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The Kingdom by the Sea
Twelve-year-old Harry struggles to make it on his own after his family is lost in a German air raid. But as he and his dog companion journey along the northern English coast, there is never enough distance between them and the terrible war.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
About the author
Robert Westall
111 books103 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Robert Westall was born in North Shields, Northumberland, England in 1929.
His first published book The Machine Gunners (1975) which won him the Carnegie Medal is set in World War Two when a group of children living on Tyneside retrieve a machine-gun from a crashed German aircraft. He won the Carnegie Medal again in 1981 for The Scarecrows, the first writer to win it twice. He won the Smarties Prize in 1989 for Blitzcat and the Guardian Award in 1990 for The Kingdom by the Sea. Robert Westall's books have been published in 21 different countries and in 18 different languages, including Braille.
From: http://www.robertwestall.com/
Robert Westall was born in North Shields, Northumberland, England in 1929.
His first published book The Machine Gunners (1975) which won him the Carnegie Medal is set in World War Two when a group of children living on Tyneside retrieve a machine-gun from a crashed German aircraft. He won the Carnegie Medal again in 1981 for The Scarecrows, the first writer to win it twice. He won the Smarties Prize in 1989 for Blitzcat and the Guardian Award in 1990 for The Kingdom by the Sea. Robert Westall's books have been published in 21 different countries and in 18 different languages, including Braille.
From: http://www.robertwestall.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
May 12, 2022
I thought that I was getting Paul Theroux’s book with the same name, but no, it was a child’s book by an award-winning author. No problem. I will try it anyway. And what a surprise, especially since I like survival stories, and this was one. It was also a surprise, too, that it was a children’s book.
It was a boy and his dog story that took place in England during the second World War. His home had been bombed, leaving him an orphan, and so he went to the beach to find a place to sleep, not wishing to be in an orphanage. He not only found an upturned boat to crawl under, but he also found a homeless dog, and if he described the dog, I on’t recall, but I decide that it was an Australian shepherd, because I love herding dogs.
Harry and his dog Don take off down the beach looking for better places to live, and they always find them, that is, when they are not finding trouble. But they also find many interesting characters along the way, some that are helpful. But I can tell this author a few things about endings, especially since I didn’t like his own ending to this story.
It was a boy and his dog story that took place in England during the second World War. His home had been bombed, leaving him an orphan, and so he went to the beach to find a place to sleep, not wishing to be in an orphanage. He not only found an upturned boat to crawl under, but he also found a homeless dog, and if he described the dog, I on’t recall, but I decide that it was an Australian shepherd, because I love herding dogs.
Harry and his dog Don take off down the beach looking for better places to live, and they always find them, that is, when they are not finding trouble. But they also find many interesting characters along the way, some that are helpful. But I can tell this author a few things about endings, especially since I didn’t like his own ending to this story.
Read
September 2, 2010this has always been my favorite of Robert Westall's books, but I didn't appreciate it in as much *wholeness*, reading on and off and knowing what was coming, as I did the first time I read it.
I have, happily, managed to put my hands on the review I wrote when I first read this book in 1992, and here 'tis. A bit long-winded and full of spoilers!
-------------------------
I'm on page 10 and I'm already in tears. That, I think, is a sign of great writing: because I don't yet know or understand this character, I don't know the people or things he's lost, but I've obviously sympathized/empathized with him so *instantly* that I can feel emotional about it all.
[Later] Very episodic. Harry is bombed out, loses his entire family, and rather than be taken in by smothering Cousin Elsie he strikes out on his own. Right in the beginning he meets a bombed-out dog who becomes his protector and closest companion. He begins by living under a boat on the beach at Newcastle for a few days, and eventually works his way up the coast to Lindisfarne--living hand to mouth, making it.
[After making a list of the book’s incidents] I discovered a very interesting thing. I was trying to remember a character’s name, and realized she doesn’t ever identify herself as anything but “the Mermaid”--her father’s old name for her. There is another character in the book who is actually named Merman. Both characters are after Harry’s affection, the touch of his youth, brightness, attention. The Mermaid’s “seduction” works in a different way from Merman’s (which is overtly sexual), but Harry does lift her up, eat her food, sleep in her bed wearing her son’s clothes. It’s like he’s always seduced by the sea--the sea creatures keep coming at him as he makes his way along the shore--and they’re always dangerous, and if he listens to the siren’s song he’s always on the verge of drowning, of getting in over his head.
Which happens *literally* on his way back from Lindisfarne (where he has a bad run-in with local kids and, in the absolute cold blood of necessity, deliberately and consciously breaks a kid’s ankle), when Harry’s caught by the tide, soaked to the skin, and ends up spending the night in a refuge tower in the middle of the flooded causeway.
And check this out--after his fight with the sea itself, which he wins (gets himself and his dog safe into the tower), it says: “The very air he breathed was full of salty spray, so that he breathed a mixture of air and water, half boy, half fish.”
He’s turned into a merman himself! And sure enough, the next character he ends up with--Mr. Murgatroyd--Harry asks directly, “Can I help?” Expecting seduction of some kind, but this time he’s prepared for it. And Mr. M. says, “Help? Help with what?” So Harry’s taken the offensive and offered his services--it turns out that what he’s needed for now is to be a substitute son--and Harry wins over the locals himself to work out the kinks in the plan. He ends up spending the rest of the summer there.
Mr. M wants to adopt him, so they go back to Newcastle to work things out--and discover that Harry’s family completely survived the bombing, but were tossed by the blast into the neighbor’s yard so the wardens thought they were a different family. You think this is a happy ending, the great reunion? There’s a twist.
Dad says, “A big lad like you, running away?”
Dulcie, the sister says, “And you weren’t even *scratched*…Cowardy cowardy custard.”
Harry thinks of “his whole kingdom, that he’d found himself, made for himself. And on the other side, these shabby angry bossy people… full of whining self-pity for what *they* had suffered. Narrow, narrow…”
So Mr. M. drives away with the dog and leaves Harry to his family, where he’ll have to “keep his own mouth shut, over all the years… before he got back to his kingdom by the sea.”
But you know he will, because he’s amphibious now--he can live in the water *or* on the land.
-------------------------------------
Reading this book again nearly 20 years later, I find the narrow-minded reception of his return to his family to be a little too forced. But it’s still a great book.
------------------------------------
Tori: Lindisfarne is Windy Isle--this book was my first encounter with the Northumbrian coast! And now I have climbed around in the WWII ruins where Harry hides out on the beach.
I have, happily, managed to put my hands on the review I wrote when I first read this book in 1992, and here 'tis. A bit long-winded and full of spoilers!
-------------------------
I'm on page 10 and I'm already in tears. That, I think, is a sign of great writing: because I don't yet know or understand this character, I don't know the people or things he's lost, but I've obviously sympathized/empathized with him so *instantly* that I can feel emotional about it all.
[Later] Very episodic. Harry is bombed out, loses his entire family, and rather than be taken in by smothering Cousin Elsie he strikes out on his own. Right in the beginning he meets a bombed-out dog who becomes his protector and closest companion. He begins by living under a boat on the beach at Newcastle for a few days, and eventually works his way up the coast to Lindisfarne--living hand to mouth, making it.
[After making a list of the book’s incidents] I discovered a very interesting thing. I was trying to remember a character’s name, and realized she doesn’t ever identify herself as anything but “the Mermaid”--her father’s old name for her. There is another character in the book who is actually named Merman. Both characters are after Harry’s affection, the touch of his youth, brightness, attention. The Mermaid’s “seduction” works in a different way from Merman’s (which is overtly sexual), but Harry does lift her up, eat her food, sleep in her bed wearing her son’s clothes. It’s like he’s always seduced by the sea--the sea creatures keep coming at him as he makes his way along the shore--and they’re always dangerous, and if he listens to the siren’s song he’s always on the verge of drowning, of getting in over his head.
Which happens *literally* on his way back from Lindisfarne (where he has a bad run-in with local kids and, in the absolute cold blood of necessity, deliberately and consciously breaks a kid’s ankle), when Harry’s caught by the tide, soaked to the skin, and ends up spending the night in a refuge tower in the middle of the flooded causeway.
And check this out--after his fight with the sea itself, which he wins (gets himself and his dog safe into the tower), it says: “The very air he breathed was full of salty spray, so that he breathed a mixture of air and water, half boy, half fish.”
He’s turned into a merman himself! And sure enough, the next character he ends up with--Mr. Murgatroyd--Harry asks directly, “Can I help?” Expecting seduction of some kind, but this time he’s prepared for it. And Mr. M. says, “Help? Help with what?” So Harry’s taken the offensive and offered his services--it turns out that what he’s needed for now is to be a substitute son--and Harry wins over the locals himself to work out the kinks in the plan. He ends up spending the rest of the summer there.
Mr. M wants to adopt him, so they go back to Newcastle to work things out--and discover that Harry’s family completely survived the bombing, but were tossed by the blast into the neighbor’s yard so the wardens thought they were a different family. You think this is a happy ending, the great reunion? There’s a twist.
Dad says, “A big lad like you, running away?”
Dulcie, the sister says, “And you weren’t even *scratched*…Cowardy cowardy custard.”
Harry thinks of “his whole kingdom, that he’d found himself, made for himself. And on the other side, these shabby angry bossy people… full of whining self-pity for what *they* had suffered. Narrow, narrow…”
So Mr. M. drives away with the dog and leaves Harry to his family, where he’ll have to “keep his own mouth shut, over all the years… before he got back to his kingdom by the sea.”
But you know he will, because he’s amphibious now--he can live in the water *or* on the land.
-------------------------------------
Reading this book again nearly 20 years later, I find the narrow-minded reception of his return to his family to be a little too forced. But it’s still a great book.
------------------------------------
Tori: Lindisfarne is Windy Isle--this book was my first encounter with the Northumbrian coast! And now I have climbed around in the WWII ruins where Harry hides out on the beach.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2013
A gorgeous book, genuinely moving and sweet. The characters, both good and bad, are subtle and realistic. Though the book is aimed at young adults, Westall doesn't patronise or shy away from more adult ideas, and for this reason, I found it still spoke to me, despite being many years outside the target audience. He doesn't try to lead the reader with absolutes, but plays the events and themes with ambiguities, particularly the ending - the supposed 'happy' ending unable to be just that after everything Harry's experienced. Highly recommended.
June 22, 2020
For a book which I understand was written for children and young adults, there are some surprisingly adult themes. It is very easy reading and keeps the plot moving along. The ending is more poignant than 'sad'. I will try to source more work from this author.
October 18, 2022
Мерзкие взрослые(
May 5, 2011
At times, the quality of writing was wonderful and I enjoyed the story a lot.
Then there were a couple of parts that crossed quite far into uncomfortable and combined with the jarring, perplexing ending, took this from great to "it's ok" for me.
It is not a book I would give anyone else's child. Different children can handle different things and I strongly recommend parents of impressionable children read this slender volume first.
Specific areas of concern with spoiler
Then there were a couple of parts that crossed quite far into uncomfortable and combined with the jarring, perplexing ending, took this from great to "it's ok" for me.
It is not a book I would give anyone else's child. Different children can handle different things and I strongly recommend parents of impressionable children read this slender volume first.
Specific areas of concern with spoiler
January 11, 2022
Reading this book before teaching it with a year 5 class.. this book absolutely broke my heart. I really felt for Harry as the end of the book I feel should’ve been extremely happy… he finds his family after believing they’ve all been killed. But is he really happy?
I feel his story followed his journey beautifully. This book goes through so many subjects from Harry’s utter heartbreak at the beginning believing his family have all been killed, to all the different character types he meets and it even touches upon sexual abuse. I wish I’d read this book when I was a lot younger, it has the power to really change a younger one’s view of what we have and what we don’t always have.
I feel his story followed his journey beautifully. This book goes through so many subjects from Harry’s utter heartbreak at the beginning believing his family have all been killed, to all the different character types he meets and it even touches upon sexual abuse. I wish I’d read this book when I was a lot younger, it has the power to really change a younger one’s view of what we have and what we don’t always have.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2017
The Kingdom by the Sea is a story of Harry finding out that his family got caught in the bombing and didn't survive. Not wanting to be sent to his Cousin Elsie, he runs away in search for a new place to call home. He travels from his local town to another, hoping to start afresh where nobody knows him. And as he encounters new characters, and forges relationships with them, their time together is temporary. That's something that I really found interesting. He was always on-the-move, never wallowing too long in his current state. His character is so strong, learning from many kinds of personalities. That includes the disgusting Colonel Merman (but in negative connotation). Good thing Colonel Blenkinsop (Artie) came to the rescue. I just don't understand the significance of the couple came to Harry's pillbox though. I must be missing something here..
Indeed Harry has grown a lot over these two months, finding his kingdom by the sea and aching to stay forever. The ending wasn't a big surprise but I found it unsettled. It can be a happy or sad ending, depending on how you look at it. You'll see how Harry became free and happy again with Mr. M and Don, they were each others' refuge. But making things right don't always turn out the way we want to.
My most loved characters in Harry's journey:
- Don
- Jack's Father
- Mr. Murgatroyd (aka Mr. M)
- Colonel Blenkinsop (Artie) and the whole squad
~~~
There's a part I wanted to share, around pg 80 that kinda warmed my heart (ofc little did I know there were gonna be more that targetted my feels) where Harry and Don got caught up in a heavy thunderstorm. In looking for shelter, they come across two locked railway carriages. Harry then sees a third one expecting it to be locked too, with thoughts of smashing its window, but to his suprise, it actually wasn't. Looking around the house he sees there is a note left by a family, telling him to enjoy his stay, however long it was. Their only requests were prayers for them, and to care for the carriage for the next person who would use it. A picture of the family smiling warmly laid next to the note, and so that struck him. After enjoying a good two nights stay at the carriage, he and Don are ready to move on. He cleans up the carriage willingly with thoughts of the family at the back of his mind, also leaving a one-pound note in thanks.
Outside the carriage, he meets an old man who is a close relative of the family (grandfather), who explains to Harry that the family is no longer alive. Harry felt forlorn upon hearing that, expressing his condolences, but the grandfather said it was alright and shared about the reason this family left the door unlocked. This was the magnificent part. The grandfather said, "Aah used to reckon they were mad, leaving the door unlocked when they weren't here, and that notice on the table. But Jack (his son) always said that anyone of ill-will could soon smash a door or a window open, and he'd be in a rage by the time he'd got inside. Whereas if he was welcomed, he'd respect the place...ye've proved my Jack was right after all, son." Tears pricked the man's eyes, and so did mine. (Naw it didn't, just shared the same emotion haha) Later the man took Harry's name down, saying they were the family's first customer.
Indeed Harry has grown a lot over these two months, finding his kingdom by the sea and aching to stay forever. The ending wasn't a big surprise but I found it unsettled. It can be a happy or sad ending, depending on how you look at it. You'll see how Harry became free and happy again with Mr. M and Don, they were each others' refuge. But making things right don't always turn out the way we want to.
My most loved characters in Harry's journey:
- Don
- Jack's Father
- Mr. Murgatroyd (aka Mr. M)
- Colonel Blenkinsop (Artie) and the whole squad
~~~
There's a part I wanted to share, around pg 80 that kinda warmed my heart (ofc little did I know there were gonna be more that targetted my feels) where Harry and Don got caught up in a heavy thunderstorm. In looking for shelter, they come across two locked railway carriages. Harry then sees a third one expecting it to be locked too, with thoughts of smashing its window, but to his suprise, it actually wasn't. Looking around the house he sees there is a note left by a family, telling him to enjoy his stay, however long it was. Their only requests were prayers for them, and to care for the carriage for the next person who would use it. A picture of the family smiling warmly laid next to the note, and so that struck him. After enjoying a good two nights stay at the carriage, he and Don are ready to move on. He cleans up the carriage willingly with thoughts of the family at the back of his mind, also leaving a one-pound note in thanks.
Outside the carriage, he meets an old man who is a close relative of the family (grandfather), who explains to Harry that the family is no longer alive. Harry felt forlorn upon hearing that, expressing his condolences, but the grandfather said it was alright and shared about the reason this family left the door unlocked. This was the magnificent part. The grandfather said, "Aah used to reckon they were mad, leaving the door unlocked when they weren't here, and that notice on the table. But Jack (his son) always said that anyone of ill-will could soon smash a door or a window open, and he'd be in a rage by the time he'd got inside. Whereas if he was welcomed, he'd respect the place...ye've proved my Jack was right after all, son." Tears pricked the man's eyes, and so did mine. (Naw it didn't, just shared the same emotion haha) Later the man took Harry's name down, saying they were the family's first customer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2016
I would have given this one three stars but for the ending, which kind of defeated the rest of the book for me.
Overall, this was a good little adventure story of a boy surviving on his own by the ocean after his home gets bombed out in WWII. "Episodic" is definitely the word for most of the story. Bad thing happens, then he finds a safe place, but then bad thing happens so he must move on. Finds a safe place, but then a bad thing happens, etc. In the beginning of the book, when he meets up with a stray dog, I was sure that this book was going to make me cry....but then I got less and less sympathy for the boy because of some of his actions (both involve hitting someone/thing with sticks) and by the end I wasn't as moved by his story as I expected. And then there was the ruinous ending. Yeah, I know most real-life stories don't have happy endings, but still....
I probably would have been more impressed by this if I'd read it when I was twelve.
Overall, this was a good little adventure story of a boy surviving on his own by the ocean after his home gets bombed out in WWII. "Episodic" is definitely the word for most of the story. Bad thing happens, then he finds a safe place, but then bad thing happens so he must move on. Finds a safe place, but then a bad thing happens, etc. In the beginning of the book, when he meets up with a stray dog, I was sure that this book was going to make me cry....but then I got less and less sympathy for the boy because of some of his actions (both involve hitting someone/thing with sticks) and by the end I wasn't as moved by his story as I expected. And then there was the ruinous ending. Yeah, I know most real-life stories don't have happy endings, but still....
I probably would have been more impressed by this if I'd read it when I was twelve.
Want to read
July 27, 2012Hard to imagine a more inapposite cover. Well, for the ending. It seems like a good book but a hard book to read. (In terms of the content, not the reading level.) There is also at least one scene with a sexual predator. (Nothing happens to the main character; he doesn't understand what the guy was working up to but was still creeped out. It is a skeevy scene.)
I haven't read the whole thing but I was flipping through it in a bookstore and then I got a copy from the library. I'd like to read it but I don't think I'm in the mood for a book that is sad in this particular way right now.
I haven't read the whole thing but I was flipping through it in a bookstore and then I got a copy from the library. I'd like to read it but I don't think I'm in the mood for a book that is sad in this particular way right now.
February 11, 2015
gr 6-9 176pg
WWII, England. 12 year old Harry is on his own after his parents and younger sister are killed when their house is bombed. Harry finds a dog, Don, who is also on his own. Together they travel around meeting various people, some kind and some dangerous, looking for a new place to call home.
I was disappointed in this book. It seemed very similar to Westall's "Blitzcat" because both have protagonists who go traveling around England meeting various strangers along the way. Unlike "Blitzcat", this book had a very unexpected ending. Discovering that his family survived the bombing, his parents are furious at him because they thought he had died. They refuse to let him keep the dog and are rude to the man who helps Harry return home. Given a choice between this author's two books, I would recommend Blitzcat instead.
WWII, England. 12 year old Harry is on his own after his parents and younger sister are killed when their house is bombed. Harry finds a dog, Don, who is also on his own. Together they travel around meeting various people, some kind and some dangerous, looking for a new place to call home.
I was disappointed in this book. It seemed very similar to Westall's "Blitzcat" because both have protagonists who go traveling around England meeting various strangers along the way. Unlike "Blitzcat", this book had a very unexpected ending. Discovering that his family survived the bombing, his parents are furious at him because they thought he had died. They refuse to let him keep the dog and are rude to the man who helps Harry return home. Given a choice between this author's two books, I would recommend Blitzcat instead.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2011
This is a coming of age story about a boy and his dog, set in the north of England during WWII. Harry's adventure along the coast is fraught with challenge after challenge, and it seems that everyone he meets is two shades shy of normal. This is a bleak and flawed landscape, filled with people we fear, people we pity, people we would likely avoid. Harry pushes on with a wisdom well beyond his years, even as his country fights for its own existence. It is how he chooses to combat all these challenges, and overcome his own weaknesses that make this book well worth reading, for children and adults.
Read
June 22, 2014The first novel I ever read. Intensely emotional for a young teenager. I could relate intimately to the pivotal character - with his youthful perspective on the world and people around him. His situation of loneliness in a war ravaged Britain, poses a challenge for the character and reader combined - such is Westall's ability to make you feel like you are with the protagonist at every page. When on a worrisome walkabout once, I almost slept under an upturned boat just like the character (I found a warmer hostel...) Still got the original publication. A very sentimental possession this book; the end is a spoiler in itself and makes it a book you will never read twice but always savour.
May 16, 2018
+ I love how self-sufficient children in this era were.
+ Uncle Artie was so good, my heart hurts.
+ The scene with the beach hut, and the vicar's father, had me welling up.
+ The occasional use of "Aah" instead of "I" is surprisingly effective at conjuring up a Geordie accent.
- I hated the ending!
+ Uncle Artie was so good, my heart hurts.
+ The scene with the beach hut, and the vicar's father, had me welling up.
+ The occasional use of "Aah" instead of "I" is surprisingly effective at conjuring up a Geordie accent.
- I hated the ending!
July 27, 2011
Excellent story of a young boy's survival after his family's home is bombed. Written as a children's story, it has some very dark and seriously unpleasant scenes, especially the ending. Some people may find this book to be inappropriate for children but today's middle- school-aged children have heard it all and should be able to handle it.
I'm hoping to find more books by this author (especially some of his many "cat" books).
This was the audio version of the book and the narrator, Ron Keith, was very good.
I'm hoping to find more books by this author (especially some of his many "cat" books).
This was the audio version of the book and the narrator, Ron Keith, was very good.
November 26, 2014
A wonderful coming of age book regarding a twelve year old Enlgish boy whose house and family were bombed during WWII. While initially traveling alone, he finds a dog and both bond and search for a sense of belonging and a place to call home. Before finding their Kingdom by the Sea, they face many difficult situations.
This beautifully written gem is an incredible book. Once again Westall's young adult book deals with very heavy topics and leaves the reader in awe of his ability to search the soul and clearly identify human emotions.
This beautifully written gem is an incredible book. Once again Westall's young adult book deals with very heavy topics and leaves the reader in awe of his ability to search the soul and clearly identify human emotions.
March 30, 2017
I wanted to like this book because I know my mum really loved it, but I just could not get into it at all. Clearly, the poor boy goes through an awful time and it absolutely demonstrates the horrors of the war, but I just couldn't sympathise with him at all. I felt the same about The Boy in the Striped Pajamas so I either have a particular issue with young boys caught up in WWII, or I'm dead inside...who knows!
November 12, 2017
I love it when books suck you in from the very first page. The action never stops in this story as Harry tries to find his place in the world after his house is bombed during the Blitz. And, unlike other many other books that promise “extras” at the end, the bonus material here is well worth a read, with plenty of suggestions for further research.
I was a little surprised by some of the content - nothing happens, but there were a couple of “suggestive”scenes, so maybe not for young children. A very realistic and exciting read, however.
I was a little surprised by some of the content - nothing happens, but there were a couple of “suggestive”scenes, so maybe not for young children. A very realistic and exciting read, however.
July 1, 2013
I didn't really like this story. It had a predictable story line 'Boy loses his parent and ends up finding refuge'. Harry is a 12 year old boy who 'loses' his parent and ends up finding a dog who accompanies him in his journey. Harry finds people who help him through his journey. At the end of the novel Harry finds his parents and they get angry at him for leaving the town that got bombed. I really didn't enjoy the ending, the overall book was ok, but the ending ruined it for me.
October 24, 2017
I failed to read this book as a child — so decided to give it a quick read! What I quite like about Robert Westall's wartime stories is his attention to detail and realistic locations. As the plot developed I could actually follow on my phone's map where the protagonist was heading. I believe this book is based in part on Westall's own childhood memories of the war growing up in South Shields area.
December 8, 2021
(Second read through)
I really do love this book. It's got a bit of everything: great characters, a deeply atmospheric setting and a story that really keeps me engaged. Okay, the ending is a wild ride and I do kind of wish the book just ended two chapters earlier. But hey, I'm still giving it five stars because Westall somehow makes undermining his own plot believable while keeping character growth in tact.
I really do love this book. It's got a bit of everything: great characters, a deeply atmospheric setting and a story that really keeps me engaged. Okay, the ending is a wild ride and I do kind of wish the book just ended two chapters earlier. But hey, I'm still giving it five stars because Westall somehow makes undermining his own plot believable while keeping character growth in tact.
March 1, 2016
I would give this a more favorable review but the ending was killer. Westfall built it up so high with this shiny possible new life and then pulled it right out from under you. I actually had one of those "throwing the physical book on the table because I'm that unhappy about this" moments. Otherwise, I really enjoyed it and found it believable from a tween's point of view.
January 1, 2020
It was a pleasant book to read. I wasn't very into it by the start but by the end I was invested in the characters. I felt it could have gone further with the impact that some of the experiences had on Harry. It reminded me a lot of the God of Small Things but a more pleasant, short story version.
Overall, a nice book the pass the time but not a book that stands out for me personally.
Overall, a nice book the pass the time but not a book that stands out for me personally.
June 23, 2009
The Kingdom by the Sea was a wonderful book combining my three favorite styles of survival story. Wilderness Survival: your basic garden variety rough it style, urban survival: saving, buying, and, packing to make ends meet, and mid ground survival with no place to go using both styles to live.
November 17, 2012
This wonderful book has me out looking for the rest of this author's books. A wonderful adventure of a boy and his dog during WWII. Terrific growth in the character and a realistic ending. I wish there was a sequel, though the ending is very satisfying.
November 15, 2012
Sophie McKenzie is absolutely right when she says that Westall chose a third ending altogether! I enjoyed the book tremendously. The range of characters is incredible; the relationships drawn are beautiful.
June 26, 2018
I read this aged 12, the same age as the boy in the story, and it has stayed with me ever since. I remember it being the first book that I got completely lost in and couldn't stop thinking about for a long while afterwards. Would highly recommend.
March 22, 2021
Compared with "Goodnight, Mr. Tom" by Michelle Magorian, another WW II novel for young readers, I could give this one only 4 stars.
It held my interest for hours yesterday, but I was so disappointed with the ending.
I wonder if this is based on Robert Westall's own experiences?
It held my interest for hours yesterday, but I was so disappointed with the ending.
I wonder if this is based on Robert Westall's own experiences?
June 5, 2008
I always loved this book, and imagined I would kind of like an adventure like this -- if I knew my parents and sister were safe at home.
July 27, 2012
FINALLY FINISHED.
I can't say much about the ending. I pity the main character though. I wished there was a better ending but this is a bit of a realistic book. We can't always have a happy ending.
I can't say much about the ending. I pity the main character though. I wished there was a better ending but this is a bit of a realistic book. We can't always have a happy ending.
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