Saving Sailor [NOOK Book]

NOOK Book (eBook)
$10.52
BN.com price
$12.99 List Price (Save 19%)

Available on NOOK devices and apps

  • Nook Devices
  • NOOK
  • NOOK Color
  • NOOK Tablet
  • Tablet/Phone
  • NOOK for iPad
  • NOOK for iPhone
  • NOOK for Android
  • NOOK for Android (Tablet)
  • NOOK Kids for iPad
  • PC/Mac
  • NOOK Study
  • NOOK for PC
  • NOOK for Mac

Want a NOOK? Explore Now

Overview

The year is 1968. After spending the first half of summer vacation driving her Italian family crazy with her fake southern accent, 10-year old A.J. finds a soul mate on the other side of the island to divert her attention.

She is intrigued to learn that Danny shares her same burning desire to know God and realizes that few people her age think as deeply as the two of them do.

However, the depth of their newfound faith and friendship is soon tested when Danny's father betrays his wife.

Set in a simpler time, Saving Sailor is a heartwarming tale of how hearts can change and relationships...

See more details below

Overview

The year is 1968. After spending the first half of summer vacation driving her Italian family crazy with her fake southern accent, 10-year old A.J. finds a soul mate on the other side of the island to divert her attention.

She is intrigued to learn that Danny shares her same burning desire to know God and realizes that few people her age think as deeply as the two of them do.

However, the depth of their newfound faith and friendship is soon tested when Danny's father betrays his wife.

Set in a simpler time, Saving Sailor is a heartwarming tale of how hearts can change and relationships can be restored with God's help.

Editorial Reviews

Children's Literature
A.J. (Angelina to her family) spends a summer discovering that our imperfect world is glazed with wonder when seen through the eyes of a ten year old child. Her family, the boisterous DeGuilios, take a vacation on a secluded island, which expands to include another family, the Morgans, who are facing some hard times when it is discovered that their dad is having "sleepovers" back home while mom and the kids are at the lake. A.J. also gets rescued in a dramatic episode by her heartthrob Danny, who turns out to be just a good guy with no ulterior motives. The dog, Sailor, really gets saved from the pound's death row, after A.J. pitches a fit when they go to allegedly pick out a birthday-dog for her older sister, but A.J. gets a big galoot dog instead. Sailor figures into a couple of the important scenes, but does not die—a relief to this reader who is tired of dog-heroes dying—although he is left behind at the end of the novel when the grown-older A.J. goes to Europe for years and leaves Sailor behind with Danny. While there are casual discussions of God, heaven, and other religious topics throughout several episodes, it is in the pivotal scene of the philandering father "coming back to Jesus" that the book earns its gold-star as a religious novel. There is a very long acknowledgements page, an introduction, a prologue, an epilogue, and an author interview included in this paperback edition, all of which articulate that the novel is actually based in the real-life adventures of the author. Reviewer: Gwynne Spencer

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781434765536
  • Publisher: Cook, David C.
  • Publication date: 5/1/2007
  • Sold by: Barnes & Noble
  • Format: eBook
  • Sales rank: 529,065
  • File size: 533 KB

Meet the Author

Renee Riva

Renee Riva has been writing humorous stories since she won a writing contest in second grade. Her two previous titles Izzy the Lizzy and Guido's Gondola both published by WaterBrook Press in May of 2005 and met with instant success—over 4000 sold in four months.

Additionally, Riva is a former greeting card verse writer as well as a speaker for women's groups and Young Authors. She and her husband reside in Richland, Washington with their three daughters.

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 289 )

Rating Distribution

5 Star

(96)

4 Star

(87)

3 Star

(73)

2 Star

(22)

1 Star

(11)

Your Rating:

Your Name: Create a Pen Name or Leave Anonymously

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identiy on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously

We're sorry, but penname is already taken.

Please select one of the following:
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously

penname is available!

By visiting the BN.com website or marking a purchase on BN.com, a User is deemed to have accepted the Terms of Use.

Continue Anonymously

Welcome, penname

You have successfully created your Pen Name. Start enjoying the benefits of the BN.com Community today.

See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 290 Customer Reviews
  • Posted April 25, 2010

    Touching and funny book

    This book was very touching and I loved all the characters. I found it to be sweet and so funny that I found myself laughing out loud sometimes. I have thought of some of the funny things in the book several times since I read it. Great family book that I will recommend to my family and friends.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted April 20, 2010

    I Also Recommend:

    Great summer read - Like taking a step back in time!

    I really enjoyed the story of A.J. and her summer on the island State Park. The Author Renne Riva perfectly captured both her sense of wonder as well as intense feelings about life in general. A world where right is right and wrong is just plain old wrong. The Title Saving Sailor is a wonderful title as it shows how a single act of compassion can affect everyone around you as well as your attitude toward everything,not always in a positive way. Her relationships with parents, siblings, friends and pets has been carefully brought out through the eyes of a 10 year old. The large Italian, Roman Catholic family reminds me of life when I was a child. We were not Italian, but the Catholic teaching was ever present in our lives as well. A.J.'s pets, and all animals in general were so important to her. All of God's creatures both big and small meant the world to A.J. She felt as though she were under the watchful eyes of God while she was here on earth. Here to protect and value all living things. The star watching nights on her beach were so precious to her, and while reading this story I remembered my own star watching nights while camping all those years ago. Ms. Riva wrote a very valuable story about life, love and family. It was as though the Author Renee Riva, had a video of my life as a child, and brought forth many of the intimate feelings and memories of my youth. Some things I did not even remember until the Author told of them and then POW, That's right, I remembered that, or I did that too! I hope you all read this story and remember what it was like to be 10 again.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted December 23, 2011

    Lighthearted, yet a point to the story

    I really enjoyed this story--I am an avid animal lover so of course I was drawn in by the cover--I am glad I was. The story is a good one and it is an easy read.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted November 16, 2011

    Great Read!!!!

    This was a fun read and I admit, I laughed out loud at times.
    This is a "Young Adult" book that even adult adults will enjoy. I love to read books that are page turners and you stay up until 3a finishing them.
    This is not that book, instead, It is an easy read, easy to put down and easy to pick back up, which for its own purpose and own time is also fun to read.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted October 4, 2011

    more from this reviewer

    This is character driven, not plot driven...

    I'm generally a plot reader and while the storyline is good - there is no plot.

    I really enjoyed A.J.'s thoughts on God. He's a huge part of her life and makes it clear to everyone where they stand. She's also very honest - wondering, like a 10 year old does - what exactly she is to repent for and when it's not really a sin.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted May 20, 2011

    If you like good wholesome books like children and dogs.........

    This was a "nice" book, it wasn't earth shattering like Old Yeller or anything like that, just a nice ordinary book that lets your reminice about childhood summers, if you ever went camping on family vacations or went on vacations that were not expensive but you had fun anyway and made life long friends while there, then let this book take you back to those days.......this book is set in a simpler time yet the relationships and emotions and feelings are the same ones that children and adults still have today that doesn't change.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted April 6, 2011

    good

    this book was terrific

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted August 19, 2010

    what a great summer reading!!

    This book brought back memories of my summers while I was growing up in Greece. It has a little bit of everything...sibling squabbles - in my life substituted by my cousins - family traditions, honesty, love, humor, religion (brought back vivid memories of summer camp in Naxos with father Maragos) turmoil and above all forgiveness. I really identified with the characters in this book. It was an extremely easy reading. Definitely entertaining. A great book for summer reading -- to take on vacation. I really really enjoyed it!!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted July 23, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    See life through the eyes of a 9 year old girl

    Great writing. I wondered at first what it was going to be but it was an epic about independence, standing for real values and belief in God. I bookmarked many phrases and ideas that stood out from usual stories. Great book and at the end you discover where the plot came from. Read it!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted July 6, 2010

    Loved this book

    I received this book as a free download on my nook. This book has a little of everything: sibling squabbles, family traditions, honesty, love, humor, religion & guilt, turmoil and forgiveness. I really identified with the characters in this book. It was an easy, entertaining read -- a great book to take on vacation. It is good for tweens, teens and adults. I am itching to read the next two in the series. Thank you B&N for introducing me to a new author.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted May 27, 2010

    I really enjoyed this book!

    Let me start off by saying I'm a die hard mystery fan. I chose to read this book because it was free through ebooks and I thought a little light reading would be nice for a change.

    I thought this book was great! I loved the characters, they were laugh out loud funny. It was a very refreshing read of a time that was so carefree. The story brought back memories of my lazy summers camping and boating on the lake.

    I highly recommend this book and I will be reading the sequels.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted May 9, 2010

    Very Impressed

    I just bought my nook and downloaded to check it out. This story had me captured immediately. If you just want to read a good story; download this book.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted May 2, 2010

    Great easy read!

    Saving Sailor was an entertaining story with christian values and characters. The story was entertaining and easy to read. It was a short read that would be good for kids from 5th grade up. There were some characters struggling with their choices in life that keeps me from reccommending this for younger children. I very much enjoyed the read and hope you will too.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted April 29, 2010

    good book, free, give it a shot

    I don't usually read stuff like this. My time being limited I usually go for scifi or fantasy. Wow what a good book. I laughed, I cried, I remembered. It was a heck of a trip down memory lane. The funny parts were so funny I laughed out loud, people looking at me sideways wondering what was I reading.(had my nook in a waiting room) The sad parts were so emotional I cried. (thank goodness I was alone then) It really brought back childhood memories of my own. Boy I wish I could write like this. It was a good story and it was a free one too. Hope you get as much out of it as i did. Well enough heart warming stuff, back to scifi/fantasy for a while.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted April 25, 2010

    young minds

    i LOVE this book it was such a fun read its set in a 9 yr olds mind and some what funny at times. it left me wanting more of this girl and her story!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted April 22, 2010

    I really enjoyed this story!

    This was a quick, enjoyable and heart-warming read. I find myself still describing scenes to my friends and co-workers that made me laugh out loud or made we reevlaute life simplified through the eyes of a child.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted April 20, 2010

    Good read

    This book is a feel good satisfying read. I highly recommend it.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted April 12, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    A good, clean read

    This book is classified as children's literature and, while I'm certain it would be an entertaining read for anyone in their early teens, the true messages of the book will likely be lost on them. With a unique writing style, this story -- set in a time when life seemed more simple -- is told through quirky characters and with humor. The importance of family, faith, friendship, and forgiveness are ever present. The 10-yr old main character seems wise beyond her years. I found myself thinking "I remember (doing) that!" throughout this book and thoroughly enjoyed the memories that came back to me because of it. I would recommend this book to readers of all ages, readers of all interests.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted September 16, 2008

    Remember your first dog?

    This is an excellent story about growing up with your first dog. What summer is suppose to be like when you are 10. Enjoying the lake, spying on your siblings, tormenting your parents. A wonderful story about family and faith. This is a story for the keeper-shelf.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted August 18, 2007

    You'll want to be part of this family

    I picked this book up as it sounded good and once I started reading I could not put it down. This story is what time's were like in the 1960s and AJ's love of animals as well as how she lives her young life makes you want to go back to those good old days. This is laugh out loud humor and a book you would recommend to anyone who wants to enjoy a good read, good family and clean fun entertainment. I hope the author let's us be part of this family again.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 290 Customer Reviews

If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
Why is this product inappropriate?
Comments (optional)
500 character limit