[1] With support from her guardian and her friends, she ties together all the strands - past and present - and moves forward to start the next chapter of her life.

Carrying the wooden splint with her, she first begins to see the Viking ship itself, back when the North Sea came farther inland as a wide river and the pool was an actual port.

She finds books on the area's history and sees ships just like that of her vision, during the period when the Vikings raiders became traders and neighbours to the Saxon residents.

From that point she continues to seek out and have intensifying experiences first with sound only including battle scenes with cries of 'The Norsemen' from the inland Saxon communities.

After witnessing a life-changing event for Estrith, Betony feels compelled to rush into the flowing river and nearly drowns back in the present time.

Growing up in the village, she had lived in an upturned boat on the far side of the tide pool with her husband for 30 years as of the time of the story.

Orlando Frisby (Orrie), an adopted young black man whose father is a mussel fisherman, a bit older than Betony.

[4] Vivid descriptions of its vegetation, changeable weather and soaring birds create a setting that is wild both literally and figuratively.

Arthur cites the Shorter Oxford Dictionary definition of 'wasteland' in the front pages: "Land in its natural uncultivated state".

[5] Yetty and Nott - an elderly couple who live in an upturned boat - become supports during her journey, in which the Wasteland both "enchants and ensnares" her.

The ship seemed to carry echoes of its own dangerous times, casting a spell over people and actually causing several drownings despite the low water levels.

"[6] Charlotte's Library Blog enjoyed On the Wasteland but regretted the narrative distance caused by Betony telling the reader what happened, and the frequent use of flashbacks.