Summary: The people of TeJÉ have never had a visitor. Not once. Not ever. But they have been expecting one. For a long time, they've believed the story of the Long Awaited, a person who will arrive on their island and tell them what their fate will be. So when eleven-year-old Pascale's lifeboat comes ashore, they wonder if she is the one they have been waiting for all these years. But Pascale cannot answer their questions. She doesn't even know how she got there. Until strange things begin to happen and Pascale is forced to wonder: Could she be the Long-Awaited? (Summery from valeriesherrard.blogspot.com)

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Review & Thoughts: Valerie Sherrard has an obvious talent for world building and character development. Her island of TeJÉ is rich with complex and unique islanders with a culture that is well established and fascinating. The only issue I had with this book was I wanted more in some places. Her main character, Pascale, is almost immediately, albeit unknowingly, at odds with Vimal. Vimal was set up beautifully as an antagonist at the beginning of the story. However, about midway through the book it seemed as if he was phased out and others took his place. It would have been nice to have a more clear cut resolution to his issues with Pascal. It also would have been nice (but not necessary to the story) to have a bit more at the end to know how the islanders fared in life and their community after Pascal is revealed to be the Long Awaited or not.

Throughout the book, Pascale works through a range of emotions and challenges that not only make sense to her situation, but are also easily relatable even for young readers. Besides being a very entertaining read, I feel this text could be used as a conversation starter for families. Pascale's arrival on the island not only disrupted the lives of all the islanders, it triggered expectations of a long told prophecy and the future of the island civilization. It brought to light issues some of the islanders had been hiding, for years in some cases. Once all is revealed, I think the way the islanders deal with these individuals illustrates how important empathy and compassion are to a community. It is told in a way that is not preachy or ambiguous. There are numerous passages that describe characters dealing with difficult feelings and working through inner conflicts that could be used as a tool for parents to open a dialogue with children about their own feelings and inner struggles.

Readers should be sure to pay attention to the cover art for this book. The artwork does an exceptional job of illustrating key points in the text. It is rare for the cover art and a story to go so well together. Beyond the wonderful messages of community and belonging, this book is at its core a wonderfully engaging adventure that will capture any reader's imagination and hold their attention until the very last page.