Learning Not to Drown
By Mary Cosola,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Teen faces her criminal brother's legacy in gripping read.
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What's the Story?
LEARNING NOT TO DROWN tells the story of Clare Tovin and her dysfunctional family. Even though Clare's brother Luke has been in and out of jail for most of her life, he's good to her and she idolizes him. Because of Luke's run-ins with the law, the Tovin family is not always embraced in their small town. The book opens with Clare's vague flashback of discovering an altercation in her home; from there the action alternates between 17-year-old Clare's current life and flashbacks to her early family memories. As the recollections eventually catch up to present time, Clare's memories become clearer, allowing her to connect the dots of the her brother's troubles with the law and the ways in which her family has -- and hasn't -- dealt with them. Along the way, we meet Skeleton, the taunting, goading specter Clare sees whenever her family's troubles interfere with her life and happiness.
Is It Any Good?
In her debut novel, Anna Shinoda creates a gripping, realistic tale of living with the fallout of a relative's crimes and of the stigma that comes with being associated with a criminal. The story's told from Clare's point of view, and at first she is whiny and grating. But as she faces her family's secrets and learns to advocate for herself, her tone becomes more assured. It's enjoyable to watch her mature over the course of the book. Learning Not to Drown's structure of alternating between past and present builds interest and moves the story forward in a compelling way.
Clare's life is frustrating, and she gets no support at home, but the overall message is good: You can't change people, but you can take care of yourself and build a good support system outside of your family. The lurking character of Skeleton, a representation of Clare's embarrassment over her family, is a clever device. He taunts Clare, but she eventually learns to face him and deal with his near-constant presence. Clare's parents are infuriating characters, and her dad's role is somewhat confusing and poorly fleshed out. The story would have benefited from further exploration of their relationship and his motivations.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about sharing personal issues with others. How do you feel about the way Clare's mother refuses to acknowledge the seriousness of Luke's crimes?
How does Learning Not to Drown compare with other books you've read or movies you've seen about dysfunctional families?
How would you react if a friend's family member was accused of a serious crime? Would you try to get your friend to talk about it, or would you not want to bring it up for fear of upsetting him or her?
Book Details
- Author: Anna Shinoda
- Genre: Coming of Age
- Topics: Friendship , High School
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Atheneum
- Publication date: April 1, 2014
- Number of pages: 352
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: January 13, 2020
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