The Sea in Winter by Christine Day

The Sea in Winter: A review and summary. This emotional and moving new book about a Makah/Piscataway girl recovering after a ballet injury is perfect for fans of Middle Grade (Ages 8 to 13) Realistic Fiction. Scroll down for a GIVEAWAY!

Last year I read Christine Day's debut book, I Can Make This Promise, and was enthralled by her story of a contemporary Suquamish/Duwamish girl uncovering the mystery of her past and her heritage. I was impressed by how well Day weaved in the complexities of Native American history with an enticing contemporary story about a young girl that middle grade readers could really root for.

When I heard Day had a new middle grade book coming out, I immediately added The Sea in Winter to my list!

Growing up in New Mexico, home to many indigenous tribes, I've had a lifelong interest in Native American history. Studying under Native American professors in graduate school further piqued my interest. As a parent now, I'm always on the lookout for opportunities to share Native American perspectives, histories, and experiences with my own kids. The Sea in Winter is exactly what I'm looking for!

Once again, Day has managed to share a compelling contemporary story, this time about a Makah/Piscataway ballet student, while expertly weaving in beautiful stories of largely unknown Native American history. On top of that, The Sea in Winter also opens up an age appropriate dialogue about mental health, loss, healing and resilience. It's a middle grade work of art!

Note: the Amazon links in this post are affiliate links. Also, I partnered with The Children’s Book Review and Harper Collins on a Book Tour for The Sea in Winter. I received books and compensation. Review opinions are 100% my own.

What is The Sea in Winter About?

Maisie Cannon has been in ballet since she was four, working hard through rehearsals and auditions nearly all her life. When an unfortunate accident leads to a severe knee injury, Maisie is facing a future she never imagined.

Struggling to keep up with her middle school classes, working through a long and slow physical recovery process, and missing her friends from the ballet studio, Maisie feels herself slipping into a dark moodiness that she doesn't feel like her family can understand.

When her family sets out on a mid-winter road trip to the Makah community where her mother grew up, Maisie isn't excited. However, the cold ocean trip with the supportive family members who love her is just what she needs to face the pain and worry that's been roiling inside her.

Our Review

This book came at a perfect time for us. I think children have a lot of built in resilience, but after the challenges of the past year, we can all agree that everyone's resilience has been put to the test. We've experienced losses and disappointments and cycled through periods of frustration and grief. So, when we opened this book and started reading Maisie's story, both my kids and I were immediately drawn in.

Like most parents, I want to raise resilient kids who can handle setbacks and cope with difficulties. Maisie's experience in The Sea in Winter is both captivating and instructive.

Day does a wonderful job of expressing the feelings of isolation that accompany Maisie's dark moods and anxieties as she tries to deal with the loss of ballet, the separation from her friends, and her failing grades. These are feelings a lot of tweens deal with and I appreciated how the author showed us both Maisie's dark feelings and the supportive, healthy ways her family, medical professionals, and teachers help her navigate through them. I know my 12 and 10 year old daughters were both able to identify with Maisie, so I appreciated the patience and healing that Maisie experiences in the book.

But while it is a deep and quiet novel that unfolds gradually, it's also a very compelling story. I read it all in one sitting, compulsively turning pages, and my 10 year old flew through the story in just a few days too. We have Day's beautiful writing and exquisite emotional storytelling to thank for this!

Like Day's first novel, I was also impressed with how Native American history is seamlessly weaved into the contemporary story. I knew nothing about the Makah and Lower Elwah Klallam Tribes or their history and was fascinated by the stories shared, both ancient and as recent as 1999. I especially appreciated the author's note and it made both me and my kids want to learn more about the tribes and historical events in the book.

This is a compelling story of resilience that kids ages 8 to 13 will both relate to and be inspired by. We highly recommend this one to fans of realistic fiction!

Ages 8-12 | 272 Pages | Publisher: HarperCollins | ISBN-13: 9780063078222

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3mZ0XXQ

Audible: https://amzn.to/35fFcgi

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/2078/9780062872043