When Sea Becomes Sky

Bex and her little brother, Davey, love to explore Pelican Island, especially the marsh at The Thumb, but things are different this summer. Davey will only talk to Bex, Bex has stopped being friends with Millie, and a company is planning to build a bridge to the island that will ruin The Thumb and knock down their favorite tree. They find a mysterious statue in the marsh that is being uncovered as the water drops due to a drought. They think finding out about the statue might be a way to stop the bridge, but the sculptor is a mysterious figure. They come up with a plan to find out about the statue, but they have to break rules and there is some danger.

Gillian McDunn has written a compelling story told in the pitch-perfect voice of twelve-year-old Bex. This complex story touches on themes of family, loss, grief, and environmental issues all woven into a bit of a mystery. The writing is lovely and heartfelt and very believable, probably due to McCann’s own life experience. Readers will be captured by these well-crafted characters and their touching story. This book deserves wide readership well beyond the intended middle-grade audience.