Illustrations: Manuel Šumberac
Time and tide
I have been late to catch this particular tide, but am highly relieved not to have missed it altogether. I was aware of a very positive buzz about the book on social media and, now I have read it for myself, I can quite see why.
This is a novel with a level of originality relatively rare in a children’s debut. It oozes quality. The vivid world Struan Murray creates centres on an isolated island city, the hierarchical nature of whose society is reflected in the physical layout of its conical structure. Much of life there is dominated by fear of a powerful supernatural ‘Enemy’ and its potential manifestation in a human ‘Vessel’. Supposedly protected by an autocratic elite of ‘Inqisitors’, life there has many dark, disturbing aspects. The obsession of those in power is a version of witch hunt that echoes many regrettable periods of our own history, dominated by religious, or pseudo-religious persecution of the innocent and driven by prejudice masquerading as protection. The post-apocalyptic implications of the setting, which could easily be post global warming, add further to disquieting contemporary resonance. The whole amounts to a creation of chilling imagination, backgrounding a story of consequently visceral excitement.
High tide
This narrative is developed through a cast of fascinating and highly engaging characters, with a feisty girl protagonist in orphaned ‘inventor’, Ellie. complemented by her gentler sidekick friend, Anna. However, boys are not neglected either. The mysterious ‘Seth,’, pulled by Ellie from the body of a stranded whale, is soon in need of her help when he is accused of being The Vessel and condemned to death by burning. He is an intriguingly enigmatic character, who may not actually want Ellie’s help an much as she is prepared to risk her own life to give it. There is also Finn, a young boy keen to become Ellie’s ally, but to whom she has an initially unexplained antipathy. Indeed many unanswered question emerge as this story develops and quickly give it compelling impetus. Many of the adult characters are ambivalent in motivation too, only adding further to the narrative drive. In fact, the story develops so strongly and so much is not what it initially seems, that only rarely recently have I felt so involved in wanting to press forward with a children’s book. The plotting is masterly and every chapter brings new questions matched by edge-of-the-seat action and excitement.
Moreover, a cleverly interleaved narrative gradually reveals, to both reader and characters, a historical thread concerning a previous incarnation of The Enemy in a human Vessel. As the two story strands entangle the whole is precipitated into something that would approach a storytelling masterclass, if the reader were not too carried along in the moment of the narrative to appreciate the underlying skill of its construction.
Manuel Šumberac’s whole page greyscale illustrations also contribute strongly to the conjuring of this disturbing world.
It would be very wrong to reveal anything of the shocking denouements of the story, beyond saying that the reader will end up holding their metaphorical breath to the very end. However, this is no facile adventure. It is packed with things to think about as well as action to thrill over. Whilst it is never didactic, it is probing, provoking and challenging. This is no territory for the faint hearted reader.
Turning tide
I was enormously impressed too by Struan Murray’s command of English prose. As a former teacher, this only adds to the strength of my recommendation. It is not that young readers will necessarily be consciously aware of the unobtrusively skilful quality of his language use, but they will nevertheless assimilate it as they read. For them to be exposed to such models is enormously beneficial, perhaps particularly in this age of truncated and abbreviated digital communication. When this is in the context of such a motivating and engaging read, it is a particular asset.
0rphans of the Tide is not a book for the youngest readers; it will perhaps be best suited to older children and younger teens. However, I am sure any who enjoyed Frances Hardinge’s equally wonderful Deeplight* will revel in this too (or vice versa). Despite each of these works being distinctly its own book, there are many most interesting points of comparison between them.
The great news for us all is that a sequel from Struan Murray is due in March next year. I can’t see myself being so tardy in riding the next tide.
*See my review from December 2019