Village By The Sea [Hardcover]

Paula Fox (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up

When her father enters the hospital to have open-heart surgery, ten-year-old Emma is sent to Peconic Bay to live with her tormented aunt and finds the experience painful until she meets a friend who suggests making a miniature village in the sand.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Emma, 10, is sent to stay with her aunt and uncle during her father's bypass surgery. With her constant, caustic jibes and her sudden, braying laugh, Aunt Bea lives up to her reputation as a "terror"; in Emma's words, "Aunt Bea's remarks about people were like being punched in the same spot over and over again." Emma overhears exchanges that reveal Bea's history as an alcoholic; she is perceptive enough to recognize her Uncle Crispin's fear of a relapse, to note occasional chinks in Bea's armor and to grasp that Bea has developed the habit of resentment"a kind of addiction, too." Acting out her malice, Bea destroys Emma's sole object of pleasure during her visita miniature village built with her friend Bertie from material scavenged on the beachand Emma departs with a hot lump of hatred in her throat. Her hatred dissolves, however, upon finding evidence of her aunt's bitter, sad self-knowledge; in its place comes a measure of understanding and the ability to take her first untroubled breath in days. Fox's mastery of characterization is fully apparent in this quiet but intensely affecting story. She deftly draws us into Emma's experience, perfectly capturing the simultaneous naivete and wisdom with which Emma regards the puzzle that is her aunt. Using simple but telling imagery and beautifully lucid prose, she traces the associative, instinctively hopeful workings of a child's mind. Equally remarkable are the nuances with which Fox renders the acerbic, seemingly impenetrable Bea. Her portrayal compels readers to consider the tragic consequences of such acrimonyto wonder, as Emma does, what it would be like "to be a person people were happy not to see," and ultimately to share in the subtle but redemptive compassion that is among the novel's finest achievements. A Richard Jackson Book. Ages 10-12.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

When Emma's father goes to the hospital for surgery, she is sent to stay with Aunt Bea the "terror" and kindly Uncle Crispin. Emma wonders how she will survive two weeks with the always hostile Aunt Bea.

Luckily, Emma makes a friend, Bertie, and the two girls begin a project on the beach. Together they build tiny houses out of stones, shells, and all sorts of sea treasures. Here at the beach with Bertie, Emma finds comfort and friendship and takes pride in her carefully planned village.

Then one day Emma and Bertie's village is destroyed... --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic; First Edition edition (September 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0531057887
• ISBN-13: 978-0531057889
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,563,991 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Village by The Sea, January 16, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Village By The Sea (Hardcover)

Sara Cooper- Caracas, Venezuela
The Village by the Sea is about a small girl called Emma. She is the main character in this book. She has a tough time settling in with Aunt Bea "The Terror". But Uncle Crispin is welcoming and nice. She is forced to be with her aunt and uncle because her dad is having a bypass surgery. She is in a tight spot and she hopes it doesn't get worse. But she is out of luck because one day her heart gets broken, by whom? you'll have to find out!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Village By The Sea, September 2, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Village By The Sea (Hardcover)

This feel good book is about a young girl who is forced to live with her aunt and uncle during her father's bypass surgery. Her uncle makes her feel at home butfor her aunt,that is a different story. Her Aunt Bea, an ex alcoholic, definately lives up to her title as a terror. Luckily, she finds comfort in a new neighbor and a magical place on the beach. As for the rest, you will have to read it yourself!!

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Village by The Sea, January 13, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Village By The Sea (Hardcover)

Village by the sea
Lindsey McDonald

The main character in the book named village by the sea is Emma. Her father was having surgery and she has to go visit her uncle Crispin and the terrible aunt Bea. She has to stay there for 14 days. Then after settling in she begins to have a wonderful time UNTIL...... You'll have to read the rest for your self.