A review by naomiysl
The Fire, the Water and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla
adventurous
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.0
Would have been a 5 for the writing style, I love the way the prose gives way to verse when strong emotions are present, all the characters are well-rounded and the portrayal of different adult reactions to neurodiverse kids are spot on. Plus, having grown up near the beach in question, I can confidently say the author completely nailed the vibe. But I took a star off for one thing, which is a spoiler so I'm hiding it. Aside from that, great book. Will recommend it.
Spoiler
the whole book is centered on the problem of whether it's more important to keep a promise or more important to tel la secret when it's hurting you. And so it really bugs me that Maudie did not have to solve that problem. Instead, her stepdad abuses her in public, taking the need to tell anybody out of the equation. I'm not mad at the fairy-tale ending of safe adults knowing meaning that everything is taken care of, I'm just mad that she doesn't really have to tell.Graphic: Child abuse and Physical abuse
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Sexism, Pregnancy, Racism, and Bullying