Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Reviewed by: In the Shallows by Tanya Byrne Natalie Berglind Byrne, Tanya In the Shallows. Godwin/Holt, 2024 384p Trade ed. ISBN 9781250865595 19. 99 E-book ed. ISBN 9781250865588 11. 99 Reviewed from digital galleys Ad Gr. 8-12 Mara Malakar has a problem, and that problem is named Nico—a girl who is moody and aloof and has entirely captured Mara's heart, even though she's kissing Mara one second and giving her the cold shoulder the next. On New Year's Eve, when Mara and Nico plan to meet up, Nico blows Mara off, falls into the sea off the marina, and is rescued without her memories intact. When Mara runs into Nico in public, Nico's broody countenance and band shirts have been replaced with a End Page 316 chipper personality, fluffy pink accessories, and an unexpected openness. Against the advice of her tight-knit, supportive friend group (who are a bright spot in a very sad story), Mara begins to befriend this new Nico while hiding their fraught history. The dark reason behind the mystery of Nico's change in personality is unsatisfyingly withheld until nearly the end of the novel, and much of Mara's narration is told through a summary of events with significant lapses in time, creating distance to both the characters and plot. Although her ruminations over her addiction to her toxic situation may tax readers' patience, Mara is nonetheless a strong-voiced narrator, and her empathy toward Nico when she discovers the truth shines a light on the way that familial abuse impacts the way we approach relationships. Copyright © 2024 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
Natalie Berglind (Thu,) studied this question.