The last book I read that dealt so realistically, so eloquently, with loss and grief was one by Jodi Picoult, and Sarah Ockler's debut novel is just as good, and more accessible by teens. After a shocking first page and interesting first chapter, the real action takes a couple more chapters to pick up, but then it cruises right along, throwing out insightful observations and quotable quotes about grief, healing, romance, and friendship. Once I got to Zanzibar Bay, I, like Anna, didn't want to leave it, so well-written and magical the place was.
Grief is never an easy subject to write satisfyingly about, and yet Sarah Ockler has managed to pull it off. She explores Anna's complex position of being the dead boy's sister's best friend while simultaneously being his secret love. This puts Anna in a position of never being able to fully express her grief, as everyone thinks it must be secondary to Frankie's.
How does one express the thoughts of a girl with guilty, repressed grief without falling into the deep end and becoming too melodramatic? I don't know, but Anna's grief, while raw, is also mature. I think that the juxtaposition of a difficult subject like grief with the magical summer land of Zanzibar Bay, combined with Frankie's determinedly happy-go-lucky mask of anti-grief, makes all aspects of this novel stand out more. All of the emotions and relationships are clearer without being too overbearing; TWENTY BOY SUMMER is simultaneously a study in post-tragedy healing and a fun summer love story.
TWENTY BOY SUMMER is the best blend of light and heavy, fun and learning. It is a great read for when you're craving comfort and resonance. I know that I'll be picking this book up again whenever I need a dose of healing.
Grief is never an easy subject to write satisfyingly about, and yet Sarah Ockler has managed to pull it off. She explores Anna's complex position of being the dead boy's sister's best friend while simultaneously being his secret love. This puts Anna in a position of never being able to fully express her grief, as everyone thinks it must be secondary to Frankie's.
How does one express the thoughts of a girl with guilty, repressed grief without falling into the deep end and becoming too melodramatic? I don't know, but Anna's grief, while raw, is also mature. I think that the juxtaposition of a difficult subject like grief with the magical summer land of Zanzibar Bay, combined with Frankie's determinedly happy-go-lucky mask of anti-grief, makes all aspects of this novel stand out more. All of the emotions and relationships are clearer without being too overbearing; TWENTY BOY SUMMER is simultaneously a study in post-tragedy healing and a fun summer love story.
TWENTY BOY SUMMER is the best blend of light and heavy, fun and learning. It is a great read for when you're craving comfort and resonance. I know that I'll be picking this book up again whenever I need a dose of healing.
