It was the cover, which caught my attention first on this one. It carries a calm atmosphere with a sense of mature acceptance before an awakening. I'm not usually a huge fan of realistic fiction in following a character as it takes on life issues, but I want to give this one a go for two reasons. First, it's written in. verse, and when done well, I find this form can bring across a world and emotions in a grabbing way. Second, it takes place in a remote town in Norway. I believe this is the first time I've run across a read, which sends an American girl on a trip to find herself in Norway. Plus, Norway has always been on my 'would love to see' list. So, I'm excited to see what this read holds.
Snuggle into that chair because this one might require an entire kettle of tea...meaning it might be one that holds me the entire way through.
THE SECRET TO BELONGING
by Megan E. Freeman
Atheneum Books
YA Contemporary / Poetry
336 pages
COMING SEPTEMBER 15th!!!
A neglected teen travels to Norway for a fresh start in this stunning coming-of-age novel in verse about longing, love, and the courage to create joy from the ashes of despair by award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Megan E. Freeman.
You are invisible in your own family. Your parents spend all their care and attention on your brother, who is addicted to drugs. Your dreams don’t matter to anyone but you.
Your only ticket out is a college fund left by your grandfather—until your parents use it to pay for your brother’s drug rehab.
Just when your future seems about to collapse, you are offered a scholarship to become an exchange student in a remote part of Norway. It’s an invitation to begin a new life in a new place with new people…a place where you might finally feel like you belong.
You are invisible in your own family. Your parents spend all their care and attention on your brother, who is addicted to drugs. Your dreams don’t matter to anyone but you.
Your only ticket out is a college fund left by your grandfather—until your parents use it to pay for your brother’s drug rehab.
Just when your future seems about to collapse, you are offered a scholarship to become an exchange student in a remote part of Norway. It’s an invitation to begin a new life in a new place with new people…a place where you might finally feel like you belong.
MY TIDBITS
Diving deep into a girl's thoughts and difficult situation, these pages show there's always a ray of light to be found.
A girl has watched her family struggle while growing up, mostly trying to cushion every mistake her brother makes. His constant problems drain their attention, resources, and almost everything from her life. Even her college fund. When all hope seems lost, a friend introduces her to the chance to study abroad and the possibility of gaining a scholarship to pay for it. When a carefully crafted essay...a carefully woven lie...wins the money, the girl takes off to Norway for the year, far from her family and her friend. There, everything is different, but it might be exactly what can turn life around.
This book is written in free verse and flows very smoothly to create a meaningful, deep, and quick read. The entire thing feels like a mix between a journal and a tale with a looser plot. The first chapters take time quickly with a general sweep over the girl's life growing up all the way until high school. While various points in life are mentioned, this concentrates on broader problems to give readers an overview with understanding and emotional depth. The entire tale dances back and forth between more direct scenes and a broader time flow. So, it isn't a strict plot with event after event. Rather, it lets the general problems and impressions come across with highlighted moments that really dig in. The girl's cynical views drop in to give her personality a dash of bite, too.
The style allows the emotions to come across clearly and gain a connection with the main character. The other characters float more in the fog, but the problems surrounding them and the impacts the make on the girl are very clear. Good and bad. It's easy to sympathize with the issues surrounding her family life, and it's heart-lifting to accompany her as she experiences the changes in Norway. There is a romance involved with mentions of intimate relations, and this entire thing takes a very wholesome twist at the end to leave hope and satisfaction. But the tale isn't about the romance. Rather, it concentrates on the girl's journey to find a new life and hope.
The author also works in quite a bit of Norwegian facts, culture, life, and even some of the language. For anyone curious about the country, this read dives right in and brings it across with a touch of warmth, community, satisfaction, and more. This weaves nicely in with the rest of the tale and gives it another layer of richness.
And here she is...
Megan E. Freeman attended an elementary school where poets visited her classroom every week, and she has been a writer ever since. She writes middle grade and young adult fiction. Megan is also a Pushcart Prize–nominated poet. An award-winning teacher with decades of classroom experience, Megan taught multiple subjects across the arts and humanities to students of all ages. She divides her time between northern Colorado and the Texas Gulf Coast. Visit her online at MeganEFreeman.com.
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