Author: Heidi R. Kling
Publish Date: June 2010 by Penguin Group
Synopsis: Still haunted by nightmares of her mother's death, fifteen-year-old Sienna Jones reluctantly travels to Indonesia with her father's relief team to help tsunami orphans with their post traumatic stress disorder—something Sienna knows a lot about. Since her mother's plane went missing over the Indian Ocean three years before, Sienna doesn't do anything if it involves the ocean or planes, so this trip is a big step forward.
But the last thing she expects is to fall for Deni, a brooding Indonesian boy who lives at the orphanage, and just so happens to be HOT. When Deni hears a rumor that his father may be alive, Sienna doesn't think twice about running away with him to the epicenter of the disaster. Unfortunately, what they find there could break both their hearts.
I have nothing but good things to say about this book and Heidi's book motto, "Dare to Love," fits perfectly!
Sea is an amazing story of triumph and love. We first meet Sianna three years after her mother's mysterious death. She has acquired several phobias and has withdrawn from those around her because of the post traumatic stress she is suffering from. In going on this trip she's facing one of her major fears, planes, and with taking that first step, Sianna is on her way to helping herself through helping others.
Heidi has written a book that is full of emotion and heart that totally draws you into the story. Sianna's time in Indonesia is magical, touching and full of hope. I enjoyed seeing a part of the world I may never visit through the eyes of Sianna. Heidi does a great job of showing us bits of Indonesia in a way that drives the story forward. Each trip to the village or the visit to the Buddhist Temple play a larger role in the story than to just show the reader more of Indonesia.
The characters in Sea have impacted me in ways very few literary characters have. Reading about how Deni and Sianna and the other tsunami victims deal with their loss and fears and find their way through the haze to a place they can thrive instead of just survive was inspirational. Sianna is a girl who has gone through so much and has to go on a journey to find her way back to herself. She's closed herself off from those around her and is just kind of treading watter. Spider, Sianna's best friend's twin, was really close to Sianna when they were younger. He's a cute surfer boy who gets a lot of attention from girls, but before Sianna leaves on her trip, he tries to show Sianna that he hasn't forgotten about her, that he still knows her even if she has lost herself. And then there's Deni. Deni has survived the tsunami that hit is town and is now dealing with the post traumatic stress that has developed because of this life changing event. He is a resident an the orphanage that Sianna and her father have gone to work at for two weeks to help Deni and the other children who have survived the tsunami.
Deni very quickly catches Sianna's eye and their budding friendship soon develops into something more. The time they spend together is hidden and not socially acceptable, but it's what they both need. They are both desperately looking for some sort of hope to get them through their trauma and they provided that for each other. And this is where the readers love dilemma lies. As the outsider looking in, the reader can see that Spiders actions before Sianna leaves are to show her that he cares, but Sianna, in her current frame of mind can't see this. Deni doesn't know her past, he doesn't know the "old Sianna," he just knows her for who she is right now. So you know have two guys who both love her and how does she choose between these two worlds? I was so torn on who I wanted Sianna to end up with in the end that I was reading the book jacket, looking at the cover, everything to get a hint because I was saw potential for Sianna with both Deni and Spider.
This is an amazing story that will stick with me forever. Sea is a great book for anyone who's dealing with loss or going through a time in their life that they can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. It truly shows that you can find hope in the most unexpected situation. Sea is a book I would suggest to everyone, it's touching and inspirational and just a great story!
My Overall Rating:
