How long does it take to read Town Is by the Sea?
Joanne Schwartz
Town Is by the Sea by Joanne Schwartz takes about 57 minutes to read at 250 words a minute.
About 57 minutes
An evening's read
First published 2017. 52 pages, about 14,300 words. Written for children.
2 days at 30 minutes a day
Estimate based on 275 words per page.
At other speeds
| Slow, 150 words a minute | 1 hour 35 minutes |
| Average, 250 words a minute | 57 minutes |
| Fast, 400 words a minute | 36 minutes |
The page count is the median across 7 editions, so your copy may differ. How we calculate.
About the book
A young boy wakes up to the sound of the sea, visits his grandfather’s grave after lunch and comes home to a simple family dinner with his family, but all the while his mind strays to his father digging for coal deep down under the sea. Stunning illustrations by Sydney Smith, the award-winning illustrator of Sidewalk Flowers, show the striking contrast between a sparkling seaside day and the darkness underground where the miners dig. With curriculum connections to communities and the history of mining, this beautifully understated and haunting story brings a piece of Canadian history to life. The ever-present ocean and inevitable pattern of life in a Cape Breton mining town will enthrall children and move adult readers.
Subjects: Coal miners, City and town life, Coal mines and mining, Cities and towns, Boys, Fathers and sons
