ACCESS DIGITIZED EDITION
Guide/Reviews Database
PICTURE BOOKS
Eggers, Dave

Faraway Things

40 pp. | Little | June, 2021 | Trade ISBN 978-0-316-49219-5 $18.99
(2) K-3 Illustrated by Kelly Murphy. Eggers and Murphy have crafted an evocative story that centers imaginative play and gently explores loss. Set on an unspecified rocky shore, the narrative follows Lucian, a young beachcomber in search of what his father had called "faraway things." The (unexplained) absence of the boy's father permeates the illustrations (family photos, an empty chair, an oversized flannel shirt) and is reinforced through past-tense language. After a storm, Lucian discovers a cutlass, which becomes the focus of his play, from chopping driftwood to pretending to cut the sun in half. His fun comes to a dramatic halt as the ocean fog clears to reveal a stranded ship stuck on a nearby sandbar. An improbable and fanciful sequence of events follows--including the boat's captain identifying the cutlass as his own and striking up a deal to trade it back for one of his "treasures." Lucian swaps the sword for a lantern that he uses to relight the family's inoperative lighthouse, perhaps serving as both a tribute to his father and a healing step forward. The mixed-media illustrations depict a range of fascinating perspectives across wide double-page spreads. While most of the story is set against gorgeously atmospheric seascapes, a few interior scenes present visually jam-packed arrangements that encourage thorough examination. A pleasingly enigmatic tale.
Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2021

RELATED 

PICTURE BOOKS

Born Ready
by Patterson, Jodie
PICTURE BOOKS

The House of Grass and Sky
by Ray, Mary Lyn
PICTURE BOOKS

The Dog's Gardener
by Storms, Patricia
PICTURE BOOKS

And I Paint It
by Kephart, Beth
PICTURE BOOKS

Poem in My Pocket
by Tougas, Chris
More

Get connected. Join our global community of more than 200,000 librarians and educators.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing.

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?