Beyond the Station Lies the Sea

by Jutta Richter, Anna Brailovsky (Translator)

Overview

Two misfits embark on a journey to realize their dreams in this timeless tale.

Cosmos and Niner live on the street. It’s not such a bad life, they think, but they dream of going to the sea, where it’s always summer. And to do that they need to raise money. Cosmos knows a woman who might be able to help them. When she asks them to exchange something precious for the money, Niner and Cosmos agree to trade her the most valuable thing either of them possesses—Niner’s guardian angel.

After the deal is struck, Cosmos and Niner quickly set out for the shore. But when Niner’s health takes a turn for the worse, Cosmos realizes he needs to get Niner’s guardian angel back. Can he act quickly enough to save his young friend’s life?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781571316905
Publisher:	Milkweed Editions
Publication date:	09/15/2009
Pages:	96
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 8.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	580L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

Editorial Reviews

"Although the book is brief, the point is well made and may be a draw for reluctant readers as well. The story makes for a discussable novel as it covers multiple social issues."
—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

Richter's (The Cat) haunting tale turns an unflinching eye on the life of a homeless boy, Niner (named for his age), and Cosmos, a man he meets on the street. The two dream of living by the sea, and a wealthy bar owner offers them traveling money in exchange for their “most valued possession”—which they believe to be Niner's guardian angel. The “sale” leaves Niner terrified: “When I fall out the window there's not going to be a bush underneath. There's just gonna be cement, you get it?” Indeed, trouble does come, as Cosmos (temporarily) deserts him with the newfound cash and Niner falls ill. Older readers are best suited to this moving but rough-around-the edges tale, with allusions to prostitution and abusive adults (Niner's mother's boyfriend beats them both). Niner's illness is the catalyst to an open-ended conclusion that feels forcedly upbeat and a tad rushed. Nonetheless, Richter presents a darkly poetic, masterfully crafted view of life on the streets. Ages 8–13. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

Gr 4–7—Nine-year-old Niner finds himself living on the street after his mother is beaten by her drunken boyfriend and taken away in an ambulance. Homeless and forlorn, he aligns himself with older, tougher Cosmos. Together they hatch a plan to get money to follow their dream of going to the sea. Cosmos convinces Niner to sell his guardian angel (the only thing of value between them) to a benefactor they label as "the Queen of Caracas" after the bar she owns. Niner's life takes a downward spiral after the sale, and Cosmos must decide whether to take the money and run or stay and help his ill friend. The text has a fairy-tale-like quality, lending certain aspects such as the guardian angel to personal interpretation. The characters have a variety of personalities, and they all become dependent on one another as they pull together for the greater good. Although the book is brief, the point is well made and may be a draw for reluctant readers as well. The story makes for a discussable novel as it covers multiple social issues.—D. Maria LaRocco, Cuyahoga Public Library, Strongsville, OH

School Library Journal

In this outwardly simple story, two homeless children, Niner and Cosmos, long to escape the hard city streets and find the sea. Cosmos dreams of selling cold drinks there. Niner has recently fled increasingly savage beatings at the hands of his mother's boyfriend, who may have killed her; his dreams of the sea are shot through with his longing for her and memories of their life together. In return for money to make their dream come true, the boys sell Niner's guardian angel, who may or may not exist, to the Queen of Caracas, a bar owner who once stood where they do. All have second thoughts about the transaction, which threatens to deprive the boys of the little they own. Weaving together the spare symbolism of fable and the magical high stakes of fairy tale, this skillfully written novella by an award-winning German author offers much food for reflection. While the subject matter is difficult, the story is universal; not tied to place or culture, it remains open to broad interpretation. A good choice for discussion. (Fiction. 8-13)

Kirkus Reviews