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The Wanderer
The sea, the sea, the sea. It rolled and rolled and called to me. Come in, it said, come in. Sophie hears the sea calling, promising adventure as she sets sail for England with her three uncles and two cousins. Sophie's cousin Cody isn't sure he has the strength to prove himself to the crew and to his father. Through Sophie's and Cody's travel logs, we hear stories of the past and the daily challenges of surviving at sea as The Wanderer sails toward its destination—and its passengers search for their places in the world.
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 22, 2000
291 people are currently reading
4751 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Creech
72 books3,312 followersI was born in South Euclid, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, and grew up there with my noisy and rowdy family: my parents (Ann and Arvel), my sister (Sandy), and my three brothers (Dennis, Doug and Tom).
For a fictional view of what it was like growing up in my family, see Absolutely Normal Chaos. (In that book, the brothers even have the same names as my own brothers.) Our house was not only full of us Creeches, but also full of friends and visiting relatives.
In the summer, we usually took a trip, all of us piled in a car and heading out to Wisconsin or Michigan or, once, to Idaho. We must have been a very noisy bunch, and I'm not sure how our parents put up with being cooped up with us in the car for those trips. The five-day trip out to Idaho when I was twelve had a powerful effect on me: what a huge and amazing country! I had no idea then that thirty-some years later, I would recreate that trip in a book called Walk Two Moons.
One other place we often visited was Quincy, Kentucky, where my cousins lived (and still live) on a beautiful farm, with hills and trees and swimming hole and barn and hayloft. We were outside running in those hills all day long, and at night we'd gather on the porch where more stories would be told. I loved Quincy so much that it has found its way into many of my books—transformed into Bybanks, Kentucky. Bybanks appears in Walk Two Moons, Chasing Redbird, and Bloomability. Bybanks also makes a brief appearance (by reference, but not by name) in The Wanderer.
When I was young, I wanted to be many things when I grew up: a painter, an ice skater, a singer, a teacher, and a reporter. It soon became apparent that I had little drawing talent, very limited tolerance for falling on ice, and absolutely no ability to stay on key while singing. I also soon learned that I would make a terrible reporter because when I didn't like the facts, I changed them. It was in college, when I took literature and writing courses, that I became intrigued by story-telling. Later, I was a teacher (high school English and writing) in England and in Switzerland. While teaching great literature, I learned so much about writing: about what makes a story interesting and about techniques of plot and characterization and point of view. I started out writing novels for adults (published as Sharon Rigg): The Recital and Nickel Malley were both written and published while I was living in England (these books were published in England only and are now out of print.) But the next book was Absolutely Normal Chaos, and ever since that book I have written mainly about young people. Walk Two Moons was the first of my books to be published in America. When it received the Newbery Medal, no one was more surprised than I was. I'm still a little bit in shock.
After Walk Two Moons came Chasing Redbird, Pleasing the Ghost, Bloomability, The Wanderer, and Fishing in the Air. I hope to be writing stories for a long, long time.
I am married to Lyle Rigg, who is the headmaster of The Pennington School in Pennington, New Jersey, and have two grown children, Rob and Karin. Being with my family is what I enjoy most. The next-best thing is writing stories.
© Sharon Creech
For a fictional view of what it was like growing up in my family, see Absolutely Normal Chaos. (In that book, the brothers even have the same names as my own brothers.) Our house was not only full of us Creeches, but also full of friends and visiting relatives.
In the summer, we usually took a trip, all of us piled in a car and heading out to Wisconsin or Michigan or, once, to Idaho. We must have been a very noisy bunch, and I'm not sure how our parents put up with being cooped up with us in the car for those trips. The five-day trip out to Idaho when I was twelve had a powerful effect on me: what a huge and amazing country! I had no idea then that thirty-some years later, I would recreate that trip in a book called Walk Two Moons.
One other place we often visited was Quincy, Kentucky, where my cousins lived (and still live) on a beautiful farm, with hills and trees and swimming hole and barn and hayloft. We were outside running in those hills all day long, and at night we'd gather on the porch where more stories would be told. I loved Quincy so much that it has found its way into many of my books—transformed into Bybanks, Kentucky. Bybanks appears in Walk Two Moons, Chasing Redbird, and Bloomability. Bybanks also makes a brief appearance (by reference, but not by name) in The Wanderer.
When I was young, I wanted to be many things when I grew up: a painter, an ice skater, a singer, a teacher, and a reporter. It soon became apparent that I had little drawing talent, very limited tolerance for falling on ice, and absolutely no ability to stay on key while singing. I also soon learned that I would make a terrible reporter because when I didn't like the facts, I changed them. It was in college, when I took literature and writing courses, that I became intrigued by story-telling. Later, I was a teacher (high school English and writing) in England and in Switzerland. While teaching great literature, I learned so much about writing: about what makes a story interesting and about techniques of plot and characterization and point of view. I started out writing novels for adults (published as Sharon Rigg): The Recital and Nickel Malley were both written and published while I was living in England (these books were published in England only and are now out of print.) But the next book was Absolutely Normal Chaos, and ever since that book I have written mainly about young people. Walk Two Moons was the first of my books to be published in America. When it received the Newbery Medal, no one was more surprised than I was. I'm still a little bit in shock.
After Walk Two Moons came Chasing Redbird, Pleasing the Ghost, Bloomability, The Wanderer, and Fishing in the Air. I hope to be writing stories for a long, long time.
I am married to Lyle Rigg, who is the headmaster of The Pennington School in Pennington, New Jersey, and have two grown children, Rob and Karin. Being with my family is what I enjoy most. The next-best thing is writing stories.
© Sharon Creech
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,002 reviews
August 23, 2023
I borrowed this book from my daughter’s newly organized “library”. She explained the rules, which were a little different from the ones I am used to at our local library. She knows I have a huge, almost impossible amount of books on my to-read pile, yet she insisted I take this one, and, of course, read it now. To emphasize her point, she explains her library’s rules. I have two weeks to read it (she places a dated post-it on the inside back cover), and I cannot return it unread to avoid the fine. If I do not finish in two weeks, I will need to keep reading, and pay the daily fine until I do. I realize for the first time that the library may not be an expression of her love for books, but rather, a new money-making scheme. I also have a vague memory that I bought this book at a library sale (for myself), at a price substantially less than the per-day fine.
Despite all this, I drop the other books I am reading, and plunge ahead. I am already a fan of Sharon Creech, having read Walk Two Moons and The Great Unexpected, with Chasing Redbird on my (other) daughter’s shelf to read. I was expecting this book to be like The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, and it did remind me of that book, though I read it many years ago.
I am in a phase right now of wanting to read more “girl power” books. We are reading aloud the Betsy-Tacy books, and, despite their age, they are more feminist than you might imagine. They make being a girl an awesome adventure. The Wanderer did this for me as well, but it was more than that. It is balanced in the telling – split between Sophie (a girl) and her cousin Cody (a boy), two seeming misfits on the family crew that is setting sail across the ocean. This is not an easy book for a fearful child. There are treacherous seas. I was trying to think if they had even one night out on the vast ocean where they enjoyed looking at the stars, but I don’t think they did. The tale they tell, in their own words, is one fraught with secrets, fears, and lots of family drama. It is harrowing, and sweet, and everything you want to read in an adventure across the ocean.
And, since I’m sure you are wondering; I returned the book early, no fines, a satisfied customer.
Click here for more reviews like this on my blog
Despite all this, I drop the other books I am reading, and plunge ahead. I am already a fan of Sharon Creech, having read Walk Two Moons and The Great Unexpected, with Chasing Redbird on my (other) daughter’s shelf to read. I was expecting this book to be like The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, and it did remind me of that book, though I read it many years ago.
I am in a phase right now of wanting to read more “girl power” books. We are reading aloud the Betsy-Tacy books, and, despite their age, they are more feminist than you might imagine. They make being a girl an awesome adventure. The Wanderer did this for me as well, but it was more than that. It is balanced in the telling – split between Sophie (a girl) and her cousin Cody (a boy), two seeming misfits on the family crew that is setting sail across the ocean. This is not an easy book for a fearful child. There are treacherous seas. I was trying to think if they had even one night out on the vast ocean where they enjoyed looking at the stars, but I don’t think they did. The tale they tell, in their own words, is one fraught with secrets, fears, and lots of family drama. It is harrowing, and sweet, and everything you want to read in an adventure across the ocean.
And, since I’m sure you are wondering; I returned the book early, no fines, a satisfied customer.
Click here for more reviews like this on my blog
January 7, 2016
If I were to write down my favourite quotes from The Wanderer by Sharon Creech, I have a feeling I would end up transcribing the whole book. Choosing just one moment doesn't seem fair.
The Wanderer is life and as alive as the sea. It comes with ups and downs, moods and tides, storms and rainbows. Once you are in, you are in for the whole journey.
The story is brought to us by the hands of Sophie and Cody, and is told through their journal entries. Their writing, absolutely stunning in its simplicity, involves you, absorbs you, immerses you to the point that you too start feeling the salt on your skin, on the tip of your tongue. And then Sophie starts wandering through her mind, wondering and questioning things that most people would much prefer to ignore. And out loud too. She is both afraid and fearless, and her story is one that will both break and mend your heart.
It's most definitely a must read. A story about what it means to be a family.
The Wanderer is life and as alive as the sea. It comes with ups and downs, moods and tides, storms and rainbows. Once you are in, you are in for the whole journey.
The story is brought to us by the hands of Sophie and Cody, and is told through their journal entries. Their writing, absolutely stunning in its simplicity, involves you, absorbs you, immerses you to the point that you too start feeling the salt on your skin, on the tip of your tongue. And then Sophie starts wandering through her mind, wondering and questioning things that most people would much prefer to ignore. And out loud too. She is both afraid and fearless, and her story is one that will both break and mend your heart.
It's most definitely a must read. A story about what it means to be a family.
December 31, 2019
Ahoy there me mateys!
I previously read two novels by this author: walk two moons (Newbery Medal Winner) and chasing redbird.(ALA Best Book for Young Adults). When I found a copy of her Newbery Honor Book about an adventure across the ocean on a sailboat at a Friends of the Library sale, I had to snag the copy. Arrrr!
Side note: me copy has a lovely inscription in it:
Dear Veronica,
Good luck in your new school (W.M.S.). You are a wonderful student & I will really miss you.
Love, Mrs. Becker
I wonder if Veronica ever read the book an’ if so did she enjoy it? Does she look back on Mrs. Becker with fondness? And how did it end up in the library sale for me to find? If only I could find out. But imagining can be fun too . . .
I highly enjoyed this quick read. The story takes place in the form of logs kept by two children, Sophie and her cousin, Cody, when they sail across the Atlantic on The Wanderer. The contrast between the perspectives of the cousins was lovely. Sophie is said to have three-sides – “dreamland or earthland or mule-land.” Cody is “loud, impulsive, and charming.” Cody’s misuse of sailing terms made me laugh. The two voices were extremely distinct an’ watching the changes the trip makes on both them and the family members was the heart of this book.
The setting, of course, was excellent but not without peril. Sailing on a sunny day can still have challenges, but being on a 45 foot sailing vessel in the middle of an Atlantic storm is no easy place to be. I thought that the descriptions of life aboard the ship and of the storm itself were extremely well done. As always I love me sea yarns.
However Sophie’s story was the best part. I won’t give it away because the reader should discover things through the tale itself. But her relationship with Bompie, her grandfather, was wonderful. In fact, how Sophie’s story unfolds was charming, at times bittersweet, and fabulous.
Heartwarming an’ wonderful, overall I recommend this book.
If ye like this review, see me others at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
I previously read two novels by this author: walk two moons (Newbery Medal Winner) and chasing redbird.(ALA Best Book for Young Adults). When I found a copy of her Newbery Honor Book about an adventure across the ocean on a sailboat at a Friends of the Library sale, I had to snag the copy. Arrrr!
Side note: me copy has a lovely inscription in it:
Dear Veronica,
Good luck in your new school (W.M.S.). You are a wonderful student & I will really miss you.
Love, Mrs. Becker
I wonder if Veronica ever read the book an’ if so did she enjoy it? Does she look back on Mrs. Becker with fondness? And how did it end up in the library sale for me to find? If only I could find out. But imagining can be fun too . . .
I highly enjoyed this quick read. The story takes place in the form of logs kept by two children, Sophie and her cousin, Cody, when they sail across the Atlantic on The Wanderer. The contrast between the perspectives of the cousins was lovely. Sophie is said to have three-sides – “dreamland or earthland or mule-land.” Cody is “loud, impulsive, and charming.” Cody’s misuse of sailing terms made me laugh. The two voices were extremely distinct an’ watching the changes the trip makes on both them and the family members was the heart of this book.
The setting, of course, was excellent but not without peril. Sailing on a sunny day can still have challenges, but being on a 45 foot sailing vessel in the middle of an Atlantic storm is no easy place to be. I thought that the descriptions of life aboard the ship and of the storm itself were extremely well done. As always I love me sea yarns.
However Sophie’s story was the best part. I won’t give it away because the reader should discover things through the tale itself. But her relationship with Bompie, her grandfather, was wonderful. In fact, how Sophie’s story unfolds was charming, at times bittersweet, and fabulous.
Heartwarming an’ wonderful, overall I recommend this book.
If ye like this review, see me others at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
February 21, 2010
This has been one of my all time favorite books since I was maybe seven or eight. I've at least liked all of Sharon Creech's books, but this is the one I truly loved and has stuck with me ever since I read it for the first time. I found Sophie the only main character Creech has written that I was not annoyed by. The others all seem the same to me. Sophie, while maybe just as unreasonable as many of the other characters from other books, is very easy to relate to and her character is one you can't help falling in love with. I don't think there's a single person in The Wanderer I don't enjoy reading. Normally I find Creech's protagonists to be selfish and unreal (Yet for some inexplicable reason I DO like them). Sophie was called selfish several times in the book, but I decided that she made up for any of her selfishness by making me smile almost every page and showing everyone else how amazing the littlest things can be. I could really relate to how she's drawn to yet afraid of the ocean (Like Sophie, I've had recurring nightmares about the sea for years) and her casual denial of the past was certainly something I've done before, though not to the extent she took it to.
Cody is probably one of my earliest fictional crushes. I think I've been in love with him for about six and a half years, and when I re-read this book last night, I fell even harder for him. I think we can safely call him my soul mate.
I think another big difference in this book was there weren't many things that sounded just plain silly. Especially in Bloomability (though it was a nice read) her dreams just sounded ridiculous. In The Wanderer, maybe just because I've had similar dreams, they just seemed so much more realistic to what most people dream about.
And the writing. Did I mention the writing? Her writing is so to-the-point and clear, it never drags on, but it's still beautiful and poignant.
So this book gets placed on the shelf right next to the Book Thief and 13 Reasons Why, because while very different, they are all among the few books that have made me cry AND really think about life.
Very well done, Creech.
(Oh, one last comment... would people GET BOMPIE'S NICKNAME RIGHT? BOMPIE. B-O-M-P-I-E. BOMPIE. IF you love him so much, at least have the decency to remember his name.)
Cody is probably one of my earliest fictional crushes. I think I've been in love with him for about six and a half years, and when I re-read this book last night, I fell even harder for him. I think we can safely call him my soul mate.
I think another big difference in this book was there weren't many things that sounded just plain silly. Especially in Bloomability (though it was a nice read) her dreams just sounded ridiculous. In The Wanderer, maybe just because I've had similar dreams, they just seemed so much more realistic to what most people dream about.
And the writing. Did I mention the writing? Her writing is so to-the-point and clear, it never drags on, but it's still beautiful and poignant.
So this book gets placed on the shelf right next to the Book Thief and 13 Reasons Why, because while very different, they are all among the few books that have made me cry AND really think about life.
Very well done, Creech.
(Oh, one last comment... would people GET BOMPIE'S NICKNAME RIGHT? BOMPIE. B-O-M-P-I-E. BOMPIE. IF you love him so much, at least have the decency to remember his name.)
June 25, 2022
Out here, there isn’t day and night and then a new day. Instead, there are degrees of light and dark, merging and changing. It’s like one long stream of time unfolding in front of you, all around you. There isn’t really a yesterday or a day before, which is weird, because then what is tomorrow? And what is last week or last year? And if there is no yesterday or last year—or ten years ago—then it must be all now, one huge big present thing.
That is what it’s like. I’ve never even been sailing on the ocean. But sailing on the lake, it’s like that. With the sun flaming gold in the west and the wind whispering to the water, you stop relating to time the same way.
So I would’ve loved this book in any case, because anyone who can put a magic you’ve known in real life into words is a true magician, but it’s also a sweet, wonderfully written little story about family and loss and adventure and story. So I loved it even more.
That is what it’s like. I’ve never even been sailing on the ocean. But sailing on the lake, it’s like that. With the sun flaming gold in the west and the wind whispering to the water, you stop relating to time the same way.
So I would’ve loved this book in any case, because anyone who can put a magic you’ve known in real life into words is a true magician, but it’s also a sweet, wonderfully written little story about family and loss and adventure and story. So I loved it even more.
February 22, 2015
A family mystery, dealing with the enigmas of one girl's past, set before the ominous backdrop of the romantic high seas...What could be more enticing than that?
The Wanderer really isn't as much a complex mystery as I had thought from reading the book's description, however. What lies at stake in these three hundred five pages is less about unraveling a mystery after following numerous leads to nowhere and then finally hitting upon the hot trail that begins an exciting endgame, and more a matter of listening to the outpouring of a girl's fearful, fragile mind, and the facts about the permanent exit of her parents that she wants to keep under wraps, hiding them even from herself. Sophie is a strong, independent, wonderfully abled person who has many skills that set her apart from the rest of her adopted family, but even one so sure has to have a central weak spot.
Set in modern times, thirteen-year-old Sophie embarks with her three uncles and two cousins on a seafaring voyage across the Atlantic, from the United States all the way to the magnificent coasts of the UK. Their mode of transport, however, is no luxury cruise liner. Sophie and her extended family are making the trip in a traditional ship powered primarily by the wind in its sails, which can carry only a few necessary assorted acknowledgements of the technological age in which it rides. Just as in the centuries of sea travel's prime, dangers from element and creature loom in the waters through which the ship glides, dangers that seem so insignificant while land is in view, but have the lurking potential to grow and grow and grow once the sight of firm soil has become a distant memory.
With only six people to run a ship, Sophie knows that all of the crew members must be capable of saving the lives of the others, while also each feeling sure that everyone else aboard is equally capable. Sophie measures up well in this regard; her physical skills and maritime knowledge make her easily an invaluable part of the crew, capable of some things that none of the others could ever match. It's Sophie's thirteen-year-old cousin, Cody (who acts as the co-first-person narrator for this novel), who doesn't necessarily seem able to carry his end of the deal. Tensions mount between Cody and his father, Cody and his uncles, and Cody and his older cousin, Brian, as the voyage begins and their ship, christened The Wanderer, makes its way through the initially calm waters.
The sea can be a terrifying place, but there's more to Sophie's on again/off again aquatic fear than all of the crew realizes. While learning to adjust to life lived on the rolling glass of the ocean, Cody wonders why it is that Sophie wants so badly to see her adopted grandfather, Bompie, as he nears the end of his life in England. Sophie has never met Bompie before, having been adopted into the family only three years back. How does she know so many stories about the old man, stories with which her uncles aren't even familiar in more than little bits and pieces? How does the death of Sophie's parents fit into the puzzle, a tragic loss that Cody has been told very little about?
Friction is common in the early days of the trip, but the expedition is not to be a short or easy one. As the ship heads toward Ireland, still with nothing but water stretching to the limits of every horizon, a continuous blast of horrific storms begins to rock the boat, and suddenly the five passengers will need to muster every bit of their guile and will just to survive. It is under these circumstances that they all finally work together, as can only be brought about by such extreme, prolonged hardship, braving the awesome storm side-by-side in a waterlogged world of seemingly unending discomfort, pain and nausea.
When it's time, when we have come to know all of the characters well enough to be prepared for it, we find out the multi-tiered secrets of Sophie's past. There's nothing earth-shattering to be learned, but in some ways I guess that the truth is made up from parts that an attentive reader could have pieced together all along on the journey, strung together like pearls on a necklace; and when that's finished, Sophie is still Sophie and Cody is still Cody, courageous young sailors who have proved that their own personal toughness lies in more than simple seafaring knowhow and execution.
The Wanderer is told by way of alternating journal entries, a format successfully utilized by author Sharon Creech on a number of occasions. What really raises the story up to its admirably high level of success are the awe-inspiring scenes of when the ship first enters the storm's heart of darkness, when the fear of mammoth, totally overwhelming waves shifts from a mild apprehension to an absolute certainty, when cataclysm grinds its way unflinchingly straight into the boat and shows us what it's really like to be trapped in the power of nature's wrath. The descriptive prose throughout this time in the story is jaw-dropping in its intensity, better than I could have realistically expected; I could practically feel the aching cold and the merciless weariness, and even the eventual hopelessness of Sophie and her crew, almost as if I had actually joined them out there on the ocean. It is powerful, powerful stuff, and probably the reason why the book was awarded a Newbery Honor citation for 2001.
I would say that The Wanderer measures up well to the other lauded volumes authored by Sharon Creech over the years. The story is expansive and well-written, and the characters are treated even-handedly and with much individual care. I would probably give the full three stars to this book.
The Wanderer really isn't as much a complex mystery as I had thought from reading the book's description, however. What lies at stake in these three hundred five pages is less about unraveling a mystery after following numerous leads to nowhere and then finally hitting upon the hot trail that begins an exciting endgame, and more a matter of listening to the outpouring of a girl's fearful, fragile mind, and the facts about the permanent exit of her parents that she wants to keep under wraps, hiding them even from herself. Sophie is a strong, independent, wonderfully abled person who has many skills that set her apart from the rest of her adopted family, but even one so sure has to have a central weak spot.
Set in modern times, thirteen-year-old Sophie embarks with her three uncles and two cousins on a seafaring voyage across the Atlantic, from the United States all the way to the magnificent coasts of the UK. Their mode of transport, however, is no luxury cruise liner. Sophie and her extended family are making the trip in a traditional ship powered primarily by the wind in its sails, which can carry only a few necessary assorted acknowledgements of the technological age in which it rides. Just as in the centuries of sea travel's prime, dangers from element and creature loom in the waters through which the ship glides, dangers that seem so insignificant while land is in view, but have the lurking potential to grow and grow and grow once the sight of firm soil has become a distant memory.
With only six people to run a ship, Sophie knows that all of the crew members must be capable of saving the lives of the others, while also each feeling sure that everyone else aboard is equally capable. Sophie measures up well in this regard; her physical skills and maritime knowledge make her easily an invaluable part of the crew, capable of some things that none of the others could ever match. It's Sophie's thirteen-year-old cousin, Cody (who acts as the co-first-person narrator for this novel), who doesn't necessarily seem able to carry his end of the deal. Tensions mount between Cody and his father, Cody and his uncles, and Cody and his older cousin, Brian, as the voyage begins and their ship, christened The Wanderer, makes its way through the initially calm waters.
The sea can be a terrifying place, but there's more to Sophie's on again/off again aquatic fear than all of the crew realizes. While learning to adjust to life lived on the rolling glass of the ocean, Cody wonders why it is that Sophie wants so badly to see her adopted grandfather, Bompie, as he nears the end of his life in England. Sophie has never met Bompie before, having been adopted into the family only three years back. How does she know so many stories about the old man, stories with which her uncles aren't even familiar in more than little bits and pieces? How does the death of Sophie's parents fit into the puzzle, a tragic loss that Cody has been told very little about?
Friction is common in the early days of the trip, but the expedition is not to be a short or easy one. As the ship heads toward Ireland, still with nothing but water stretching to the limits of every horizon, a continuous blast of horrific storms begins to rock the boat, and suddenly the five passengers will need to muster every bit of their guile and will just to survive. It is under these circumstances that they all finally work together, as can only be brought about by such extreme, prolonged hardship, braving the awesome storm side-by-side in a waterlogged world of seemingly unending discomfort, pain and nausea.
When it's time, when we have come to know all of the characters well enough to be prepared for it, we find out the multi-tiered secrets of Sophie's past. There's nothing earth-shattering to be learned, but in some ways I guess that the truth is made up from parts that an attentive reader could have pieced together all along on the journey, strung together like pearls on a necklace; and when that's finished, Sophie is still Sophie and Cody is still Cody, courageous young sailors who have proved that their own personal toughness lies in more than simple seafaring knowhow and execution.
The Wanderer is told by way of alternating journal entries, a format successfully utilized by author Sharon Creech on a number of occasions. What really raises the story up to its admirably high level of success are the awe-inspiring scenes of when the ship first enters the storm's heart of darkness, when the fear of mammoth, totally overwhelming waves shifts from a mild apprehension to an absolute certainty, when cataclysm grinds its way unflinchingly straight into the boat and shows us what it's really like to be trapped in the power of nature's wrath. The descriptive prose throughout this time in the story is jaw-dropping in its intensity, better than I could have realistically expected; I could practically feel the aching cold and the merciless weariness, and even the eventual hopelessness of Sophie and her crew, almost as if I had actually joined them out there on the ocean. It is powerful, powerful stuff, and probably the reason why the book was awarded a Newbery Honor citation for 2001.
I would say that The Wanderer measures up well to the other lauded volumes authored by Sharon Creech over the years. The story is expansive and well-written, and the characters are treated even-handedly and with much individual care. I would probably give the full three stars to this book.
August 23, 2020
Review 8/22/20
I went through a really long Sharon Creech phase in middle school, and somehow this is the one that's stuck with me the most even after so many years.
I'm not exactly sure why; maybe it's just because I happened to find this one first at a used book sale, but I guess I've read it fairly often. Although "found family" is one of my favorite tropes, most of Creech's work involves this, so it's not necessarily about that alone.
I find the writing on this one is incredibly well done as well. Creech uses a lot of poetic language, and her repetition of "the sea" from Sophie's point of view at the beginning of various chapters draws in readers of all ages, and helps kids explore conflicting feelings. Similarly, the way this story is revealed is different and eye opening as well. There's an air of mystery, and the addition of a side character POV that really embellishes Sophie's discovery of herself.
I think this book would be ideal for anyone from fourth to eighth grade, especially those who, for whatever reason, feel less connected to their families or communities. I do wonder about the lack of POC characters in this sort of story, because there needs to be more focus on various causes of isolation, but Creech does a good job taking those first steps in this novel.
This book will definitely make its way into my future classroom, maybe even as a read aloud if I work with older students. I know it will definitely be a reread for me many times over.
---------------------------------
Review 6/2/17
I always loved this book, even though it's the exact opposite of how I see myself. Or maybe that's why I love it.
I posted a review recently on How to Ditch Your Fairy, where I said many of the middle-grade novels I read are not half as appealing to me now as they were then. However, like I said in my review on With the Might of Angels: The Diary of Dawnie Rae Johnson, Hadley, Virginia, 1954, there are some that really stick with me, and that can definitely be said for The Wanderer.
This is one of those books that, like the Harry Potter series, you will always get something new out of it every time you revisit it. This was probably my third time reading it, but the last time must have been at least four years ago. The book contains two points of view, from the journals of cousins Sophie and Cody, as they take a summer to sail across the Atlantic to England and their grandfather.
In the past, I've always wanted to read Cody's parts much more than I had Sophie's. This time around, however, I realized that Cody's story is really just an extension of Sophie's. I used to see them as separate entities, but now I'm not so sure. As Sophie comes to terms with the fact that she's adopted, Cody is discovering who she is as well. Cody doesn't change very much, but he goes through Sophie's changes as much as she does.
I think this book does a wonderful job of portraying familial relationships and showing how anyone, no matter their relationship, can learn about each other in different ways, and how people can learn to love and dislike different parts of people. Once a favorite, and definitely still a favorite.
I went through a really long Sharon Creech phase in middle school, and somehow this is the one that's stuck with me the most even after so many years.
I'm not exactly sure why; maybe it's just because I happened to find this one first at a used book sale, but I guess I've read it fairly often. Although "found family" is one of my favorite tropes, most of Creech's work involves this, so it's not necessarily about that alone.
I find the writing on this one is incredibly well done as well. Creech uses a lot of poetic language, and her repetition of "the sea" from Sophie's point of view at the beginning of various chapters draws in readers of all ages, and helps kids explore conflicting feelings. Similarly, the way this story is revealed is different and eye opening as well. There's an air of mystery, and the addition of a side character POV that really embellishes Sophie's discovery of herself.
I think this book would be ideal for anyone from fourth to eighth grade, especially those who, for whatever reason, feel less connected to their families or communities. I do wonder about the lack of POC characters in this sort of story, because there needs to be more focus on various causes of isolation, but Creech does a good job taking those first steps in this novel.
This book will definitely make its way into my future classroom, maybe even as a read aloud if I work with older students. I know it will definitely be a reread for me many times over.
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Review 6/2/17
I always loved this book, even though it's the exact opposite of how I see myself. Or maybe that's why I love it.
I posted a review recently on How to Ditch Your Fairy, where I said many of the middle-grade novels I read are not half as appealing to me now as they were then. However, like I said in my review on With the Might of Angels: The Diary of Dawnie Rae Johnson, Hadley, Virginia, 1954, there are some that really stick with me, and that can definitely be said for The Wanderer.
This is one of those books that, like the Harry Potter series, you will always get something new out of it every time you revisit it. This was probably my third time reading it, but the last time must have been at least four years ago. The book contains two points of view, from the journals of cousins Sophie and Cody, as they take a summer to sail across the Atlantic to England and their grandfather.
In the past, I've always wanted to read Cody's parts much more than I had Sophie's. This time around, however, I realized that Cody's story is really just an extension of Sophie's. I used to see them as separate entities, but now I'm not so sure. As Sophie comes to terms with the fact that she's adopted, Cody is discovering who she is as well. Cody doesn't change very much, but he goes through Sophie's changes as much as she does.
I think this book does a wonderful job of portraying familial relationships and showing how anyone, no matter their relationship, can learn about each other in different ways, and how people can learn to love and dislike different parts of people. Once a favorite, and definitely still a favorite.
January 5, 2011
J CREECH
Debbie-4 stars
"The sea. The sea. It rolled and rolled and called to me. Come in. Come in."
These are the words of Sophie, a young gal who is the predominant voice in the book, The Wanderer, which is actually the name of the boat Sophie and 5 men use to sail across the ocean.
Their destinationn on the boat is to England to see Bompie, who is the father of the 3 brothers and the grandfather of the 2 younger boys. Who is Bompie to Sophie? That along with lots of other questions about her real family sets the stage for this adventure and somewhat mystery of the novel.
Almost immediately the reader is drawn to the upbeat, positive, easy going Sophie. From the beginning we are made aware that she is both drawn into and repelled by the ocean water. We don't discover why til the very end of the book and along the way discover the relationship of the 2 fathers and sons, tension between the 2 maile cousins, and between the 3 brothers.
Chapters are divided between Sophie telling us her feelings, what everyone is doing, and how they are treating each other, and also, we get Cody, her cousin's, journal entries.
The book is terrific in letting us feel the physical toils of sailing on such an adventure, the group dynamics of being together with no where to go when people aare getting on your nerves. But mostly we feel the spirit of a young gal whose mysterious family upbringing troubles all our hearts. It is another winner from the author of Walk Two Moons author Sharon Creech.
Like one of my favorite adult authors, Barbara Kingsolver, Sharon Creech has that trick of making every voice and personality stand out and make us feel the setting. There were actually times when I felt sea-sick. Great read for both boys and girls.
kidsfic@tclib.org
Debbie-4 stars
"The sea. The sea. It rolled and rolled and called to me. Come in. Come in."
These are the words of Sophie, a young gal who is the predominant voice in the book, The Wanderer, which is actually the name of the boat Sophie and 5 men use to sail across the ocean.
Their destinationn on the boat is to England to see Bompie, who is the father of the 3 brothers and the grandfather of the 2 younger boys. Who is Bompie to Sophie? That along with lots of other questions about her real family sets the stage for this adventure and somewhat mystery of the novel.
Almost immediately the reader is drawn to the upbeat, positive, easy going Sophie. From the beginning we are made aware that she is both drawn into and repelled by the ocean water. We don't discover why til the very end of the book and along the way discover the relationship of the 2 fathers and sons, tension between the 2 maile cousins, and between the 3 brothers.
Chapters are divided between Sophie telling us her feelings, what everyone is doing, and how they are treating each other, and also, we get Cody, her cousin's, journal entries.
The book is terrific in letting us feel the physical toils of sailing on such an adventure, the group dynamics of being together with no where to go when people aare getting on your nerves. But mostly we feel the spirit of a young gal whose mysterious family upbringing troubles all our hearts. It is another winner from the author of Walk Two Moons author Sharon Creech.
Like one of my favorite adult authors, Barbara Kingsolver, Sharon Creech has that trick of making every voice and personality stand out and make us feel the setting. There were actually times when I felt sea-sick. Great read for both boys and girls.
kidsfic@tclib.org
May 29, 2008
A large family of uncles and cousins make their way via sailboat to Ireland to visit their beloved father and grandfather in his last days. As they make the journey, a heartfelt crossing undertaken in honor of how Bompie came to the New World as a young man, they reminisce about Bompie's life. What is odd is that the person who claims to know the most stories is Sophie, the only girl on the ship and a newly adopted member of the family. She has never met Bompie- who is she kidding talking night and day about his childhood? As the cousins, both biological and adopted, come to understand one another, a beautiful, tender story unfolds.
December 13, 2018
The mingling of sailing and sea and exposition is perfectly blended with such true heart. This is one of the best books I've read this year, and Bompie is one of my favorite characters ever.
June 6, 2024
ترجمة جميلة ورواية جميلة.
June 7, 2025
I used to be in love with this book. I hadn’t thought about it in ages, until I was sleeping on the troller and remembered the refrain: The sea, the sea, it calls to me! Two days on the water with Terry. We caught no fish, but we drank a lot of tea. I reread this book as soon as I got back on land. It is still as perfect as it ever was.
July 17, 2021
I am very sorry I missed this one when I was it's target demographic!
I do remember seeing it in my library after the disappointing Bloomability, but something about the cover illustration and title made me think it was fantasy or science fiction and pass it up. It's not - it's realistic fiction on par with Creech's Walk Two Moons or Chasing Redbird.
Excellent story about a young girl on an outward journey that mirrors her inward journey of healing and the family she makes along the way. <-- I feel like that is a good one sentence summary of all of Creech's best books.
I do remember seeing it in my library after the disappointing Bloomability, but something about the cover illustration and title made me think it was fantasy or science fiction and pass it up. It's not - it's realistic fiction on par with Creech's Walk Two Moons or Chasing Redbird.
Excellent story about a young girl on an outward journey that mirrors her inward journey of healing and the family she makes along the way. <-- I feel like that is a good one sentence summary of all of Creech's best books.
May 30, 2018
I liked it
After reading a few of this author's books that I didn't like, I was glad to really enjoy this one. It had a good story line and wasn't weird or confusing. It had a good ending and didn't leave things hanging
After reading a few of this author's books that I didn't like, I was glad to really enjoy this one. It had a good story line and wasn't weird or confusing. It had a good ending and didn't leave things hanging
December 3, 2019
Ooh, what a fun book! I love how lyrical the writing was. How the words seemed to just flow together...and those descriptions of the sea! Now I REALLY want to go sailing. ❤️
Also, three cousins and some uncles all going sailing together? How cool is that?! I loved the family dynamics.
This book is a little gem. ❤️❤️❤️
Also, three cousins and some uncles all going sailing together? How cool is that?! I loved the family dynamics.
This book is a little gem. ❤️❤️❤️
September 18, 2022
This is a wonderful reminder of the depth of good middle grade novels. I was refreshed by reading this.
December 26, 2021
I loved this unsettling story that takes place in a vast ocean! Sophie is my favorite because she acknowledges her parents death and how she truly feels on the inside of her heart. Her awkward cousin, Cody also has an inner realization. I really enjoyed this story and I’m glad it actually has a deep true meaning and message
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2012
Sharon Creech has a special ability to touch the hearts of young girls. This is a story in which she uses several writing techniques to tell a poignant and powerful story of one young girl searching for her place in the world, and coming to terms with her difficult past. The story is particularly effective in the use of dual diaries, written by Sophie and her cousin Cody, which give the reader two revealing perspectives on the past and the present. Also delightful was the writing technique of Sophie's stories - told with a fable-like eloquence - of her 'memories' of a beloved grandfather. As an adult, I had serious questions aout the wisdom of the decisions made by the adults in the book (allowing Sophie to undertake the cross-Atlantic sail in the first place, not dealing with Sophie's inability to understand and accept her history)but the story is one that speaks well to the imagination and spirit of adventure of young girls. The Wanderer is an excellent choice for Mother/Daughter groups, with many opportunities for discussion on the craft of writing, and the importance of finding one's place in the spectrum of family and the world.
December 2, 2014
Sophie goes on a sailing adventure with an all-boys crew including Cody, Brian, Uncle Dock, Uncle Mo and Uncle Stew on Uncle Dock's boat, the Wanderer. The crew encounters friendly people, marine life and unpredictable weather. Sophie and Cody struggle to prove themselves to the rest of the crew; Sophie proves herself to not be helpless around the boat just because she's a girl while Cody tries to prove that he's not a "knuckle-head doofus". As the Wanderer and its' crew travel to different places on their trip to England to visit Bompie, everyone takes turns teaching the other to do things; Cody teaches juggling, Sophie tells Bompie's stories and so on. Uncle Dock remembers a past friend and misses her. When they reach one of their destinations, everyone gets a surprise...
I loved this book, reading Creech's writing makes me feel as if I'm really there on the Wanderer traveling along from Sophie and Cody's point of view. The only reason I gave 4 stars and not 5 is because I thought that since most of the book is about the trip to England, the land of Bompie, The crew should have spent more time with Bompie since they went through so much together for the last 2 weeks.
I loved this book, reading Creech's writing makes me feel as if I'm really there on the Wanderer traveling along from Sophie and Cody's point of view. The only reason I gave 4 stars and not 5 is because I thought that since most of the book is about the trip to England, the land of Bompie, The crew should have spent more time with Bompie since they went through so much together for the last 2 weeks.
January 4, 2015
This book is about a girl named Sophie living with her two adopted parents who went to sea with her cousins and uncles to go find her Bompie who has sent Sophie many letters telling her stories about water when he was young. When Sophie told these stories to her cousins and uncles at first they had a hard time believing her. Sophie mentioned in the stories about her Bompie suffering in water but the cousins were confused because the uncles said Bompie never told them anything about him suffering in the water, without knowing about what happened to her parents. I personally love this book, I think it is perfect for someone who likes action packed chapters and endings. I would recommend this book to someone with patient and people who are willing to find out what happens next. this had to be one of the best books I've ever read.
November 26, 2016
Definitely an odd read.
I have a vague memory of starting this book when I was young and putting it down to gather dust on my shelf. I feel bad when I have unread books just sitting there, but I can see why I put it down.
It's a very slow book, with an odd little mystery following an orphan girl and her desire to rewrite her past and forget her pain.
I didn't really find myself getting emotionally involved with any of the characters, but I found some of the ideas and concepts in it rather intriguing.
I don't think I would have really understood the deeper points in the book or the sailing jargan as a kid if I would have continued with it then.
Not a bad book, but not my cup of tea (or shall I say- slice of pie.)
I have a vague memory of starting this book when I was young and putting it down to gather dust on my shelf. I feel bad when I have unread books just sitting there, but I can see why I put it down.
It's a very slow book, with an odd little mystery following an orphan girl and her desire to rewrite her past and forget her pain.
I didn't really find myself getting emotionally involved with any of the characters, but I found some of the ideas and concepts in it rather intriguing.
I don't think I would have really understood the deeper points in the book or the sailing jargan as a kid if I would have continued with it then.
Not a bad book, but not my cup of tea (or shall I say- slice of pie.)
January 24, 2021
Hands-down best book I’ve read this year. I know it sounds like I’m not saying much since it’s not even February, but this book was amazing. To be honest, I was expecting another Disney Moana story. But no, this was much different...and better. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a mystery, realistic fiction, exciting adventure, or all those genres! I can’t even think about a single thing I did not love about this book. The character development was wonderful, the ending satisfying yet not all ends were tied up so it still left you with a little bit to think about on your own. The characters were wonderful, the storyline wasn’t super original but Creech wrote it in a totally original way.
July 19, 2018
My sweet daughter recommended this book after her wonderful teacher gave us a copy for the summer. This will go down in my personal history as the first book recommended to me by one of my children, and it was well worth the read.
December 14, 2019
Though this wasn't my favorite Sharon Creech novel, I still really enjoyed it. The story was whimsical and fun and the plot was as strong as all her novels. This is definitely a great read for younger audiences.
What I liked specifically about this story is the relationship between Sophie and Cody. I loved their friendly/flirty dynamic that kept me on my toes throughout the story. In fact, I love writing in this character space myself, so I much enjoyed reading it. Also, the tension and volume of the story resembled the ebb and flow of an ocean, which is an excellent trick to use for a story about a sea voyage. Even at the most intense part of the story with the white wave, I still thought the volume was controlled well and didn't become chaotically high. Another fun element was how Creech kept throwing her readers off about Sophie's past. It was interesting trying to figure out what her past held. At one point, I even thought Sophie had a memory disorder, though the truth panned out in a way I definitely would have never guessed. And, of course, I have to give a shout-out to those illustrations. They were so pretty and some even had an optical illusion-like quality to them. The illustrations also matched the mood of the story well.
I do have to say, though, that the voice didn't seem to quite match the characters' ages. They're supposed to be thirteen, but they sounded more ten or eleven to me. Part of the reason why is because their language was a little simplified for how old they were supposed to be. Also, some of their mannerisms seemed less mature. For example, they would often repeat words, like Sophie would say, "The sea, the sea, the sea." Though this is supposed to mimic a lyrical sound and be a literary device to put emphasis on the topic, it turns me, as the reader, away because it sounds more like something a younger child would do. When repeating a word or phrase, authors have to be very intentional about it, and thus, they should be sparing with when they decide to repeat, so their impact is stronger.
The other weaker element to this story is the story mostly tells, instead of shows. As authors know, the age-old adage to writing is show, don't tell. In this story, we are often told what is going on. For example, Sophie will often say, "I feel..." Hearing she feels sad, calm, angry, etc. doesn't actually give me a clear picture in my mind's eye of what it truly feels like to be in her world. I don't want to know how she feels, I want to FEEL how she feels. Instead of saying, "I felt seasick when we finally arrived back on land" (that's a paraphrase), it would be more interesting to read, "After leaving the sway of the boat, my stomach twisted and chunks threatened spill out my mouth. Not only that, but my head spun as if it were swollen." See the difference? Neither uses complex language, but one immerses you in the world more. I do always keep in mind that books for younger audiences tend to have simpler writing, but that doesn't mean there can't be imagery. In fact, a good juvenile book knows how to balance simple language with a solid image.
Besides those minor points, I still found myself swallowing this story like the ocean swallowed the Wanderer. In fact, this story was a very fast read, in a good way. The chapters were short, but they ended in a way that kept me pumping through to the next ones. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it as a casual read for anyone looking for a simple, good book. Also, if you are a Sharon Creech fan, I would say you'll enjoy it along with the rest of her works.
What I liked specifically about this story is the relationship between Sophie and Cody. I loved their friendly/flirty dynamic that kept me on my toes throughout the story. In fact, I love writing in this character space myself, so I much enjoyed reading it. Also, the tension and volume of the story resembled the ebb and flow of an ocean, which is an excellent trick to use for a story about a sea voyage. Even at the most intense part of the story with the white wave, I still thought the volume was controlled well and didn't become chaotically high. Another fun element was how Creech kept throwing her readers off about Sophie's past. It was interesting trying to figure out what her past held. At one point, I even thought Sophie had a memory disorder, though the truth panned out in a way I definitely would have never guessed. And, of course, I have to give a shout-out to those illustrations. They were so pretty and some even had an optical illusion-like quality to them. The illustrations also matched the mood of the story well.
I do have to say, though, that the voice didn't seem to quite match the characters' ages. They're supposed to be thirteen, but they sounded more ten or eleven to me. Part of the reason why is because their language was a little simplified for how old they were supposed to be. Also, some of their mannerisms seemed less mature. For example, they would often repeat words, like Sophie would say, "The sea, the sea, the sea." Though this is supposed to mimic a lyrical sound and be a literary device to put emphasis on the topic, it turns me, as the reader, away because it sounds more like something a younger child would do. When repeating a word or phrase, authors have to be very intentional about it, and thus, they should be sparing with when they decide to repeat, so their impact is stronger.
The other weaker element to this story is the story mostly tells, instead of shows. As authors know, the age-old adage to writing is show, don't tell. In this story, we are often told what is going on. For example, Sophie will often say, "I feel..." Hearing she feels sad, calm, angry, etc. doesn't actually give me a clear picture in my mind's eye of what it truly feels like to be in her world. I don't want to know how she feels, I want to FEEL how she feels. Instead of saying, "I felt seasick when we finally arrived back on land" (that's a paraphrase), it would be more interesting to read, "After leaving the sway of the boat, my stomach twisted and chunks threatened spill out my mouth. Not only that, but my head spun as if it were swollen." See the difference? Neither uses complex language, but one immerses you in the world more. I do always keep in mind that books for younger audiences tend to have simpler writing, but that doesn't mean there can't be imagery. In fact, a good juvenile book knows how to balance simple language with a solid image.
Besides those minor points, I still found myself swallowing this story like the ocean swallowed the Wanderer. In fact, this story was a very fast read, in a good way. The chapters were short, but they ended in a way that kept me pumping through to the next ones. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it as a casual read for anyone looking for a simple, good book. Also, if you are a Sharon Creech fan, I would say you'll enjoy it along with the rest of her works.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2024
I don't know if it's possible to overstate how big of an impact this book has had on me. Which is kind of funny, given that for the past 20 years, I could not have told you the book's title or more than cursory information on what this book is about. That's a weird coincidence, considering the book's main themes, but anyway. When I first read this as a child, it fundamentally changed how I think about point of view and truth. I'd since forgotten the characters and the plot and the interesting twists, but I could never forget the way this book affected me. That understanding, that a story changes based on who is telling it, has followed me into adulthood and shapes a great deal of my opinions on the quality of a multi-POV novel. This book also instilled in me a sense of compassion and a willingness to look beyond what someone says. You never know what might be going on deep inside. In fact, sometimes we don't realize what's going on inside ourselves. If I could, I'd like to thank Sharon Creech for opening my eyes in this way. And thank you for the lines, "the sea the sea the sea" and all its iterations, which have been a part of my heartbeat for as long as I can remember now. There's a lot that's left unsaid in this story. A lot that could be poked into. But this book makes me feel like I belong somewhere and I won't always be left behind; that knowledge is a treasure.
I usually offer a short summary in my reviews:
Three adult brothers and three cousins go to sea in the Wanderer, where they face many perils, both from nature and from each other. The narration comes from two diaries, logs that don't always match up, leading readers to question why.
I usually offer a short summary in my reviews:
Three adult brothers and three cousins go to sea in the Wanderer, where they face many perils, both from nature and from each other. The narration comes from two diaries, logs that don't always match up, leading readers to question why.
January 11, 2023
Sophie goes on a summer long boat adventure with her 3 uncles and 2 cousins…
Boating books really aren’t my thing. But my daughter had to read this for school so I read it too.
This book was surprisingly dark and mysterious for a middle grade book. Lots of heavy topics and intense imagery. There were some heart warming moments as well but those were dosed out much less than the depressing moments. No doubt the book was written well (with the exception of how quickly everything wrapped up in the end), but I don’t anticipate ever rereading this one.
Boating books really aren’t my thing. But my daughter had to read this for school so I read it too.
This book was surprisingly dark and mysterious for a middle grade book. Lots of heavy topics and intense imagery. There were some heart warming moments as well but those were dosed out much less than the depressing moments. No doubt the book was written well (with the exception of how quickly everything wrapped up in the end), but I don’t anticipate ever rereading this one.
January 18, 2022
This book had a psychological element interwoven into it that felt accurate. Using a child's observation of another child, Creech manages to unpack for us the layers that make up a child who's lost everything more than once. I would read it to my students, but I'd be careful about giving it to them, because of some minor language, etc.
November 24, 2018
I read this book alongside my 13-year-old daughter. It is written as journal entries of cousins Sophie and Cody as they cross the Atlantic Ocean in a sailboat, and is about finding one's place in the world. It prompted a pretty good discussion with my girl.
January 13, 2020
This is one of my favourite novels. Beautiful prose throughout with mystery and heartfelt characters.
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