Book Summary and Reviews of Across the Widest Sea by Jean Cremers

Across the Widest Sea by Jean Cremers

Across the Widest Sea

by Jean Cremers

  • Critics' Consensus (2):
  • Published:
  • Jul 2026, 256 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

A story about how entering adulthood can feel like being lost at sea.

Abandoned in the middle of the ocean by her parents to learn to fend for herself, Léonie must find dry land. She meets Balthazar, a teenager whose canoe is taking on water, and Agathe, who lets herself be carried by the current and no longer has any hope of landing. They join forces to find a shore. A metaphorical story about the transition from adolescence to adulthood.

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Reviews

Media Reviews

"Subtle visual elements, including the diversity of the characters' vessels, consider how social and financial differences impact circumstances. Characters' physical and emotional journeys ebb and flow like the tides throughout this luminous, existential story about the obstacles and triumphs that accompany the transition to adulthood." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Some outdated language, often used in derogatory contexts, goes uncontextualized...Coming-of-age symbolism aside, readers will enjoy the meticulous, gorgeously colored line-drawn panels that convey emotion and dramatic action. A literal and metaphorical journey of discovering lifesaving friendship while seeking elusive safety." —Kirkus Reviews

This information about Across the Widest Sea was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

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More Information

Born in Liège in 1996, Jean Cremers' parents directed him towards the same schooling as his 4 other brothers and sisters. It was only after completing his studies in general secondary education with a science-language option that he decided to change direction. Thus, he began his higher education in comics at Saint-Luc Liège. In February 2020, he won the young talent grand prize in the "Quai des bulles" competition in Saint-Malo. He graduated with great distinction with a Master's degree in comics from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Liège and published his first graphic novel with Le Lombard.

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