Hoist Your Sails and Run

Alison Mews is co-ordinator of the Centre for Instructional Services at
Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Set in Portugal Cove, Newfoundland, this realistic novel describes
Emma’s developing relationship with her childhood friend Aquain. As
Aquain works on a giant squid school project, he probes his ailing
Granfer’s boyhood memories of searching for the legendary creature.
That squids are important to the story is reflected not only in the
cover illustration, but also in the chapter heading quotes, which are
taken from historical documents and folklore about giant squids. Aquain
and Emma have three near-tragic experiences, including one with a giant
squid, and all involve eerie rescues by a mysterious boy. They believe
him to be the ghost of Tommy Picco, an actual person famous for chopping
the tentacles off a sea creature later identified as a 72–foot giant
squid.

In her first novel for young adults, Robin McGrath has portrayed many
of the activities that interest two serious teens from outport
Newfoundland. They enjoy jigging for squid, gathering spawning caplin,
watching the seal cull, and observing meteor showers from the beach.
Unfortunately, McGrath has not developed an ear for dialogue, which
makes up most of the book; much of it is awkward and thesaurus-enriched.
Also, she has attempted to include so much information about
Newfoundland customs that her characters are constantly giving each
other didactic speeches. However, she handles the teens’ reactions to
Granfer’s death with sensitivity, and has well integrated the
supernatural elements into the story. With some judicious editing, this
could have been a much better book. Recommended with reservations.