The Wanderer by Sharon Creech is the tale of Sophie, a thirteen-year-old with a deep love for the ocean. She will travel with her uncles and cousins across the ocean to England to visit her grandfather, Bompie. Sophie is the narrator of the first few chapters, allowing the reader to get a feel for her character before the journey. She comes across as a dreamer, philosophical about the sea and being alone there. When her cousin Cody begins to narrate some chapters, the reader’s perception of Sophie begins to shift. It comes to light that some of the stories we have heard from Sophie may not be true. But why would Sophie lie in her own journal?

Creech leads the reader through the journey, laying clues and information here and there to be absorbed. Each chapter leaves the reader pondering, wondering what drives the characters. As they reach their destination, truths are revealed and relationships are reexamined. All of this unfolds with perfect pacing that will keep readers turning the pages. Katie O’Dell, writing for School Library Journal, says that, “The first-person immediacy and episodic nature of the narratives allow for piecemeal but intimate revelation of character.”

Creech’s language is urgent and unique, with each narrator’s voice distinct. There is tenderness in the way things are dealt with, and an underlying message of love. David Diaz’s art at the beginning of each new entry is interesting and even thought provoking in its representation of events. Readers see the characters grow as questions are answered. O’Dell again states, “For each crew member, there is a conscious journey to Bompie across the sea, and an unconscious one of self-discovery.” Creech has crafted a wonderful tale that flows in a way as natural as the rolling waves.

O’Dell, Katie. 2000. Review of The Wanderer in School Library Journal.