This is one of my favorite books from my middle school reading list. I had picked it up at my middle school library because I was intrigued the title, then the novel itself.

Have you ever read Tom’s Thumb? Well I have not but if you have you will quickly recognize the modern retelling of the fable.

There are seven children in the Doutreleau family, three sets of twins, Remy and Fabien, Pierre and Paul, Victor and Max, as well as the youngest boy, Yann. Their ages are fourteen, thirteen, eleven and More...

Critique du livre „L’enfant Océan“ de Jean-Claude Mourlevat

Contenu

Le petit livre Reclam de Jean-Claude Mourlevat raconte l’histoire ou il vaut mieux dire l’aventure naïve des sept frères Doutreleau qui quittent en pleine nuit la maison paternelle en direction de l’Océan Atlantique. Poussés à cause d’un démarche brutal par les parents que Yann, le plus petit des sept frères, a écouté aux portes, les enfants se mettent en route la même nuit. À coup de plusieurs personnes innocentes comme le chauff More...

The Pull of the Ocean is not your typical children's book. Its somber story seems reminiscent of Lemony Snickett's A Series of Unfortunate Events , but ultimately lacks the same charm. The plot is rather bleak. The Doutreleau family has seven boys: twins Remy and Fabien, twins Pierre and Paul, twins Max and Victor, and the singular, Yann, who is both a dwarf and mute. The Doutreleau family is poor, and it is suggested that Mr. Doutreleau is abusive and his wife, Mrs. Doutreleau, cold and hars More...

A. The Pull of the Ocean
• The author immediately pulled me into the story with the first chapter. A social worker returning a child to his home where it is insinuated that he is abused by his parents. At the same time, I’m given the impression that he was killed by his parents--“I’m one of the last people who saw Yann…” and “…But there was no next day.”
• With each chapter, the author builds on the horrific conditions of Yann’s life—mother saying, “He hasn’t looked well in ten years. He does tha More...

This book was written in French and translated into English. He is 10 years old and the size of a toddler, but considered by all his brothers to be very wise. He tells his brothers they must leave home because their parents are planning to “harm them.” They believe him and he leads them on a journey to the sea. The Pull of the Ocean is told from the viewpoints of Yann’s brothers and many others who encounter the 7 on their way to the sea. We do not hear from Yann until the end of the story. The More...

Wow. I loved this. It was a very quick read, perfect for a travel day (less than 200 pages). But I'm not confident enough that OTHER people will love it like I do. In fact, as much as I loved it, I'm not sure there's anyone I'd recommend it to.

I think part of the draw for me was that even though there was no hint of magic at all, there was somehow a feeling that Yann could be. That he might sprout wings like in some magical realism short story.

I know people read reviews to figure out if it's More...

The Pull of the Ocean
Written by: Jean-Claude Mourlevat
Published by: Delacorte Press
Copyright Year: 2006
190 Pages
$13.95
ISBN:0-385-73348-8
Reading Level: ages 11-13
This book gets a rating of: 4.5 stars out of 5


Never judge a book by its cover”

The Pull of the Ocean tells a story about not judging a book by its cover but with humans. In this book there is a midget and he is mute. People think small of him, but he is actually a genius. He and his seven brothers run away from home because they hear th More...

Yes, I'm an adult who reads children's books like Mourlevat's The Pull of the Ocean.

I can't help it.

As a kid, I've only read Disney classics sent directly by my aunties from the States, the Ladybird books available at the biggest bookstore chain (The Princess and the Pea was my favorite), The Sweet Valley Twins series loaned to me by a school friend, and a mysterious hardbound book of obscure fairy tales that might have been stolen from a library.

I know Hans Christian Andersen's Thumbelina, b More...

The Pull of the Ocean
Written by: Jean-Claude Mourlevat
Published by: Delacorte Press
Copyright Year: 2006
190 Pages
$13.95
ISBN:0-385-73348-8
Reading Level: ages 11-13
This book gets a rating of: 4.5 stars out of 5


Never judge a book by its cover”

The Pull of the Ocean tells a story about not judging a book by its cover but with humans. In this book there is a midget and he is mute. People think small of him, but he is actually a genius. He and his seven brothers run away from home because they hear th More...

The pull of the ocean is about the twins who want to be live.
One day, 3twins decided to go to the ocean from their parents, because John heard that their parents trying to kill them. They got the train and that smart guys stole tickets to ride. However, they were hungry,and poor. Even one was wearing women shoes. They had a bad smell too. At the train, one women saw everything, even John stealing tickets, but she didn't tell to people. They could arrive near by ocean. They went to a house, and t More...

full disclosure - this is technically a book for teenagers, and my partner spent plenty of time making fun of me for reading it. perhaps that's not so difficult, since it's a tiny book with wide margins. but - it was in a library display and has the most captivating quote on the back, so i snatched it up. translated from french, the book immediately draws you in, with each chapter advancing the plot, although narrated by a different character.

the premise is that this poor family of 3 sets of bo More...

This book was very deep and very descriptive. After reading this book, I'm proud to say that I think it's what gave me an interest in poetry!

Though this book is probably a little bit under my level, it still has a touching timeline and the characters are very unique... especially in size! The main character of the book is my age and only about 2 or 3 feet tall! So this book was a joy to read, and the events that the characters have to face as they wander away from their abusive parents are remar More...

Loved this so much. Short, simple, funny, sad, charming and beautiful. Each of the short chapters is told by a different character (with a few repeats) which could have made for choppy storytelling, but the narrative flowed wonderfully. I loved that so much of the dialogue was expressed silently through looks. I'm a sucker for fairy tales, especially modern authors using fairy tale imagery and themes in new ways and Mourlevat did this splendidly. And the cover design is awesome- definitely remin More...

I found this book at the $0.25 table at the library. It was more a short story for grownups, though I think it would be engaging for all ages. It was 190 pages, but easily finished in a day. The book is an award-winner of the French Prix Sorcieres and there's no mistaking that French literary touch.

The story mirrors the tale of Tom Thumb, seven brothers running away from home, eventually encountering an ogre. Full of lyric storytelling from many different points of view, this book moves well al More...

The very first line in The Pull of the Ocean by Jean-Claude Mourlevat immediately grabs the reader’s attention; “I’m one of the last people who saw Yann Doutreleau alive.” From this point on, the story slowly unfolds with each narrative account from Yann’s brothers, his parents and each witness whom they encounter on their grueling journey. Each narrative moves the story forward a piece at a time in a logical manner as it leads up to the climax and the conclusion of the story; which, has an unex More...

What a funny recommendation, Deb. Probably the most depressing "children's book" I've ever read. Or is it young adult? I don't know, but only give this to middle readers you attend to scare the begeezus out of. It's definitely interesting to discuss as a fairy tale (combines elements of Tom Thumb, Hansel & Gretel, and probably others), but I found it terrifying in the sort of way that "A Child Called It" scares me, rather than scary/fascinating in the way that Hansel and Gretel made me feel More...

This is why I love visiting the public library. This little gem of a book leaped off the shelves into my heart.

Yann Doutreleau is dragged home by Nathalie a social worker with the best intentions. He doesn't speak, at least not with words, so most people do not understand his wants and needs. His older brothers (three sets of twins) tell the social worker that Yann's father threw his book bag down the well.

Upon arrival at the rundown homestead and meeting Yann's mother, Nathalie realizes that sh More...

Reviewed by Carrie Spellman for TeensReadToo.com

Yann is the seventh son, and the only one born alone. His six older brothers are three sets of twins. Yann has never really grown and he doesn't speak. Oddly, he communicates to his brothers much more accurately than they do to each other. When he wakes them up one night, explaining wordlessly that their father plans to harm them, they follow him without question.

Their journey is to the ocean, a place where they all anticipate feeling safe. With n More...

I just finished reading Jean-Claude Mourlevat’s The Pull of the Ocean, and I am struggling with what to write about it.

Yann, the main character, is described in the book as a ten-year-old “dwarf” or “midget.” He has six older brothers—three sets of twins—and does not speak, yet he is the ringleader of the group. On Yann’s say, the seven boys run away from home, but it isn’t until the very end that we actually hear from Yann and his reasons for leaving are revealed.

The young adult book—a translat More...

I have not read a juvenile book that has impressed me like this one has in so long. The themes are incredibly adult, but put into the structure and perspective of a child. I would venture to say that this book is like Lois Lowry's The Willoughbys, except written by Stephen King. The characters have depth and credibility...even the most cruel. An incredible spin on Tom Thumb, but set into a contemporary analysis of society and how we treat our "lowest."

This book is so good. It's hard to find a copy in stores, which is a huge shame. The cover is appealing, and the trim size makes it the perfect little book to bring along on your commute. It's a children's book, but I think the writing and the story would appeal to the adult that enjoys a good story and minimalist writing. The story describes 7 brothers, 3 sets of twins and 1 single brother who is small, that run away from their parents because they believe that they are going to be killed. Each More...

This is a sweet little book about a boy and his brothers. It is an enchantingly told fairy tale in a modern time. I particularly enjoyed the style of the story. Each chapter is a first person "account" of what happened. It gave the story a feeling of immediacy and sense of doom. Intelligent and surreal, it leaves a lot unsaid and you are left to make your own conclusions.

You got to be heartless not to enjoy this winner. Talk about some stick together kids. They hung in there and worked together to get away from a bad situation. Loved the little guy being carried around in the sack, and how he got away with the captain out to sea in the end. I would really recommend this book to any student in the future. GOT TO READ IT!

Read because my middle-schooler's are reading the real French version and for once I would like to be up to speed on their school texts. I can see why a teacher would use this in the classroom - multiple points of view, based on a Perrault fairy tale, journey to the sea...so I appreciated it from an intellectual if not entirely emotional standpoint.

Simple yet poignant. I loved experiencing the stories from various perspectives, even if some characters were insignficant; it felt slightly voyeuristic. I found some parts hard to believe--since it's written in first-person, I felt the discourse of some of the characters was unlikely. Overall, great read and many parts were moving and enlightening.

This one is a tough book to put down...Each chapter is from a different character's perspective. The chapters are sometimes only two pages long. The main character is leaving home because of being abused by his parents. I am only 5 chapters in so far, and I will bring this book to our classroom library once I finish. This is a terrific book! I'm scared about the ending though...

I'm not going to say anything about the ending...this is a beautiful little book that shows the strength of siblings. P More...

Award: Batchelder
Genre: Fable in a realistic setting
Setting: France
Themes: domestic violence, brotherhood
Ultimately unsatisfying conclusion. Yann was dishonest with his brothers who trusted him implicitly. He was selfish and nearly got them all killed. The morality of his actions are ignored.
Allsusions: Tom Thumb and other fables

An odd book--very fairy-tale-like, almost unreal feeling. Told by various people involved in the flight of seven children, including one who is incredibly small. Although the story is bleak, the way they take care of each other is very touching. At the end, you're left with unanswered questions--unusual and memorable. Great for discussion.

What an usual novel. The story is somewhat bizarre and certainly unique, but very intriguing. I loved the manner in which the chapters are written. Each chapter ends with an unanswered question, for which the next chapter immediately addresses. The chapters are told by various characters in the book. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this one!

I loved this book. It made me laugh and cry. The story was soo sad, and to actually carry thier brother in a bag. I can't imagine. One of my favorite parts was the women's shoes. I wished they would have said the color so I got a better mental picture. I also cannot believe that it was the cat's that were supposed to die.