Library Thing (May 2020)
November 10, 2020
Ooligan Press
256 pages
Ebook, arc
Fiction, YA
ISBN 1947845195
11/27-11/29
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from LibraryThing ER in exchange for an unbiased review.
This is a touching emotional story about loss, grief and healing. The characters and storyline are more on level with young teens than young adults. The subject matter is serious but not inappropriate for this emerging generation. Laurel Summers is 15 years old when her mother and two siblings, Rowan and Tansy are killed in a horrific car crash. Laurel and her dad were driving in a separate car and the guilt weighs on them tremendously.
They seem to go through the motions of getting through the formalities of the funeral not quite experiencing the depth of their loss. Laurel’s paternal grandparents go back to Arizona and are overwhelmed when they receive news that their son had gone missing and eventually in the hospital. Laurel’s dad decides to take her hiking but it ultimately turns traumatic when she falls into a laurel bush. She is shocked that her father continues on the path without her. She is unable to find him and is overcome with grief that her only living parent has left her.
Laurel has a tremendous support system with her friends Hannah and Lyssa. The girls have grown up together supporting one another over the years. Hannah’s parents take care of her until her grandparents arrive from Arizona. When her father is eventually found confused and suicidal in the forest, he placed in the hospital where he must face his grief. Meanwhile, Laurel attempts to maneuver her emotional landscape alone.
The story had a strong beginning but then seemed to lose structure and cohesiveness. There is a lot of discussion about crying and not crying and confusion over self regulation of emotions. The characters did not feel relatable to me on different levels. The sense of loss and grief and discovering how to go on can be overwhelming.
Although the themes resonate with present day there seemed to be inconsistencies with the actions and intentions of the characters. For example, through all the trauma and grief her grandparents allow her to fly alone to Kentucky. She is struggling to cope with the loss of her family and feelings of abandonment when her father left her on the hiking path. The focus seems to be entirely in the father and his mental health ignoring that this 15 year old might need some counseling. Her irrational behavior is understandable given the situation and it’s uncomfortable that there is minimal guidance available to her.
Ultimately, the book tells a powerful story of life and loss and moving past grief.
No comments:
Post a Comment