Review: When the Sea Turned to Silver by Grace Lin

When the Sea Turned to Silver by Grace Lin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Received: Hachette Book Group Canada
Publication Date: October 4th 2016
Publisher: Little, Brown
Point of View: 3rd Person & Alternative
Recommended Age: 8+
Pacing: Fast
Genres & Themes: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Friendship, Adventure

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BLURB:

Pinmei’s gentle, loving grandmother always has the most exciting tales for her granddaughter and the other villagers. However, the peace is shattered one night when soldiers of the Emperor arrive and kidnap the storyteller.

Everyone knows that the Emperor wants something called the Luminous Stone That Lights the Night. Determined to have her grandmother returned, Pinmei embarks on a journey to find the Luminous Stone alongside her friend Yishan, a mysterious boy who seems to have his own secrets to hide. Together, the two must face obstacles usually found only in legends to find the Luminous Stone and save Pinmei’s grandmother–before it’s too late.

If you ever get the chance to read this book, I’d say jump on it! And if you’re at the bookstore and there’s only one copy left and you see someone approaching it, run! GRAB IT before the other person even sees you coming. Don’t be afraid to show your claws.

It’s a truly precious book. The kind of book you’ll want to preserve for ever and read to your own kids. Just don’t let them play with the copy too much. Again, very precious book, deserving to be treated with the utmost care, hé hé.

Summarizing this story in a single paragraph would be impossible. There is so much substance inside of it that I’m going to want to reread it in the future so I can make more links to the characters and situations.

The tales that are narrated by both Pinmei and her grandmother are fantastic. There are at least fifteen of them, all related to specific characters. Though it’s not always explicitly said, we can deduct whose story they’re telling.

It’s by reading those tales that I realized this must be connected to another book, because some references or talks about characters are done in that type of familiar way, not quite lingering on the who and what, the author probably expecting us to know at least a little about whom the character is.

But there’s no trouble understanding the story. It’s well-written, originally-plotted and uniquely-told. It’s incredibly easy to read and care for lovely Pinmei and the rest of the cast. Plus, can one say no to charming illustrations? And I had an advance copy, so I can’t imagine how exquisite it must look like as a hardcover.

READ IT! … At least, before the sea turns to silver. *wink* *wink*

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