Candle Island

A moving portrait of loss and the restorative power of art from Newbery Honor-winner Lauren Wolk, author of Wolf Hollow and Beyond the Bright Sea. Now in paperback!

* "Readers who enjoy good writing for its own sake and meeting characters who feel like friends by story's end will revel in losing themselves on Candle Island.″ -Booklist, starred review

Lucretia Sanderson has a secret. Lucretia and her mother have come to tiny Candle Island, Maine (Population: Summer, 986; Winter, 315) to escape--escape memories of the car accident that killed her father and escape the journalists that hound her mother, a famous and reclusive artist. The rocky coast and ocean breeze are a welcome respite for Lucretia, who dedicates her summer days to painting, exploring the island, and caring for an orphaned osprey chick. But Candle Island has secrets of its own--a hidden room in her new house, a mysterious boy with a beautiful voice--and just like the strong tides that surround the shores, they will catch Lucretia in their wake.

With an unforgettable New England setting and a complex web of relationships old and new, Candle Island is a powerful story about art, loss, and the power of being true to your own voice.

Author: Lauren Wolk
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Published: 04/28/2026
Pages: 352
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.55lbs
Size: 7.80h x 5.10w x 0.90d
ISBN: 9780593698563
Audience: Ages 9-12

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 4.4
Point Value: 12
Interest Level: Middle Grade Plus
Quiz #/Name: 557257 / Candle Island

About the Author
Lauren Wolk is an award-winning poet, artist, and novelist. She is the author of Echo Mountain, My Own Lightning, Newbery Honor-winner Wolf Hollow, and Scott O'Dell Award-winner Beyond the Bright Sea. Lauren was born in Baltimore and has since lived in California, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Canada, and Ohio. She now lives with her family on Cape Cod.