Twelve year old Quila was grieving over her mother's death, again.  Her mother had recently died, and her father was not the same.  He was always quiet, but he had become quieter when his wife died. Now without her mother, Quila could do nothing that would stop reminding her of her mother. Sure enough, there was nothing to do on the small island known as Devil's Rock, which was a part of Maine. There had just been a recent storm, so Quila went outside to see if she could find any survivors, or wreckage. While Quila was searching the horizon, she spotted a raft bound by a thin rope. She climbed down the steep stones, and noticed the raft was made out of mattresses. She unbound the rope, and inside she found a tiny baby girl. Later, her father decided to keep her, but it would not be his responsibility. Two years had gone by, and another storm came, this time much more violent, and much closer to Devil's Rock. Quila was instructed to stay inside while her father went to look for survivors. He came back with only one, and she died later in the night. About a month went by when a visitor came, she claimed to be the sister of a lady who died in a ship wreck close to Devil's Rock. Her name was Margaret, and Quila decided right away she did not like her. Quila could not get used to how different it was to have an adult woman in the house again, and how different Margaret was from her mother. Margaret did not care that Quila did not like her,  they both had the baby, whom they shared. Finally, Margaret was ready to see her sisters grave, she was buried next to Quila' s mother. Margaret noticed that the grave had recently been dug, her sister had died two years ago, when the baby was found, who they named Celia. Quila was heartbroken to find out that Celia would have to go back to the main land with Margaret. This made Quila hate Margaret even more. Eventually, Quila could not take it anymore, in the middle of the night, Quila took Celia out for a boat ride. Quila did not know that the sea would be rough that night, and she almost drowned herself and Celia. Fortunately, a fisherman was out late, and happened to see them, and it was a good friend too. He took them to his home on the main land, then brought them back the next day. Finally, Quila's father made the decision that Quila should go with Margaret. With Margaret, Quila could learn to become a proper lady, and have a proper life. Quila was bewildered. She did not think her life could get any worse, but it did, and even that shock did not last very long.

      I really enjoyed this book because it was full of suspense and it was serene. I would recommend this book for people from grades five to ninth.

 ~ Ashley Aldan, grade 7, Boardman Center Middle School