Tides

by V.M. Caldwell

Book Overview

Elizabeth Sheridan, now 12, returns with her extended family to her grandmother's beach house. Elizabeth has been looking forward to the trip all winter, but almost immediately things begin to go... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1571316299
• ISBN13: 9781571316295
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Milkweed Editions
• Length: 311 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.3" x 8.1"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

Another winner

This sequel to The Ocean Within is compelling reading. The teen-aged drama that rocks an entire family is tackled with keen understanding. Caldwell brings us to the centre of the Sheridan tribe through the eyes of the Elizabeth, herself a new arrival to the group. Adam's loss of his close friends precipitates an angry, hurt, and confused withdrawal that is captured perfectly in his actions, as well as in the confusion and discord of those around him. The family storm that follows Adam's retreat is painfully realistic. While there is a tentative reconciliation at the end of the book, it is neither facile nor sentimental. It rings true to life, concluding the story on a positive and credible note.

Caldwell's excellent--for a beginner

Of course, this review is based mostly on my reading of her first book "The Ocean Within". This is throughly a good book, has an interesting plot, and is very descriptive. There were just a few things that I found slightly annoying: Caldwell's tendency to backtrack and cover material missed in the first book (it happened a lot) and the way she veered off on something seemingingly irrevelent to what you were reading--and then you had to read the paragraph before that puzzling passage four times to understand what she meant (exactly like this statement). Other than that, Caldwell's work was beautiful. She knew what she was doing--she stuck with her story all the way through, and Elizabeth's character was cleverly brought out. I expect I'll be reading more from her. Keep up the good work!

The eagerly awaited sequel

Tides is the eagerly awaited sequel to V.M. Caldwell's The Ocean Within and continues the story of Elizabeth Sheridan and her adoptive family. Elizabeth returns to summer with the Sheridan and enjoy her gradually increasing sense of belonging, as well as show off her new swimming skills! As the summer unfolds she begins to learn that really participating in family life means being a part of the stormy days as well as the sunny ones and is amazed to discover that the "real" Sheridan kids are capable of troubled times of their own. The oldest cousin Adam is reeling after losing two close friends to a drunk driving accident and his abrupt withdrawal has thrown the whole family into a quandary. Elizabeth's efforts to bring her older cousin back into the family fold and her ability to channel her fears of swimming in the ocean into an environmental activism will fully engage the attention of young pre-teen readers from first page to last.