Customer Reviews

Heroes of Isle aux Morts

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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.

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!

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.

I'm always on the lookout for interesting true stories that might appeal to my 5-year-old daughter and when I saw this title at my local library, I decided to give it a try. My daughter loves dogs and the focus of this story is on a Newfoundland dog named Hairy Man. Early one morning in the year 1832, young Anne Harvey who lives on Newfoundland, is awakened by a fierce storm and the call of a distress signal. Prior experience tells Anne that a ship is in grave danger and she awakens her father, George who tells her to get ready. Together with her younger brother Thomas and Hairy Man the four of them row across the raging sea in their dory. True enough, a ship "Despatch" is in danger of sinking with all the passengers on board. It is left to the Harveys and their brave Newfoundland dog to rescue the passengers from almost certain death. How they accomplish this makes for an exciting and fascinating read.

The beautiful full-color illustrations in the form of artist Geoff Butler's vivid paintings lend a realistic feel to the story and the prose by author Alice Walsh, herself a resident of Nova Scotia brings the story to life. This is an inspiring and heartwarming story that will appeal to young readers who have a sense of adventure and an appreciation for stories rooted in actual events.

Isle aux Morts means "Island of the Dead" and was thus named because of the number of ships and lives lost near its shores. One early morning in June, 1832, Anne Harvey was awakened by two familiar sounds: the howling wind of a storm and the distress call from a ship offshore. The pounding waves prevented Anne's family from approaching the ship in their small boat. The only hope was to send their dog Hairy Man into the sea with a rope. Hairy Man was a strong swimmer and reached the ship safely. Using a breeches buoy the Harveys were able to rescue 163 passengers, one-by- one, from the sinking ship. Splendidly illustrated in a 19th century evoking style by Geoff Butler, Alice Walsh's Heroes Of Isle Aux Morts is a vivid, engaging, and highly recommended retelling of a true story for young readers ages 8-11.