And the Ocean Was Our Sky
Age 10+
Adventure Stories Classic Fiction Animal Stories Modern & Contemporary Fiction (Post C 1945)
From the multi-award-winning author of A Monster Calls comes a haunting tale of power and obsession that turns the story of Moby Dick upside down.
"Call me Bathsheba." The whales of Bathsheba's pod live for the hunt. Led by the formidable Captain Alexandra, they fight a never-ending war against men. Then the whales attack a man ship, and instead of easy prey they find the trail of a myth, a monster, perhaps the devil himself... With their relentless Captain leading the chase, they embark on the final hunt, one that will forever change the worlds of whales and men.
Exquisitely illustrated throughout in full-colour by Australian artist Rovina Cai, winner of the 2018 CBCA Crichton Award for Best New Illustrator.
Creators
Patrick Ness is the award-winning and bestselling author of the Chaos Walking trilogy, A Monster Calls, More Than This, The Rest of Us Just Live Here and Release. John Green has described him as "an insanely beautiful writer". He has won every major prize in children's fiction, including the Carnegie Medal twice. He has written the screenplay for the film of A Monster Calls and the BBC Doctor Who spin-off, Class. The first Chaos Walking film is slated for release in 2019. He lives in London.
Rovina Cai creates illustrations that evoke a sense of intrigue and she is often inspired by the past. From myths and fairy-tales to gothic novels, she loves stories that bring a little bit of magic and wonder to the present day. She lives in Melbourne, Australia.
Reviews
I enjoyed And the Ocean Was Our Sky for its plot, unique narration and setting, and the hidden messages that I needed to decode throughout the book. It’s beautifully written, much like everything else that Patrick Ness writes, and the beautifully haunting illustrations by Rovina Cai enhanced the reading experience and made it a book that I will happily reread again and again.
happyindulgencebooks.com
Ness’s prose is more than matched by a series of exquisite illustrations by Australian artist Rovina Cai, that serve to enhance the reading experience.
PS News
An unbelievable graphic novel meets novella that tells the tale of Moby Dick from the Whale’s perspective. You absolutely don’t need to have read Moby Dick to get something from this stunning book. It examines (with chilling relevancy) the nature of war and heroism
Volume Reads
In Patrick Ness style, it is a dark and graphic story and supported perfectly by the illustrations that enhance the story.
ReadPlus
This handsome book would make a lovely gift. It’s a singular story I enjoyed in single sitting. English teachers will eat. this. up. Enjoy.
Striking Keys
This is phenomenal. I loved every single aspect about this book, from the illustrations, the writing and the classic twist of an old tale. I loved it all.
Blue Fairy Tales
Not only is this mythic tale visually stunning, with illustrations from Rovina Cai but it’s a story that will have readers transported to the depths of the ocean, in an exploration of human nature through the story of Bathsheba the whale.
Better Reading Kids
Cai’s unique and stunning illustrations really added to the reading experience and worked beautifully with Ness’ vivid writing.
Good Reads
The themes of war and understanding and ‘there’s two sides to every story’ really shine through in Ness’ retelling, and you don’t have to have studied Moby Dick to feel that coming across at all.
Splendid Shambles Blog
And The Ocean Was Our Sky feels like it’s full of questions and meanings and leaves you thinking. It’s beautifully put together too!
Paper Fury
