Storm Child by Ele Fountain

An exciting, thought-provoking novel about parental unemployment and facing your problems, from the prize-winning author of Boy 87 and Fake

Maya's life is about to be upended. After her dad's fishing boat is ravaged by a relentless storm, Maya's parents make the decision to start over-by moving to a tropical island. But making a change doesn't always make a difference.

Far from her friends and her quiet seaside home where she spent all her time surfing, Maya is swept away by a storm much larger than herself. As Maya begins to realise that paradise is not always what it seems, can she bring her family back home again?

Kindle Edition, 205 pages

Published February 11, 2025 

by Pushkin Children's Books

3/5 stars

This was a relatively short novel coming in at 205 pages, it was also my first time reading this author.

An interesting story that had a lot of potential. It deals with serious subject matter in terms of financial problems within the home and a rash decision to relocate. For Maya, it’s a big change being separated from her friends, surfing and the only place she called home.

I am going to go against the general flow in my feelings for this book. Aside from the fact that I struggled with the formatting of my digital arc, but I don’t feel that I can blame that for how disjointed I felt the story was at times. I hope the final copy corrects the run-on of conversations in the same paragraph that left me confused as to who was talking. 

However, within the story I was left wondering where it actually took place.  I don't think I've every encountered a story, that wasn't fantasy and not know the location.  It felt weird and actually took away from the story.  Someone mentioned a jumper versus a jacket once, so I can assume it’s either Australia or England.  Then the move 1000's of miles away to paradise, again location, location, location.   It would’ve been nice to know where paradise was especially when there is talk of the sea, the waves and global changes. 

The story itself was missing something more.  Lots going on in terms of the move, loneliness, financial hardship, starting over, learning the lay of this new island (paradise), new jobs, lack of jobs, being secluded and more. All in 205 pages.

 On the plus side, it does open up for discussion our responsibility to clean up after ourselves.

My thanks to Pushkin Children's Books for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.