I鈥檓 always amazed at how Ellen Hopkins can convey so much in so few words, residing in a gray area between prose and poetry.
Her latest novel in verse, 鈥淪ync,鈥� does exactly that as it switches between twins Storm and Lake during the pivotal year before they . Separated years ago, the two write to each other in an effort to maintain their unparalleled bond. In the process, we learn about their home life before the state of California took custody, and the placements 鈥� good and bad 鈥� in between.
Shortly after turning 17, their case workers organize a reunion. It's enough to recharge their 鈥渟ync,鈥� but the joy from their brief reconnection is short-lived.
Storm winds up in juvenile detention when he takes justice into his own hands to avenge his girlfriend, the single good thing in his day-to-day life. And when Lake is caught in bed with her fellow foster and girlfriend, the two see no other choice but to run away and try living on their own.
This may be a young adult novel, but the themes are definitely for mature audiences.
Between sexual assault, homophobia, suicide, homelessness and all manner of child abuse, there are a lot of emotionally and psychologically challenging elements in 鈥淪ync.鈥� On top of that, Hopkins tackles topical issues from the teens鈥� perspective: the lack of or get help without having to undergo an invasive and often scarring process; the ways the justice system meets poverty and other societal disadvantages with , perpetuating recidivism; and in school. The last of these being particularly pertinent for an author and assigned reading lists alike.
As with most of Hopkins' narrators, Storm and Lake are observant and introspective, making them relatable, thought-provoking and fun to read.
Another thing Hopkins excels at is bringing you down to the lowest low before managing to end on a high note. While 鈥淪ync鈥� avoids veering into trauma porn, it does occasionally get pretty brutal 鈥� particularly about two-thirds of the way when Lake and Storm鈥檚 fast descent toward rock-bottom goes from 45 to 90 degrees 鈥� but the hopeful ending is worth it.
If you came for the poetry, temper your expectations 鈥� there鈥檚 not as much structural play or use of poetic devices in 鈥淪ync鈥� as in Hopkins' earlier YA novels, like her debut and highly acclaimed bestseller 鈥淐rank.鈥�
But if you came for a stirring page-turner that sparks conversation, 鈥淪ync鈥� is definitely a winner.
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Donna Edwards, The Associated Press
