Heroes of Isle aux Morts [Hardcover]

Alice Walsh (Author), Geoff Butler (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Anne Harvey has lived all her young life on the island off the rugged coast of Newfoundland and has seen what the raging storms can do to helpless ships caught in their path. It’s no surprise that Isle aux Morts means Island of the Dead.

One day in July 1832, Anne awakes to a terrible storm. When she hears a distress signal, she discovers a ship in danger of breaking up. As she and her father and brother race to the ship in their own small boat, Anne has an idea. She sends her Newfoundland dog, Hairy Man, into the waves toward the ship and the only real hope of rescue. Based on the true story of the wreck of the Despatch. A book with special appeal to those who know and love gentle Newfoundland dogs.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 2-6-Anne Harvey is a young girl "born to the sea." Living in Newfoundland, she experiences firsthand not only the beauty, but also the harshness of the Atlantic coast. Fierce storms and shipwrecks plague the rugged waters around Isle aux Morts-Island of the Dead. When Anne hears a distress signal early one morning in July 1832, she, her father, her brother, and their dog bravely set off in their small dory to help the doomed passengers. The dog, Hairy Man, heroically swims to the sinking ship and returns to the Harveys with a rope that enables them to rescue 163 passengers. Butler's accomplished oil paintings are dark and brooding. The whiteness of the battled ship reinforces its "ghostly shape." Based on the true story of the wreck of the Despatch, the narrative is enriched with dramatic details: "Waves broke under the boat, nearly capsizing it. At times they curled over the bow, sending showers of sea spray down upon them." An author's note describes some of the special jobs Newfoundland dogs have been trained to do-from laying telephone lines to transporting ammunition. An exciting historical adventure in picture-book format.

Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 4-8. With dramatic, beautiful oil paintings, this picture book tells an exciting true ocean rescue story through the eyes of a young girl. In a raging storm in 1832, a ship, the Despatch, was wrecked near an island off the coast of Newfoundland. Anne Harvey tells how she rows out with her father, her small brother, and her Newfoundland dog, Hairy Man, to save the passengers. The most intense moment is when Anne hugs her dog, and tells him, "Go, Hairy Man! Go b'y." The dog swims through the raging waves to the battered ship, the crew ties a rope round his middle, and he swims back. When he reaches his master's boat, Anne's father fastens the rope to a pole on shore, and all 163 passengers and crew are rescued; a double-page painting shows the action. The full-page paintings in impressionist style capture the wildness of the ocean, the terror of the passengers, the courage of the human rescuers, and their bond with the amazing dog. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Tundra Books; First Edition first Printing edition (February 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0887765017
• ISBN-13: 978-0887765018
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 0.4 x 8.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,229,237 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An exciting, true tale right out of our own family history..., August 3, 2006

By 

C. Gates - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Heroes of Isle aux Morts (Hardcover)

My kids and I love this book, not only because this true story is exciting and inspiring, but also because our own ancestors were on the rescued ship, the Despatch! This story was recorded in handwritten notes in our family archives, and it was wonderful to see it captured so well in print by this author and illustrator.

I've brought the book in to read at my childrens' school and it easily captures the attention of the class. It's inspiring to hear stories of ordinary people (and animals!) exhibiting courage and a can-do attitude, and doing extraordinary things.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific, November 24, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Heroes of Isle aux Morts (Hardcover)

The illustrations in this book are superb. The story of the rescue of the passengers of the Despatch by a Newfoundland dog are so vivid due to the bold, colorful pictures. My older daughter loved another Newfoundland dog rescue book called "The Wreck of the Ethie" & my 6 yr.old loved the pictures in this book. What fun to read & enjoy such exciting stories w/ my children!

1.0 out of 5 stars NOT about the Isle of Man, November 2, 2010

By 

Janet F. Guerrin (Holden, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Heroes of Isle aux Morts (Hardcover)

This book takes place in Newfoundland and should NOT be listed under "the Isle of Man" which is on the other side of the Atlantic. It seems like a cute book, and I'll keep it for the grandsons, but it doesn't make much sense as a companion to the Isle of Man coins I'm giving them for Christmas. Disappointing.