Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

 

The Salt family are the caretakers of Shearwater, a remote island not far from Antarctica.  Dominic Salt is the father, a widower who came to the island when his wife died giving birth to their youngest, Orly.  Raff is the oldest brother, fascinated by whales, Fern is the daughter who loves the sea and the seals and sea lions that inhabit the island.  Along with the thousands of animals, there is a seed depository in case the world ever needs to replant everything and scientists who work on the seeds, the weather and the animals.  But the scientists are gone and the family will be also when the next supply ship comes.  Shearwater Island is slowly being eroded and soon won't exist anymore.

One night during a storm, Fern is down by the shoreline and discovers a woman in the surf.  The woman, Rowan, has been cut severely and is unconscious, but Fern and the rest of the family rescue her.  They have limited medical supplies but patch her up as best they can.  Dominic doesn't expect her to survive but she does and slowly starts to recuperate.  It turns out that she is the wife of one of the last scientists who had sent her a message asking for help.  Although their marriage is struggling, Rowan takes off to do what she can to help her husband, who is the last person she can imagine asking for help.

But he's not there the family tells her.  There are secrets being hidden, both by Rowan and by each member of the Salt family.  A strong feeling springs up between Dominic and Rowan and she gets close to each of the three children as well.  Things are getting worse on the island by the day and the buildings start to flood.  Can they hold out until the ship comes to rescue them?

Charlotte McConaghy is an Australian author whose books all have an environmental theme and talk about the relationship between people and animals and between people and the world if it is to survive.  The novel is currently nominated for the Women's Prize In Fiction.  I listened to this novel and all the narrators did an excellent job.  The tension builds and builds to a satisfying climax where all the secrets are revealed and there is hope for the future.  This book is recommended for literary fiction readers.