Namako: Sea Cucumber [Paperback]

Linda Watanabe McFerrin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1998

Fiction. Asian Studies. "McFerrin's first novel paints a portrait of a truly multicultural family - a Scottish father, a half-British and half-Japanese mother, and four children... McFerrin's writing is thoughtful and smooth as she captures ever-changing images of the world around Ellen and her family, successfully filtering those images through the eyes of her youthful characters"-Library Journal. McFerrin writes: "I came at last to namako, a word that in the Japanese combination of characters means both 'sea cucumber' and 'raw child,' a symbol for the simplicity and vulnerability that I feel is at the root of the Japanese and perhaps all psyches." The end result is, according to Publishers Weekly, "a vivid, often humorous novel" that "offers a winning young heroine, a complex family and memorable vignettes of a year spent betwixt and between."

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"It must be horrible to be so strange that nobody knows what you really are." In this engaging debut, that is the feeling that 10-year-old narrator Ellen shares with the sea cucumber, an exotic creature that seems neither animal nor vegetable; the other meaning of namako is "raw child." McFerrin examines a childhood complicated by Ellen's mixed Japanese and American heritage and by her parents' decision to flee their marital troubles by moving to Japan. Not surprisingly, the second circumstance overwhelms the first in importance. After Ellen's early encounter with her austere, disapproving grandmother, the family relocates to a modern house in the country where their neighbors are other American and European families connected, like Ellen's father, with the nearby airbase or its bridge-building project. In this setting, sensitive, artistic Ellen forms a deep friendship, recognizes her young siblings' emotional growing pains and observes the sexual complications of the grown-up world, sometimes at uncomfortably close range?universal events that could just as easily take place in any American suburb. For readers who overcome their expectation of a boilerplate tale of discovering one's roots (and their disappointment over the last chapter, which twists the story unconvincingly in that direction), this vivid, often humorous novel offers a winning young heroine, a complex family and memorable vignettes of a year spent betwixt and between. Agent: Victoria Shoemaker.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

YA-This coming-of-age tale describes a youngster of mixed heritage who, as a young adult, comes to appreciate the complexity of her background. In an attempt to salvage their marriage, Ellen's Scottish father, Gene, and her Japanese mother, Sara, suddenly uproot her, her two self-sufficient younger brothers, and her much younger sister from a comfortable suburban American existence to move to Japan. This move is ostensibly to see Sara's dying mother, a wealthy ex-actress with much to give to Ellen if they can overcome their mutual mistrust. After complete culture shock upon their arrival in Tokyo, and being told by her grandmother that she has no soul, Ellen and her family move to the country for Gene's job, ultimately taking the older woman with them. There, the girl finds herself in an expatriate community and begins to adapt to her surroundings. She becomes more comfortable with her Japanese heritage and more understanding and accepting of her grandmother. She finds a best friend, squabbles with her siblings, begins to understand and accept her parents, and encounters the conflicting emotions of first love. McFerrin writes with striking imagery, enveloping readers in the settings and the protagonist's shifting emotions. Ellen's assorted family disasters are heartwarming and occasionally very funny. A novel that captures the universality of teenage angst.
Susan H. Woodcock, Kings Park Library, Burke, VA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Coffee House Press; 1st edition (September 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566890756
• ISBN-13: 978-1566890755
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,582,642 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Poet, travel writer and novelist Linda Watanabe McFerrin (www.lwmcferrin.com), has been traveling since she was two and writing about it since she was six. A contributor to numerous journals, newspapers, magazines, anthologies and online publications, she is the author of two poetry collections, an award-winning novel (Namako: Sea Cucumber) and short story collection (The Hand of Buddha), and the editor of a travel guidebook (Best Places Northern California,4th ed.) and four literary anthologies.

A past winner of the Katherine Anne Porter Prize for Fiction she teaches and leads workshops in fiction and creative non-fiction and she is NOT afraid of the dark.

Her most recent book is Dead Love, a supernatural thriller set in Asia, due out from Stone Bridge Press in September 2010 and now available for Pre-Order. The Dead Love serialization, along with near-zombie Erin's Daily Slice, are both online at http://www/deadlovebook.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sumptuously written and Humorous at the same time, January 12, 1999

By 

[e-mail], Diane Lindsey (Laguna Beach, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Namako: Sea Cucumber (Paperback)

As I read this book my emotions went up and down along with Ellen, the protagonist. I would be laughing hysterically at the childrens antics and crying when Ellen makes personal discoveries about herself and her grandmother. I could almost feel the seering heat of the steambath.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sea Cucumber by Linda Watanabe McFerrin, October 10, 2001

By 

Cindy (CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Namako: Sea Cucumber (Paperback)

I've had just finished reading the Novel Sea Cucumber by Linda Watanabe Mcferrin, and I would like to say that is a great book! The Novel Sea Cucumber is about a girl name Ellen who travel to Japan with her family to take care of her grandmother which she had never meet.
This book shows how the love of a grandmother and a granddaughter can grow so loving, strong, and understanding. For example, in the beginning when Ellen found out she was staying with her grandmother, Ellen said, "Oh. Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow." Ellen isn't sad or depressed that she had to stay with her grandmother. She was fine about it and took it calmly. Also, during New Year, Ellen said to her grandmother, "But Grandmother, if you don't come, the year wouldn't be lucky." This starts to show how much she cared for her grandmother. Ellen grew to love her grandmother so much, and she learned to care for her grandmother when she is lonely or sad. Without her grandmother being there with her, it wouldn't be Ellen's "lucky day". Furthermore, near the end of the book, Ellen said, "I had found a kami, who filled me with hopes for my grandmother, for myself, for every part of the world, one who promised that the water would always turn clear." This shows that Ellen found new hope not only for herself, but also her grandmother. She grew to understand more about herself and her grandmother. Through what the kami had taught her, I don't think Ellen will ever forget her grandmother and how much her love has grow for her grandmother ever since.
Ellen also gains a friendship throughout the novel and learns to trust each other. For instance, Ellen said, "Anne and I were perfectly matched. We were both the children of preoccupied parents. Mr. and Mrs. Matsuda were preoccupied with their jobs. Anna was an only child. Sara and Gene were preoccupied with trying to understand one another. Anna and I thrived on this absence of supervision." Ellen's friendship with Anne isn't only about "just being friends", but it is also about what they have in common and what being a friend is all about. They shared smiliarities and that's what keeps their friendship strong. Also, Ellen said, "That summer, before we switched schools, I had my first professional haircut. Anne was with me." Anne is a truly best friend. From what Ellen said, Anne seems to be a friend that will always be there whenever Ellen needs her. In addition, Anne stole tin pins that were painted gold and covered with gaudy fake diamonds, and she said, "Something to remember the moment. We'll wear then forever. Ellen, these are the symbols of our friendship." Friendship is strong and alive through both of them. No matter how far apart they might be or what goes wrong between them, their friendship will always last and their trust in each other will grow stronger each day.
In this book, there are things that I've liked and not liked. I liked how the story was told in first person so I would understand how the main character, Ellen, was going through. I also liked the fairy tales and stories that were told by her mother, Sara, and her grandmother. It showed me that in their times, they had stories about demons and evil people as a common story tale. The novel also showed some of the culture that Ellen and her family had. I've also learned that love between family and friendship can grow very strong throughout life. I didn't like the novel so much because it was predictable to know what will happen next, but otherwise this book is a great book. I don't like knowing what will happen next, but I usually like to be surprised at the end of the book.
I would definitely recommend this novel to other readers because this book is in the first person tense and it shows how the person feels as the story is told. It adds more voice to the novel and shows what the main character is thinking about in the novel. If the reader wants to read a book about love between friendship and the love of a grandmother and granddaughter, this is the book to get and start reading! Believe me, the readers will love it! Not only that book is interesting, but the readers will also gain and learn something out of it. The fun part about reading is to know what the reader is reading and to enjoy it while they are reading. This book is written in a simple format and is very easy to understand. I hope the people who are willing to try and read this book will love it like I do!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sea Cucumber by Linda Watanabe McFerrin, October 10, 2001

By 

Cindy (CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Namako: Sea Cucumber (Paperback)

I've had just finished reading the Novel Sea Cucumber by Linda Watanabe Mcferrin, and I would like to say that is a great book! The Novel Sea Cucumber is about a girl name Ellen who travel to Japan with her family to take care of her grandmother which she had never meet.
This book shows how the love of a grandmother and a granddaughter can grow so loving, strong, and understanding. For example, in the beginning when Ellen found out she was staying with her grandmother, Ellen said, "Oh. Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow." Ellen isn't sad or depressed that she had to stay with her grandmother. She was fine about it and took it calmly. Also, during New Year, Ellen said to her grandmother, "But Grandmother, if you don't come, the year wouldn't be lucky." This starts to show how much she cared for her grandmother. Ellen grew to love her grandmother so much, and she learned to care for her grandmother when she is lonely or sad. Without her grandmother being there with her, it wouldn't be Ellen`s "lucky day". Furthermore, near the end of the book, Ellen said, "I had found a kami, who filled me with hopes for my grandmother, for myself, for every part of the world, one who promised that the water would always turn clear." This shows that Ellen found new hope not only for herself, but also her grandmother. She grew to understand more about herself and her grandmother. Through what the kami had taught her, I don't think Ellen will ever forget her grandmother and how much her love has grow for her grandmother ever since.
Ellen also gains a friendship throughout the novel and learns to trust each other. For instance, Ellen said, "Anne and I were perfectly matched. We were both the children of preoccupied parents. Mr. and Mrs. Matsuda were preoccupied with their jobs. Anna was an only child. Sara and Gene were preoccupied with trying to understand one another. Anna and I thrived on this absence of supervision." Ellen's friendship with Anne isn't only about "just being friends", but it is also about what they have in common and what being a friend is all about. They shared smiliarities and that's what keeps their friendship strong. Also, Ellen said, "That summer, before we switched schools, I had my first professional haircut. Anne was with me." Anne is a truly best friend. From what Ellen said, Anne seems to be a friend that will always be there whenever Ellen needs her. In addition, Anne stole tin pins that were painted gold and covered with gaudy fake diamonds, and she said, "Something to remember the moment. We'll wear then forever. Ellen, these are the symbols of our friendship." Friendship is strong and alive through both of them. No matter how far apart they might be or what goes wrong between them, their friendship will always last and their trust in each other will grow stronger each day.
In this book, there are things that I've liked and not liked. I liked how the story was told in first person so I would understand how the main character, Ellen, was going through. I also liked the fairy tales and stories that were told by her mother, Sara, and her grandmother. It showed me that in their times, they had stories about demons and evil people as a common story tale. The novel also showed some of the culture that Ellen and her family had. I've also learned that love between family and friendship can grow very strong throughout life. I didn't like the novel so much because it was predictable to know what will happen next, but otherwise this book is a great book. I don't like knowing what will happen next, but I usually like to be surprised at the end of the book.
I would definitely recommend this novel to other readers because this book is in the first person tense and it shows how the person feels as the story is told. It adds more voice to the novel and shows what the main character is thinking about in the novel. If the reader wants to read a book about love between friendship and the love of a grandmother and granddaughter, this is the book to get and start reading! Believe me, the readers will love it! Not only that book is interesting, but the readers will also gain and learn something out of it. The fun part about reading is to know what the reader is reading and to enjoy it while they are reading. This book is written in a simple format and is very easy to understand. I hope the people who are willing to try and read this book will love it like I do!