Review: The Last True Poets of the Sea

The Last True Poets of the Sea by Julia Drake
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm so behind in my reviewing and can't believe I didn't get this review for the gorgeous book out on time. Apologies to Julia Drake, but it's not too late, and this book should be on everyone's radar for gifting to your favorite teen for the holidays. It's delightful, poignant, and more than a little wise.

Violet is a rebellious teen whose brother Sam is battling severe mental health issues. A straight-A student, Sam is battling an eating disorder and depression serious enough that he recently tried to take his own life. Violet loves her brother but hasn't been there for him. She's watched him spin further and further out of control but hasn't told her parents and doesn't know what she should do to help Sam. To hide her guilt, she's been behaving counterproductively, drinking, drugging, and experimenting with her sexual feelings. After he attempts suicide and Violet's reaction is to make out with a much older man in front of the vending machines, her frustrated parents send her to stay with her Uncle Toby in Lyric, Maine. Toby lives in the home her mom grew up in, Violet's grandmother's house. Her grandmother Fidelia survived a terrible shipwreck a century ago, and both Violet and Sam have always been fascinated with that aspect of their family's history. Violet's reaction to being sent away is radical. She shaves her head, borrows her dad's clothes, and pretty much tries to change everything about herself. Only... of course, she can't change who she is.

Once living in Lyric, working at a small-time local aquarium where she meets the yummy Orion and his equally delicious friend Liv, Violet slowly starts to deal with all the complications in her life, family, and within herself. In addition to worrying about Sam, she's worried she's a horrible person unworthy of being loved because of how she's reacted to her family problems. She is also kind of confused by her attraction to both Orion and Liv and what to do about it. There are so many kinds of love. But sometimes understanding what kind you feel is a challenge.

Beautifully navigating the struggles of insightful teens, Drake has created a great book with a memorable character who eschews labels.

The audiobook, narrated by Tavia Gilbert, was good, though I wish she could have sung the songs that Violet sings, particularly the Jo Stafford/Patsy Cline classic, "You Belong to Me." Simply reading the lyrics just felt odd. (Readers can take a listen here.)

I received a Digital Review Copy and a paper review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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