Gone to Drift

Gr 5–8—In a small fishing town in Jamaica, Lloyd's grandfather Conrad is presumably lost at sea after embarking on a fishing expedition. While most of those in town make little effort to search for him, Lloyd refuses to give up hope. With the help of his friend Dwight and a young woman named Jules who is studying dolphins in the area, Lloyd unravels the mystery surrounding his grandfather's disappearance. McCaulay, a Jamaican native, provides readers with a glimpse of life in Jamaica and brings awareness to the global threats facing marine life, particularly dolphins, which are often the target of illegal smuggling. The narrative alternates between third-person perspective following Lloyd's search for his grandfather, and first-person narration from Conrad, who reminisces about his childhood as he struggles to survive for days stranded at sea. Conrad's story line parallels his grandson's, as in his youth he searched for his brother Luke, who similarly had been presumed to be lost at sea. McCaulay's prose is lyrical, especially the portions narrated by Conrad, and is never didactic in its handling of environmental issues. Although Lloyd finds his grandfather in the end, there is not a neat and happy conclusion, as Lloyd discovers some unpleasant truths about his parents.