The Family Ship Book Review — Confetti Bookshelf

REVIEW:

In short, this is why I read.

I loved Sonja Yoerg’s novel The Family Ship so much that I’m going to resist the urge to crack jokes or use any boat-related puns. (I know. Wish me luck.)

First of all, this is literary fiction all the way. The concept of nine children being the crew of a ship may imply elements of fantasy or magical realism, but the boat is a vehicle for their imaginations… not those of the readers.

It's 1980 - a time when screens and other electronic devices didn’t dominate free time. The Vergennes family lives in a remote area of Chesapeake Bay Virginia, and when their parents bought their house the backyard happened to come with an old oyster boat, the USS Nepenthe. “They couldn’t afford, either in time or money, sports and activities for so many children, not living where they did. In a way, the USS Nepenthe defined them. The ship was more than an elaborate playhouse; it was a place where their children could play and learn and work together, right in their backyard."

As someone who grew up with only one sibling, it was eye-opening to spend time in the midst of such a large family. The pressure the older kids face to take on pseudo-parenting roles is so heavy, you cannot help but feel for them. At alternating moments, it’s a burden or a blessing.

While we primarily get the perspectives of the two eldest children, Jude and Verity, we see life through the eyes of a few younger ones as well. Each chapter shows how a character is interpreting events, all in third person narration. Many of these events are heartbreaking.

When I wasn’t reading The Family Ship, I was thinking about it. I’d wake up in the morning planning out when I could sneak in another chapter. I deeply cared about the Vergennes family, and I was sad to see their story end. My only solace is I still have Yoerg’s previous five novels to read. (If you’ve ever read this author before and have a favorite, please let me know in the comments!)

In the Author’s Note, she shares that her inspiration for this story was a 2015 episode of NPR’s This American Life called “The Land of Make Believe.” Click the photo below the publisher synopsis to learn more and listen.

My sincere appreciation goes to the author and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read an advanced copy for review.

PUBLISHER SYNOPSIS:

Chesapeake Bay, 1980. Eighteen-year-old Verity Vergennes is the captain of the USS Nepenthe, and her seven younger siblings are her crew. The ship—an oyster boat transformed into a make-believe destroyer—is the heart of the Vergennes family, a place both to play and to learn responsibility. But Verity’s had it with being tied to the ship and secretly applies to a distant college. If only her parents could bear to let her go.

Maeve and Arthur Vergennes already suffered one loss when, five years earlier, their eldest son, Jude, stormed out and never returned. Now Maeve is pregnant again and something’s amiss. Verity yearns to follow her dreams, but how can she jump ship now? The problem, and perhaps the answer, lies with Jude.

When disaster strikes and the family unravels, Verity must rally her sibling crew to keep the Nepenthe and all it symbolizes afloat. Sailing away from home, she discovers, is never easy—not if you ever hope to find your way back.

Click here to listen to the This American Life episode that inspired the novel.

The Family Ship ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑

A Caller’s Game ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭒

Ready Player Two ⭑⭑⭑⭑