The Fisherman's Son (Paperback)

~ Marilyn Peake (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The Fisherman's Son is a children's novel filled with fantasy, adventure and the heroic qualities of a brave, young boy. At the same time, it includes accurate and beautiful descriptions of life under the ocean, villages similar to those of real nineteenth century island villages, and cities similar to those of ancient Greece and Rome. Part of the book is based on research accounts of what may have happened to Atlantis if it once existed.

The main character is a twelve-year-old boy named Wiley O'Mara. He lives on an island far up north where it is very cold, around the beginning of the nineteenth century. The island scenery and culture in some ways resemble that of Ireland around the same time. After meeting a dolphin who allows him to swim underwater, Wiley takes part in an extraordinary adventure through which he and the dolphin accomplish an incredible rescue mission. Along the way, Wiley and his friend encounter both real and imaginary creatures - the real fish, dolphins, coral reefs and changing depths of the North Atlantic Ocean, as well as imaginary creatures in the island forest and ocean depths surrounding Wiley's home.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

For the next two weeks, Wiley swam with Elden every day. Every morning Wiley awoke with the excitement of butterflies in his stomach, wondering if Elden would return, and if he would be able to swim with the dolphin once again. Every day was better than the previous day. Elden introduced Wiley to his world beneath the water, and Wiley saw amazing things.

On the second day, Elden pointed out a large group of jellyfish. Like gossamer, pulsating moons, they moved through the water by closing and opening their bowl-shaped bodies. Sunlight poured beneath the waves and lit the jellies from behind, painting them purple, blue and green. That same day, Wiley saw crabs, lobsters and blood red starfish crawling across the ocean floor.

During the second week, Wiley saw a shark surrounded on every side by a wall of small, glittering, silver fish. Wiley looked at Elden, as his heart pounded in his chest. Elden responded, "Don't worry. He's not interested in us."

That same day, a white whale with a large smile approached Elden. They appeared to engage in wordless conversation, although Wiley couldn't understand what they were saying.

Along the sandy bottom, Wiley found creatures that looked like brilliant, perfectly formed flowers in red and pink and yellow.

On the fifteenth day of peaceful swimming and diving, Elden informed Wiley that he would like to take him deeper. "I have something to show you. I think you're ready."

They swam through the water, going farther and farther out to sea. Then Elden said to Wiley, "Hold tightly onto my back. We're going deeper." As they descended, the light became less visible, although it never completely disappeared.

When they reached the bottom, Wiley noticed shadows spilled across the ocean floor. Creatures with claws and tentacles stirred throughout the sandy shadows.

Then, off at a distance, Wiley saw a large, dark rectangular object. Before Wiley could formulate a question, Elden said, "We're going over there. Come on."

Wiley held tighter to Elden's back fin, as Elden swam swiftly through the ocean. When they reached the object, Wiley saw that it was a huge, rectangular box made out of light brown rock. The lid was made out of the same type of rock. On every surface, pictures had been carved of the sun, the moon and stars. From the lid, hung a closed, heavy lock made out of some type of polished black rock.

Wiley climbed off Elden's back to inspect the chest. He jiggled and pulled at the lock, but it wouldn't open.

Elden said simply, "You need the key."

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Authorhouse (December 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1403397155
• ISBN-13: 978-1403397157
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,383,285 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book Ever, January 22, 2003

By	Eric Geserick (???Somewhere???) - See all my reviews

I think this is a great book. I couldn't put down the book. It is very adventurous and exciting.
I think that Marilyn Peake should keep writing and that all her books will do very well.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vividly Detailed Dickens/Lewis Type Adventrure, January 20, 2003

By	Hays W. "Skip" McCormick (Manassas, VA USA) - See all my reviews

A great book to read to your son or daughter. "The Fisherman's Son" is so packed with flowing details and captivating adventure, it's sure to spark the young imagination.
This enchanting tale follows young, virtually orphaned, Wiley's important journey alone through the dark forest, where he barely outwits the legendary three-eyed, fang-toothed monster, and then -- with the help of a certain magical porpoise -- deep into a vividly detailed under-ocean challenge. This exciting tale is just scary enough to thrill young bedtime listeners without sparking nightmares.

5.0 out of 5 stars My Daughter loves this book!, May 17, 2008

By	Kim Chatel "klchatel" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fisherman's Son (Paperback)

Here's an honest opinion from an 8-year old. We read Fisherman's Son together and loved it. Here's what my daughter said:

The Fisherman's son is about unlocking a secret. The main character is a little boy, named Wiley. Wiley has a big adventure under water with his dolphin friend, Elden. At the end the end of the book, Elden's friend, Beluga, the whale, helps them to save six lost children. Along the way, Wiley has to face a big bear and her cub, which has one eye. He also has to battle a big, tough monster deep below the sea.

My favorite part of the book is when Wiley meets Elden because I would like to meet a dolphin one day, and because Elden is my favorite character. The words in the story really helped me with my school strategy. We are learning about picturing, which is making pictures in your mind as you read the story. This story really describes what Wiley and Elden are doing. I love this book!