Title: Between
Author: Jessica Warman
First published August 2, 2011
454 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780802721822 (ISBN10: 0802721826)
Rating: 3.95
Overview
On the morning after her eighteenth birthday party, Elizabeth Valchar wakes up on her family’s yacht with a persistent thumping noise that won’t let her sleep. When she goes to investigate, she discovers something that will shatter everything she believed about her life and her closest friends.
As Liz tries to unravel the truth behind her birthday night, she realizes that no one around her is innocent, not even herself. Jessica Warman takes the readers on a thrilling journey of mystery, romance, and self-discovery in “Between,” a poignant tale of love, loss, and forgiveness that will leave you breathless.
About the Author
Meet Jessica Warman, an accomplished author of young adult novels. She’s written Breathless, a book that received three starred reviews and was recognized as an ALA Best Book for Young Adults.
Another one of her works, Where the Truth Lies, showcases her talent for captivating storytelling. The inspiration for her latest book, Between, came from a personal experience in her childhood.
At a party on a yacht, a local boy went missing, but fortunately, he was eventually found alive. This event left a lasting impression on Warman and served as the catalyst for her newest creation.
Editoral Review
Between by Jessica Warman is a haunting and poignant novel that explores themes of loss, identity, and redemption. Warman is an American author who has written several young adult novels, including Breathing Underwater, Where the Truth Lies, and The Last Good Day of the Year.
Her writing style is atmospheric and evocative, with a strong focus on character development and emotional depth. The story of Between centers around a teenage girl named Elizabeth, who wakes up on a boat in the middle of the ocean with no memory of how she got there.
As she tries to piece together her past and figure out what happened to her, Elizabeth is haunted by disturbing visions and memories that suggest something terrible has happened. With the help of her family and friends, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery that leads her to some surprising and heartbreaking revelations.
One of the strengths of Between is the way Warman handles the psychological and emotional complexities of her characters. Elizabeth is a deeply flawed and damaged protagonist, but Warman never shies away from exploring her innermost thoughts and feelings.
Through Elizabeth’s eyes, we see the ways in which trauma can shape a person’s identity and worldview, and the power of love and forgiveness to heal old wounds. The other characters in the novel are also well-drawn and multi-dimensional, from Elizabeth’s best friend Mindy, to her troubled ex-boyfriend Sawyer, to her overprotective father and emotionally distant mother.
Warman does an excellent job of showing how each of these characters is dealing with their own demons, and how their actions and choices affect Elizabeth’s journey. The setting of the novel, a small town on the coast of Maine, is also brilliantly depicted.
Warman captures the beauty and isolation of the Maine coastline, as well as the insular and gossipy nature of small-town life. There is a sense of foreboding and unease that pervades the story, as Elizabeth struggles to uncover the truth about her past and the people around her.
One of the few criticisms of Between is that the pacing can be slow at times, particularly in the first half of the novel. Warman spends a lot of time setting up the mystery of Elizabeth’s situation, which can drag on a bit before the plot picks up again.
However, this is a minor quibble, and the payoff in the second half of the book is well worth it. Overall, Between is a stunning and affecting novel that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading it.
It’s a book that will appeal to fans of psychological thrillers, coming-of-age stories, and literary fiction. With its complex characters, lush setting, and poignant themes, it’s a book that deserves to be read and savored.
The Washington Post gives Between 4.5 out of 5 stars.
