Review of SandPeople
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photosynthesis19
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Review of SandPeople
[Following is a volunteer review of "SandPeople" by Cheryl Kerr.]
SandPeople, authored by Cheryl Kerr, is a heart-warming coming-of-age story that features beautiful beaches, suspenseful local history, and an inspiring and relatable protagonist, Lea McKinney. The twelve-year-old Lea is an energetic girl who looks forward to spending her summer break playing on the beach near her home in Virginia with her parents, younger brother, and best friend Laura. However, her plans are crossed when her parents announce that they have decided to separate, and that Lea will have to spend the summer with her aunt in Texas. The beach near her aunt’s house gives Lea comfort as she struggles with feelings of homesickness and loneliness. One day, Lea observes something curious on the seashore: a little girl who Lea believes to a be a ghost.
SandPeople presents a touching and suspenseful story that will appeal to a wide audience. As the story progresses, the reader will witness Lea’s personal growth as she makes new friends in a city completely foreign to her, finds common ground with her aunt who seems to have an entirely different worldview, and investigates the mysterious encounter with the little girl at the beach. The author keeps the story suspenseful by introducing ghost sightings and by posing the ultimate question: Was the little girl by the beach real or just a phantom of Lea’s imagination?
I especially enjoyed witnessing Lea’s personal growth throughout the story. In the first chapter of the book, Lea can be seen solving her math homework and daydreaming about her summer break. Only a few chapters later, Lea conducts independent research on local history in the town library, gets closer with her estranged aunt, and even joins an archeological dig near her aunt’s house to investigate an old chest pulled from the sandy depths of the seashore. With her positive attitude and curious mind, Lea teaches the reader that it is possible to find joy and new opportunities in situations that seem disappointing or out of one’s control.
The themes and emotions presented in the book – disappointment, homesickness, loneliness, but also curiosity and hope – will be easy to relate to for young readers. In addition, the author’s writing style is colorful and imaginative, making the language very suitable for the target audience. For instance, when Lea attends a town fiesta to find out more about local folklore, I found it easy to imagine the spooky atmosphere with the flickering torches and broken windows that resemble watchful eyes. And when Lea storms to her room, slams the door shut, and throws herself on the bed after an argument with her aunt, Lea’s anger and frustration felt almost tangible. Through the author’s effective use of such descriptive and vivid language, it felt easy to follow the story and to become fully immersed in Lea’s world.
The only negative aspect I found is that the plot progression felt somewhat slow at times, which interrupted the suspenseful atmosphere that the author was trying to build throughout the book. For instance, halfway into the book, there still is no real action or mystery happening besides Lea’s separation from her family and home in Virginia. However, I did not find this to have any major impact on my overall reading experience.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I found only two grammatical errors, and the book appears to have been professionally edited throughout. The book contains no profanity and no explicit scenes, making SandPeople a suitable read for a wide audience. I recommend this book to any young readers who enjoy reading about adventures and history. This book might also provide comfort to readers who are struggling with loneliness or situations that feel out of their control.
******
SandPeople
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
SandPeople, authored by Cheryl Kerr, is a heart-warming coming-of-age story that features beautiful beaches, suspenseful local history, and an inspiring and relatable protagonist, Lea McKinney. The twelve-year-old Lea is an energetic girl who looks forward to spending her summer break playing on the beach near her home in Virginia with her parents, younger brother, and best friend Laura. However, her plans are crossed when her parents announce that they have decided to separate, and that Lea will have to spend the summer with her aunt in Texas. The beach near her aunt’s house gives Lea comfort as she struggles with feelings of homesickness and loneliness. One day, Lea observes something curious on the seashore: a little girl who Lea believes to a be a ghost.
SandPeople presents a touching and suspenseful story that will appeal to a wide audience. As the story progresses, the reader will witness Lea’s personal growth as she makes new friends in a city completely foreign to her, finds common ground with her aunt who seems to have an entirely different worldview, and investigates the mysterious encounter with the little girl at the beach. The author keeps the story suspenseful by introducing ghost sightings and by posing the ultimate question: Was the little girl by the beach real or just a phantom of Lea’s imagination?
I especially enjoyed witnessing Lea’s personal growth throughout the story. In the first chapter of the book, Lea can be seen solving her math homework and daydreaming about her summer break. Only a few chapters later, Lea conducts independent research on local history in the town library, gets closer with her estranged aunt, and even joins an archeological dig near her aunt’s house to investigate an old chest pulled from the sandy depths of the seashore. With her positive attitude and curious mind, Lea teaches the reader that it is possible to find joy and new opportunities in situations that seem disappointing or out of one’s control.
The themes and emotions presented in the book – disappointment, homesickness, loneliness, but also curiosity and hope – will be easy to relate to for young readers. In addition, the author’s writing style is colorful and imaginative, making the language very suitable for the target audience. For instance, when Lea attends a town fiesta to find out more about local folklore, I found it easy to imagine the spooky atmosphere with the flickering torches and broken windows that resemble watchful eyes. And when Lea storms to her room, slams the door shut, and throws herself on the bed after an argument with her aunt, Lea’s anger and frustration felt almost tangible. Through the author’s effective use of such descriptive and vivid language, it felt easy to follow the story and to become fully immersed in Lea’s world.
The only negative aspect I found is that the plot progression felt somewhat slow at times, which interrupted the suspenseful atmosphere that the author was trying to build throughout the book. For instance, halfway into the book, there still is no real action or mystery happening besides Lea’s separation from her family and home in Virginia. However, I did not find this to have any major impact on my overall reading experience.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I found only two grammatical errors, and the book appears to have been professionally edited throughout. The book contains no profanity and no explicit scenes, making SandPeople a suitable read for a wide audience. I recommend this book to any young readers who enjoy reading about adventures and history. This book might also provide comfort to readers who are struggling with loneliness or situations that feel out of their control.
******
SandPeople
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Middle Reaches (Episodes 1-8) by L. Andrew Cooper
