Between Two Seas by Marie-Louise Jensen (Young Adult, 10/10E)

2008, Oxford University Press

305 pages

Content: lots of tension, tissues needed

This is what I call a journey book. Set in 1885, Marianne leaves Grimsby, England, after her mother's death in search for her father who is in Denmark, the land of his birth. I actually haven't been to Grimsby – might make it there one day.

Initially, I thought this book was a little slow. I'm nothing against slow books, but I like them action packed and it can take a while for me to settle to the different pace. That happened quite a few chapters in, but from that moment on I was hooked and hated putting this book down.

Marianne's character develops from someone who I feel is naïve to a very strong young woman. Her stubborn nature exists at the beginning, but by the end she isn't someone I'd mess with. The other characters, such as Peter and Mikkel all make a difference in her new life in Denmark. When a new life is thoroughly planned, it can still be daunting for the person involved. Due to circumstance, Marianne wasn't able to plan her new life; this is her story of adapting to life in a strange land, where she doesn't speak the language and few speak English.

I identified with her because of all the sewing she does! That's always a bonus, when a character has a similar hobby to mine.

Reading how kind people are in this book, the hospitality they offer for Marianne makes me wonder what happens to girls like her now, in the 21^st century. People wouldn't be so eager to provide board and lodging. Many – shamefully myself included – would doubt her motives and close the door on her. I would have helped her all I could, but thanks to the con artists of the world I'm more sceptical of people in need.

This is more a character driven than an action driven book, if I've interpreted those concepts correctly. I enjoyed it as much as a fast paced book because of all the twists and turns in Marianne's life which often had me going 'oh no'. She's not perfect, which makes her more human. As both a reader and a writer, I often try to guess the ending of a novel. I failed completely on this one, and went 'what?' when the end unraveled.

Go check out Marie-Louise's website.Her next book, The Lady In The Tower, is currently on sale - and in my local library! I'll give a review when I get my hands on it.