Customer Reviews

The Pull of the Ocean

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you don't know the Perrault version of Tom Thumb (which I don't) you will enjoy this book for its plucky characters, spare narrative, and the satisfying ending that reminds the reader that some journeys are the same with different destinations. Little Yann is a cryptic character, and the forbearance and endurance of his older brothers (all twins) will delight you with its oddity. Echoes of other myths--seventh son, seven swans, Hansel and Gretel--entice the reader to engage with this odd little story at many levels. Middle School boys will love it, high school kids will be intrigued. Invites the reader to get out a map of France and follow the boys' journey.

Yann is the seventh son, and the only one born alone. His six older brothers are three sets of twins. Yann has never really grown and he doesn't speak. Oddly, he communicates to his brothers much more accurately than they do to each other. When he wakes them up one night, explaining wordlessly that their father plans to harm them, they follow him without question.

Their journey is to the ocean, a place where they all anticipate feeling safe. With nothing but the clothes on their backs, Yann leads them from their home and into the unknown. Yann alone knows which path they are on, and that is enough for the others.

Each section is told by a different voice, the mom, the dad, each brother, people who help them, people who don't... The only person who knows the true and complete story is Yann, and we don't hear from him until nearly the end. Rest assured, there is a method to it all.

This is one of those stories where you just have to follow where it takes you. And the cool thing is, it doesn't feed you any judgments or ideas. I think every person who reads this will take something slightly different from it, and I really like that. I also really like the way it was written. I could see this being one of those required books that you actually really enjoy.

Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman

The Pull of the Ocean is about seven, young brothers--three sets of twins and one very intelligent dwarf who cannot, or will not, speak. The story follows the brothers on their escape from an abusive father and unaffectionate mother. It is told through the eyes of the brothers and the many people who meet them on their journey to the Ocean. It is a re-telling of Tom Thumb, along with bits of a few other fairy tales.

The fellowship and love between the seven brothers is very loving, especially the care taken of Yann, the dwarf. The narrative is refreshingly simple and straightforward. It "pulls" you in until the satisfying close which is sure to bring a smile to your face, as it did mine.

Jean-Claude Mourlevat's THE PULL OF THE OCEAN tells of seven children who flee a violent father, and begin a journey which will ultimately involve many outsiders in their uncertain life. Each person they encounter provides a different story to the social worker investigating their family; but it's not until all voices are joined that a complete picture is presented - and a blueprint for change.

Seven brothers run away from home together, walking, hitchhiking, and stealing onto a train to reach the place of their dreams. As plots go, this sounds like a fairly traditional children's novel filled with bravery, independence, and adventure.

Originally written in French by Jean-Calude Mourlevat, Y. Maudet's English translation of The Pull of the Ocean definitely leaves me wondering whether it is an accurate portrayal of the original (which in turn is loosely based on and references the fairytale Le Petit Poucet by Charles Perrault).

While the story itself at its bare bones feels very much like a classic runaway story, the atmosphere is radically different from that associated with similar childish shenanigans. Instead of humor, angst, or even thrill, the tale is fraught from the opening sentence with a tension generally associated with dramas written for an older audience. While many books seek to create ongoing curiosity, The Pull of the Ocean establishes and maintains a sense of anxiety akin to that of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca or John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany. The latter even has a central character with an uncanny resemblance to Yann of The Pull of the Ocean... A tiny boy, disconcertingly old for his size, preternaturally wise for his age.

As is often the case with unnaturally brilliant characters, it is hard to relate to Yann on a deep personal level. However, aside from Yann, The Pull of the Ocean does an amazing job of creating instantly real and understandable characters, especially for a book that skips lightly from one perspective to another, seldom returning for a second glance. When the brief tale is told, it is hard to believe that in real life Pascal isn't heading to work, Valérie to school, and Victor to nurse his aching feet. And that, perhaps, only makes the story even more bittersweet.

Evan Brandaw
The Pull of The Ocean
By Jean-Claude Mourlevat
Fairy Tale


One night, little Yann wakes to the sound of his parents arguing. He slips out of the bed that he shares with his two out of six brothers as quietly as he can, but still manages to wake one of his brothers, all of which are twins. Yann simply explains in his clear personal sign language that he is going downstairs to hear their parents' argument better. His older brother nods, and Yann silently slips downstairs. When Yann returns to the room, he has a look of fear on his face, and nervously wakes his brother. He signs that their parents are planning to kill them in the morning, and that all of them must leave now if they wish to survive. Yann's brother asks in a hushed tone where they are going to go. Little Yann calmly answers, "The Ocean". So as the seven boys step out into the pouring rain, they start their epic adventure towards the great Atlantic Ocean, with little Yann, the youngest, as their leader. Along the way, they encounter various people who aid them on their journey, including a truck driver, a baker, a police officer and a writer, all of which give the part of the tale they witnessed and helped. As the journey comes near it's end, the brothers bond and truly support each other like few have ever done before.

I give this remix of the original Tom Thumb stories 5 stars, because it really was one of the better books I've read before, and I recommend it to any person who would like a really intriguing book to read. This book had the same feeling as the Giver, by Lois Lowry. It gave you that feeling of mystery, of not really knowing what is going on until the very end, where the curtain is flung away and reveals what is really going on. I say Kudos to Jean-Claude Mourlevat for creating a masterpiece of suspense, and weaving in the story through the eyes of everyone who encountered Yann and his brothers on their journey. I enjoyed reading this book for many reasons, but mainly because of the wisdom of Yann, and having him not say a word or give a reason for his actions. I think that this book in some way is like the Lord of the Rings series because of the sense of adventure and danger as you try to get to a destination, knowing that someone might be following your every move.

The Pull of the Ocean is about a family in France, the Doutreleaus that have seven sons. Six of them are twins, the oldest pair 14 years old, the middle pair 13, and the youngest pair 11. The youngest son, Yann is 10, but is no more than the size of a 2-year-old. Yes, Yann is a midget, but really has none of the deformations that most dwarves carry with them. He is just small. Yann also is mute- but only by choice. Instead of talking, he communicates perfectly in his own version of sign language, making himself perfectly clear. But really, the only reason that his rigid parents kept him was because they thought that he would be useful in getting into small areas that others could never fit in. Yann's father, Louis, is a, cold, heartless man that only wants work out of his boys, and really doesn't give a care about school. Which gives him one ore reason to outcast Yann. The small boy loves school more than anything, given it's one of the few things that his small size doesn't affect. Louis also gets into many arguments with his wife who has a somewhat similar attitude but is slightly more forgiving.

One night, though, Yann wakes to the sound of his parents arguing. He slips out of the bed that he shares with his two oldest brothers as quietly as he can, but still manages to wake one of his brothers. Yann simply explains in his sign language that he is going down stairs to hear their parents' argument better. His older brother nods, and Yann silently slips downstairs. When Yann returns to the room, he has a look of fear on his face, and nervously wakes his brother. He signs that their parents are planning to kill them in the morning, and that all of them must leave now if they wish to survive. Yann's asks in a hushed tone where they are going to go. Little Yann calmly answers, "The Ocean". So as the seven boys step out into the pouring rain, they start their epic adventure towards the great Atlantic Ocean, with little Yann, the youngest, as their leader. Along the way, they encounter various people who aid them on their journey, including a truck driver, a baker, a police officer and a writer, all of which give the part of the tale they witnessed and helped. As the journey comes near the end, the brothers bond and support each other like few have ever done before.