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The Ocean Within
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From: Pat McCorkle <mccorkle>
Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2002 03:13:23 -0600
Twice, so far, I have started to write about this book for the discussion. My ambivalence stems from not knowing for sure how middle-school people or anyone else would respond to it. My reaction wavered between wanting all children to have such environments and thinking that the book is totally didactic. I know young people who could identify with various characters. This book is not
Understood Betsy , Ellen Foster , or The Great Gilly Hopkins , but it shares elements with them.
The Ocean Within by V.M. Caldwell is the story of Elizabeth, an eleven year-old girl who has been bounced through too many foster homes. Her desire to see the ocean leads her to agree to try yet another family because part of the deal is spending a month at the beach. She finds herself at the grandmother's house along with eight cousins, ages 4. All the others have a history together. They all know the patterns of their annual time at the beach.
In her life, Elizabeth has learned to cope, to figure out the acceptable behaviors, to make no waves, to form no ties.
The grandmother is a wise, reasonable woman who listens, takes no flak, helps people try to understand each other, and organizes activities and people so no one does all the work and no one is excluded. On occasion, she spanks children.
Reading it, I finally decided that The Ocean Within presents a picture of the loving, generous extended family many of us are missing. I also concluded that it is a book where there are adults, responsible adults, in the picture. There is kindness. There is disappointment, flexibility, stubbornness, and understanding. Challenges, opportunities, work, and fun are daily fare.
On one hand, it heavily models positive behaviors and, on the other, it makes one hope that such families exist.
The Ocean Within made me pay attention. I found myself wanting these fictional characters to find a way to work things out successfully together. When this month's topic was described, I found myself reading The Ocean Within a second time just because I want people on this listserv to know about it and I wanted to represent it accurately. I take note of books that invite multiple readings.
Pat McCorkle
mccorkle at qwerty.com
http ://www.qwerty. com
Received on Wed 13 Nov 2002 03:13:23 AM CST
Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2002 03:13:23 -0600
Twice, so far, I have started to write about this book for the discussion. My ambivalence stems from not knowing for sure how middle-school people or anyone else would respond to it. My reaction wavered between wanting all children to have such environments and thinking that the book is totally didactic. I know young people who could identify with various characters. This book is not
Understood Betsy , Ellen Foster , or The Great Gilly Hopkins , but it shares elements with them.
The Ocean Within by V.M. Caldwell is the story of Elizabeth, an eleven year-old girl who has been bounced through too many foster homes. Her desire to see the ocean leads her to agree to try yet another family because part of the deal is spending a month at the beach. She finds herself at the grandmother's house along with eight cousins, ages 4. All the others have a history together. They all know the patterns of their annual time at the beach.
In her life, Elizabeth has learned to cope, to figure out the acceptable behaviors, to make no waves, to form no ties.
The grandmother is a wise, reasonable woman who listens, takes no flak, helps people try to understand each other, and organizes activities and people so no one does all the work and no one is excluded. On occasion, she spanks children.
Reading it, I finally decided that The Ocean Within presents a picture of the loving, generous extended family many of us are missing. I also concluded that it is a book where there are adults, responsible adults, in the picture. There is kindness. There is disappointment, flexibility, stubbornness, and understanding. Challenges, opportunities, work, and fun are daily fare.
On one hand, it heavily models positive behaviors and, on the other, it makes one hope that such families exist.
The Ocean Within made me pay attention. I found myself wanting these fictional characters to find a way to work things out successfully together. When this month's topic was described, I found myself reading The Ocean Within a second time just because I want people on this listserv to know about it and I wanted to represent it accurately. I take note of books that invite multiple readings.
Pat McCorkle
mccorkle at qwerty.com
http ://www.qwerty. com
Received on Wed 13 Nov 2002 03:13:23 AM CST
