Stolen By the Sea [Hardcover]

Anna Myers (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up

Maggie McKenna loves the sea. One of the best things about living in Galveston is being able to swim in the gulf and walk along the seashore with her father. Maggie wishes those special times with her father would never end. She knows she's wrong to be jealous of the new baby that's coming, but the bad feelings keep building inside her like a threatening storm. She even resents the time her father spends with Felipe, the Mexican boy from the orphanage who does odd jobs around the house.

When her father has to take her mother to Houston to see the doctor, Maggie is left behind to struggle with the jealously that is sweeping away her common sense. But soon she is facing the battle of her life when the very sea she loves, stirred up by one of the most powerful hurricanes of the century, ravages Galveston, destroying homes and lives in a powerful and violent flood. Her only chance at surviving through the night is to join forces with Felipe as they try to ride out the storm together.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-In the flourishing port of Galveston, TX, 1900, Maggie McKenna grapples with inner storms of jealousy. Her mother is pregnant, and the 12-year-old worries that the baby will be her father's much-wished-for son. Maggie also resents the time he spends with Felipe Ortega, a teenager from St. Mary's orphanage who is employed by the family. In early September, the waters of the sea begin to rise, and the worst hurricane of the century devastates the prosperous seaport. When Maggie and Felipe, trapped on the top floor of the McKenna household, rescue several children and a nun from the orphanage, rivalry and resentment are forgotten in the struggle to survive. Sister Genevieve tells Maggie that there is much for her to do in her lifetime, and as the girl deals with the aftermath of the storm, including the death of Felipe's sister, these words sustain her. Some beautifully crafted sentences capture the emotions of an adolescent who struggles between shameful feelings and noble impulses. Unfortunately, the narrative is sometimes uneven and detours into events and descriptions that detract from the main plot. Chapter three abruptly shifts to the perspective of Felipe, and then back to Maggie for the remainder of the story. Fans of Peg Kehret's books will enjoy this title, and those who want more information about the Galveston hurricane should try Erik Larson's nonfiction title, Isaac's Storm (Crown, 2001).

Farida S. Dowler, formerly at Bellevue Regional Library, WA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Anna Myers is the award-winning author of several novels for young readers including The Keeping Room, Captain's Command, and Graveyard Girl. She is a two-time winner of the Oklahoma Book Award for Children's Books, and her book Ethan Between Us was chosen as an ALA Quick Pick for 1999. Anna lives in Chandler, Oklahoma.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 121 pages
• Publisher: Walker Childrens (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802787878
• ISBN-13: 978-0802787873
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,018,786 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An exciting historical disaster story., September 17, 2001

By 

Rebecca Herman (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stolen By the Sea (Hardcover)

Wealthy, twelve-year-old Maggie lives in a large house in Galveston, Texas, with her parents in 1900. Lately, Maggie has felt ignored by her parents. The attention her father gives to Felipe, an orphan boy who does chores for the family, makes her believe he would prefer a son. Now that her mother is pregnant, she fears the new baby will take her place in her parents' hearts. When her father takes her mother to the doctor in Houston, Maggie is left alone with the elderly, sickly housekeeper and the grumpy cook. While though the town had expected a hurricane, it never expected the terrible storm that would hit. Even though she resents him, with the storm raging and the waters rising, Maggie may have to turn to Felipe for help if she is going to survive. I reccomend this book to young readers who like historical disaster stories.

5.0 out of 5 stars A definite must read!, July 12, 2004

By 

A Customer (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stolen By the Sea (Hardcover)

Set in the early 1900s, STOLEN BY THE SEA tells the story of Maggie, a well off 12-year-old. Maggie and the rest of her family, the McKennas, live in Galveston, Texas. Maggie enjoys spending her days with her Papa, going out to the sea --- that is, until an orphaned 14-year-old boy named Felipe from Mexico comes to help them with jobs around the house and Papa begins paying more attention to Felipe instead of her.

But then, Papa has to take Maggie's mother to a doctor in Houston, and a terrible hurricane occurs. Now Maggie, Papa and Felipe must try to work together to survive the storm!

I liked this book because it talked about hurricanes. I like to learn about all forms of weather. It was interesting to see how they lived in the early years of the last century. The people had a lot of bravery and courage during the storm which was inspiring. A definite must read!

--- (...)

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 1900 Storm, August 14, 2004

By 

Camille "at the BookMoot!" (Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Stolen By the Sea (Hardcover)

Translating the emotions and fear of events such as these into a novel for children is challenging.

Maggie McKenna is an only child. She is jealous of the new brother or sister about to be born to her family. She also resents the attention and friendship her father gives an orphan boy named Felipe. Maggie is left at home in Galveston while her parents visit the doctor in Houston. The storm begins and Maggie watches the water rise.

Maggie must find the strength and will to survive as she and Felipe work together to live through the storm. A well written treatment of a story that is not as well known as it should be.