No Ocean Too Wide begins in the Spring of 1909 in London, with Katie McAlister racing down a rickety stairway into a dark alley. Why is the 14 year old in a hurry?

In this moving story, Carrie Turansky weaves a tale around the practice of moving orphans from England to Canada. Author of 20 novels and novellas, Carrie has won the ACFW Carol Award, the Crystal Globe Award, and the International Digital Award. Take a stroll around her website for the back story of production!

I love the use of fiction to wrap teaching lessons and opportunities for grace extended. When Laura is locked out of her family’s flat, Mrs. Graham says, “Ethel Palmer still hasn’t recovered from the loss of her husband and young son. She’s angry about the past and fearful of the future. And I’m afraid that makes her say and do things that are thoughtless and hurtful at times.”

We learn about the Golden Rule through Katie’s kindness to Jenny. And we learn about finding a friend, through Katie’s gift. “She glanced at the Bible in Jenny’s hand, her heart warming. If she found Jesus in the pages of that Bible, she would have a friend who would never leave her side…and that was what she needed most for the journey ahead.”

I also love the use of historical fiction to teach about the past. I had never heard of child emigration from England, and it was eye opening to see the differences of opinions surrounding that movement. Carrie paints word pictures showing both sides with compelling arguments, and in the end, exposes the pitfalls of any agency that becomes institutionalized.

Family wins in this enjoyable read. Get a copy and escape into a time of hardship and love!

Sally

Disclosure of Material: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the WaterBrook/Multnomah book review program in exchange for a fair and honest review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”