The sea, the sea, the sea. It rolled and rolled and called to me. Come in, it said, come in. Thirteen-year-old Sophie is the only girl amongst the crew of The Wanderer, made up of her three uncles and two cousins. They sail across the Atlantic toward England, the land of Bompie, her grandfather. The personal journey she takes brings her deeper into a forgotten past than she ever knew possible. Sophie’s thirteen-year-old cousin Cody isn’t sure why his father brought him along. Everyone, including his dad, thinks he’s nothing but a knucklehead doofus. But behind all the goofing off, he wonders if he has the strength to prove himself to the crew and to his father. Through Sophie’s and Cody’s travel logs, the amazing experiences of these six wanderers unfold.
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"A large family of uncles and cousins make their way via sailboat to Ireland to visit their beloved father and grandfather in his last days. As they make the journey, a heartfelt crossing undertaken in honor of how Bompie came to the New World as a young man, they reminisce about Bompie's life. What is odd is that the person who claims to know the most stories is Sophie, the only girl on the ship and a newly adopted member of the family. She has never met Bompie- who is she kidding talking night and day about his childhood? As the cousins, both biological and adopted, come to understand one another, a beautiful, tender story unfolds."
— Jessica (5 out of 5 stars)
" This is my second time reading this, and I love it! It's so beautiful. I highly recommend it! "
— Posie, 2/16/2014" The Wanderer was an interesting book to read. I recommend it to people that like to read about like ships and personal experiences because the book has two points of view. It has the point of view of the girl Sophie and the boy Cody. It talks about their experience through out the whole voyage in the boat for the whole three weeks they are all there. "
— Angie, 2/16/2014" This was an interesting fun book. The journal entried were fun to read. It was adventurous with a little mystery. I liked how it ended. "
— Paige, 2/13/2014" 13 yr. old Sophie goes on a trip from Connecticut to England in a ship called The Wanderer with three uncles and two cousins. Along the way, each of the characters' lives unfold, and Sophie's past life slowly reveals itself. Written from the point of view of Sophie and her cousin Cody's travel logs. I gave this book a 4 because although it has good characters and foreshadowing, the author fails to give a sense of significance to the story. It's a bit too stream-of-consciousness, and leaves the reader wondering, "So what?" "
— Amber, 2/3/2014" Not what I expected. I put it on my que because it was a Newberry Award Winner. Very fast read. "
— Cara, 1/27/2014" I love the unique writing---it's sorta haunting, the way that there's a lot of poetry. It's like a bunch of pieces that somehow fit together. I love it, it's so different. "
— Vivienne, 1/17/2014" You have to like books about the ocean to like this one! It helps if you've read "The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle" "
— Allindoucette, 1/7/2014" Don't really remember it that much, so it wasn't that great. "
— Katie, 12/23/2013" Traveling wround the world to see her grandpa, very sweet. "
— Avalon, 12/19/2013" i thought it was beautifully written. i didnt know somebody's dream could go that far. "
— Mahathi, 12/11/2013" This book is amazing. It must be one of my favorite young adult books. The characters in the story all show how adolescents, as well as adults, try to keep their past hidden. Should we really do that, or should we share our pain and happiness with the people we love? "
— Rhonda, 12/3/2013" I remember thinking that the main character was a little cuckoo but that makes the story interesting. "
— Irene, 11/6/2013" About 4 th grade reading level "
— Jenniferjoneshorton, 11/5/2013" I'll stick with this quote for description: "Superb. A glorius example of the way a children's novel can outshine many adult titles." "
— Krystal, 9/10/2013" Sharon Creech again! HELLO!!!! good classic book. by like my fav author! (next to S.M. of course!!!) "
— Emmmma!!, 3/15/2013" I liked this book a lot. My dad liked it, and he's 40! I read this first in 5th grade and again in 7th, and I'll probably read it again and again! "
— Angel, 11/13/2012" Pretty good... I got depressed at the end, though. "
— Sorrel, 8/31/2012" I remember reading this in 5th or 6th grade, I thought it was the best book ever witten. So if you are around that age level or any age actually, and you are looking for adventure... this is the book. "
— Adriana, 8/28/2012" pretty good, really well written and very descriptive but idk i thought it was kinda slow and nothing really interesting happened...like not very impacting i guess:) it was good tho, espicially if u liked ruby holler by sharon creech "
— Autumn, 2/7/2012" A quick read. Touching and adventuresome. "
— Holly, 11/17/2011" it was okay i didnt read like it "
— Emma, 11/12/2011" This book defenatley deserves its title as one of the best young adult fiction books. It is definatley a great adventure for the mind, the imigaes I got from this book were amazingly clear and I can still recall the sparkling blue waves beneath the great wooden ship with huge white masts. "
— Christa, 11/2/2011" It took a long time to get into and I expected the story to be a little better. "
— Faith, 7/7/2011" this book is about a girl and her friends and family that go sailing and get into all kinds of trouble. this book is for people that like mystery "
— Blake, 7/5/2011" The emotions run deep in this one but the plot is really thin, and characters change their stripes and/or have epiphanies seemingly out of the blue. This is the second longer novel by Creech I've read and I'm thinking I won't be reading any more - her style is clearly just not for me. "
— Kristen, 6/25/2011" one of the best books ever! "
— BajiGirl, 5/27/2011" A Newberry Honor book by one of my favorite children's authors. Not as good as "Walk Two Moons" but worth a read. There is a strong female character and an emphasis the importance of family. "
— Laura, 5/24/2011" I love Sharon Creech. She's great at these coming of age books. Finely woven messages for readers at many levels. I always seem to learn a lot about something new when I read her books too. I never knew so much about boats and sailing. "
— Kathleen, 5/11/2011" I love her books! "
— Casandreas, 5/10/2011" This book was OK, but really fast. I couldn't follow what the characters were doing, much less where they were. Sure, the author is cool, but not this book. I don't recommend it. "
— Rhiannon, 5/2/2011" The Wanderer is in my top ten favorite books. It had all I needed for an amazing book. 1-it can't have a slow beginning, 2-it has to have suspense, 3-it has to make you not want to put the book down. Seriously, you won't regret reading it! "
— NewFranklin, 3/28/2011" Cool ocean voyage story, but a thinker book as well. The girl's past is unfolded through the book and its fun trying to figure it out. I really liked how all the characters really grew; old and young alike. "
— Bekah, 3/9/2011" kinda creepy but well written "
— Emily, 2/27/2011" Well drawn characters. Poetic voice. Exciting adventure. Interesting inner conflicts. A good read. "
— Cheryl, 2/26/2011" Easy quick read, written for older children, but the story really captured me and it had a neat poetic writing style. "
— Alexandra, 2/26/2011" Its a good book. Has interesting things in it that maks you want to read more. An odd adventure to seek in every chapter "
— ncl95974, 2/24/2011" This is a great adventure book with a mystery and family secrets tied in. It has something for everyone. "
— Amy, 2/5/2011" This book fascinated me. Couldn't put it down. "
— Barbara, 2/3/2011" another perfectly lovely story by sharon creech. "
— lola, 1/25/2011" It took a long time to get into and I expected the story to be a little better. Maybe just a bit to much buildup. "
— Faith, 1/22/2011Sharon Creech has written more than twenty books for young people and is published in over twenty languages. Her books have received awards in both the United States and abroad, including the Newbery Medal for Walk Two Moons, the Newbery Honor for The Wanderer, and Great Britain’s Carnegie Medal for Ruby Holler. Before beginning her writing career, she taught English for fifteen years in England and Switzerland.