The Sea Is Salt and So am I is a powerful debut novel that is also puzzling at times. There are three teenage protagonists: twin brothers Ellis and Tommy McQueen and local girl, Harlow Prout, a 16-year-old friend with some intimacy benefits who often fails in being a true friend to either boy. Together, these three alternate to share the first person narration while the parents and other adults in the coastal town flicker in and out of the story.
At first, I wanted to read this book since a plot summary referred to the small Maine town's coastal erosion and increasingly devastating storms resulting from climate change. Also of interest was Harlow's concern in the weather's effect. While semi-studying for SAT tests, Harlow is really focusing on trying to save her town's main street with businesses balancing perilously along crumbling cliffs.
As the story progresses, the verbal duels continue and intensify among the three teens, and a reader will eventually realize that the book's real focus seems to be mental health. Ostensibly, Tommy, is the one whom everyone worries about since he has documented therapy sessions and prescriptions. However, a lack of pill bottles in other people's bedrooms does not mean that they they feel complete stability or do not need a support network.
Interestingly, despite Tommy's role as the dedicated in-therapy character, Tommy is the one who cares deeply about his rescue dog and voices his dismay at the screams of lobsters when they are boiled alive. No matter what a reader's dietary habits may be, one can not help but appreciate his sensitive nature. Usually sensitive that is, since no character in Cassandra Hartt's novel is blameless, totally honest, or totally reliable. Just when it seems that someone has repented and wants to do better, there are surprising twists and hook-ups.
The frustration with these back-stabbing friendships created a bit of quandary for me when trying to decide on a rating: 4? 4.5? 5? Lacking a clear-cute protagonist in an amazingly antagonist-driven plot made me analyze my behavior with the book. I finished it in two days because I was curious about the outcome; I never was tempted to quit reading. I was pulled into the story and did feel concern that there would be devastating losses of life and limbs that had nothing to do with buildings falling into the sea. The story's contemporary issues and variety of relationships were not only realistic but felt authentic. I also applaud the author for the references at the end of the book for readers who might feel as lost or confused as anyone in the book.
The closing scene was not entirely satisfactory, and yet I certainly do not have any suggestions for how to do it differently. This is not a happy-ever-after, everyone-gets-their-act-together story. It is real, often gritty, and some YA readers might need to be warned that the book deals with depression, thoughts of suicide, and unhappy/unfaithful teen romance.
At first, I wanted to read this book since a plot summary referred to the small Maine town's coastal erosion and increasingly devastating storms resulting from climate change. Also of interest was Harlow's concern in the weather's effect. While semi-studying for SAT tests, Harlow is really focusing on trying to save her town's main street with businesses balancing perilously along crumbling cliffs.
As the story progresses, the verbal duels continue and intensify among the three teens, and a reader will eventually realize that the book's real focus seems to be mental health. Ostensibly, Tommy, is the one whom everyone worries about since he has documented therapy sessions and prescriptions. However, a lack of pill bottles in other people's bedrooms does not mean that they they feel complete stability or do not need a support network.
Interestingly, despite Tommy's role as the dedicated in-therapy character, Tommy is the one who cares deeply about his rescue dog and voices his dismay at the screams of lobsters when they are boiled alive. No matter what a reader's dietary habits may be, one can not help but appreciate his sensitive nature. Usually sensitive that is, since no character in Cassandra Hartt's novel is blameless, totally honest, or totally reliable. Just when it seems that someone has repented and wants to do better, there are surprising twists and hook-ups.
The frustration with these back-stabbing friendships created a bit of quandary for me when trying to decide on a rating: 4? 4.5? 5? Lacking a clear-cute protagonist in an amazingly antagonist-driven plot made me analyze my behavior with the book. I finished it in two days because I was curious about the outcome; I never was tempted to quit reading. I was pulled into the story and did feel concern that there would be devastating losses of life and limbs that had nothing to do with buildings falling into the sea. The story's contemporary issues and variety of relationships were not only realistic but felt authentic. I also applaud the author for the references at the end of the book for readers who might feel as lost or confused as anyone in the book.
The closing scene was not entirely satisfactory, and yet I certainly do not have any suggestions for how to do it differently. This is not a happy-ever-after, everyone-gets-their-act-together story. It is real, often gritty, and some YA readers might need to be warned that the book deals with depression, thoughts of suicide, and unhappy/unfaithful teen romance.