Emily's older sister Kat has gone away to university and Emily is sharing a tiny caravan with her dad and step-mum Cassy while their new house is being finished. Her dad and Cassy are expecting a new baby and this leaves Emily wondering where she now fits into the family picture. Emily also wants to know about her real mother who left when she was only a baby. No-one will talk about her yet Emily has so many important questions that need answering. Add into this, the lovely Seb, he is the son of the builder working on the house. They begin a relationship and Emily begins to have the confidence to look into her past and find out who she really is.
This is the first Julia Green book that I have read and I really enjoyed her writing style. The story that she creates is absorbing but I found the best part of the book to be the characters. I am 27 years old and this book is Young Adult fiction but I could totally relate to Emily. Julia Green really does capture the excitement and nerves involved in having your first boyfriend. The constant checking of text messages and wondering exactly what they mean was spot on. I also really enjoyed how we saw the continuing of Emily and Kat's relationship via letters and MSN chats whilst Kat was away at uni. I too have an older sister and I know how important it was and still is to have her to talk to about what is going on in my life.
Julia Green chooses to put her characters in a tiny, cramped caravan and the more I thought about it the more I could see why she chose this setting. Emily effectively has nowhere to hide; she cannot ignore her Dad and Cassy's relationship and the pregnancy. At the same time she has no familiar home comforts around her or links to the past so she is so much more focused on the future and what she wants from it.
Drawing With Light is one of the best books that I have read about growing up and experiencing love and relationships for the first time. I read the book in one sitting and I felt as though I knew Emily so well by the last page. It was one of those books that I didn't want to end and I hope that Julia Green writes many more in the future.
Thank you to Bloomsbury for sending me a copy of this book.
7 comments:
I really like the sound of this one. I think I may have read some other Julia Green YA fiction
Verity- I thought it was so good, I know that she has written another YA book called Breathing Underwater, but I haven't read that one yet.
This is a lovely book! Glad you enjoyed it.
Between your review and the David Almond blurb (LOVE him), I'm absolutely sold.
Nymeth- It is definitely worth a read! Hope that you enjoy it!
This one sounds great - brill review. I am loving the cover too! x
Kirsty- Thank you, I really enjoyed this one, reminded me of being a teenager which is always nice!
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