The Pull of the Ocean

Mourlevat, J.-C. (2006). The Pull of the Ocean (Y. Maudet, Trans.). Delacorte Press.

ISBN: 978-0385733489

Plot Summary:

On a stormy night, little Yann Doutreleau wakes up his six older brothers, all twins. He lets them know that they must flee their home--or risk being killed by their violent father. Without question, the siblings follow Yann into the wet darkness. And so begins their remarkable odyssey toward the ocean--as well as an unforgettable story of brotherhood.

The social worker investigating the Doutreleau family, the truck driver who gives the boys a lift, the police officer who believes they've run away, the baker who gives them bread--each of the many people the seven boys encounter gives a stirring account of what he or she witnesses. The twins themselves add their voices, as do the Doutreleau parents; but not until the end of the journey does little Yann express his reasons for his galvanizing actions.

-Amazon

Analysis:

French author Jean-Claude Mourlevat writes his tale (translated from French) from the differing perspectives of the characters themselves. Three sets of twin boys and their ten year old “tom thumb” brother journey desperately towards the ocean to escape their unsafe home. Yann, the leader of the band of boys is mysteriously small and intelligent, and his drive to get to the ocean is unexplained. This story of poverty and brotherhood follows a path that tests their strength, but their bond of loyalty to each other is never in question. The characters that appear along the way are portraits of life in the french countryside. The story has a fable or fairytale quality that left me searching for meaning after the last page was turned. Like many fables, this is a dark but thoughtful read that I would recommend for introspective adventurers.

Book Reviews:

"A well-crafted mystery awaits anyone reading this fabled jigsaw puzzle . . . a memorable novel that readers will find engaging and intellectually satisfying."

Starred review, School Library Journal, January 1, 2007

"Mourlevat enchantingly blends the harshly read and the make-believe ... [in this] effectively haunting, fluidly translated tale."

Starred review, Publishers Weekly, January 1, 2007

Connections:

This could be a modern addition to a lesson on fables, I think it would provoke some interesting small group conversations among students 3rd grade and up.

Awards:

Mildred L. Batchelder Award for most outstanding children's book in translation, 2007.

This review was created as an assignment for SHSU LSSL 5361.