The Art of Feeling

Reviewed by: Sheila Dube - Springvale Public Library, Springvale, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: March 9, 2018

Review

High-schooler, Sam (Samantha), was in a traffic accident six months before which killed her mother and left her with constant pain and a need for crutches. Her father and her two older siblings each avoid the pain of loss in different ways, none of them healthy. When Sam meets Eliot, who has a congenital condition where he is not able to feel pain, she becomes protective of someone else for the first time. Eliot places himself in the whipping boy position in a drug deal gone wrong that entwines Sam's attention and ultimately helps expose who was responsible for killing her mother. The heaviness of depression, drug addiction, and the pain of grief are balanced against Sam's sarcastic first person voice and her challenges for the normal everyday high school friendship situation. Due to the rough language, graphic bullying and teen drug/ alcohol use, suggest to more mature teen audiences.

Overall Book Score: good