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zellreads's review against another edition
5.0
Awfully dark for a teen novel, but beautifully written and heart-wrenching. This felt real and desperate in a powerful way, with fantastic characters.
sarapruc's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Oof. Great book, but sad and challenging throughout. Difficult read, but great writing and storytelling.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Incest, Rape, and Abortion
papertraildiary's review against another edition
5.0
Being in Indy’s world is heartbreaking, and you only want her to find the help and love she so desperately needs. She’s always been trying to live her life under the radar; she doesn’t want to be seen by anyone except her mother, grandmother, and friends. Janice Lynn Mather does an amazing job at putting you right there with Indy, right there with her fear. It’s uncomfortable, of course, but it will not deter you from reading. Indy is in an extremely tough place but she powers through it – her voice never comes across as dark as it could, because she is learning she has strength and has to believe things will get better in order to survive. I found it interesting how Indy doesn’t think about how there’s actually a baby growing inside of her (she’s at 5 months) – she just refers to her growing belly – because thinking about a baby acknowledges her trauma and who knows what else. There are so many times when she could just tell someone what happened, but of course to her, that’s terrifying, and admitting it means surrendering to embarrassment and failure.
I also admired how the yoga retreat played into the story – it’s different and a great scene for what Indy needed. It provided such a starkly different environment than everywhere else Indy goes, and it’s where she finds adults who care and connect with her. While Churchy and her cousin Smiley provide their own types of support for Indy whether they realize it or not, she still feels safer at the retreat. Any time she ends up there is a breath of relief.
The pacing of the book was perfect. I was hooked immediately and wasn’t unhooked until… well I still feel hooked. This is the kind of book you will want to hug. I loved it and think you will too. It’s gorgeously written. It’s sad but hopeful, this story of a girl who just wants a stable and safe home.
For more of my review and a Q&A with the author, visit: http://papertraildiary.com/blog-tour-book-review-interview-learning-to-breathe-by-janice-lynn-mather/
I also admired how the yoga retreat played into the story – it’s different and a great scene for what Indy needed. It provided such a starkly different environment than everywhere else Indy goes, and it’s where she finds adults who care and connect with her. While Churchy and her cousin Smiley provide their own types of support for Indy whether they realize it or not, she still feels safer at the retreat. Any time she ends up there is a breath of relief.
The pacing of the book was perfect. I was hooked immediately and wasn’t unhooked until… well I still feel hooked. This is the kind of book you will want to hug. I loved it and think you will too. It’s gorgeously written. It’s sad but hopeful, this story of a girl who just wants a stable and safe home.
For more of my review and a Q&A with the author, visit: http://papertraildiary.com/blog-tour-book-review-interview-learning-to-breathe-by-janice-lynn-mather/
katouee's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
jwinchell's review against another edition
4.0
Heartbreaking and uplifting both, Indira’s story is one of surviving rape and overcoming generational trauma. Set in the Bahamas, this is a compelling YA novel centering around yoga and the power of the breath. I wish, like so many other modern novels about difficult subjects, that there was a page of resources at the end. 9th grade and up. Recommended.
maryehavens's review against another edition
1.0
Abandoned on page 33.
I'm not abandoning it because of the writing, I'm abandoning it because of the statutory rape. Rape is a trigger for me and Mather has set up this novel with flashbacks of the rape/grooming unfolding as Indy moves forward in her story. I am unable to read that.
I do like Mather's writing, especially her adherence to the Bahamian way of speaking. I believe it is important to stay authentic and Mather has certainly done that, being a Bahamian native. I also believe it is crucial to highlight BIPOC voices, I just can not read this unfolding, as terrible and important as it is to those that have suffered through this trauma.
I'm not abandoning it because of the writing, I'm abandoning it because of the statutory rape. Rape is a trigger for me and Mather has set up this novel with flashbacks of the rape/grooming unfolding as Indy moves forward in her story. I am unable to read that.
I do like Mather's writing, especially her adherence to the Bahamian way of speaking. I believe it is important to stay authentic and Mather has certainly done that, being a Bahamian native. I also believe it is crucial to highlight BIPOC voices, I just can not read this unfolding, as terrible and important as it is to those that have suffered through this trauma.
zellm's review against another edition
5.0
Awfully dark for a teen novel, but beautifully written and heart-wrenching. This felt real and desperate in a powerful way, with fantastic characters.
ladyfives's review against another edition
I can never tell her about him, what he did. We're so different and the words from my world don't translate anymore.
serialreader's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0