Book Review: Learning Not to Drown by Anna Shinoda

Everybody has skeletons; but some skeletons shouldn’t always remain hidden away in the closet. Skeletons we don’t want to face or we dread to see the day they show themselves, but they always end up coming out. Debut novelist Anna Shinoda has presented the literary world her first Young Adult book, and she has also confronted several hard issues. Ten years in the making, Learning Not to Drown, was released to the public on April 1st 2014. Clare, the main protagonist and the story teller in this book, confronts her skeletons in this confronting novel about what happens when those skeletons have been kept locked for too long.

Clare has always loved her brother Luke, always loved him for being the bigger brother who looked out for his little sister and fended off the bullies. But he hasn’t always been there for her and despite having his darker side blanketed by parents that loved him no matter what, she is about to find out what her family’s skeleton has been hiding.

Luke is a known trouble maker, and is out of jail. But how long can he keep his illegal activities away from his beloved little sister? When Clare finds out about what he has been up to, she is faced with some heavy decisions. Decisions her parents, do not approve of and she will be left in a tangled web of lies, hard choices to make, and secrets.

Anna Shinoda, the author, takes on a challenge to wrap the reader’s heart in her hands and to take the reader on a rollarcoster filled with emotions. A challenge that has been completed with a raging success. The novel she has produced is somewhat very emotional, set to make the reader think, and to think hard about the emotions Clare goes through in this book. Adapting the first narrative technique, you walk with Clare every step of the way, and this contributes to the intensity of what Clare is feeling. The character development of Clare herself, and the relationships she holds with her family and her friends, they were developed well that the reader doesn’t feel overwhelmed with so much information at once, but the reader is still left wanting more of it and Shinoda delivers.

This has been quite a challenge for Shinoda personally, to write this book, and it is difficult to pinpoint and specify all them, but this novel that has set her writing career in unbreakable foundations among many people that can relate to Clare (including Shinoda) has shone through. To tackle such issues like a family member enduring jail time, lies, secrets, and trying to break free of poisonous relationships, I think that takes a lot of courage, especially when you have a debut novel that you can strongly relate to. The composition is great and it flows smoothly throughout.

I’m an avid Young Adult lover personally when it comes to my book shelf/shelves (more like it), but I think Clare and Shinoda have really broke the surface when it comes to a great Young Adult read. It’s lived up to other reviews that I have read, that it’s indeed raw, gritty and down to the bone. It’s a book that captures the reader’s attention immediately and holds your attention through out. I would easily give this book a five out of five star rating and I would recommend it to anyone.