On a stormy night, little Yann Doutreleau wakes up his six older brothers, all twins. He lets them know that they must flee their home—or risk being killed by their violent father. Without question, the siblings follow Yann into the wet darkness. And so begins their remarkable odyssey toward the ocean—as well as an unforgettable story of brotherhood.
The social worker investigating the Doutreleau family, the truck driver who gives the boys a lift, the police officer who believes they’ve run away, the baker who gives them bread—each of the many people the seven boys encounter gives a stirring account of what he or she witnesses. The twins themselves add their voices, as do the Doutreleau parents; but not until the end of the journey does little Yann express his reasons for his galvanizing actions.
★ “A well-crafted mystery awaits anyone reading this fabled jigsaw puzzle. It is a memorable novel that readers will find engaging and intellectually satisfying.”—School Library Journal, Starred
★ “Mourlevat enchantingly blends the harshly real and the make-believe.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred
A Mildred L. Batchelder Award Winner
A New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
An ALA Notable Book
A Bank Street College of Education Best Book
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Sexual Content - 0/5
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Violence - 1/5
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Language - 0/5
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Drugs and Alcohol - 1/5
1/5
Summary
Reviewer Name: one well¬read chick This is one of my favorite books from my middle school reading list. I had picked it up at my middle school library because I was intrigued the title, then the novel itself. Have you ever read Tom's Thumb? Well I have not but if you have you will quickly recognize the modern retelling of the fable. There are seven children in the Doutreleau family, three sets of twins, Remy and Fabien, Pierre and Paul, Victor and Max, as well as the youngest boy, Yann. Their ages are fourteen, thirteen, eleven and ten, but for their age they are all too tall, and much too thin (too thin because there is not enough for them to eat at home), except for the youngest Doutreleau – Yann. Yann is too small for his age but extremely smart, he is also mute. The brothers are on the run because Yann overheard their parents say that they wish the boys harm. (how about “they wish harm upon the boys”) Their destination the ocean, their guide is Yann. The story is told from many different perspectives: the older six boys, their parents, and social worker, as well as various other characters that the brothers come in contact with. A quick thought provoking novel that I would recommend to readers of all ages.