Spray

by Robert J. Blake

Book Overview

Hating his new home on Martha's Vineyard, Justin believes that his only friends are the wind and the sea and dreams of sailing away forever in his little dinghy, until a storm brings him face-to-face... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399227709
• ISBN13: 9780399227707
• Release Date: March 1996
• Publisher: Philomel Books
• Length: 1 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.8" x 11.3"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Sailing the Sea

This book is a story of a great adventure. A little boy start a lonesome journey to his homein Maine. When he sets sail he can only think of the legend of Captain Slocum, the firstan to set sail around the world and was neve seen again. Latr in the day his ship flips over and he is pulld aboard another ship by the hand of Captain Slocum and the whole adventure began. I though the illustrations in this book really help the reader imagine what is going on and they tell the story so that the reader feels like they are on the sea as well. The book would be great for young as well as old who have a love for the sea. The author connects a true-life legend with a young boy and his journey home. I would recommend this book because it tells a story of survival and hard work as well as a great adventure. ~Kellie

Sailing the Sea

This book is a story of a great adventure. A little boy starts a lonesome journey back to his home in Maine. When he sets sail he can only think of the legend of Captain Slocum, the first man to set sail around the world and was never seen again. Later in the day his ship flips over and is pulled aboard ship by the hand of Captain Slocum and the whole adventure begins. I thought the illustrations in this book really help the reader to imagine being on the same journey and make them feel like they are actually there. The book would be great for the young as well as old who have a love for the sea. In this book the author connects a true-life legend with the journey of a young boy. I would recommend this book because it tells a story of survival and hard work as well as a great adventure. ~Kellie~

Review of Spray

I really enjoyed this book. The detailed pictures that filled each page made you feel like you were sailing at sea as well. Justin, a young boy who sets off in his dory, to get away from the new life he doesn't like. The strong winds work against him throwing him into the water. He is then helped by Joshua Slocum who teaches him how to work with the sailboat not against it. As Justin heads home Joshua fades away underneath the sea. He is no longer sailing the Spray, he is back on his own little dory. This story incorporates the true story of Joshua Slocum's sailing adventures with the fictional adventures of Justin. Joshua and Justin are both similar in the way that they didn't fit into their lifestyle and set out on their sailboats to escape that life. I think this book is better for older children to read because it could be confusing for younger readers. Also some of the pictures are very realistic and may not be suited for some younger readers. As an older reader I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I learned about the life and accomplishments of Joshua Slocum and got to read an interesting story about the adventures Justin encounters on his day out at sea.