The+Great+Wide+Sea

= __The Great Wide Sea__ by M.H. Herlong =

I thought this book was very well written because of all of the well planned out action in it and the vivid descriptions this book contained. If I were in the boys' situation I am not sure I would have survived not just because I know nothing about sailing, but because I don't think I would have been able to act quickly in such dire situations. I think each one of them was very courageous especially Gerry because of how young he was. Out of all the characters I liked Ben the least, mostly because of what he did at the beginning of the book. The way he was acting to his father before he went overboard was unacceptable. Although when I first thought that the dad went overboard for himself and I didn't know that he fell off the boat by accident, I still feel like Ben should have been nicer to his dad in the beginning and also the end when he says that he doesn't care what his dad has to say about going overboard.
 * -Jake Smith**

Someone I think the author could have worked on is the ending because it took 250 pages to build up to them going home and then it takes the story 3 pages to end it. I also thought that the last page was very cheesy because it ends with them sailing again and they all live happily eer after. Camon M.H., I could have wrote that ending. However, the plot and climax of the story were very well thought out and it kept me into the book. She must have had a wild imagination to be able to think of this and because of that, I am glad that I chose to read __The Great Wide Sea__ as my reading bowl book. I will end this entry by saying that I recommend this book for reading bowl next year.

__The Great Wide Sea__ by M.H Herlong DEAN FARRIS

I really like this book because since this happened to such young boys, I could really in vision myself there in that situation. I also could relate to the book because I sail over the summer, so when they were talking about the different parts of the book, I knew exactly where they were. Being a sailor myself, and knowing how scary it is to sail in high winds, and I know especially if you are put into scary situations like they were. When the father went over board, that really made me feel bad because since I didn’t know that he actually fell off the boat, I was thinking how selfish you could be to take the pack with all the supplies needed to survive if you were in that situation, and to leave your sons stranded on that boat alone really made me sick to the stomach.

I really admired how Ben was so strong and courageous after the dad fell off the boat. I also saw how much all of the characters changed and became more confident and really growing up in a sense that they knew that they weren’t probably going to see their father again. What really stuck out to me was that when Gerry fell onto the ledge, Ben had his mind set on getting Gerry out of there, and most importantly getting him out safely. What also made me really admire Ben was when he had to pop the bone from Gerry’s leg back into place. I can’t imagine the responsibility that was on Ben’s shoulders when he was going through all these obstacles trying to save him self, while having to take care of his two brothers.

Over all I really enjoyed this book, and the suspense made me keep turning the page. Dean Farris

_Sarah __Hanrahan__ _ I liked the second half of this book, but not the first. It seemed to only get interesting when they had reached the island. My favorite part was when Ben reunited with his dad, heard his story, and tried to decide whether to forgive him or not. This part was the most suspenseful to me because I wanted to know what really happened when Jim went missing and how his relationship with Ben would turn out. My favorite character was Gerry because he brought out different sides of the other characters. We saw Dad's meaner side when he got mad at Gerry for not swimming. Throughout the story, Ben became more protective of him. I think the theme of this book that is change will happen, and you can't always control it. It was out of everyone's control when Christine died. Ben had no choice in leaving his life at home for the sailing adventure. It was an accident when Dad fell overboard, and the responsibility shifted to Ben. One of the things I didn't like about this book was how it used so many technical sailing terms. I was confused a lot, but I don't think the author included them to confuse someone. Why do you think M.H. Herlong used them? I noticed that there are two main conflicts, but I can't pick which is the central conflict. There is Ben's relationship with his dad, and there is also the struggle to survive on the island. Which one do you think was the absolute main conflict? The author kept describing and referring to Blankie. What do you think Blankie symbolizes? I think it represents the youth of the brothers, especially Gerry. While The Great Wide Sea was a bit slow at first, overall, it was a good book._ __

Kate Athanassiades While I thoroughly enjoyed the tension that The Great Wide Sea has to offer, I didn't enjoy how the book was slow paced. I felt as though the events were sometimes brought our with too much tension and the wait to find the climax of the book was painful. I also felt that at the beginning of the book, the reader was thrown into the conflict with very little backstory as to what was happening. After reading the book, I thought of some questions about the book: How would have the story been different if the mom had lived? Would the dad have been so eager to sail around the world? I think that because the mom died the dad was wanting a change so that he wouldn't have to have little snip pits of memories that remind him of her. I also think that the death affected him more than what the author showed with his emotions. I can only imagine that losing someone so close to you must be pretty painful. Another question that I had is why did the author chose the name of chrysalis for the name of the boat? What could that represent? I thought that it represents the father and the sons breaking out of their lives with their mother was present, and into this new world of sailing for days on end. It’s like a metaphor for like a butterfly goes through, major change that alters the shape and look of the insect. Maybe the dad wanted them to break out of their shell like the butterfly so that they can experience life without their mother. Overall, I enjoyed the book, The Great Wide Sea, but it left me with some questions that I think the author could have easily included in the writing of the story.

Tyler Reading Bowl The Great Wide Sea By M.H. Herlong I really liked the book because it was a very powerful story that said a lot about life and dealing through hardships that seem to big to overcome, but I really didn't like the beginning with the dad. I really didn't like it because from what we heard about before the mother died, he was a great guy and not that mean. But right after the mother died and they decided to go sailing it seemed that he really changed for the worse. An example of this is when he tells Ben to shut up which leads him to jumping off the boat and staying on Gun Cay island for a day. Another example I think is when he forces Gerry under the water to swim when it is obvious that he really doesn't want to. That scene right there I especially didn't like because it seemed so cruel to force your son underwater and force him to try and swim. I also think that Ben could have been a littler nicer about his Dad's change because for a little bit is seemed like he was completely ignoring him. An example of this is when he goes on about how he can't stand to be near him or even look at him he was so disgusted. I think that he was overreacting a bit because I don't think that Ben realizes what his dad has gone through with the loss of his wife. I think that giving all their mom's stuff away to goodwill or throwing it away really shows that he just wants to get away and not let the death drag him down or let it get to him which in the end I think made him mean and uncaring.

I really liked the book but at the same time I didn't. I'm thought that the lead up and climax were great, but the ending I didn't like. I thought that the happily ever after ending really didn't work. It was unrealistic and in my opinion rushed. Like jack said the ending was all summed up in three pages. This would have been good for a shorter book but this one had such a big climax that the ending seemed puny and rushed. I also didn't like the beginning. I didn't get too know any of the characters before getting on the boat so I didn't really care that it was so upsetting. I think that the author could have made the beginning longer and give more detail instead of just jumping right into the story. I did like the part where they were just sailing. The parts where they're wasn't any action were nice because you got to know the characters. Although I guessed that the boat would wreck and they would get shipwrecked at the beginning I still liked the part where that happened. I thought that the author did a great job of not making it too action filled and not over doing it. As I said before I thought the ending was rubbish. The fact that they found there dad was cliche and boring. I also didn't like the part of Ben leaving. It was obvious the entire time that he wouldn't leave. Even thought I hated the ending I still liked the book. The character development on the boat was great and the action was enough to keep you excited but not over do it. I liked the character development because sit didn't make them seem all crazy and weird but just like regular old kids, no outstanding things. The character development was good but there wasn't a lot of detail about them. I got too know what they were like but not what the looked like it would have been nice to know that. One question I have is how did Garry all of a sudden learn to swim and catch a flounder? He is very young and seems unrealistic. Over all ok book, I would recommend the read. If you know nothing of boat talk (like me) I would recommend looking up some of the words or else you will be completely lost. I am happy that I read the great wide sea and would reccomend it for a nice short read.
 * David Chalmers**

I have to agree with David about how there needed to be more characterization at the beginning of the book, and that I both liked and disliked the book. I have to disagree that sometimes the action was a little too much. There would be problem after problem in nearly every chapter, which I think really needed a break. I think the reason Gerry was able to catch the flounder was because he had watched his father and brothers. He seems to be a very observant character. Also, he was starving, so he was likely in survival mode and was able to catch the fish more easily because of this. Because of his fear of swimming, I doubt that he really went into any deep water to catch the flounder. I thought the symbolism and characterization that was in the story was pretty good. I really started to enjoy the book once they were on the island. I recommend it because it is an overall interesting story and quick read.
 * -Chloe**