Between Two Skies

Reviewed by: Jan Hamilton - Long Creek Detention Center, Scarborough, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: August 5, 2017

Review

Strong on emotion and weak on sentiment this is a living testimony of those who lost everything to hurricane Katrina. Evangeline is a high school student who lives in and loves a small fishing village in Louisiana until one day when it is covered by sea water. O'Sullivan's first novel is heart wrenching and oh so real! The author has found her readers who will cry with Evangeline after the hurricane, cheer for her as she adapts to new situations and have their faith renewed by a young love story. The characters are alive, they feel pain and struggle to deal with great changes. Between Two Skies is a coming of age story that is wonderfully written, it is lyrical and heartwarming even as the worst situations are played out. This novel reveals how enormous family conflicts can develop yet with love and work the unit continues as each member grows and changes. Hurricane Katrina is not a new theme to YA shelves but this one is special. The sweet love story is the frosting on the cake. Readers of many genres will await the second novel by this new author.. so heads up to librarians.

Overall Book Score: very good