Dark+water

Discussion page for //Dark Water// by Laura McNeal ISN'T THIS SUPPOSED TO BE DARKWATER BY CATHERINE FISHER? Dark Water by Laura McNeal has already been a Flume book. 15 year-old Pearl is drawn to Amiel, one of the legal and illegal Hispanic migrants her uncle employs on his California avocado farm. The characters, plot and suspense are well developed. The devastating fire and human reactions at the end of the book are convincing, though Pearl's voice becomes a bit melodramatic. This is worth considering for the final list. Maybeth Anderson Dover High School

I was not really taken with this book. I had a hard time caring about Pearl, and I don't think she's a character that most teens wouldempathize with. As we are limited to 13 titles, I doubt if this will make the cut. Sally Nelson Leach Library

I will probably be disagreed with, but I really liked this book. I think the writing is engaging. I liked the underground love story. I read slowly because I wanted to savor how this author writes. You know from the start that Pearl will fall for Amiel and there will be a fire. The book navigates you through their relationship and the fire. The end was not what I'd hoped, but I still liked this book and hope it makes the top 13 Flume nominees. Kathy Watson, Kimball Library (Atkinson)

I agree with you, Kathy! After reading these reviews and the book jacket, I wasn't that interested in the book. However the author writes beautifully and I ended up enjoying it. I agree that Pearl gets melodramatic at times, but I think teenagers would enjoy that. I still liked other books on this list better than this one, and I'm not sure it would appeal to boys all that much, but it should be considered for the top 13. Caitlin Stevens, Bedford Public Library