Book Review

BECCA AT SEA (J Fic) by Deirdre Baker

This delightful book is the perfect diversion for anyone taking a “staycation.” Becca, the 10-yr. old heroine, visits her grandmother on a small island off the northwest coast, while Becca’s parents prepare for the birth of her first sibling. Each chapter takes plucky Becca, and the reader, on simple adventures full of surprises. The seashore provides a rich and rustic setting for Becca’s many discoveries, while quirky neighbors and relatives provide challenges and support, as Becca develops a subtle self-reliance. The plot is episodic but pieced together with a feel of genuine community among the vivid characters who inhabit the story. And Becca proves to be a capable and curious kid who remains undeterred by unexpected events that take place on the island, and by changes that occur within her family. BECCA AT SEA ends with a satisfying sense of place and purpose for Becca, and the reader, which lingers beyond the last page of the book.