Review of Swimming in a Sea of Stars
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[Following is a volunteer review of "Swimming in a Sea of Stars" by Julie Wright.]
Teen suicide is a topic that authors need to tread lightly when writing about this sensitive subject. Young readers are very impressionable. Luckily, for those in their teenage and young adult years, Julie Wright has written a hopeful and endearing novel titled Swimming in a Sea of Stars.
The book follows five high school students, who are connected and are each dealing with something challenging in their lives. Addison, who has a dark past, is in the center. She has attempted suicide and is returning to school for the first time since the attempt. Booker is unsure if he is the reason Addison attempted suicide. He cannot figure out how to connect with her once more. Damien seems like a shallow internet sensation whose goal is to be remembered, but he has aspects of his life that no one knows about at home. Avery’s world turns upside down when her brother goes to jail. Finally, Celia has a tough home life and may be ready to speak up.
One of my favorite aspects of the book is how seamlessly the author can intertwine all the characters and their storylines. Each character has a distinct background and voice. In some young adult and teen books, the protagonist's voice can become tiring. Luckily, these five high school students’ voices were a pleasure to read. Their voices and the plot kept me glued to every page. I also appreciated how well the author explained and demonstrated how one act of kindness can have a positive impact on several lives.
The author does something interesting. At the beginning of every chapter, there is a journal entry from Addison. Then, after each entry, a different character perspective is shown. I appreciated the varying font choices used in the journal entries and when it switched to another character's perspective. In addition, I appreciated how each time a perspective changed, the author included the character's names at the beginning.
Choosing a way to improve this book is challenging since I loved it very much. However, if I did have to choose an area for improvement, it would be to lengthen the book! I was a bit sad when it ended, but happy to have the opportunity to read this novel.
As it is my second time reading, I was curious how I would feel. Fortunately, I was just as excited for it the second time as I was the first time. I am also happy to share that the book appears to be edited professionally as I only located two minor errors. Themes of kindness, friendship, healing, voicing one’s needs, trust, and hope fill the pages. Due to this, the writing style, the captivating plot, and the lovable characters, I wholeheartedly give Swimming in a Sea of Stars by Julie Wright 5 out of 5 stars.
Though there are sensitive themes of teen suicide and depression, the author does it carefully to not overload young readers. Therefore, I would recommend this read to teens and young adults who are familiar with these topics and have an adult in their lives to discuss such matters. I would also recommend Swimming in a Sea of Stars to caregivers, educators, librarians, and therapists to gain a perspective on teen suicide that they may not have thought about before.
******
Swimming in a Sea of Stars
View: on Bookshelves |
Teen suicide is a topic that authors need to tread lightly when writing about this sensitive subject. Young readers are very impressionable. Luckily, for those in their teenage and young adult years, Julie Wright has written a hopeful and endearing novel titled Swimming in a Sea of Stars.
The book follows five high school students, who are connected and are each dealing with something challenging in their lives. Addison, who has a dark past, is in the center. She has attempted suicide and is returning to school for the first time since the attempt. Booker is unsure if he is the reason Addison attempted suicide. He cannot figure out how to connect with her once more. Damien seems like a shallow internet sensation whose goal is to be remembered, but he has aspects of his life that no one knows about at home. Avery’s world turns upside down when her brother goes to jail. Finally, Celia has a tough home life and may be ready to speak up.
One of my favorite aspects of the book is how seamlessly the author can intertwine all the characters and their storylines. Each character has a distinct background and voice. In some young adult and teen books, the protagonist's voice can become tiring. Luckily, these five high school students’ voices were a pleasure to read. Their voices and the plot kept me glued to every page. I also appreciated how well the author explained and demonstrated how one act of kindness can have a positive impact on several lives.
The author does something interesting. At the beginning of every chapter, there is a journal entry from Addison. Then, after each entry, a different character perspective is shown. I appreciated the varying font choices used in the journal entries and when it switched to another character's perspective. In addition, I appreciated how each time a perspective changed, the author included the character's names at the beginning.
Choosing a way to improve this book is challenging since I loved it very much. However, if I did have to choose an area for improvement, it would be to lengthen the book! I was a bit sad when it ended, but happy to have the opportunity to read this novel.
As it is my second time reading, I was curious how I would feel. Fortunately, I was just as excited for it the second time as I was the first time. I am also happy to share that the book appears to be edited professionally as I only located two minor errors. Themes of kindness, friendship, healing, voicing one’s needs, trust, and hope fill the pages. Due to this, the writing style, the captivating plot, and the lovable characters, I wholeheartedly give Swimming in a Sea of Stars by Julie Wright 5 out of 5 stars.
Though there are sensitive themes of teen suicide and depression, the author does it carefully to not overload young readers. Therefore, I would recommend this read to teens and young adults who are familiar with these topics and have an adult in their lives to discuss such matters. I would also recommend Swimming in a Sea of Stars to caregivers, educators, librarians, and therapists to gain a perspective on teen suicide that they may not have thought about before.
******
Swimming in a Sea of Stars
View: on Bookshelves |
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