Product Description

A poignant coming-of-age story and a gripping novel of natural wonder

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #47554 in Books
• Published on: 2006-05-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Independent on Sunday
‘***** This novel is so very special ... extraordinary’

Matt Thorne, Sunday Telegraph
‘Infectious … Even the most hard-hearted readers will finish this book wishing they had their own bay to explore’

The Times
‘Poetic yet lean, restrained, lucid and radiant ... suffused with a Wordsworthian sense of wonder’

Customer Reviews

a little pearl
This is a lovely little tale of coming of age and realisation that the world can be as strange a place as the sea. A story of friendship at its centre, I loved this book for its mystery, its whimsy and its heart.

A beautiful read
Radio 4 made this into a play this spring, and it was so spell binding, that aside from listening again,I hunted down the book. It doesnt disappoint! I can't put it down but also find myself still trying to read just one chapter at a time to make it last. The words just flow from the pages and it makes you want to move to a rocky coast and relive your childhood once more. I'm buying copies for my dad and for my daughters friends. It reminds me of The Book Thief if that helps? pages of wonderful imagery and stories

INFLUENCED BY JULIE BERTAGNA?
I enjoyed reading this book and learnt a lot about marine life and as a consequence have a greater respect for the sea, but it seems to bear many similarities to a book published 6 years earlier called 'Soundtrack' by Julie Bertagna. It's even written in the same poetic style although 'The Highest Tide' is more detailed and perhaps aimed for an older audience or sea life enthusiasts.

Similarities:
1. A coming of age story with a teenage boy protagonist.
2. A story centered around a bay.
3. A wise elderly female friend and confidante.
4. Predictions of ominous events.
5. Being hounded by journalists.
6. A friend who cannot play the guitar but tries to to seem cool.

Coincidence?

Warning - If buying for younger readers be aware that there are adult themes ( sex ) explicitly discussed.