Adult Fiction, allegory, double story line; boy lives on an island with a small community. He communicates with the island/mountain. Over time decides to leave the mountain/island and community goes with him on a boat. Spoiler ahead.

[Margaret]

A boy lives on an island with a small community. He communicates with the island/mountain. Over time decides to leave the mountain/island and community goes with him on a boat. The island /mountain is not happy! The sections of the novel relating to this plot line are interspersed with the second plot line.
Second plot line relates to someone collecting carvings of people on a boat - there is a series of these (?7) and the story relates to the person collecting them.
There are illustrations - simple pen style- depicting the boy and the boats throughout.
The book was read in the last 5 years

[Kris]

Margaret, is this novel for teens (young adults) or older adults?

Is the island in the tropics or far north?

How does the boy communicate with the island/mountain? What does it look/sound like?

Why is the island/mountain not happy? (Spoilers are okay - just give us a clear warning before revealing a spoiler, or us the spoiler html tag.

[Margaret]

THe book is for adults Kris
The location of the island is not specified.
The boy communicates with the mountain/ island be putting his ear on the ground.
The anger relates to abandonment
I suspect.
The surprise...Spoiler Warning, is that the boy in the final carving is looking back in fear.... up until then, Leaving the island was hopeful

[SarahBeth]

Possibly The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny? The Brutal Telling

[Margaret]

SarahBeth wrote: "Possibly The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny? The Brutal Telling"

SarahBeth wrote: "Possibly The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny? The Brutal Telling"
R
I am a huge fan of Gamache... not him, but thanks!

[SarahBeth]

Margaret wrote: "SarahBeth wrote: "Possibly The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny? The Brutal Telling"

I hope you find your book.