Island Eyes, Island Skies is the story of two pre-teens and their friendships with one another that help them get through life as pre-teens and some personal tragedies.
D.C. Blau is a twelve-year-old girl. She and Tommy, her little brother, have recently moved into town with their dad and very pregnant mother. Rob Cameron is also in seventh grade and also has a younger sibling – a six year old sister named Mattie. The two meet when Becky, D.C.’s cousin introduces them by announcing to Rob that D.C. thinks he’s cute, but they don’t actually talk or begin to develop their friendship until they meet again at school. As the two develop their friendship, tragic and joyous similarities in their lives reveal themselves. Their unconditional acceptance of one another and unfettered relationship helps them move through the events and reflect on life together.
The story moves in waves, from the ordinary events of summer holiday where D.C. and Rob are with their families, or playing ball and hanging out with friends to shocking tragedies, like the deaths of Rob’s father or D.C.’s mother’s miscarriage. But as life continues in its normalcy, there are also more brushes with fate and tragedies that D.C. and Rob must face and move past.
Author Richard Levine has created strong, palpable characters in D.C. and Rob, who are your average pre-teens interested in movies, texting, sports, and junk food; they are also smart, savvy and sociable. D.C for example, loves playing with words, poetry and she and Rob fall in and out of role-playing situations that include WW2 battles and Guinevere and a knight.
Levine presents the story through first person narratives, alternating mainly between D.C. and Rob, but also including some other character’s voices as the story develops. For the most part, this technique effectively allows the character’s thoughts and feelings to be revealed in the character’s own unique voice, thereby drawing stronger parallels and connections between their lives and personalities. For example, Rob is always writing mental “headliners” like: “Six-Year-Old Digs to China, Greets Horned Look-A-Like Half Way Down,” for imaginary media sources, and he always makes a note of the message tee-shirts that D.C. wears “Life’s a Mountain You Climb Backwards.”
Levine keeps the reader involved in the story as he plays with the balance of beautiful and carefree aspects in D.C. and Rob’s lives with hard-hitting aspects of life. Levine also can contrast the way that different characters deal with their grief using his changing perspectives. D.C describes her mother’s reaction to her miscarriage: “She’s not combing her hair, and I’m not even sure she’s washing herself or brushing her teeth. When I bring up food for her, she barely acknowledge me and eats almost nothing.” Rob describes his own experience after his father dies: “I miss my dad more than ever. Since his death, I feel like I’ve become almost free-floating.”
In the background, there is the story of the developing relationship between two teachers, Lars Olafson and Elena Sifuentes. Though this part is very small and almost not completely developed, their presence and relationship is significant because of the themes of renewal, second chances, and connections between people. Lars describes how nervous he was around Miss Sifuentes: “I’m riffing to Elena about evolution, life, and the wonders of the human body Saturday afternoon at the Weenie Ranch, my motor mouth shifted into third gear, mindlessly hurtling down the highway.” This is similar to Rob’s response when he first speaks to D.C. and thinks: “I usually don’t have an easy time talking to pretty girls, but she’s just gawky enough that I feel comfortable around her.” Elena’s description of Lars: “I do admit though he’s sweet and sincere, and his goofy grin is growing on me” is also reminiscent of D.C.’s attraction to Rob: “There’s another boy dwarf though who . . .catches my eye ‘cause he seems quieter than the rest, a definite Bashful.”
Levine’s writing is straightforward and moving. On several occasions, the pace of the story switches suddenly from the playful, and idyllic tranquility of a child’s happy world then to the tragic events. Though these events of loss are dealt with gracefully and Levine then shifts to a different perspective to keep the tone relatively positive, some pre-teens might find the shifts and the emotions surrounding the losses too powerful and daunting.
Island Eyes, Island Skies is a heartwarming, touching story about life, connections, and how two friends cope with life’s curveballs. Four stars.
Reviewed by Maya Fleischmann for IndieReader