Water, Water

One morning Rafe wakes up to discover his bedroom is floating in a vast sea of water. An unforgettable middle-grade novel with elements of James and the Giant Peach meets Waterworld and The Road.\nOne morning Rafe wakes up to discover his bedroom is floating in a vast sea of water. Alone with only his dog for company, Rafe adapts to this strange new world by fishing cans of food out of the water and keeping watch. Boxes float by, as does a woman, playing her cello. Then, one day, Rafe fishes out a young girl, who joins him in his room -- they don't speak the same language, but together they will face this uncertain future together.\nFrom School Library Journal\nGr 3-6-When 12-year-old Rafe wakes up to find his bedroom floating on a sea of water with only his dog Buddy present, he is understandably upset. Neither his parents nor any other living creatures are anywhere to be seen. As time passes, Rafe becomes resourceful, using what he can find in his room (lacrosse stick) and floating in the sea (cans of mystery food). Rafe eventually encounters other survivors of whatever has befallen the world: a cello-playing woman, pirates who attempt to pilfer his belongings, and a young girl named Dao with a cat. Dao and her cat join Rafe, and they attempt to survive while dealing with language differences and the grief of losing their families. In the midst of it all, reluctant reader Rafe is surprised when even his last homework assignment begins to look appealing. He opens the one book left in his possession, and overcomes his fears of reading by sharing it with Dao. The single-color, woodcut-style illustrations complement the plot well in their vastness and simplicity. While the story may hold reader interest, many gaps exist that could leave curious tweens unsatisfied. Not knowing what happened or why Rafe has no memory of it may leave young readers concerned about their futures. VERDICT While the topics of grief, friendship, and perseverance are touched upon, this brief text will likely have a limited audience.-Michele Shawα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.