Turtle under Ice

Grief following the death of a loved one is perhaps the most unpredictable emotion we experience. No two deaths affect us the same way and no one death affects two people equally. That's what this story is about, the way sisters deal with the death of their mother six years before. Rowena has dealt with it by putting all her effort into becoming the best soccer player possible. Her older sister, Ariana has checked out of life for the most part, paralyzed by overwhelming sadness. This story, in verse form, is mostly a look at two days in their life when Rowena fears that her sister has chosen to vanish. That's not true, but what unfolds, with flashbacks for both sisters, fills in the full story, reveals an added loss that also affects show more them in different ways, but leaves the reader feeling more hopeful for a better future for each of them. show less

CW: Loss of mother, miscarriage.

This story moved quite slowly and considering that it's a verse novel, that's really saying something. That being said I enjoyed the heartfelt tone and the portrayal of two sisters managing their grief in the aftermath of two painful losses. I understand the stresses of being the eldest sibling and the how the mantle of responsibility can weigh quite heavily during family emergencies. The ending felt believable and satisfying.

This one hit hard and close to home. Story of two sisters, each dealing with grief in their own way. The question that flows throughout the story is “how do you move on after losing someone so important in your life?” Is it possible to move on? Yes. Does it take time? Yes. Does one tend to push others away as they move through their grief? Yes.