November 1, 2022
Grades 9-12 Iris, an explorer of abandoned places, is sure her mother died in a house fire years ago--until she isn't. After Iris discovers the truth about her mother's death, she finds herself feeling as abandoned as the derelict buildings she traverses. Falling for �rla, a gymnast (and her mother's best friend's daughter), only has her feeling more lost. Now Iris must rediscover herself and her strength without destroying old relationships or herself. Beashel (The Sky Is Mine, 2020) brings emotion-packed metaphors to her sophomore novel. Through the eyes of its relatively small cast, she navigates sexuality, abuse, mental illness, and difficult family relationships with gentle and adept consideration. Characters are well-rounded, fleshed out with interests and motivations regardless of their scene count. Many readers will appreciate the book's handling of a mental health crisis and an afterword that lists resources regarding issues that appear in the book. A solid choice for fans of Jennifer Niven's All the Bright Places (2015) and Lizzy Mason's Between the Bliss and Me (2021).
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