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The Somerset Tsunami: 'The Queen of Historical Fiction at her finest.' Guardian

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The Somerset Tsunami: 'The Queen of Historical Fiction at her finest.' Guardian by Emma Carroll

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By Emma Carroll

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32 reviews

A sinking boat.
A girl in disguise.
A disappearing sea.

When Fortune Sharpe carves a boat from a tree with her beloved brother, Gem, she’s only having a bit of fun. But now is not the time for a girl to be drawing attention to herself. She is sent away to find work dressed as a boy. Luckily a rich manor house is hiring.

Yet Berrow Hall’s inhabitants harbour dangerous secrets of their own, the suspicious owner is hunting for witches, and the house itself is a little too close to the sea.

Reviews

28 Jan 2024

I liked this book because it had a suspect and was an action book. When fortune Sharp makes a boat from a tree with her brother jain, she is only having a bit of fun, but but now is not the time for a girl to be drawing attention to herself, and she is sent away to find work dressed as a boy. Luckily, reach Manor house is hiring the suspicious honour is hunting for which is and the house itself is a little too close to the sea one day. Something was wrong with the sea. It shoreline was a little too strange that’s when tsunami came fortune survived but was accused for being a witch, but in the end the Real, which was Mary and assistant of the owner. So Mary was killed and fortune was innocent and not a witch, and they all lived happily ever after.

04 Aug 2023

First of all, I was intrigued by the title - but I can’t expand - you need to read the book yourself. I wondered if I was going to enjoy it as much as ‘The Week at World’s End’. I did! I liked the way the story mentioned other historical issues which were happening at the same time. The main character was strong and loyal to her family despite being sent away. Friendship, trust and bravery were characteristics which developed throughout the story which, on reflection, would serve well in a more modern story. My challenge now is to recommend it to the children.

06 Sep 2022

It was full of adventure and like always it I'd a very good Emma Carroll book

02 Sep 2022

This “Historical Fiction” was all about Treasure Sharpe, who was just a girl who wanted fun. However when they test their home-made boat on the Sabbath, trouble starts to boil. She goes to the market disguised as a boy, and is hired to look after Master Ellis Spicer. This go wrong, which always happens when there’s secrets to be kept… a wonderful, enthralling fiction practically MADE for adventure story lovers.

29 Aug 2022

I enjoyed this book and I thought that the author was very good at describing particular feelings and people.

My favourite character was called Maira. She appeared at the beginning for a brief period and again towards the end - she was an adventurous character.

19 Aug 2022

Great book recommended to everyone

05 Aug 2022

The book is very good and I enjoyed, it was a bit confusing at the first few chapters but the more I read it the more I liked it! I also think this non fiction book was confusing to me because it is more of a diary type book where as I normally read story books. This book is also based on a real story so it was very interesting. I would definitely recommend this book to people who love real stories!
I loved it!!!!!

28 Jul 2022

This book is a great story for fans of historical novels. I really enjoyed reading it!

14 Feb 2022

I read this book in school and loved it that much, when I saw it in the library I just had to take it home

It’s a lovely story 5stars

15 Sep 2021

An excellently crafted book using historical events. There are characters to love and characters to hate. History changes lives and this book brings to life an era of the witch trials. The reader immerses completely. Would recommend to any 10+ year old.

05 Sep 2021

Yet again like all of Emma carols books I loved it.My favourite character was Bea the baby.This book has loverly description and a brilliant story line that shows what life would have been like when the real tsunami hit Somerset. You never want to put this book down when you are into it and I would really recommend it for anyone that likes historical fiction around aged 8-13.

Who you have liked the see?
Do you believe in witches ?
Do you think boys should always be in charge?

14 Aug 2021

Great book, my favourite character was Bea or Maira and I would recommend!

02 Jul 2021

Emma Carrol has excelled herself with this one. Just when you think you are at the end there is another plot twist. I would definitely recommend.

05 Apr 2021

Good book.

04 Sep 2020

My favourite character was Jem, the book was a lovely mix of the tsunami and the suspicion of witchcraft, it was factual about Somerset and its inhabitants and had facts about witchcraf5 as well, when Fortune went to work in Barrow Hall it was starting to get more mysterious, I would recommend this to pretty much anyone with an interest of fantasy and the sea

25 Aug 2020

Definitely further proof that Emma Carroll is the absolute queen of historic fiction! One of my favourites yet ...

25 Aug 2020

A gripping fictional tale based on true life events - the flooding of Somerset and the King James I witch hunts of the early 17th century. Fortune - the protagonist - is bold, brave and adventurous - everything a reader wants in their heroine. Having recently read The Mercies, by Kiran Millwood Hargrove, I was struck by the similarities of the events - a village of women, extreme weather events, witch hunts. A brilliant read - perfect for 9-12 year olds.

22 Aug 2020

Books with tsunamis are so good interesting I recommend it.

21 Aug 2020

This book is amazing, this book is a fiction book. I recommend this to you.

19 Aug 2020

I recommend this book to people who like adventurous and mystery stories!!

18 Aug 2020

This book is enthralling and I love the way that it included real life historical events.

11 Aug 2020

I rate this book 9+.
This is was such a great book I could not put it down!! .

10 Aug 2020

I would give this story a 1000 star rating, I don't know how Emma Carroll manages it because she is just incredible at historical fiction.

If you haven't read this book you are really missing out...

06 Aug 2020

i loved this book packed full with mystery and proof of how strong women are

06 Aug 2020

This book was very well written with lots of ups and downs. I liked how it all came together at the end.

02 Aug 2020

I love this

25 Jul 2020

I really like Emma Carrol’s style of writing, and this one is no exception! I like how she incorporated the witch trials in it too, and the moral that everyone has a bit of strangeness in them, and that you should embrace them.

20 Jul 2020

It was really good. It took me back in time and showed you what is was like to be living at that time. My favourite character was Fortune Sharpe, but I also liked Susannah, Bea and Ellis. I wish I hadn't finished it.

01 Jul 2020

really liked this book would SO recommend it.

14 Jun 2020

I liked this book because it was historical fiction (which is one of my favourite themes). It was very dramatic and I always want to read more when about to go to sleep. Whoever likes historical fiction should read this book and Emma Carrol’s other books because people say that she is the Queen of Historical Fiction.

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