Reason read: ROOT, TIOLI #4
I received this book as part of the Indiespensible Book Subscription from Powell's in 2020. Marina Endicott is a Canadian author and this book is set in 1912. Two half sisters end up on the merchant ship called Morning Light, sailing in the South Pacific. One sister is married to the captain. A major event in the book occurs in Micronesia where the older sister buys a boy.

I found it hard to engage with the book. I liked the story but felt that it really didn't fit the times. ( )

A bit slow to get into but a delight to read once I was into the groove. Set in the early 1900's, this is a family story that stretches almost across the world. Kay has been raised by her half-sister, Thea, who is now on her honeymoon with her new husband, Frances, who is the captain of the Morning Light clipper. Kay, at age eleven or so, is forced to accompany them. So the story is told from the eyes of a young girl who is often wise beyond her years. A clergyman, Mr. Bremner, is also on ship and serves as a tutor in Greek to Kay. Along the way Thea experiences a miscarriage.

Near New Zealand on a remote island, the ship encounters some natives who are apparently starving. Thea "purchases" a young boy for some tobacco. This young boy is names Aren and he soon becomes a part of the family obviously loved by Theo, Frances, and especially Kay.

The second part of the book finds Kay and Aren grown and living in Halafax. Culture has not been kind to Aren and Kay takes it upon herself to return him to his island of his birth.

The story might be a bit too long in places but certainly kept my interest. I felt the characters of Kay and Thea were well drawn. I wasn't quite so sure of Aren as at one point he is near drunkenness and at others quoting Greek with Kay. However, a good story and one that looks at the effects of taking a child from their culture. Interesting. ( )

I could not get into any type of good reading groove with this one. The beginning was confusing to the point in which I had to read the publisher's synopsis to figure out what was even going on. Then a little bit of the backstory is introduced about the two sisters and I start getting my hopes up. But that was short lived and I just never felt fully invested in the characters or the story. I think this is a case of a book just not being the right fit for me.

The story takes place in 1912 and from my understanding of the Author's Note this book is a work of fiction but the writer did draw some inspiration from real life events and people. This book can be placed in the historical fiction genre but much of it is the product of the author's creativity and imagination. Thea and Kay are half-sisters and there is a bit of an age gap between the two of them. After their father died, Thea put her plans of marriage on hold to relocate and raise her younger sister. Now ten years later, Thea is recently married to the captain of the Morning Light ship. The newlyweds and Kay set off for a lengthy voyage.

I felt like I was able to better understand after reading the Author's Note what she was going for in the book and I appreciate the attempt to bring something different to the historical fiction genre. Unfortunately I had a hard time with the actual execution and had a bit of a choppy reading experience. Early on I felt like it was setup for me to care about the two sisters, but ultimately I just didn't, especially in regards to Kay.

Judging by some of the other early reviews, either the story hits home with you or it is a complete miss. While I had problems with the story, it certainly doesn't mean other readers won't enjoy it.

Thank you to Netgalley and W. W. Norton Company for providing me with and advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review! ( )

This is a sweet book. The jacket appealed to me so much I read it before the enclosed Indiespensable volume.

The start of the story is seen through a twelve year-old girl's eyes, as she accompanies her sister (the husband is the ship's captain) on a round-the world journey under sail at the opening of the 20th Century.

The latter part of the book moves forward ten years or so, and as usual things don't always work out the way you thought they might, leading to another journey. ( )