Review of Swimming in a Sea of Stars

[Meghan Soderholm]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Swimming in a Sea of Stars" by Julie Wright.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Addison is a teenager who survived a suicide attempt. Booker was dating Addison and tried to kiss her. Celia is dealing with her drug-addicted mother and abusive relationship so that she can relate to Addison. Damien is a social media influencer whom others must love since his mother no longer remembers him. Lastly, Avery is a wallflower coping with her brother in jail, but her locker is near Addison's, and they never meet. Why did Addison commit suicide? Will Celia find a stable home and family? Will Booker rekindle his relationship with Addison? Will Damien receive the gratification he's craving? Lastly, will Avery finally have the courage to leave her comfort zone and make friends? All these questions and more are answered in Julie Wright's book Swimming In A Sea of Stars.

The book comprises stories told from each character's point of view, Addison's journal entries, and unanticipated climatic events that make this book a page-turner. Each character has a story, and the book is not just about Addison's attempted suicide. There are also supporting characters, such as Booker's cousin Sebastian, who is diagnosed with cancer; Avery's secret sister-in-law, Jo, whom Avery confides in and offers help to care for; and Avery's nephew, Tyler. These characters help enhance the impact of the story even more.

Even though this book had severe discussions about suicide, bullying, teen moms, neglect, and other issues, the characters' back stories were so enticing that I could move past all of the problems and enjoy a captivating story. I also love that there are discussion questions at the end, perfect for discussion groups, classrooms, and family discussions. This book was exceptionally well-edited and well-written. I could not find anything to dislike about the book, not a single grammatical error. Awarding a 5 out of 5 stars rating is an honor.

I recommend this book to teenagers and parents struggling mentally. This book is uplifting because nobody is ever alone in their situation, and another perspective always calms and brightens the mind and spirit. The story's central theme is to let someone in; you never know the wisdom they can bring or the challenges they struggle with daily.

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Swimming in a Sea of Stars
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[Amy Luman]

From what I can tell from the review this is a book with quite a few differing plotlines. It just goes to show that everyone is dealing with something, whether they let you know or not. Thanks!

[Meghan Soderholm]

From what I can tell from the review this is a book with quite a few differing plotlines. It just goes to show that everyone is dealing with something, whether they let you know or not. Thanks!

Yeah, you just never know the struggles people are going through especially when they hide them well. Thank you for reading and commenting on my review, Amy.

[Hazel Mae Bagarinao]

I agree: be kind because we'll never know what someone is going through. Like what Avery did to Celia. Simple but sweet. Addison's thoughts resonate with me. Thank you for another excellent review, Meghan!

[Alice Heritage]

This sound like an interesting read about some hard topics. Thank you for the comprehensive introduction.

[Meghan Soderholm]

I agree: be kind because we'll never know what someone is going through. Like what Avery did to Celia. Simple but sweet. Addison's thoughts resonate with me. Thank you for another excellent review, Meghan!

I've always been taught if you kill them with kindness, everyone wins. This book has a ton of valuable lessons. Thank you for reading and leaving an insightful comment as always, Hazel!

[Meghan Soderholm]

This sound like an interesting read about some hard topics. Thank you for the comprehensive introduction.

Suicide will always and forever be a difficult topic to discuss, but I appreciate the structure the author chose to make the topic hopeful and insightful! Thank you for reading and leaving a meaningful comment on my review, Alice!

[Mtsweni Nelsy]

Your review has genuinely sparked my curiosity to dive deeper into this book! This book seems like a captivating exploration of some challenging subjects. Your detailed introduction gives a great sense of what to expect and l absolutely agree with your sentiment about kindness and understanding, just like what Avery did for Jo.Thanks for sharing this comprehensive review!

[Meghan Soderholm]

Your review has genuinely sparked my curiosity to dive deeper into this book! This book seems like a captivating exploration of some challenging subjects. Your detailed introduction gives a great sense of what to expect and l absolutely agree with your sentiment about kindness and understanding, just like what Avery did for Jo.Thanks for sharing this comprehensive review!

Thank you for reading my review and for your kind words, Mtsweni! The book teaches you valuable lessons that you'll have forever! Glad you are willing to read the book and explore for yourself

[Jennifer Coxon]

I loved this book. The character relationships were so intricate and realistic. It really is how those small actions of kindness can make such a big difference to a person's life and you may never know the impact (or at least not immediately in Addidon and Celia’s case).

[Meghan Soderholm]

I loved this book. The character relationships were so intricate and realistic. It really is how those small actions of kindness can make such a big difference to a person's life and you may never know the impact (or at least not immediately in Addidon and Celia’s case).

That's the most valuable lesson I took from this book. Thank you for reading and commenting on my review, Jennifer.