Words Composed of Sea and Sky

March 1, 2021

Gr 8 Up-Summer has rolled around, and Michaela (or Mack to those close to her) is looking forward to a single thing: a poetry course at the local college. But when her stepfather claims the cost of the class is too high, she decides to take matters into her own hands. In order to receive a scholarship, Mack needs to win the poetry competition about town legend Captain Benjamin Churchill. While researching Churchill, Mack discovers the diary of Leta Townsend, an affiliate of Churchill's. As she discovers Leta's story, she realizes that she has the power to dictate her own. Told in alternating perspectives between Mack and Leta, this is a beautiful story about love and making your voice heard. It is packed with a touching plot, lovable characters, and a well-written romance, and is gripping and easy to relate to. Most characters' ethnicities aren't stated. VERDICT A relatable story of love and poetry for YA collections.-Moksha Davaloor, Carroll H.S. Lib., Southlake, TX

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2021
Two young women in different centuries balance creativity and love. Michaela Dunn hopes to attend Winslow College of Fine Arts, the same institution as her late father, an English professor who died when she was very young. A poetry workshop weekend at the college may be the foot in the door Michaela needs. When her stepfather balks at the workshop's exorbitant enrollment fee, Michaela pins her hopes on winning a local poetry competition hosted by Winslow, one revolving around the town's fabled whaler-poet Capt. Benjamin Churchill. In researching the captain's life, Michaela discovers the journal of Leta Townsend, his would-be lover. The novel toggles between Leta in 1862 and Michaela in the present day as they balance their artistic ambitions against engaging love triangles. That's right, there are two plucky heroines and four handsome hunks in this sweeping romance--and the author successfully juggles them all. The narrative effectively balances big, swoonworthy moments against smart character work, giving characters just enough shading and fleshing out the nooks and crannies of the sleepy Massachusetts town. The dual narratives bounce off each other well, handing off storylines at just the right moment to create suspense, warmth, and romantic pangs. Michaela, Leta, and their romantic suitors are all presumed White. An effective two-for-one romance. (Romance. 12-18)

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