.#REVIEW: Sea Of Tranquility by Katja Millay

The Sea of Tranquility

by Katja Millay

Kindle Edition, 448 pages

Published November 13th 2012 by Atria Books

*Received from pub. for review





I live in a world without magic or miracles. A place where there are no clairvoyants or shapeshifters, no angels or superhuman boys to save you. A place where people die and music disintegrates and things suck. I am pressed so hard against the earth by the weight of reality that some days I wonder how I am still able to lift my feet to walk.

Former piano prodigy Nastya Kashnikov wants two things: to get through high school without anyone learning about her past and to make the boy who took everything from her—her identity, her spirit, her will to live—pay.

Josh Bennett’s story is no secret: every person he loves has been taken from his life until, at seventeen years old, there is no one left. Now all he wants is be left alone and people allow it because when your name is synonymous with death, everyone tends to give you your space.

Everyone except Nastya, the mysterious new girl at school who starts showing up and won’t go away until she’s insinuated herself into every aspect of his life. But the more he gets to know her, the more of an enigma she becomes. As their relationship intensifies and the unanswered questions begin to pile up, he starts to wonder if he will ever learn the secrets she’s been hiding—or if he even wants to.

The Sea of Tranquility is a rich, intense, and brilliantly imagined story about a lonely boy, an emotionally fragile girl, and the miracle of second chances.

 

 

 

Beautifully written story about broken characters, second chances, healing, and so much more.

What can I say about this book that hasn't already been said? Hmm... NOTHING REALLY! It is a must read, especially for Young Adults.


Characters that leap from the pages, that were so life like.

Nastya is in high school. She is a  bad ass wearing all black, mini skirts, heels to the sky, make-up, tough as nails. BUT BROKEN! VERY BROKEN! So broken in fact she doesn't speak, choosing not to. Not one single word has been uttered from her lips, since something major that has happened in her life. Day in day out you can read her thoughts, but she never shares them verbally with anyone. A shell of her former self, after tragedy be fells her.

Living with her aunt, she escapes the pain her family feels for her. Your left wondering what could've scarred this girl into never speaking again. Friendless, except for a boy who seems to enjoy speaking to her with her not responding other than an occasional hand gesture, or eye-roll Drew seems to like the idea of her not being able to talk. He's popular especially with the ladies and he kind of uses Nastya, but not in a bad way. In a way that benefits himself from being bothered, by girls in general. They think these two are an item, No harm, no foul, for these two. Nastya generally like Drew, as he tries to communicate with her through meaningless sexual innuendo.

 Drew's best friend Josh , is a different story. He has caught Nastya's eye, as he is a loner, that no one bothers with. Having been through his own broken, sad past he seems to walk around inside a bubble, and that is something Nastya envy's, having wanting the same for herself. As these broken friends become intertwined in each other's lives, Josh and Nastya become closer and a sort of strange but endearing friendship starts, as they accept each other and learn and grow from one another.

Josh is Nastya's healing grace. He is someone that accepts her, and seems to understand her without words being said. As the story unfolds you will slowly learn about these two and their past, and why these two need each other, and why it makes sense that they are together. Josh helps Nastya more than anyone else has. She learns to let go little by little.

 I loved everything about this story, from Nastya to Drew's loving mother, who was like a mother hen to everyone. I loved Josh and how he accepted Nastya and was there for her--her savior in so many ways.
 I loved how the author kept you guessing as to the whys and what's of what happened to Nastya. I just loved the whole story. Read it. Savor it.
Oh, I also loved the message I got from this engaging read--

No matter how broken someone is, it can take one person, or thing to change everything, and begin the healing process, and relive life again. Never give up!

5/5

 

 



“There are so many things that can break you if there's nothing to hold you together.”

   

 

 

 

“I am pressed so hard against the earth by the weight of reality that some days I wonder how I am still able to lift my feet to walk.”  

“What did you call her?" she asks but I don't think it's her real question.
"Sunshine," I say, and she smiles like she believes it's perfect and she may be the only person other than me who would think so.
"What is she to you?" she whispers. The real question and I know the answer even if I don't know how to say it.
Drew's muffled voice rises up from the floor before I can respond.
"Family," he says.
And he's right.”

When you look at her what do you feel?... Joy, fear, frustration, longing, friendship, anger, need, despair, love, lust?"
"Yes."
"Yes, what?"
"All of it.”  

“I was ripped out of the water and thrown and smashed into a thousand pieces that I can't put back together. I don't know where they go. And there are so many missing that the ones that are left don't fit together anymore. I think I'll stay in pieces. I can shift them, rearrange, depending on the day, depending on what I need to be.”