Children of the Sea

Initial Reflection:

At first I was somewhat intimidated by the thought of reading Children of the Sea. I had never read a graphic novel before, and I was unsure of how I was going to like reading my first one from right to left. After reading chapters 1 and 2, I feel much more comfortable with this style of writing. Our discussion of the formatting helped a lot. I was able to get a lot more meaning out of what I was reading and viewing. I can see why kids are so drawn to graphic novels. The text, color, and images combine to make a powerful statement. I think the story line so far is interesting and the characters are starting to become more real. I look forward to seeing how this story turns out!


Memorable Characters:


1. Ruka:

Ruka is a young girl who seems to be a bit of an outsider. She is aggressive on the handball court, but timid when it comes to interacting with others off the court. She has seen strange things, but no one is willing to believe her.

2. Limi:

Limi is a young boy who is said to have been born and initially raised in the ocean. He was found swimming with a herd of dugongs. His skin sparkles and is prone to dryness. He is more comfortable in the ocean than on land.

3. Jim:

Jim is Limi’s guardian. He seems to know things about Limi’s upbringing and his abilities. He also has a connection with the aquarium. On a side note, his body is covered in tattoos.

4. Azumi

Azumi is Ruka’s father, but she does not live with him. He seems genuinely concerned about Ruka. He works at the aquarium and knows about Limi.

2 Voice Poem:


I am Ruka.
I am Limi.


And we are called by the sea.


I feel more comfortable on land.
Whereas I feel most comfortable in the water.

I wonder what this summer might hold for me.
While I wonder how Ruka fits into my world.

I hear a strange new song.
But I hear the usual songs of the sea.

I see new, amazing things.
However, I see things that have been in my world all along.


I am Ruka.
I am Limi.


Similarly we are called by the sea.


Genre Reflection:
I enjoyed the book a lot more than I initially thought that I would. Once I was comfortable with the structure and flow of the book, I was able to really delve into the story and enjoy it. I think giving students and explanation of the structure of the book like we received in class would make the book structure accessible and readable to all students. I really enjoyed looking at the graphics; I gleaned a lot more those than from the text alone. I would consider using a graphic novel in my classroom. I might not be comfortable enough yet to teach one to the whole class, but I could definitely see using one in literature circles. I also plan to have some of these stocked on my shelves and accessible for students to read. All in all, I rather enjoyed this book and won’t be afraid to check out other graphic novels!