“Secret Sisters of the Salty Sea”
by Lynne Rae Perkins. HarperCollins Children’s Books, New York, 2018, 232 pages, Grades 3-5.
Many families go on summer vacations to remote places. Sometimes, these locations offer adventures far different from those at home. Most of these spots require long drives. In the car, children will read, play cards or daydream. Because they are leaving home on these trips, some children will feel the absence of their friends, making the vacation bittersweet.
Lynne Rae Perkins writes such a story. Two sisters go on a long car ride with their parents to the seashore. They don’t know what adventures they will have and they are both excited and anxious on the car trip. The name of this endearing novel is “Secret Sisters of the Salty Sea.”
Alix and Jools Treffrey prepare to pack for the family vacation. Alix is spontaneous and excitable, while Jools is temperate and thoughtful. Mr. and Mrs. Treffrey load up the family car while the girls snuggle up in a sleeping bag in the back seat.
The family drives through city and countryside. The girls wonder if they are ever going to get there. At last, the family turn into a driveway near the ocean. Alix thinks that all beaches are filled with palm trees and is surprised when she doesn’t see any. Her mother explains that they are too far north for palm trees.
Soon the girls wade out into the ocean and are having the time of their lives... until the undertow sweeps their feet. Fortunately, their parents are watching and quickly pull the girls from the waves.
On returning to their rental house, they meet Nessa, the granddaughter of the owner of the rental house. Alix and Nessa quickly bond and go to town in order to buy some bakery goods. Unfortunately, the icing is so delicious that the girls begin licking it off of the top of the cakes.
Alix is so embarrassed she licked the frosting that she hides, humiliated, in a closet. But her dad coaxes her back downstairs and she rejoins the family.
Alix misses her friend Rose and wonders if her new friendship with Nessa means that she doesn’t like Rose anymore. Her feelings are confused. Meanwhile, Jools is secretly admiring Alix’s daring. This causes her to try several adventures she thought impossible. As the week progresses, both girls begin expanding their ideas of friendship. What they both need is confidence. How do their parents help them find this?
What brave actions stretch the girls’ personalities? What is friendship? How do we learn to accept ourselves? Why do the girls grow so much on this family vacation? To find the answers to these and other questions, go to the library and check out this lovely story, “Secret Sisters of the Salty Sea,” by Lynne Rae Perkins.
This is a sweet novel for middle grade students. Alix and Jools learn about life and each other in the novel. Many young girls will identify with the emotional ups and downs of the Treffrey children. The parents provide caring guidance for the girls throughout their trials and adventures.
This novel is a fine summertime read and will be relished by many middle grade readers. Enjoy!
