A Bridge to Wisemans Cove

A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove by James Moloney is about a 15 year old boy called Carl who has faced many ups and downs and finds a way to get through it all. Carl's problems are linked to his mother and older sister's absence which forces his move to Wattle Beach to live with his aunt. After all he has been through; Carl always supports his friends and family. Throughout the novel, Carl gains belief and discovers just how strong he is.

When Kerry and Sarah leave, Carl feels unwanted and alone. Kerry is a single mother and often runs away when her troubles get the better of her. When she doesn't come back, Carl feels abandoned and lost. He feared that his mother had gotten into trouble, but he feared more that she had found a better place, where she no longer needed to worry about her children. "Carl listened to them both and couldn't give his fears a name." Carl and his 10 year old brother move to Wattle Beach to stay with his Aunt Beryl. Carl is hopeful that Beryl may replace Kerry, that she will take the spot of their mother. "I just wanted to warn you. I can't be your mother just because Kerry's not here. I'm not cut out for that kind of thing." Carl hated hearing this, even though he knew it was true. But although he could have given up then, he held on, using all the strength he had.

When Carl started at Hendon in the summer, he felt as though he would be an outsider for the rest of his life. It is only when he befriends Joy Duncan, the mother of Maddie, a beautiful girl he first laid eyes on at the beach, that his life starts to change for the better. She persuades her husband that despite the Matt reputation, Carl is different. At first, Skip Duncan is extremely weary and hesitant, but as he gets to know Carl, he discovers that letting him work on the red barge is the best thing for the both of them. It's only then, that Carl begins to have a sense of belonging, a sense of pride and joy. "He was exhausted but happier than he had been since he arrived in Wattle Beach, happier since his mother disappeared." With all the money he was getting, he kept Beryl off his back for a while, and Harley was staying out of trouble with Joy. Once again, Carl beats the odds and proves that if you try, you can change your reputation, it will just take all of your inner and outer strength.

Justine and Maddie are the first people that Carl connects with. From the moment he saw them when he first arrived; he longed to be noticed, especially by Maddie, who was perfect. At first, Maddie pays no attention to him, and it is Justine who seems intrigued by his story, by Carl Matt. Once he begins to adjust to the idea of having friends and being included, it's almost as if he becomes a new person, steps into some new skin. "You're coming alive. That's what it is. You've been playing dead all this time and now you can't keep yourself down any