Filled with deeply rendered oceanic imagery and a pragmatic style that depicts the change and growth of its heroine, TOO DEEP TO DROWN is by turns an emotional and amusing novel. Stacy R. Ward’s prose moves seamlessly throughout the narrative, taking on different tones and shades depending on the ever-evolving headspace of her teenage protagonist.
While touching on heavy themes, the novel’s drama is leveled with spots of humor and character insight throughout. As a bonus feature, Ward infuses the story with a healthy dose of scientific and mechanical information. The author’s career as a marine mammal veterinarian permeates the novel, allowing readers to feel like they're on board the vessel with a distinguished expert. The book will engage readers of all ages, especially those who enjoy relatable characters, steady pacing, striking imagery, and a supplemental dose of scientific information.
At the heart of the story is homegrown mechanic Meg Pullman, a newly emancipated seventeen-year-old fresh off the beaten path of a broken life. Given the chance to test her sea legs in order to earn university credits, Meg boards the research vessel Sojourner as a rookie intern—quickly finding herself thousands of miles away from her past (and her future). Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, she spends her days doing grunt work, solving the ship’s various mechanical issues, and trying to live quietly amidst a crew of outspoken experts.
The trauma of Meg’s past is rendered neatly in succinct chapters that don’t overload the narrative with overly heavy themes. Ward does an excellent job balancing Meg’s story with current and past events, the latter expressed through an effective flashback technique. This structure lends quiet credence to Meg’s degraded childhood, complete with chapters of CPS reports and EMT records. It’s not lost on the reader just how strong and brave Meg is as a character, despite her internal beliefs to the contrary.
The growth journey is nonlinear, and it’s not always smooth sailing as Meg’s traumatic past tries to reclaim her at every turn. Add to the mix a drill-sergeant aunt who monitors Meg’s every move, a boisterous roommate who playfully brings her into the fold, a mysterious humpback whale who haunts her dreams, and a handsome crew member who gives her feelings she can’t articulate, and TOO DEEP TO DROWN becomes a fleshed-out novel. Meg’s future gradually comes into focus, making room for new feelings, experiences, and connections. Ward places her heroine successfully on an untrod path engineered for herself, by herself—turbulent waters be damned.
Readers of all ages can find several emotional takeaways in TOO DEEP TO DROWN, and they can all expect to wind up glad for their time spent onboard.
Stacy R. Ward’s TOO DEEP TO DROWN depicts the fight-or-flight spirit of adolescence through the eyes of its emancipated protagonist. Bolstered by its atmospheric imagery and easy-to-access prose, this novel will appeal especially to YA, science, and nature fans.
~ Allison Barilone for IndieReader