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Transcript

The Great Wide Sea

By: M. H. Herlong

The Main Characters

Ben, Gerry, & Dylan

Ben was the oldest of his two younger brothers. He loved to sail. His brothers names were Dylan and Gerry. Ben had been suffering because of the death of his mother. After his mother's death his father sold their house to buy a boat and sail for a year. He wasn't too excited about the idea, even though he has the most experienced with sailing and enjoyed it. Ben was put in charge of working on the engine and assisting his dad with sailing.

Gerry was the youngest of the three children. He's five years old. He had been damaged by the death of his mother the most. He always carried his blankie, and cried out at night for his mother. He's terrified to go sailing because of his lack of experience. He was also afraid to swim.

Dylan was 10 years old. Although he was still mourning the death of his mother he expressed his feelings the least. He is extremely smart, and was always positive. He was interested in stars, so his Dad put him in charge of navigating the boat, and he happened to be quite good at it.

Ben is the leading character in this book. He has a strong personality. He remains frustrated and scared throughout the book. He becomes angry easily and is constantly in conflict with his father. As a result of his mother"s death, Ben's sadness comes off as fury.

INTRODUCTION:

RISING ACTION

CLIMAX:

Ben, Dylan, and Gerry Lost their mother and are forced to live out at sea with their Dad. Their mother's death has hit them pretty hard. It was really affecting their Dad alot, and he was coming down hard on the boys.

After the death of their Mom, their Dad sold their house, lake, and boat without asking them. He decided it was time for them to go out at sea for a year, and just sail. None of them wanted to go, but their Dad forced them to.

Ben, the oldest son, felt as if his Dad had forgotten about the fact

that their Mom had just died, and they were still mourning her death.

When they got to Keys, their Dad bought a boat named Chrysalis. It wasn't a new boat, but it was beautiful to him. The children were so shocked at their father's behvior they did not know what to do.

Once they get out at sea, they travel to several islands such as Biminin, Gun Cay, and the Bahamas. Their Dad makes the trip unbearable. He gives them orders constantly, makes them work day and night, and expects impossible tasks from the youngest son Gerry. That is why Gerry fell overboard.His Dad completely changed. Everytime they got to and Island they were content with, it was time to leave. They never knew why they were leaving or where they were going.

When they got to the Bahamas, after leaving Bimini, Their Dad was insitant on teaching Gerry how to swim. He didn't want to do it but his Dad forced him. Ben was so mad at his father that he got off the boat, left his family, and told them that he hated them. He stayed on the beach all day. When he decided to come back. His brother, Dylan, told him how he hurt his feelings and even made his da cry. He promised not to do it again.

When they anchored in Joulters Cay, their Dad severly cut his hand, while working on the boat. Blood oozed from his hand and colored the water. Dylan and Gerry ran for Ben to wake him up and help them get their Dad back on the boat. In the meantime sharks surrounded him. They managed to get him out in time. They took good care of his Dad's hand. Dylan was a really good doctor.

On their third day at sea, a storm arose. Ben's dad hadn't woke him up as usual. When Ben Woke up to see where his Dad had gone, he was nowhere in sight. He looked everywhere. He told Dylan about it, and he helped look. They could'nt find him.

Their Dad left a suicide poem in his poetry book. Ben came to the coclusion that his dad had jumped overboard. He wanted to be with his wife. He had'nt thought about them. He was selfish. Ben and Dylan decided not to tell Gerry. They were scared and confused.

They were now alone on the boat lost with nowhere to go. The GPS was broken. The worst thing that happened was a dangerous storm had appeared and they had no idea how to sail in that weather. Gerry was officially traumatized. He could'nt handle all the stress.

One Day Ben woke up to Gerry poking him and Dylan yelling in his ear. The engine had died. Ben tried everything to get it started, but it did'nt work. Dylan tried to help. Chrysalis kept bumping up against a coral head hard. Waves began crashing on top of the boat harshly. They all took cover by going down to the cockpit. They protected themselves. Even though Chrysalis would'nt sail again, they were safe because it would sink.

When they had rested for a while, Ben looked over at Gerry on the cockpit. He was crying. He wanted his blankie, which he had left on the stern. When Ben turned his head Gerry was bending closer and closer to the water trying to get it and fell in. Ben followed behind him while Dylan tried to get them both. Gerry almost drowned. Ben had cried for the first time on the trip.

Chrysalis landed on an Island. It was totally destroyed. The three boys unloaded the boat, and camped out there. They had food and water left over from the boat, but the longer they stayed the food started to run out. This drove Ben insane. Gerry was begining to grow up. He took his time and found a big flounder for the to eat. This made them all happy.

After making a sail boat and seeing his younger brothers search for food, Ben decided to look as well. After many atempts he caught a big grouper with the spear gun. The blood from the fish attracted a large shark. Dylan and Gerry came running in the water to help. Dylan made Ben give the shark the fish. They managed to escaped and Gerry had made a brave moved.

One day, everything started to fall apart. After Ben and Gerry got home from catching three groupers, Dylan was nowhere in sight. It started to get dark. Ben sent Gerry to bed. He waited and waited for Dylan to get home. This was unusual. Ben decided to look for him. Dylan had fallen over the cliff. He could'nt climb because he broke his leg. Ben climbed down the cliff to get Dylan, and tied him to a tree to put his knee back in place. When they got back to their campsit, his knee seemed to get better but he was getting infection. Ben went out to get help.

As Ben sailed off to sea, he layed in the boat and reflected on his life. He thought about his brothers and hated himself for leaving the. After a while, a deep sea boat cametowards the dinghy he was in. The men on the boat came rushing to see him, and they got help for him and his brothers who were still on the uncharted island. The captain went to the island and got them. When the three boys reunited they were happy and Dylan was getting better.

A seaplane came and got them to rush Dylan out for surgery. WHen they got to the hospital and sat in Dylan's room, their Dad walked in. He told them the story of how the EPRIB saved his lif, and how falling over was an accident. Their Dad had rented a room in Miami. He told them about the authorities closed the search for them, and how he kept looking. Ben was still angry at his Dad for leaving them, he hated him. When his Dad talked about going back home it made him even madder, and refused to go with him.

Ben was so upset about all the events that took place that he lied about his age to a sailor, and decided to go sailing and leave them. He told Dylan that he would always know where he would be. He wrote a note to Gerry telling him good-bye and that he loved him. Before he could leave his dad tried to stop him. He was decide. He left his brothers and his dad behind. Before he left, his Dad gave him a little pillow that said Mom. He did'nt throw any of her stuff away.

That morning, Ben woke up to Gerry saying they were going home today. His dad gave him four hundred dollars for a plane ticket. Gerry and his Dad road away in the cab. Gerry cried for Ben as they slowyly drove away. Ben took the picture of his Mom out of his pocket. She did'nt look as good to him as she did when he first retrieved the picture from the cockpit. It had finally hit him hard that she was gone, and how bad it hurt.

Ben's dad came back for him after they left. He dropped the CDs he held in his hand and his bag on the cement dock. They went home, found a new house, and unpacked their boxes. That April they bought a new boat and docked it at the lake. The spent every chance they got sailing.

Favorite part: I enjoyed the part that Ben describred as the perfect day. They spent the whole day at the beach, ate lobster, and went skinny dipping. Gerry even went. They sat around as their Dad told stories. It was the perfect day they spent together, with no worries from their Dad.

Recommendations: I really enjoyed this book as I got deep into it. It was extremely sad. I do believe the book could have ended better. If you enjoy sad books about sailing with happy endings this would be the perfect book for you.

Setting: This story takes place in the Bahamas.

Bahamas

Chrysalis

FALLING ACTION

RESOLUTION

Chrysalis

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