A moving portrait of loss and the restorative power of art from Lauren Wolk, the Newbery Honor-winning author of Beyond the Bright Sea.Lucretia Sanderson has a secret.Lucretia and her mother have come to tiny Candle Island, Maine (Population: Summer, 986; Winter, 315) to escape—escape memories of the car accident that killed her father and escape the journalists that hound her mother, a famous and reclusive artist. The rocky coast and ocean breeze are a welcome respite for Lucretia, who dedicates her summer days to painting, exploring the island, and caring for an orphaned osprey chick.
But Candle Island has secrets of its own—a hidden room in her new house, a mysterious boy with a beautiful voice—and just like the strong tides that surround the shores, they will catch Lucretia in their wake.
With an unforgettable New England setting and a complex web of relationships old and new,
Candle Island is a powerful story about art, loss, and the power of being true to your own voice.
On sale: April 22, 2025
Age: 10 and up
Grade: Grade 5 & Up
Page count: 352 Pages
ISBN: 9780593698549
Reading level: Lexile: 670L | Fountas/Pinnell: Y
Lauren Wolk is an award–winning poet, artist, and novelist. She is the author of
Echo Mountain,
My Own Lightning, Newbery Honor–winner
Wolf Hollow, and Scott O’Dell Award-winner
Beyond the Bright Sea. Lauren was born in Baltimore and has since lived in California, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Canada, and Ohio. She now lives with her family on Cape Cod.
★ “Wolk writes with a beautiful serenity reflective of Lucretia’s unconventional artist’s view of the world . . . Readers who enjoy good writing for its own sake and meeting
characters who feel like friends by story’s end will revel in losing themselves on Candle Island.” —
Booklist, starred review
★ “[A] cathartic and deeply felt story,
a resounding celebration of unconditional love and personal expression.” —
Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Wolk’s latest novel wonderfully portrays new relationships while tackling grief and self-discovery. The characters are well developed, and
readers can see parts of themselves and those they know. . . A worthy purchase for library shelves that would also serve well as a selection for group discussions.” —
School Library Journal
