The Innocents

A brother and sister live alone in an isolated cove on Newfoundland's northern coastline after the deaths of their parents and baby sister. Twelve-year-old Evered and eleven-year-old Ada must learn to survive by continuing their family's fishing operations and basic household duties, armed only with their limited knowledge and experience. The siblings face the harsh realities of 18th century maritime life through changing seasons, attempting to maintain the routines their parents established. Their world consists of catching and drying fish, gathering food and firewood, and occasional visits from sailing vessels that trade supplies for their cod. The two children navigate their growing understanding of life, death, and their place in the world while remaining tethered to their remote home. They must interpret and adapt to adult concepts and responsibilities without guidance, creating their own systems of meaning and morality. The Innocents examines isolation, survival, and the complex transition from childhood to adulthood in a setting stripped of social conventions and adult instruction. The novel raises questions about nature versus nurture and explores how humans create order and meaning in the absence of societal structures.

Readers praise Crummey's raw depiction of isolation and survival in remote Newfoundland. Many note the vivid descriptions of landscape and daily life that transport them into the harsh coastal setting. The sibling relationship and character development receive frequent mention in positive reviews. Common criticisms include the slow pacing, especially in the first third, and the repetitive descriptions of fishing/hunting tasks. Some readers find the writing style too detached or struggle with the deliberately sparse dialogue. A portion of reviews mention discomfort with certain relationship themes. Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (14,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (500+ ratings) LibraryThing: 4.1/5 (300+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "Like being dropped into another century" - Goodreads "Beautiful but bleak" - Amazon "The prose is sparse yet powerful" - LibraryThing "Takes patience to get through the early chapters" - Goodreads

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🌊 Michael Crummey based the novel on a true story he discovered in an 1820 Newfoundland parish record of orphaned siblings living alone in an isolated cove. 🏠 The author grew up in a mining town in Newfoundland and draws heavily on the province's rugged landscape and maritime culture to create the book's atmospheric setting. 👥 The novel was inspired in part by Crummey's research into the historical practice of "winter housing," where Newfoundland families would move to more sheltered inland locations during harsh winter months. 📚 The Innocents was shortlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, the Governor General's Literary Award, and the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize in 2019. 🎭 The book challenged censorship norms, as several publishers initially rejected it due to its complex portrayal of the siblings' relationship, though it went on to receive critical acclaim.