Describe the central characters.

In the novel there are a few quite significant charcters that aid the progression of the story, but most of them are just second fiddle for the most important charcters, Carl, Harley and the Duncans.

Carl Matt is the protagonist of the story and has 2 siblings, an elder sister and a younger brother. Along with his brother he moves to Wattlebeach after being deserted by the rest of the family. He is 15 years of age and doesn't stand out much, he usually stands on the sidelines watching others live their lives and has a very low self esteem.

Harley Matt is Carl's younger brother, he moves to Wattebeach with Carl where they live with their aunt. Harley is a troublemaker and quite stereotypical of the Matt family. In his first few weeks at their new home Harley manages to upset the locals and cause embarassment for his aunt and brother. He is a naive little kid and acts out since his mother hadn't cared for him when they were in her care.

The Duncan family consist of three people, Joy,Skip and Maddie, the Duncans have a past with the Matt family which have caused them much grief and shamed the Matt family. Skip the man of the family works on a barge where he earns little income for his low passenger trips and his quite bossy and stubborn. Joy is Skip's wife and Maddies daughter, she doesn't work and stays at home most of the time. She is kind hearted and help guide the Matt brothers. Maddie is a 15 year old girl like Carl and is in love with a boy named Nathan Trelfo who doesn't care much for her. She is kind hearted but naive.

Describe the main theme of the novel.

The main theme in the novel, A Bridge to Wiseman’s Cove, is family. In the novel Carl and Harley are deserted by their family and move with their aunt who doesn’t care for the fact that the three share a bond with each other. Also at their new home Carl and Harley are often ostracized because of what their grandfather had done, so another situation regarding their family have landed the two brothers into yet another predicament. Carl then works with Skip Duncan who was crippled and lost a son because of Carl’s grandfather, as the story progresses Carl regains the townspeople trust in Carl and Harley and they lose the stereotype of the Matt family being a bunch of troublemakers and by the end of the novel Carl and Harley are able to get their lives back by joining a new family.

Write a review.

A Bridge to Wiseman’s Cove is a book about a 15 year old boy’s experiences that change him from a dull loner to a lively young adult. The story is set in modern times and set in the town of Wattle Beach. The protagonists of the story, Carl Matt, has been deserted by his father, mother and elder sister and left alone with his little brother, Harley Matt, the two moves to Wattle Beach and live with their arrogant aunt who treat them as tenants, forcing them to pay rent and threatening to kick them out from time to time. As the story progresses you are introduced to various other character, some of which have a past with Carl’s family. The story goes through a few pessimistic chapters and sometimes seem like the characters wouldn’t receive their “happy ending” but in the end everything works out and Carl and Harley are a part of a family again. 
A good novel about the pressures of being a teen and being ostracized and having nowhere to go or no one to look to for support. I would recommend this novel to most young teens.

Write a new blurb.

Carl Matt, a young “play dead” kid with nothing left, well except for his younger brother ,Harley, and the old red barge he works on. His mother’s gone, never seen his father and his sister’s deserted him for Europe, Carl and Harley now move in with their aunt at Wattle Beach where they to survive with their bossy arogant and fit in. Carl also has to deal with his brothers mischief. Will he be able to cope or run off like the rest of his family? 
When they arrive the locals seem to shun and ostracise him, is the town against outsiders or is there something someone isn’t telling him about his past?