West of the Sea

Starred review from May 29, 2023
Willing’s sparkling debut incorporates profound family dynamics, ghostly dinosaurs, a shape-shifting cryptid, and Celtic mythology, culminating in a suspenseful, innovative read. Eleven-year-old Haven West’s mother has been “a mood ring stuck on the blues” since Haven’s grandparents died suddenly a year ago. Mama has been acting strangely as well; she spends long hours in the bathtub, and Haven often catches her muttering things like “my shape is trapped in the rock, what we need is in the air, but my power is in the water.” Even more oddly, when Haven saw her last, Mama looked like a humanoid lizard. Then Mama vanishes. Accompanied by her environmentally conscious teenage sister Margie and kind, puzzle-solving tween neighbor Rye Wilson-Ruiz, the trio steal a food truck and set off across Texas to search for Mama. Their quest turns dire, though, after Haven briefly transforms into a lizard herself, prompting questions about the siblings’ heritage. Willing skillfully balances the narrative’s inherently fantastical underpinnings with a nuanced cast whose grounded challenges—including issues surrounding coming out and mental health—add ample heart to this road-trip adventure. The West family is white; Rye is Black and Latinx. Ages 8–12. Agent: Alexandra Levick, Writers House.

June 15, 2023
Amid literal and emotional droughts, two sisters must find their mother and themselves during a road trip. Eleven-year-old Texan Haven and her older sister, Margie, are connected in odd ways to magic by their Scottish heritage. Their maternal grandparents came from Orkney, and Margie and Mama share red hair and eyes that change color with their moods. Meanwhile, Haven has started seeing the ghosts of prehistoric animals whenever she touches fossils, which her mom has an uncanny knack for finding. Her mom has been depressed and distant since her parents died a year ago, and after Haven glimpses her looking frighteningly inhuman, Mama leaves in the middle of the night. Meanwhile, Haven discovers that whenever she comes into contact with salt water, she transforms into a kitskara, or scaly cryptid that can breathe underwater. To get answers and find Mama, Haven and Margie (who has her learner's permit) join new neighbor Rye, who volunteers his dad's coffee truck for the search. Black and Mexican Rye, who's upset that his parents moved them from Austin to the middle of nowhere, is up for an adventure. On their journey to the Gulf of Mexico, Haven's developing powers dovetail well with themes of preserving past love while making room for change. Though Haven's closeness with Rye feels rushed, the sometimes-contentious but overwhelmingly supportive sibling dynamic grounds this story about healing and growth. Intriguing mythology with a prehistoric twist and an endearing family focus. (Fiction. 9-13)

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July 1, 2023
Grades 4-7 Haven lives on a farm, loves old sci-fi movies, and just found out she can turn into a salamander cryptid with gills and a tail. Seeing the ghosts of prehistoric megafauna might not be so bad if her mother were around, but Mom hasn't been herself lately--and she went missing last night. Haven, her sister, and new-kid-in-town Rye "borrow" a food truck to find her. As Haven endeavors to accept and control her new abilities, she must also learn to accept what she cannot control about her mother's depression. Part road trip adventure, part family reckoning, Willing's debut ambitiously approaches loss, mental illness, identity, neurodivergence, and adolescence and successfully explores those topics with compassion and depth. Though Haven's supernatural abilities occasionally feel disconnected from deeper themes, the overall impact of her journey of discovery and forgiveness is satisfying. Haven's prehistoric encounters will appeal to paleontology fans, while authentic dialogue and introspective narration will appeal widely. Sincere characters, vivid descriptions, and inventive fantasy elements make this Texan twist on the selkie myth a fun and rewarding read.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 1, 2023

Gr 5 Up-Palentology-loving Haven, 12, is fascinated with fossils and bones, so much so that one dry summer she knows she saw something that was not part of nature-at least, not of current nature. Living in a small town in Texas with her family, she has a carefree life as a typical girl. One day when her mom does not come home, she knows something is not right and is determined to find her. As her journey starts, she uncovers secrets that she and her mom share the ability to turn into amphibious creature called the kitskara. With this discovery, Haven, joined by sister Margie and friend Rye, sets off to find her mother and seek answers to understand herself, as she really is. This is a coming-of-age story for tweens who love mythology and fossils, that shows how growing up is always going to be awkward-but no one is alone in that transition. Willing gives clues to Haven's quest not only to find her mom, but to discover how she fits in her family. The book is heavy with paleontology terms that would be suitable for older middle grade students. VERDICT This adventure novel with heart will have kids rushing to learn more about the ancient creatures featured throughout Haven's journey. Recommended.-BreAnn Weeks

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2023
Haven West doesn't understand why her mother is always disappearing -- either outside or into the bathroom -- or why she herself sees prehistoric creatures in the Texas desert that surrounds her home, but no one else can. She's also not sure why her older sister, Margie, is irritable all the time, although Margie's sensory processing disorder and the way she steps up to keep the household running might have something to do with it. Rye, whose family just moved in nearby, wants to be friends, and his support comes in handy as Haven starts to unravel the mysteries of her family, which bend toward the supernatural. When Mom goes missing for good, Haven, Margie, and Rye -- with the help of Margie's provisional driver's license and Rye's father's food truck -- set off on a trans-Texas road trip that leads to plenty of answers, both about Haven's family and about her own identity and powers. The tone is slightly whimsical, even as the book delves into serious topics, an effective blend that keeps the plot moving and doesn't let the drama become overwhelming. The characters are likable and authentic, and the resolution is satisfying. Sarah Rettger

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2024
Haven West doesn't understand why her mother is always disappearing -- either outside or into the bathroom -- or why she herself sees prehistoric creatures in the Texas desert that surrounds her home, but no one else can. She's also not sure why her older sister, Margie, is irritable all the time, although Margie's sensory processing disorder and the way she steps up to keep the household running might have something to do with it. Rye, whose family just moved in nearby, wants to be friends, and his support comes in handy as Haven starts to unravel the mysteries of her family, which bend toward the supernatural. When Mom goes missing for good, Haven, Margie, and Rye -- with the help of Margie's provisional driver's license and Rye's father's food truck -- set off on a trans-Texas road trip that leads to plenty of answers, both about Haven's family and about her own identity and powers. The tone is slightly whimsical, even as the book delves into serious topics, an effective blend that keeps the plot moving and doesn't let the drama become overwhelming. The characters are likable and authentic, and the resolution is satisfying.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)