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Saved at Sea

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The waves are rising and the ship is on the rocks. Alick and his grandfather set out in their boat to save as many lives as they can... but this time they only come back with one. A little girl is thrown overboard moments before a huge wave sweeps the wreck away. Who is she? Where are her parents? What are they going to do?

As the storm disappears on the horizon, the little mystery girl touches the hearts of some very lonely people. Another stranger arrives on the island and Alick finds out that there is a rock that you can depend on in life, whatever the storms throw at you. Jesus Christ will always be there - an anchor, a fortress, stronger than a lighthouse on the rocks, stronger even than death!

124 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1887

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About the author

Mrs. O.F. Walton

44 books16 followers
Amy Catherine Walton, better known as Mrs O.F. Walton, was a British author of Christian children's and teenage books, mainly but not exclusively fiction. She was born Amy Catherine Deck in 1849, and died in Leigh, Kent in 1939.

Amy was the daughter of the vicar of St Stephen's Church, Spring Street, Hull.

Her career as an author began with My Mates And I, written in 1870 but not published until 1873. Her first published work was My Little Corner in 1872. In 1874 came one of her most famous books, Christie's Old Organ, which has been regularly reprinted up to the present day. It is the story of orphaned Christie and his friend, the aged organ-grinder Treffy. It was introduced to Japan in 1882 and was published in 1885 by the translation of Tajima Kashi. It was one of the earliest books in history of both Christian's and children's literature of Japan and was re-translated in 1903 and 1994.

In 1875 she married Octavius Frank Walton, who was her father's curate at the time. It was under her husband's name, as Mrs O. F. Walton, that she was to become better known. In the year of their marriage they moved to Jerusalem where Octavius took up a ministry in a church on Mount Zion until 1879. While there in 1877, her book A Peep Behind The Scenes was published. It is the story of Rosalie, a child who works in a travelling theatre.

The Waltons lived at Cally, Kirkcudbrightshire for a while, and from 1883 to 1893, Octavius was in the ministry at the church of St Thomas, York, moving to St Jude's, Wolverhampton in 1893. He retired in 1918.

Although she wrote many more books, it is A Peep Behind the Scenes and Christie's Old Organ that have remained well known, continuing to be published by the Lutterworth Press, successor to her original publisher, the Religious Tract Society.

(from Wikipedia)

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5 stars
146 (38%)
4 stars
120 (31%)
3 stars
86 (22%)
2 stars
18 (4%)
1 star
12 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
Profile Image for Theresa.
38 reviews10 followers
July 2, 2012
"On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand."
Profile Image for Kaitlyn S..
244 reviews23 followers
February 9, 2021
On going into this book, I wasn’t sure at all of what to expect. I haven’t read much by Mr. O. F. Walton, and I *thought* this was going to be a book for younger. I was trying t oblige my younger siblings by reading this one that they had been recommending and pestering me to read.
What started as a mere attempt to be obliging quickly became something I did for myself. While short, this book taught so much biblical truth, and it was a joy to read. To see Alick and his grandfather and their neighbor as they tended to the light, and fought the sea to save little Timpey was a delight. And what seemed a tragedy – a whole ship being lost and only one child being saved – the blessings that came from that simple act of catching the bundle that was thrown to them in the boat were worth so much more than the mere saving of a life.
I cried as Timpey, with a childlike faith, awakened in the lightkeepers minds and hearts the stirring of better things, heavenly things. And when the gentlemen come, and ask the keepers if their foundation is built on the rock or the sand . . . it was a simple question, that caused them to search for the truths of Scripture.
As I was reading this one, I was thinking about how apt a description the lighthouse is to illustrate the hymn, On Christ the Solid Rock, and the passage in the Bible that talks about building our houses on the rock, so when the rain comes and the floods rise, it will stand firm. This was lovely reminder, in the form of a short little book, to build our houses on the rock that will never fail.
Profile Image for Brenda.
357 reviews
November 17, 2017
Sweet little story, probably originally aimed at young people. This LibriVox version is read by a young girl who did a pretty good job.
Profile Image for Lucy Ray.
81 reviews1 follower
June 23, 2023
I read the book for school and wrote a book report.

Saved at Sea by O.F Walton is a heart-warming story about a boy named Aleck who is the grandson of a lighthouse keeper. When a ship wrecks by their Island they rescue a little girl whose pet name is Timpey. It goes it great detail about the importance of “being on the rock”; living a Christ-like life. I think that beautiful. I think that’s important for Aleck to grow up “on the rock.” I love how well Aleck handles little Timpey (her real name being Lucy, which is my name too!) being sent away to live with her real parents. I love when Aleck’s Father returns. If you’re looking for an easy, heart warming read, Saved at Sea is for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
25 reviews
January 21, 2018
I read this to my boys at bed time. It is meant as a children’s book but at 8 they weren’t quite ready to read it themselves. They needed a bit explained to them to help them follow and the Old English confused them a bit.
I love that it expanded their vocabulary and ear for literature. The story itself was sad, suspenseful, happy and true to life with biblical truths intertwined throughout. I would definitely recommend!!
Profile Image for Mick Bordet.
Author 9 books4 followers
December 29, 2013
What started as a very sweet, gentle story about life in a lighthouse just stopped as though the author ran out of steam. Add to that the intrusive insertion of a religious sub-plot that feels shoehorned in, and the whole tale was very disappointing. At least it was mercifully short.
Profile Image for Olivia.
99 reviews6 followers
August 8, 2017
This is a cute story with lots of emotion! Simply written, which would make it good for younger readers. Explains simply what it means to build our lives on the Rock, Jesus Christ, while telling a story that will captivate interest.

The plot is interesting, but only mentions a few major events, which made the book feel like it was flying by faster than I could keep up. The way it was written, it feels like everything happened in a week, which just doesn't compute well in my mind, haha. Still, I enjoyed the emotion in it, and the intensity of the events that take place in it.
Profile Image for Amy.
50 reviews24 followers
April 1, 2019
I listened to the LibriVox audiobook edition, which I didn’t see listed as an option to review. The narrator sounded like a little girl. There wasn’t a credit listed for the reader, but at the end of the book she identified herself as Rachel.
Having a child read this book was very appropriate as the story is told from the viewpoint of a young boy. She did a very impressive job, with the exception of the hymn she sang at the end of the book.
It’s a quick read/listen but if you aren’t open to religion, or rather not a believer, it may not be for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Donald Kirby.
183 reviews2 followers
May 15, 2019
Saved at sea is another great story, it teaches the importance of putting your faith in Christ on nothing else but rock. It also teaches the meaning of love, hope, faith, and most of all family. I so wish these books were taught when I was in school. I am 36, and I learned more about faith, love, kindness. Then I have my whole entire life. Please read this book if you are having doubts about your faith.
Profile Image for Bella.
39 reviews1 follower
March 18, 2024
Saved at Sea is what I believe a true Christian children's book should be.
A good example where simplified for a child does not have to equal chucking good or compelling storytelling out.
I also appreciated the natural way of bringing God into it.

Saved at Sea is beautiful and bitter-sweet in many ways. While some emotional intricacies were brushed over for the reading age, it was none the less a wonderful read.
3 reviews
May 4, 2022
Saved at Sea by O.F. Walton is a story about a boy who lives in a lighthouse, and saves the life of a baby girl (Timpey or Lucy as some might call her). I liked it as a story that you would like to read one chapter a day to have more suprises if you don't like suprises then this would be a one day read.
Profile Image for Eileen.
956 reviews
October 1, 2017

3.5 stars (liked it)

A simply written and heartwarming 1887 Christian short story about a grandfather and young grandson who rescue a girl from the sea which has a lasting impact on their life. A book that can be enjoyed by adults and young people alike.
March 25, 2018
Character building book for young and old alike

Very well written. The characters were very well described. The story will have an impact on anyone's life. I am glad the book was required reading for my son, excellent reading for a child - which I ended up enjoying as much.
Profile Image for Linus.
30 reviews1 follower
April 17, 2020
Very good book, but I don't like how they killed of the one character just to make a point and I don't like how he just found his father and then immediately moved away. I liked the characters though so this is one of my top books this year.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
7 reviews
October 3, 2022
Saved at sea I thought it was a good book. It was nice had sad parts. It was a short book overall it could have been much longer. It was happy and sad when his dad arrived. I learned that a dock is a scary place and lighthouses are tall
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Timothy Coplin.
359 reviews1 follower
September 9, 2017
Quick little allegory on the meaning of, need for, and process of salvation.
The Kindle version could do with a bit of editing.
All-in-all a worthy read.
Profile Image for Laura Aaron.
3 reviews
November 8, 2017
4th graders reading

My child's teacher is reading this book with her class. It was wonderful! I downloaded it and found it reviting myself.
Profile Image for Esther.
491 reviews5 followers
January 2, 2019
Children's story of a lighthouse keeper's grandson that includes plan of salvation.
Profile Image for Amy.
25 reviews
April 19, 2020
A beautiful tale. I've read and re-read this and never stop loving it!
Profile Image for Carolyn Page.
1,544 reviews33 followers
November 19, 2020
A mystery/adventure novel for young readers. I enjoyed it quite a bit when I was young!
Profile Image for Laurie Elliot.
269 reviews15 followers
March 11, 2021
This was more of a short story - or novelette - so the characters weren't as well developed as I would liked. But I liked the theme "Save on a Rock".
1 review
November 10, 2022
Great book to show…

Great book that teaches how events in everyone’s lives work together for good. No matter how difficult things seem Hope comes.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews

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