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Review by Adele Walsh
- Creator of the Persnicketysnark blog.
- Upon reading Julie Gittus' debut novel, Saltwater Moons, it is
easy to be struck by how authentic the novel is to the teen experience.
There are no dashing leads, outrageously attractive people or supernaturally
gifted species. It's about teens, the beach and the need for independence
and it's written superbly.
Gittus has taken a fairly meek character and made her experiences and
decisions intensely personal. She's taken such a gentle approach that
at times you don't realise how much a moment had affected you until minutes
later. It's definitely an emotion swirler! Each character is very clearly
defined and understandable. Even the bad decisions are ones that you can
empathise with, especially impressive when some of their actions are intolerable.
The use of poetry and art throughout is beautifully achieved. Reading
this novel is life being swallowed by a warm, calm wave. It's all encompassing,
soothing and moving. Romance might be at it's core with her interactions
with Tycho and her lusty ones with Mark, but the family plot line is so
truthful, strained and delicate that it pulls you in too. The writing
is deliberate, effortless and intoxicating.
I can't say enough good things about this novel. It saddens me that it
hasn't gotten more attention. It's about growing as a person, Independence,
love and loss - it's about the real teen experience. It's this good -
“I looked down at Tycho's painting and I thought: Is this me? Has
all my goodness vanished within a week? Good … bad … I decided
they were baby words. Meaningless …” When's the next one coming,
Julie?
http://persnicketysnark.blogspot.com
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