When Sally O’Malley Discovered the Sea
If you are interested in purchasing a copy of the text, please consider using my Amazon Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/46bB69p
When Sally O’Malley Discovered the Sea by Karen Cushman is about a thirteen year old orphan in Oregon making her way to the great big sea. Recently displaced from working at a hotel for her keep, Sally O’Malley is on the move, and a seed has been planted about journeying to the sea. The more people she meets and asks about the sea, the more she is determined to arrive as it seems no one she meets has actually been there. What she has learned is simply rumors, and she truly wants to know for herself.
Along the way, she comes across a woman named Major who is delivering packages to different areas. Major offers for Sally to join her, her donkey Mabel, and her dog Sarge. She is going in that direction herself, and she knows a young girl on her own in the wilderness traveling is not the best idea. The story is set near the turn of the century in 1894 and is narrated in first person.
Sally O’Malley is a dynamic character who has had a rough thirteen years. As an orphan, she feels unwanted and untrusting of those she meets. Her experiences have led her to distrust many and to close off her heart as she is mainly suspicious and later confused by people. One such symbol of her struggle is the red cap she wears. The keeper of the orphanage would shave all of the children’s hair - girls and boys - and in a way that was rough and left bleeding scars on their scalps. Because of this, Sally O’Malley hides under a red cap. She is fearful of losing it and doesn’t want anyone to see what is underneath. The idea of ugliness is bothersome to her due to her hair. However, in the last bit of the novel, she must come to terms with the loss of the cap and the way she has changed throughout the story. Her fears are unfounded, and this new feeling is hard for her to fully process.
Major is a significant sage character who helps Sally O’Malley begin her transformation. Major is an older woman who travels from place to place making deliveries. Readers learn that her husband, parents, and sisters all died from Smallpox. Seeing a bit of herself in young Sally, Major encourages her, yet also corrects her when she has done something wrong. Major is patient, teaching, and gently pushes Sally to realize that she is capable of much. Unfortunately, Major dies of what could be perceived as a heart attack when the travelers are close to their destination but must make the last leg alone.
Prior to this point, however, Lafayette (who later changes his name to Jack), a seven-year-old boy, has been put in Major’s charge to be delivered to a cousin’s cousin after he has been recently orphaned by the death of his grandmother. Lafayette is obnoxious and challenges Sally O’Malley throughout most of the story. In spite of his obnoxious behavior he consistently wants to know if he and Sally are now friends. Sally’s answers somewhat soften each time until the end when she realizes that they are not friends, but family.
Sally O’Mally and Jack make it to the sea and in fact find the cousin’s cousin who has been waiting for Jack’s arrival. Along the way, both characters have changed - Sally the most, as she reflects on all the people she has met and the experiences she has had. She begins to open her heart and decides to take a chance on this new family that is welcoming her in. A place where she finally feels like she belongs.
Noteworthy Quotes/ notes of mention:
“Moses and the Israelites wandered the desert for forty years before they figured out where they were going and why. I reckoned I’d wander on a while and hope it wouldn’t take me as long” (4).
Sally’s dress gets torn and it is getting a bit small for her. She buys a pair of britches and tears off the torn part of her dress. When entering a town for provisions, a group of boys harasses her and asks, “is this mare or stallion?” (20). Fortunately, an older man steps in and runs the boys away.
Mabel is a donkey. On page 33, Major calls Sally out for her stubbornness and tells her that she is “more stubborn than Mabel, and she’s an ass!”
When Sally encounters Lafayette for the first time, she states, “Sounds like even more people don’t want him than don’t want me” (41).
After befriending Sarge a bit, Sally ponders, “What would that be like, feeling you deserved to be loved?” (49).
When Sally forgets to do a chore for Mabel, Major tells her she needs to be more responsible. Sally is used to harsh treatment and being thrown out. However, Major is caring and loving. In this exchange following the incident, Sally says, “‘I’m sorry, Major,’ [...] ‘but that’s what I do–let people down. You can be rid of me as soon as we dock somewhere, for I’d rather not be chucked into the river, if you don’t mind.’” Major’s response to her is “‘What odd ideas you have. I don’t want to chuck you anywhere, but you need to be more responsible’” (107).
There is a mention of Charles Darwin on page 115 and the idea that people came from monkeys. Lafayette makes monkey noises a few times in the story.
On page 116, the ships Captain and Lafayette pee and poop off the side of the ship in full view of others on the vessel. Nothing about private parts are mentioned, just that they “peed over the railing” and stuck their backsides over.
Miz Ida is generous in taking care of orphans throughout the story. In one instance she takes care of nine children and the story is mentioned of their family that after the mother gave birth to the tenth child (not present at the time) that she threw her husband “buck naked out the door” as she shouted for no more babies. The last child was named “Ima Done.” Supposedly the father “took up with a lady logger and was never seen around again” (120).
Captain Ike, Ida’s husband, gives Sally advice in the story. In one instance, Sally reflects on his advice, “I think he really meant life–like problems, disappointments, losses. He says we have to avoid or overcome or outmaneuver” (129). Sally considered this advice as she moves forward with challenges within the remainder of the story.
There is a mention of ghosts on page 167 as Sally and Jack consider what has happened now that Major has died. Sally claims the “sisters buried her”, but then Jack worries that “she’s a ghost.”
After losing her hat - “Seemed I wasn’t a monster. My head was healing, and my hair growing. Still, whether you could see them or not, I knew the scars were there. They were part of me, part of what made me Sally O’Malley. And, holy Moses, I was tired of hiding them” (224).
On page 228, Sally is faced with what to do after Miz Jay has offered her a home. Sally acknowledges that she is “Scared of being with them, depending on them, trusting them … having them trust me. I knew I’d make mistakes. I always did. I’d stumble around like a blind bear in a briar patch, let them down, disappoint them, and hurt them. It was as chancy as facing the world without my cap. Could I do it?” In the end, she does.
Sally loves words, so one of the endearing aspects of the story is that she collects words she likes throughout the story.
When Sally O’Malley Discovered the Sea is a wonderful story about discovery, growth, and belonging. It also offers several opportunities for families to discuss what it means to belong - within our immediate family, within our community, and within the family of God. Additionally, as believers, we are called to care for orphans. Families can discuss how different minor characters fulfill or do not fulfill the call to care for orphans and perhaps in response - families could do an act of service to support the orphans in their community. Ultimately, if you are looking for a clean novel with good themes and adventure, then consider adding When Sally O’Malley Discovered the Sea to the reading list.
