The Last True Poets of the Sea by Julia Drake

THE LAST TRUE POETS OF THE SEA by Julia Drake has a beautiful cover, doesn’t it? This young adult novel introduces the story of Sam, who has tried to kill himself, but it focuses primarily on Violet, his sister who feels guilt, remorse, anger. Well actually, she is not sure what she feels or how to react when she is sent to live with her Uncle Toby for the summer in a small, coastal town named Lyric, Maine.  Violet meets new friends (Orion, Liv, Mariah, and Felix) and develops a romantic relationship as she struggles to repair her ties with her brother (under treatment in Vermont) and parents (working in New York City).  Drake explores bisexuality in this coming of age novel that also has an element of suspense and family history due to a long ago shipwreck. I thought that THE LAST TRUE POETS OF THE SEA started well and was quite engaging, but it also slowed a bit in the middle (too much angst over boyfriends and girlfriends?) before resolving many of the issues (“no one thing could fix us, because no one thing was wrong. The fixing would be in keeping going, in trying.”) and chronicling some of the healing. Drake writes beautifully: “I felt the weight of my brother’s sadness in my own chest. He was a jellyfish being asked to float on land.” Loosely evoking Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, THE LAST TRUE POETS OF THE SEA received a number of starred reviews, including ones from Booklist (grades 10+), Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, School Library Connection, and School Library Journal (grades 8+).

Murder at the Brightwell by Ashley Weaver

I am happy to see the positive ratings for Murder at the Brightwell because it is the type of light and cozy English mystery that I find to be a welcome diversion. Set in 1932 England, this story by debut author Ashley Weaver focuses on Amory Ames, a wealthy young woman who accompanies a friend to the deliciously upper-crust Brightwell Hotel in attempt to prevent a courtship from turning into a marriage as empty as her own. While there, a murder occurs, Amory’s handsome husband Milo arrives, her friend Gil is arrested and she puts herself in danger in order to clear Gil‘s name. Having been to the Art Deco hotel on Burgh Island in south Devon, I had truly enjoyed picturing the guests, their fashionable clothing, and the seaside resort at the Brightwell, all of which definitely added to the charm of this mystery and to its connection with Agatha Christie.

 

I hope that Amory grows into an even stronger character who is less apt to obsess about defining herself in terms of relationships with her estranged husband and former fiancé, but her musings added romantic tension to the novel and will increase the appeal for many readers. Faculty and staff who like mysteries will definitely enjoy Murder at the Brightwell and I look forward to more adventures in this entertaining series.