Young Readers
Lost on Brier Island
Author Jo Ann Yhard
$12.95 (pb) 978-1-55109-819-7, 176 pp. Nimbus Publishing, May 2011
Stores Sold:
Although barely a teenager, Alex, the main character in Lost on Brier Island, is dealing with very big issues. Battling a tangled ball of anger, grief and guilt due to the tragic death of her twin brother Adam, the fourteen-year-old is sent from her home in Halifax to live with her Aunt Sophie on Brier Island for the summer. Adding to Alex’s intense sadness is the obvious turmoil present in her parents’ marriage and the awareness that her once close-knit family unit is quickly unraveling.
To help shift Alex’s focus away from her painful loss, Aunt Sophie introduces her to a cast of warm and caring characters including: Gus, a lobster fisherman who takes tourists on whale sighting tours; Rachel, Gus’s thoughtlessly curious but well-meaning niece; and Eva, Gus’s love interest and local coffee and pastry maker.
One day, a reluctant Alex accepts an invitation from Gus to board his boat, the Evania Rose, and take part in a whale-watching excursion. The decision leads to a brief encounter with an adventurous baby whale with a risk-taking spirit who opens Alex’s heart to the beauty of Brier Island—and to the process of accepting that Adam’s death was not something she could have prevented.
Things soon take a suspenseful turn when the baby whale, who Alex names Daredevil, is not seen for several days. Her growing concern for Daredevil’s welfare puts Alex in the middle of a dangerous situation. Trapped in dense fog and racing against rising tides, Alex takes extreme steps to save a beached Daredevil who is tangled in a fishing net. As she struggles to free him and ensure her own safety, Alex comes to terms with the unfortunate choices that led to her beloved brother’s tragic accident. She also learns that she is much stronger than she ever allowed herself to believe.
In Lost on Brier Island, Jo Ann Yhard skillfully tackles sensitive subjects and delivers an intriguing and uplifting story with important messages about self-identity and acceptance. Intended for a teenage audience, Yhard focuses more on dialogue than descriptive scenes and maintains a steady pace filled with adventure. The nature of Adam’s accident is strategically revealed as the novel unfolds and Yhard successfully uses this incremental unveiling to profile the depth of her main character as she reaches a place of resolution. Lost on Brier Island is a wonderful story with something to offer audiences of all ages. —Clare O’Connor
