Secret Sisters of the Salty Sea

Newbery Medalist Lynne Rae Perkins introduces two irresistible sisters—Alix and Jools—and takes readers on an unforgettable vacation to the beach. This chapter book is an excellent choice to share during homeschooling, in particular for children ages 7 to 9 who are reading independently. It’s a fun way to keep your child engaged and as a supplement for activity books for children.

This joyful celebration of sisters, family, friendship, and the ocean is illustrated in black-and-white throughout. The Wall Street Journal said, “Ocean meets sky meets two young girls in Lynne Rae Perkins’s affectionate chapter book. . . . Illustrations by the author add wit and tenderness to this sunny summer story.” For fans of Kate DiCamillo and Rebecca Stead.

Alix and her older sister, Jools, have never been to the ocean. When their parents pack them up to spend a week by the shore, Alix is nervous about leaving home—but excited, too. At the beach, the sisters make friends, go exploring, and have adventures big and small. To Alix’s surprise, as the week comes to an end, she finds she doesn’t want to leave!

Each chapter contains its own miniature discovery—from picking periwinkles, meeting a crab, and making sandcastles, to exploring the nearby town. Award-winning author Lynne Rae Perkins has beautifully crafted a genuine and engaging novel about sisters, family, and exploration.

A great read-aloud, as well as a good choice for newly independent readers. Booklist said, “Ordinary pleasures, in the hands of a writer so skilled, are elevated.” Features black and white art throughout; the paperback edition also includes three summer craft projects to make at home.

This gentle story captures all the quiet wonders of a classic family vacation at the shore.

• A Heartwarming Sister Story: Join Alix and Jools on their first-ever trip to the ocean, where they share secrets, adventures, and a cozy room in Kerr's Kabana.
• Seaside Exploration: From collecting sea glass and periwinkles to building magnificent sandcastles, every day brings a new, gentle discovery by the salty sea.
• Making New Friends: A sweet story of summer friendship, as the sisters meet new friends like Nessa and learn that home can be a feeling, not just a place.
• Perfect for Summer Reading: An ideal chapter book for newly independent readers ages 7-9, and a wonderful family read-aloud that brings the magic of a beach vacation to life.
• Bonus Craft Activities: The paperback edition extends the fun with three summer craft projects, making it a wonderful supplement to kids’ activity books.

“Told in a light, breezy style with rich but accessible language and touches of humor...Appealing black-and-white illustrations scattered throughout provide visual context for the setting which is also vividly described in the text. A great choice for young readers ready for longer fiction.” - School Library Journal

“A gentle wonder suffuses the story, focusing on the kid perspective of the small but significant parts of a summer trip...The prose has a pleasing accessibility, and although there’s a clear arc, any of the eight chapters could easily be read aloud as a stand-alone.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

“In every episode—a night swim, a June-bug attack, a beach-glass-collection expedition, a visit to a raptor sanctuary—Perkins zooms in. ...we get to know the characters in an intimate way. ...Black-and-white illustrations, beautifully composed, slightly mysterious, gently funny, add to the intensity and authenticity.” - Horn Book Magazine

“Perkins’s charming black-and-white illustrations are matched by gentle, evocative language that sparkles like summer sunlight on the sea...The novel’s themes of family, friendship, growing up and trying new things are a perfect fit for Perkins’s middle grade audience.” - BookPage

“This charming novel of a girl’s first family beach vacation vividly evokes the childhood wonder of the first experience of the ocean. ...the next best thing to a week at the beach.” - Buffalo News

“Ordinary pleasures, in the hands of a writer so skilled, are elevated. ...Each chapter is its own small treasure, a mix of the everyday and the unexpected, all written in a way that delights the senses.” - Booklist (starred review)

“Ocean meets sky meets two young girls in Lynne Rae Perkins’s affectionate chapter book...the girls experience days filled with quiet, quirky wonders: sand castles and ocean currents, edible snails and giant beetles, injured raptors and mint-eating raccoons. Illustrations by the author add wit and tenderness to this sunny summer story.” - Wall Street Journal

“Newbery Medalist Perkins vividly captures the world through a child’s eyes in this quiet novel chronicling Alix Treffrey’s weeklong vacation on the beach...Perkins draws on all five senses to evoke nature’s beauty and show the ebb and flow of Alix’s emotions as she eagerly explores new territory.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)