Sea by Heidi R. Kling

Haunted by recurring nightmares since her mother’s disappearance over the Indian ocean three years before, fifteen-year old California girl Sienna Jones reluctantly travels with her psychiatrist father’s volunteer team to six-months post-tsunami Indonesia where she meets the scarred and soulful orphaned boy, Deni, who is more like Sea than anyone she has ever met.

She knows they can’t be together, so why can’t she stay away from him? And what about her old best friend-turned-suddenly-hot Spider who may or may not be waiting for her back home? And why won’t her dad tell her the truth about her mother’s plane crash? The farther she gets from home, the closer she comes to finding answers.

And Sea’s real adventure begins.

One of my most anticipated releases of the year, Sea did not disappoint. In fact, it was far greater than my expectations.

Sea is swathed in a rich, powerful atmosphere full of tumulus emotions. Like a wave, it sweeps you away into a beautiful story, each page blooming with colorful Indonesian culture. Heidi R. Kling did an excellent job of painting the setting of Indonesia, clearly bringing it to life in the reader’s mind. The culture and vibe of the country run throughout the book, helping to enrich the already captivating story.

Everything about this novel is seeped in strong emotions. Both Sienna’s character and her struggle were wonderfully written and incredibly powerful. The novel was paced wonderfully, holding my rapt attention while allowing Sienna’s voice to come through. Between her own story of loss and those of the orphans at the pesantren, this novel was heart wrenchingly beautiful.

The romance, like the emotion, was also very well-written. Denny was a strong character and his whirlwind relationship with Sienna proved to be a captivating read. Their romance made Sea impossible to put down. Despite all the odds stacked against them, I couldn’t help but root for the two.

The subject of the tsunami alone would have been enough to make this book breathtaking, but Kling goes one step further with her brilliant depiction of the setting and its customs, as well as those affected by the tsunami. The combination of these makes Sea a powerful read that will tug at your heartstrings. Empowering and beautifully written, this is an absolute must read.

5 Stars!

If you liked this, you may like…Lucky T by Kate Brian.

Source: Traveling to Teens