Swimming in a Sea of Stars

By: Julie Wright

Narrated by: Erica Sullivan

Journal entry: Heading to school. I know what everyone will say. There goes the girl who tried to kill herself.

Addison is no stranger to feeling stressed, insecure, and sad. Her therapist recommended she keep a journal to help her understand those feelings better, which she really needs today. It’s her first day back to school, several weeks after she survived her suicide attempt. She knows there are rumors about why she did it: A lousy home life? Bullying? Heartbreak? None of them are true, but it doesn’t matter because Addison still feels like she’s drowning. She still holds secrets she’s not ready to share.

During the school day, Addison encounters four other students struggling with their own secrets:

Booker is anxious about seeing Addison. They were sort of a couple until he tried to kiss her. She fled and then tried to end her life. Those two things couldn’t be related, could they?

Celia feels trapped by her mother’s abusive boyfriend. She can guess why Addison did what she did.

Damion is TikTok-famous and thinks befriending Addison could boost his followers. But what no one knows is he needs the world to remember him since his sick mom doesn’t anymore.

Avery is considered a loner and doesn’t know Addison, but they have neighboring lockers. With Avery’s older brother in jail for dealing drugs, Avery is desperate for meaningful human connection.

Swimming in a Sea of Stars is a poignant and gripping novel about how we’re all interconnected, like the stars in the night sky that form constellations and map out the universe, and if even one star goes missing, the effect is profound.

©2023 Julie Wright (P)2023 Blackstone Publishing

Addison returns to High School

Addison attempts suicide after her boyfriend tries to kiss her. But that's not the precipitating event that led to her suicide attempt. Rather the abuse suffered at the hand of her mother's boyfriend. When her mother found out, she left with Addison immediately and they moved far away. But she and her mother never spoke of the abuse, which was sexual . She was protective of her mother and so didn't bring it up.

Meanwhile, Addison returns to school and is more than a little anxious to do so. Her boyfriend is as nervous to have her come back to school as she is to return because he doesn't know what he did to precipitate her attempt. The whole school seems to know about it, though and so people either ignore her to leave her alone or like one boy on the "hope squad", attempt to interact with her positively.

That evening she attends a party and speaks to her boyfriend. He points out that if even one star burns out, it will be missed. Addison helped many people that day whether directly or indirectly. Had she not been there those people's lives wouldn't have changed. The most dramatic of which is a girl being abused by her mother's boyfriend, with him putting cigarettes out on her body. Addison speaks to her in the restroom and encourages her to tell someone. She goes to the principle that day and gets out of her home and into a loving and nurturing foster care home.

This story takes place in one day from early in the morning until late that evening. Addison has been encouraged to keep a journal after her suicide attempt, and much of what we learn is from these writings. Actually every other chapter is her writing in her journal.

Though a young adult book, I enjoyed it thoroughly. I give it 4 stars because it could have been written better and there were errors. For me, this didn't detract.

Compelling narrative

I honestly adored this book. This coming of age novel is really appropriate for anyone 12+ - as a 35 year old woman I still found plenty to relate to. We have the opportunity to gaze through the eyes of multiple characters in the narrative, and check our own judgments as we go. Characters go through a myriad of relatable, dynamic experiences, and I honestly think it would be a great recommendation to teens as they pursue their own life shifts. 5 out of 5 stars!

well written narrated story

I loved every moment; the story was so engaging. What Addison and the other teens went through conveys important messages. We need to communicate with each other and learn not to judge anyone without knowing their circumstances. The effect of the smallest gestures could be life-changing for someone. The narrator didn't skip any details; I felt every emotion and word through her voice. Well done.

important and Emotional

This was incredible. It has so much potential to help so many people. thank you Julie!