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A review by thepetitepunk
Adrift by Tanya Guerrero
4.0
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Harrowing but hopeful, Adrift alternates between the perspectives of two inseparable cousins, Isa and Coral. Although the two can barely stand the thought of being apart while Coral’s family goes on a sea voyage, things take a turn for the worst when the boat capsizes and Coral’s family is lost at sea. Coral, who washes up alone on an island, fights to survive while Isa, at home on Pebble Island, remains hopeful that her cousin is still alive.
I originally wanted to read this solely for the Filipino representation—which I did end up enjoying! However, there was so much more to this than I was expecting. Adrift still has the magic of a middle grade novel where it is curious, heartwarming, and highlights the bravery and faith that children exhibit, while also being dark, detailed, and honest. I loved the exploration of processing difficult emotions and events—such as grief, survival, and uncertainty—through Isa and Coral, which looked different in them than it did in the adult who lost hope much quicker for the sake of “reality.”
Beautiful writing, strong characters, and meaningful themes. The only thing I struggled with was the pacing; at some points, things were a little too slow and this therefore took me over a month to finish, but that wasn’t a huge deal. I recommend this one to anyone who likes middle grade books with themes of friendship/family but wants a plot that is a bit more dark and less common in middle grade fiction.
Harrowing but hopeful, Adrift alternates between the perspectives of two inseparable cousins, Isa and Coral. Although the two can barely stand the thought of being apart while Coral’s family goes on a sea voyage, things take a turn for the worst when the boat capsizes and Coral’s family is lost at sea. Coral, who washes up alone on an island, fights to survive while Isa, at home on Pebble Island, remains hopeful that her cousin is still alive.
I originally wanted to read this solely for the Filipino representation—which I did end up enjoying! However, there was so much more to this than I was expecting. Adrift still has the magic of a middle grade novel where it is curious, heartwarming, and highlights the bravery and faith that children exhibit, while also being dark, detailed, and honest. I loved the exploration of processing difficult emotions and events—such as grief, survival, and uncertainty—through Isa and Coral, which looked different in them than it did in the adult who lost hope much quicker for the sake of “reality.”
Beautiful writing, strong characters, and meaningful themes. The only thing I struggled with was the pacing; at some points, things were a little too slow and this therefore took me over a month to finish, but that wasn’t a huge deal. I recommend this one to anyone who likes middle grade books with themes of friendship/family but wants a plot that is a bit more dark and less common in middle grade fiction.