GIFTED / Today I bring you my review for the middle grade novel I have read lately: A Swirl of Ocean. I liked the atmosphere in this book so much!
I want to thank the team from Penguin Random House Global for sending me an e-galley of this novel (in an exchange for an honest review).
The book was released on August 6th 2019 and it has 224 pages.
About the book:
FROM GOODREADS / A girl discovers that the ocean is holding secrets she never could have imagined.
Twelve-year-old Summer loves the ocean. The smell, the immensity, the feeling she gets when she dives beneath the surface. She has lived in Barnes Bluff Bay since she was two years old, when Lindy found her on the beach. It’s been the two of them ever since. But now, ten years later, Summer feels uncertainty about her place with Lindy and starts to wonder about where she came from. One night, Summer goes for a swim and gets caught in a riptide, swallowing mouthfuls of seawater. And that night, she dreams of a girl. A girl her age living in the same town, but not in the same time. Summer’s not persuaded that this girl is real, but something about her feels familiar.
Summer dreams again and again about this girl, Tink, and becomes convinced that she is connected to her past. As she sees Tink struggle with her sister growing away from her and her friends starting to pair off, Summer must come to terms with her own evolving home life and discover how the bonds that make us family can help heal the wounds of the past.
Review:
When I first saw the cover for this middle grade novel, few months ago, I was swept away. I mean, just look at this gorgeousness! Who wouldn’t want to have something so beautiful in his hands?
When it comes to cover design, this book (or should I say author) really hit the jackpot!
The story itself was good, although if I’m being honest, not much happened in it.
I liked the atmosphere and setting the most, and the way the writer put an ocean as part of the story was so brilliantly done, that it felt like the ocean was the character itself.
It does play big part in this sort of coming of age story with magical realism elements.
I loved to read about Summer and Lindy‘s relationship and how their dynamic was shaken after Lindy’s boyfriend came around.
Also, Summer’s friendship with her best friend was so much fun to follow.
The story is written in first person following Summer’s POV, but there are also parts written in third person that talk about Summer’s dreams, featuring a girl named Tink who is somehow connected to Summer.
I have to admit that while I enjoyed following Summer, I simply didn’t care about Tink.
I knew Tink’s story was important but somehow I just couldn’t make myself care enough.
In the end, when it all connected and magical realism played it’s part, I realized that I wasn’t connected to the story enough to be thrilled, which is a shame.
Still, I think many readers will enjoy this book and I feel like it’s a perfect pick for late summer nights.
Book Dust Magic 
The cover of this book is beautiful. It doesn’t sound like a book for me as I’m not a fan of middle grade books. However I can see how this would appeal to younger readers. I might have enjoyed it as a child.
I hope the next book you read really captures you.
Amanda xx
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I agree, the cover is amazing. Thank you Amanda. I read few books recently and I am preparing reviews for them. I recently finished 2 fairy books in the boarding school, the series is called Oberon Academy, which I don’t think I’ll review on my blog but I posted brief reviews on goodreads. They were really entertaining.
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I have only seen one other review for this book and they were also underwhelmed. That’s too bad because the premise sounds fresh. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. 👍✨
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Yes, it is too bad, but I am not sure, maybe it would more appeal to it’s targeted audience.
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