You can almost smell the sea in this poetic book of a boy whose life is isolated from that of most young boys. The characters are beautifully drawn and this is very much a novel of our time and its interest in the natural world
Extract
'You were the one that found the ratfish?'
'Ragfish.'
'You also found that giant squid?'
'Uh-huh.'
I thought she was going to squeal. She had one of those faces that would be perfect to hang out with if you were deaf. She wanted to know where my parents were and seemed even more delighted when I told her they were at work .... She kneeled to scribble Rachel Carson titles and the names of the marine books stacked next to my bed.