Surfacing by Nora Raleigh Baskin

The Blurb On The Back:

Is there such a thing as too much truth?

School swim-team star Maggie Paris has an uncanny, almost magical ability to draw out people’s deepest truths, even when they don’t intend to share them. Her classmates are avoiding her and even her parents, busy at avoiding each other, have become wary, not wanting to confront the secret at the heart of their devastated family.

A lyrical and deeply moving story about finding the courage to confront your ghosts – one truth at a time.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Nora Raleigh Baskin’s YA novel is a contemporary tale of grief and loss with a magical realist twist but while the flashback scenes showing the relationship between Maggie and Leah are credible and moving, the contemporary scenes with Maggie felt underdeveloped and a little hollow. Although Maggie’s desire to chase a fantasy is entirely in keeping with her character, it is difficult to relate to and the fact that the supporting characters (notably Matthew, her parents and boyfriend Nathan) are so thinly drawn means there’s little for her to react to.

SURFACING was released in the United Kingdom on 4th July 2013. Thanks to Walker Books for the free copy of this book.