanderer itself. Along the
way, Sophie proves her bravery and competence to the rather grumpy all-
male crew; intrigues and captivates her cousin Cody with her beautiful,
odd stories of Bompie that always somehow end in underwater disaster
and apple pie; and spills her heart into a daily journal. Readers get
another angle on her, too, as Cody keeps a log that alternates with hers.

He grows to know, and like, and wonder about, his new cousin Sophie
along with the reader, and as her mysterious past reveals itself bit by bit,
we are all right there on the edge of our seats, ready for the boom to crash
over to the other side. Sophies adventures take her not only straight into
perilous waves higher than buildings, but deep into her hidden past. This
profound, suspenseful novel will pull you into its swift current and barely
let you surface for breath. (Ages 9 to 13) --Karin Snelson
Personal Review: The Wanderer by Sharon Creech
A wild journey across the Atlantic on a 45-foot sailboat captures the reader
from the first page. Sophie, a thirteen year old, is the only girl on the
Wanderer. Surrounded by her two cousins Brian and Cody and three
uncles Dock, Stew and Mo, she finds not only what her family set out to
discover, but also finds out a lot about herself along the way.
As they set sail to Ireland, they make a few stops on the way. Uncle Dock,
who says that he's just visiting some old fiends, seems to have another
purpose in mind. What could he be up to? Along the way, Cody's "dog log"
and Sophie's journal keep the reader on the edge of their seat. Friction and
arguments between the characters begin to affect their relationships, even
worse, put the family in danger.
The style of the book is what makes it so unique. It's easy to know and feel
what the characters feel, even though the entries are very different. Cody's
are more brief than Sophie's, but you still are able to see how he's trying to
show the rest of the crew that he's a responsible sailor, and person.
Sophie's writing is more detailed and explains what is going on with her,
and the rest of the crew. I enjoyed the differences between the characters
as well. Cody was always cracking jokes, Brian was trying to control the
rest of the crew and the uncles were constantly arguing about their
children. Sophie's dreams of the sea tell the reader how she feels about
her life, which keeps the book suspenseful. I love sailing and the ocean,
and so I like how the ocean also was a character in the book, and was
described so that you felt as if you were on the boat yourself.
I would definitely recommend this book to not only young readers, but
readers of all ages. You don't need to be interested in sailing to find
something you love about this book.
Review by MacLean, age 10
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