The Pull of the Ocean (Module 1)

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Mourlevat, Jean-Claude. 2006. The Pull of the Ocean. Trans. by Y. Maudet. New York: Laurel-Leaf Books. ISBN: 9780385736664.

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Based loosely on the story of Tom Thumb, seven brothers flee their abusive parents when the youngest brother, Yann (who is both mute and unusually small), lets them know of their father's plans to kill them all. The brothers follow Yann, who is also unusually wise for a child, on a journey to the ocean. Although they encounter many kindnesses and hardships, they do end up at the ocean only to get themselves locked into the house of a “monster,” leading to a near-death experience. Yann helps the brothers return safely to their seemingly more loving parents, yet disappears himself to adventures untold.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Mourlevat's retelling of Tom Thumb is mysterious, beautiful, and hauntingly dark. The parents are cruel and uncaring, the siblings are loving and loyal, strangers are both kind and brutal, and Yann is otherworldly in his stature, wisdom, and ability to seemingly communicate telepathically. Mourlevat has created a story that is a modern fairy tale in itself.

The use of different points of view is employed skillfully by Mourlevat to draw out the mystery by limiting the reader just to what each person saw or experienced. Each chapter comes from a different narrator allowing the story to unfold in such a way as to keep the reader guessing—and turning pages. It is not until the second to last chapter that Yann narrates any of the story which solves some (but not all) of the mysteries this book contains. By not allowing Yann's voice to come out until the end, Mourlevat also gives the reader a chance to experience what all the other characters have experienced in Yann's muteness.

The geography of France is highlighted in this book as the brothers travel from town to town on their way to the coast. Simple things like asking for bread at a local bakery, traveling by train, and hitching a ride with a grocer who delivers also bring out pieces of French culture, as these things are no longer a large part of the American experience. The musicality of the names of people and places in France along with the cadence of the well-translated book will draw readers into a country that they won't want to leave.

Tom Thumb's traditional themes that looks can be deceiving and quick wits can triumph are maintained in Mourlevat's version. There is also a strong theme of familial loyalty and love in the face of adversity that keeps the reader rooting for the brothers and wishing to be a part of these siblings as well.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

• Mildred L. Batchelder Award 2007
• School Library Journal: "A well-crafted mystery awaits anyone reading this fabled jigsaw puzzle."   
• Horn Book Starred:  "A powerful portrait of poverty and sibling solidarity."
• Publisher's Weekly: "Mourlevat enchantingly blends the harshly real and the make-believe, with the latter tipping the balance as this effectively haunting, fluidly translated tale comes to a close."

5. CONNECTIONS

• Read through the traditional tale of Tom Thumb. You can find an audio version of it on Storynory (note: there is an ad for Montosorri schools in the first few seconds). Compare and contrast the original tale with this modern retelling.
• Use a French map to pinpoint each city mentioned in the book and travel along with the brothers. This can be done on a paper map or also by dropping pins on a digital map, such as a Google map. WikiHow has a page leading you through how to do this.
• The use of a different person telling their part of the tale helps to move the story along in a unique fashion. Ask students to work on a rewriting the tale with Yann alone as the narrator. Discuss how this changes the mystery of the story.
• Other books that retell traditional tales in modern settings:

Flinn, Alex. Beastly. ISBN: 978-0-06-199866-9.

McGowan, Keith. The Witch's Guide to Cooking with Children. ISBN: 978-0-312-67486-1.

Pearce, Jackson. Sweetly. ISBN: 978-0-316-06865-9.