Praise for A Tear in the Ocean "In the companion to
A Crack in the Sea (2017), Bouwman offers stories of loss, hope, perseverance....
masterfully infus[ing] old fairy tales and legends into her alternate-universe adventure,
meticulously weaving times and storylines into a
riveting plot....that will have readers reflecting on their own experiences of grief, longing, regret, survival, and overcoming." --
Kirkus Reviews "Bouwman elegantly twists and twirls the two narrations, finally bringing them together in...
an engaging and original coming-of-age story with an unpredictable and adventurous plot, sure to captivate middle-grade and middle-school fantasy buffs." --
Horn Book Magazine "Bouwman's new novel is an imaginative companion to her widely praised "A Crack in the Sea..".[with] Yuko Shimizu's
lively illustrations...[is]
fast-paced,
interesting, and
thoughtful." --
Pioneer Press "A Tear in the Ocean is a classic fairy tale, a quest story, grappling with darkness and
a journey of discovery. But Bouwman turns it into something quieter and deeper...Yuko Shimizu's illustrations of the novel's multiracial characters add to the story's
emotional resonance." --
Star Tribune
Praise for A Crack in the Sea
Winter 2016-2017 Kids' Indie Next Pick
A Midwest Connections Pick for January 2017
A Maine Student Book Award 2018-2019 Reading List Pick for Grades 4-6 and 4-8
A Sunshine State Young Readers Award Book 2018-2019 List Pick for Grades 6-8
★ "Through the
captivating interwoven tales of these three sibling pairs--and with assistance from Shimizu's
powerful ink illustrations--Bouwman crafts a
moving narrative about family, magic, morality,
the power of storytelling, and the cyclical nature of history." --
Publishers Weekly,
starred review "This novel touches on sensitive and tragic moments in history and gives them fantastical remediation for
a provocative, immersive read." --
Kirkus Reviews "Fans of Grace Lin will love this
wholly original book that reads like a fairy tale.
A moving and thought-provoking choice for library collections."
--School Library Journal "A Crack in the Sea is
a moving work of conscience and a numinously magical journey. Trust this book."--William Alexander, National Book Award-winning author of
Goblin Secrets"Bouwman weaves together these stories of freedom and escape with
a deep sense of respect and emotion, bringing the reader directly into each family's search for a safety that transcends both time and space." --
Booklist "Bouwman ably weaves these threads together into
a curious, haunting wholethat references oppression, family, magic, and a human desperation for safety that transcends time and place. . . . Detailed black and white illustrations invite contemplation and work well to highlight key moments in the novel, adding artistic flair to the already
lyrical story." --
BCCB "Fantasy fans will be drawn into this story and find it
hard to put down." --
School Library Connection "[C]onstantly
engaging and enlightening." --
BookPage "
[T]his book will captivate readers who like their fantasy spiced with real-life drama." --
Common Sense Media "
This complex, compelling, and thoughtful novel begins in 1978 on Tathenn, a fantastical island world. . . . Bouwman has done her research well . . . keeping her young characters' journeys--physical and emotional--front and center. Their tenderness, fierceness, bravery, thoughtfulness, and goodness
highlight themes of family, leadership, and telling of history. . . . Shimizu's vivid interspersed black-and-white illustrations . . . add to the drama of the storytelling in this
original and engrossing book." --
The Horn Book
H.M. Bouwman is the author of The Remarkable & Very True Story of Lucy & Snowcap (Marshall Cavendish, 2008) and A Crack in the Sea (Putnam, 2017). An associate professor of English at the University of St. Thomas, she lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with her two sons.