Wanderer's First Summer

Teya Rosenberg teaches children’s literature at the University of
Alberta.

This tale of initiation and discovery takes place in an ocean world in
which the only land consists of floating islands of growing vegetation.
Kee reaches adolescence believing that all people cultivate the whalins
(small whalelike creatures with telepathic abilities) to help protect
the islands from the huge and dangerous creatures that exist in the
ocean. During her first summer as a “wanderer” (a person who
collects the whalin spawn to bring back to the island), Kee discovers
that their own telepathic abilities are far greater than most
people’s, and she learns more about her family and her people. She
also discovers that not all societies are organized in the same way as
hers, and, through that knowledge, resolves the conflicts she has with
the elders of her community.

Initially, Wanderer’s First Summer seems to promise a much larger
conflict between Kee and the elders of her island than eventually
occurs. Kee’s realization that no one social organization is the
correct one is, however, an important part of her development, and in
that sense the ending does work. The story as a whole is strong; Erbach
depicts Kee and her friends convincingly and creates the ocean world
well. This is a novel of our times, stressing as it does the importance
of respecting one’s social and natural community. Highly recommended.