Faraway Things

by Dave Eggers, Kelly Murphy (Illustrator)

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Though not uncommon for either of these creators, Dave Eggers and Kelly Murphy have managed to design a story so beautiful, thought-provoking and inspiring that Faraway Things will linger in your mind for days. Murphy’s illustrations follow Lucian as he discovers a “faraway thing” on the seashore and then must decide what to do when the owner appears. This new Dave Eggers tale will feel right at home on any bookshelf — or within arm’s reach for anyone looking for a quick daydream.

This classic-feeling adventure tale from Newbery-winning author Dave Eggers (The Eyes & the Impossible) is an evocative tale of a boy and his sword, and how giving away something precious leads to an even more important discovery.

Lucian's father called them faraway things, those mysterious objects orphaned upon the windswept shore, their stories long lost in the shroud of ocean fog. Lucian's discovery on the beach this particular day, though, is no ordinary faraway thing. It's a cutlass: strong, shiny, and powerful. As its history comes to light, Lucian faces a choice: cling to the sword he loves or accept a gift that shines farther, wider, and deeper than he could have ever dreamed.

Stunningly illustrated with evocative art by Kelly Murphy and written by award-winning and bestselling writer Dave Eggers, here is a profound and resonant tale about the reward of letting go.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316492195
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	06/08/2021
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	52,955
Product dimensions:	10.20(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Dave Eggers is the Newbery-winning author of The Eyes & the Impossible and a bestselling author of many books, including the National Book Award finalist A Hologram for the King. His books for younger readers include Abner & Ian Get Right-Side Up, What Can a Citizen Do?, Her Right Foot, and The Lifters. He is the founder of the independent publishing company McSweeney's, the college-access nonprofit ScholarMatch, and 826 Valencia, a writing center for young people in San Francisco. Eggers lives in Northern California.

Kelly Murphy has illustrated a number of acclaimed books for children, including the New York Times bestseller and recipient of the E. B. White Read Aloud Award Masterpiece by Elise Broach and Together We Grow by Susan Vaught. Raised in the swamps of southern New England, she occasionally made her way to the nearby ocean, where she found her own faraway things. Kelly currently lives in Providence and teaches at her alma mater, Rhode Island School of Design.

Editorial Reviews

★ 04/12/2021

When pale-skinned Lucian brings home a magnificent cutlass he’s found on the beach, his mother has doubts. “Is it a faraway thing?” she asks, using his father’s phrase for treasures washed up on the beach. “Yup,” he assures her. When he hangs it on his wall, in their home below a defunct lighthouse, he dreams of his father. The next day, the cutlass’s owner appears by rowboat—a captain whose galleon is stuck on a sandbar. A bald, brown-skinned man in modern-looking spectacles, he approaches Lucian with an offer: “If you return the cutlass, I’ll let you choose whatever object you like from the treasures I’ve accumulated.” The moment that Lucian enters the room is tense. “Choose wisely,” the captain says, and readers watch as the child relinquishes his prize for a quieter treasure in a step out of childhood and into responsibility. Sweeping multimedia art by Murphy (Together We Grow) gives the galleon, its crew, and the ocean grandeur. The story raises more questions than it answers—about the boy’s father and the nonworking lighthouse—but Eggers (We Became Jaguars) tells his swashbuckling yarn with screenplay-like polish that feels just as expansive as Murphy’s art. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (June)

Publishers Weekly

"Lyrical, descriptive language allows Lucian's story to gently unfold... [a] beautiful story about adventure and honoring a father's memory, this is a noteworthy addition to elementary school libraries."—School Library Journal

* "An ingenious choice for a muted palette...[an] evocative picture book bildungsroman with equally atmospheric illustrations."—Kirkus Reviews

* "Sweeping multimedia art by Murphy gives the galleon, its crew, and the ocean grandeur... Eggers tells his swashbuckling yarn with screenplay-like polish that feels just as expansive as Murphy's art."—Publishers Weekly

"Using wide pictures rendered in muted tones set alongside sparse text, the reader is given a window into the life of Lucian....[t]his story presents a short, yet important journey of loss, growth, and empathy."—School Library Connection

"Whether enjoyed as a group read or a private puzzle to be explored and re-explored, this picture book will inspire a host of stories and possible a shanty or two."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"The compelling story is enhanced by the stunning full-bleed illustrations in ink and watercolor, which show in atmospheric detail the rocky shore, the stormy coastline and ship, and Lucian's cozy home."—Booklist

"Eggers and Murphy have crafted an evocative story that centers imaginative play and gently explores loss.... [a] pleasing enigmatic tale."—The Horn Book

From the Publisher

★ 01/01/2021

Gr 3–5—Lucian loves searching for faraway things—items with no obvious owner—that have drifted ashore near his home. One day, after a great storm has raged through the night, Lucian happens upon a cutlass, and it is unlike anything he has found before. He carefully secures it to the wall of his bedroom, inspiring a series of dreams about his late father. After the fog clears, Lucian notices a large ship in the bay, stuck in a sandbar because there was no lighthouse to guide its passage. The ship's captain comes ashore and, because the cutlass is rightfully his, allows Lucian to choose another of the captain's treasures in exchange for the sword. Lyrical, descriptive language allows Lucian's story to gently unfold. The writing invites readers into a narrative that is deeper than it first appears; longer sentences and more nuanced storytelling make this title best suited to older elementary readers. This story is enjoyable to read aloud, though the illustrations deserve equal attention. Watercolor and ink bring Lucian's world to life in hues of primarily blue, gray, and brown, encapsulating the feel of a seaside home. Rich landscapes couple with minute detail, resulting in captivating and compelling visuals. Lucian and his mother are white, as are most of the ship's crew; however, the captain and a few of the other crew members have darker skin. VERDICT A beautiful story about adventure and honoring a father's memory, this is a noteworthy addition to elementary school libraries.—Mary Lanni, formerly at Denver P.L.

School Library Journal

★ 2021-03-31
A found “faraway thing” becomes a turning point in the life of a boy.

“Lucian live[s] with his mother on a windswept shore.” His father has been absent from their lighthouse home for long enough that Lucian worries his real memories of him are fading. After a storm, Lucian combs the beach for what his father had called “faraway things”—objects tossed up by the sea—and finds a cutlass. Thrilled, he plays with it, sweeping and slashing the air. The next day dawns foggy, but when it lifts Lucian spies a stranded sailing ship. As he watches, a rowboat is lowered from the ship and moves toward him. The captain steps ashore, wearing a sheath that matches the cutlass. He tells Lucian the cutlass belongs to him, but in trade, the captain will let Lucian select anything from his treasures. Lucian reluctantly realizes the cutlass belongs to the captain and agrees. At the ship, the captain shows Lucian wonderful things and advises him to “choose wisely.” Lucian does. This bildungsroman’s timeless and slightly otherworldly feel is underscored by its illustrations’ muted, effective palette of earth, sea, and sky tones. Unusual perspectives—an ingenious choice for a muted palette—create visual stimulation, showing views from both above and below the horizon line. Satisfyingly, the endpapers allegorically start and finish the story. The captain has dark skin; Lucian and the others have light skin.

An evocative picture-book bildungsroman with equally atmospheric illustrations. (Picture book. 6-8)

Kirkus Reviews

William DeMeritt’s narration of Eggers’s latest tale is an evocative experience that transports listeners to an isolated, rocky shore. The sounds of the sea set the scene for Lucian’s adventures. DeMeritt’s delivery is spot-on as he captures Lucian’s childish timbre as he engages in play with the cutlass he found when searching the beach for “faraway things” washed up on the shore. The ship’s captain who has lost his cutlass has a voice of authority when he questions the absence of a light in the lighthouse and offers Lucian a swap that benefits them both. Children who have access to the print edition’s illustrations will have a feast for the ears AND the eyes. N.E.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

JUNE 2021 - AudioFile

William DeMeritt’s narration of Eggers’s latest tale is an evocative experience that transports listeners to an isolated, rocky shore. The sounds of the sea set the scene for Lucian’s adventures. DeMeritt’s delivery is spot-on as he captures Lucian’s childish timbre as he engages in play with the cutlass he found when searching the beach for “faraway things” washed up on the shore. The ship’s captain who has lost his cutlass has a voice of authority when he questions the absence of a light in the lighthouse and offers Lucian a swap that benefits them both. Children who have access to the print edition’s illustrations will have a feast for the ears AND the eyes. N.E.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

JUNE 2021 - AudioFile