Candle Island

A moving portrait of loss and the restorative power of art from Lauren Wolk, the Newbery Honor-winning author of Beyond the Bright Sea.

Lucretia Sanderson has a secret.

Lucretia and her mother have come to tiny Candle Island, Maine (Population: Summer, 986; Winter, 315) to escape--escape memories of the car accident that killed her father and escape the journalists that hound her mother, a famous and reclusive artist. The rocky coast and ocean breeze are a welcome respite for Lucretia, who dedicates her summer days to painting, exploring the island, and caring for an orphaned osprey chick.

But Candle Island has secrets of its own--a hidden room in her new house, a mysterious boy with a beautiful voice--and just like the strong tides that surround the shores, they will catch Lucretia in their wake.

With an unforgettable New England setting and a complex web of relationships old and new, Candle Island is a powerful story about art, loss, and the power of being true to your own voice.

Author: Lauren Wolk
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Published: 04/22/2025
Pages: 352
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.70w x 1.50d
ISBN: 9780593698549
Audience: Ages 9-12


Review Citation(s):
Booklist 01/01/2025 pg. 76
Kirkus Reviews 02/01/2025
Publishers Weekly 02/17/2025
Horn Book Magazine 03/01/2025 pg. 88
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 04/01/2025
School Library Journal 04/04/2025 pg. 1

About the Author
Lauren Wolk is an award-winning poet, artist, and novelist. She is the author of Echo Mountain, My Own Lightning, Newbery Honor-winner Wolf Hollow, and Scott O'Dell Award-winner Beyond the Bright Sea. Lauren was born in Baltimore and has since lived in California, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Canada, and Ohio. She now lives with her family on Cape Cod.