The Sea in Winter Blog Tour: Review and Prize Pack Giveaway

It is wonderful to have found your passion early on in life, but it would be really sad and extremely hard to acknowldge the fact that you may have to give it up due to physical limitations, especially when they are caused by an accident that could be avoided. This is the challenge that seventh grader Maisie has to struggle with in The Sea in Winter by award-winning author Christine Day. Learn more about this new book and enter to win a set of books from the author!

My Review:

The Sea in Winter is a skillfully written, emotion-charged novel about the devastating psychologial impact of trauma. The protagnist Maisie is a strong-minded girl who desparately wants to fully recover from her knee injury, but only to find it worsen during their family vacation in Olympia, Washington. The situation can be attributed in part to her unwillingness to admit the severity of her pains. From the very first chapter, the way Maisie describes the weather and her surroundings, and the way she interacts with others, make it clear that she is anything but happy. Meanwhile, she never misses a chance to express her passion for ballet dancing and her desire to become a professional.

Her feeling of helplessness and frustration is constantly contrasted by the warmth and care of her family members, including her mom Angie, her stepfather Jack, and her half brother Connor. After she collapses both physically and emotionally, the uncontional love and support of her family finally succeed in helping Maisie come to terms with reality, agree to take psychological therapy, and start looking for a new passion in life.

The story is filled with likable and relatable characters. Maisie is so lucky to have such an amazing family. Jack is the best stepfather I can think of, while Connor is as cute and vigorous as a 6-year-old boy can get. Her mom appears to be a bit insensitive at first, but her confession about what she has to go through over the loss of Maisie's biologial father well explains the way she acts (from the point of view of Maisie, who is also the narrator of the story).

I love the writing style of the author, who is really good at touching the softest spot in my heart and evoking empathy for the characters. The inclusion of minute details of daily life makes the story feel so real and so close. I also love the uplifting message from the story that sometimes giving something up can be a courageous, and the right thing to do. You don't have to pretend to be strong, especially in front of those who truly care about you. And don't be afraid to change your dream if the origianl one turns out to be unrealistic. I believe this book to be a timely, and healing read for those feeling isolated and frustrated because of the unprecedented challenges the whole world has to face together right now.

About the Book:

In this evocative and heartwarming novel for readers who loved The Thing About Jellyfish, the author of I Can Make This Promise tells the story of a Native American girl struggling to find her joy again.

It’s been a hard year for Maisie Cannon, ever since she hurt her leg and could not keep up with her ballet training and auditions.

Her blended family is loving and supportive, but Maisie knows that they just can’t understand how hopeless she feels. With everything she’s dealing with, Maisie is not excited for their family midwinter road trip along the coast, near the Makah community where her mother grew up.

But soon, Maisie’s anxieties and dark moods start to hurt as much as the pain in her knee. How can she keep pretending to be strong when on the inside she feels as roiling and cold as the ocean?

Ages 8-12 | 272 Pages | Publisher: HarperCollins | ISBN-13: 9780063078222

Order your copy: Amazon | Audible | Bookshop

About the Author:

Christine Day is the author of The Sea in Winter and I Can Make This Promise, which was a best book of the year from Kirkus, School Library Journal, NPR, and the Chicago Public Library as well as an American Indian Youth Literature Award Honor Book and a Charlotte Huck Award Honor Book.

You can visit her online at www.bychristineday.com.

One grand prize winner will receive a hardcover copy of The Sea in Winter and a hardcover copy of I Can Make This Promise!

Four additional winners will each receive a hardcover copy of The Sea in Winter!

Giveaway ends 2/5. Open to US 13+ only. Please enter below and good luck!

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Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in partnership with The Children's Book Review and HarperCollins Publishers. All views and opinions expressed are my own. icefairy's Treasure Chest is not responsible for winner selection or prize fulfillment.