And the Ocean Was Our Sky
by Patrick Ness, illustrated by Rovina Cai
Interest age: 12 to 15
Reading age: 12+
Published by Walker Books, 2018
About this book
Bathsheba is a whale that is destined to hunt humans, even though the hunt is often deadly. Trained as an apprentice, she finds herself the most junior member of a hunting party led by the formidable and infamous Captain Alexandra, who still has the rusted end of a human harpoon sticking out from her head.
When Bathsheba and her crew find a man ship, they also find a sign that puts them on the trail of Toby Wick, a devil that all whales grow up fearing.
In Patrick Ness’ amazing homage to the American literature classic Moby Dick, the worlds of ocean and sky are upturned, and it’s a whale that tells her version of the story of hunter and hunted. With a reversal of point of view (a literal one, with Rovina Cai’s exceptional illustration showing whales swimming upside down, with the ocean floor as their sky) comes Ness’ re-visioning of the patriarchal exploitation of the natural world, and of man’s destructive obsession to conquer what he falsely believes he is master of.
The writing is as beautiful as you might expect, and its literary style, as well as some dark imagery, make it appropriate for older readers.
About the author
More books like this
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A Monster Calls
by Patrick Ness, illustrated by Jim Kay
9 to 14 years
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The Ask and the Answer
by Patrick Ness
11 to 14 years
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The Knife of Never Letting Go
by Patrick Ness
11 to 14 years
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Skellig
by David Almond
9 to 14 years
Lists of recommended reads
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Magical stories for teens
These books are brilliant for teenagers who want to get lost in a magical journey. There are classics and new titles, picture books and chapter books and some books containing magic realism rather than traditional fantasy.