There was something quite wonderful and magical about this. A story of a new friendship through adversity, hope, acceptance, and a need to survive. It’s part reality, part mythical. The mythical element of this story really added to its strength, and provided opportunity to include more difficult messages and themes in a way suitable for younger readers.

A powerful story and one I wish was around when I was younger. I remember reading books together as class when I was younger, and I hope this becomes one of those books. Suitable for middle-graders but there is definitely something for the older reader as well.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this, in exchange for an honest review.

Fifteen-year-old Bill is with a group of young boys and their captain on a yacht when a storm appears seemingly from nowhere. The others manage to get off the boat but Bill turns back to get supplies. Before he has finished, the storm has blown the life raft away and the yacht is quickly taking on water. Bill is forced to cast off alone in a small wooden boat into the raging storm. He survives the storm - a small miracle in itself - but he has no way of knowing where he is and if he has enough provisions to last until he is found or if he will be found. But fate has another miracle in store for him - he spots what he first thinks is the dead body of a young girl draped over a barrel. When she opens her eyes, he knows he has to rescue her even though he knows this means even less chance of survival. But, together, Bill, the young British boy and Aya, a young Berber girl may just be able to beat the odds.

Girl. Boy. Sea. by author Chris Vick is a YA adventure story that will appeal to both young boys and girls and one that adults can also enjoy with plenty of action to keep the reader glued to the page. It is also the story of how the human spirit, faced with seemingly insurmountable odd, can overcome if they ignore differences like birth place and gender and work together, an important lesson right now. It also shows the importance of storytelling in helping us to overcome our differences. I thoroughly enjoyed Girl. Boy. Sea. and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a well-written YA adventure.

Thanks to Netgalley and Zephyr for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review ( )