Molly and the Shipwreck is the fifth book in the Molly series from author Malachy Doyle but the first book I have read from the series. The books are set on an island off the coast of Ireland.

In book five, Molly and her dad are out on his fishing boat when they come across a small boat that is in distress. Onboard is a lady and her children. Molly and her dad help them into their fishing boat and take them to their home. The family is scared and the father of the family is missing.

Molly’s parents tell her the family needs to go to the mainland to a camp but Molly wants them to stay.

Malachy Doyle seems to have a way of helping children understand events that are occurring across the world by making everything relatable and talking to them at their level. In Molly and the Shipwreck, the book focuses on migrants. We are not told where the family has come from or why they left their country looking for a new home, but children are shown the dangers that occur from crossing the sea/ocean and how scary it is. The book shows how a community comes together to help those less fortunate.

Within there are some amazing full-page illustrations that show the plot perfectly including emphasising the emotions of the people. This is a beautiful book that was lovely to read. Children are very inquisitive and this story will most likely have them asking a lot of questions some to do with migration, others may want to know where the newcomers to the island have come from and why, it is just a pity this wasn’t mentioned.