MMGM (10/22/2018): The Secrets of Eastcliff-by-the-Sea by Eileen Beha

For MMGM, I am recommending The Secrets of Eastcliff-by-the-Sea by Eileen Beha.




The Secrets of Eastcliff-by-the-Sea is told from the point of view of a sock monkey named Throckmorton. Ten years earlier, a wealthy woman named Ethel Constance Easterling sewed Throckmorton, her 49th sock money, and gave him to her new great-granddaughter, Annaliese, continuing a long-held tradition. Annaliese loved Throckmorton as a young child, but, all of a sudden, she stopped paying attention to him. But when Throckmorton's original maker sends out invitations to her 90th birthday celebration, which require that attendees bring their sock monkeys, Annaliese and Throckmorton happily reunite. Problems at Annaliese's home, Eastcliff-by-the-Sea, remain, however: she is still a lonely girl with a sad/angry father, a mother who left for reasons unknown to Annaliese, a nanny who doesn't fit in well at the home, and two siblings who are soon to be sent to boarding school, leaving Annaliese alone. In the days leading up to the big birthday celebration, Annaliese and Throckmorton learn more about what exactly is going on in the Easterling family, persevere through hardships, and prepare for the party, where several shocking events change both Annaliese and Throckmorton's lives forever. One of the best parts of The Secrets of Eastcliff-by-the-Sea is its characters. Throckmorton's third-person narration of the story does a great job of showing readers what it would be like to be a sock monkey, while Annaliese's remarkable personality allows her to keep going in her hard life, caring about others and bringing a spark of life to the world of the story. The story is rich with long-hidden family drama (which everyone loves when it isn't related to their families!), tales and traditions, and mystery. Other characters are wonderful as well, such as Annaliese's great-grandmother, whose remarkable eccentricities and wisdom make her a compelling addition to the story. Finally, the ending of the novel makes the 300-page read absolutely worth it, tying up story threads realistically and happily! The Secrets of Eastcliff-by-the-Sea is a novel unlike any other, and readers young and old will adore the novel's fabulous characters, developed world, and hopeful and uplifting themes!

Comments

  1. What an interesting character to tell the story. This sounds like a great one to read aloud. Many chances for discussions of the themes, too. Thanks for telling us about it.

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  2. Not heard of this one, but you have me wondering about the secrets uncovered. Glad you enjoyed it.

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  3. I love the sock monkey cover and character! This sounds like an engaging read. Thanks for featuring it on MMGM today.

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  4. What a fascinating-sounding book! Glad you told us about it.

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  5. A sock monkey as a point of view character. Now I've heard everything! It sounds like a neat book. Thanks for your review. I will look for this one.

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  6. I had a sock monkey. What an unusual narrator. You shared enough of this story to make me want to read it. Thanks for sharing it with us!

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  7. I haven't heard of this one before. I do have a friend who has a sock monkey she has loved since childhood. I think she needs this book. Thanks for sharing. :)
    ~Jess

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