The best fiction simply tells the truth.
But the truth is never simple.
When novelist Kendra Brennan moves into her grandfather's old cabin on Hidden Lake, she has a problem and a plan. The problem? An inflammatory letter from A Very Disappointed Reader. The plan? To confront Tyler, her childhood best friend's brother--and the man who inspired the antagonist in her first book. If she can prove that she told the truth about what happened during those long-ago summers, perhaps she can put the letter's claims to rest and meet the swiftly approaching deadline for her next book.
But what she discovers as she delves into the murky past is not what she expected. While facing Tyler isn't easy, facing the consequences of her failed friendship with his sister, Cami, may be the hardest thing she's ever had to do.
Plumb the depths of the human heart with this emotional exploration of how a friendship dies, how we can face the unforgivable, and how even those who have been hurt can learn to love with abandon.
My Thoughts:
I read The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water by Erin
Bartels in short sittings. From beginning to end, this emotional story brims
with sorrow, regret, and questions. The beautifully written prose and first-person
point-of-view (POV) drew me deeply into Kendra’s perspective and search for
truth, but the heaviness of the story’s issues kept me from reading the novel
quickly.
The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water captured the murkiness of life, a place where things are gray and broken. The novel takes a hard look at many issues without offering standard “Christian-ese” solutions. The story weighs the cost of the telling the truth, examines broken relationships, asks what constitutes consent for sex, and probes the darkness of sexual assault.
The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water rates as an edgy story within the Christian Fiction market, not only because of the issues it tackles, but also because of graphic scenes (molestation and rape) presented on page with enough detail to make any reader uncomfortable. The heartbreaking experiences of Kendra’s teen years mirror the reality of this broken world filled with survivors of sexual assault. I appreciated the compassionate author’s note in which Erin Bartels shares a bit of her own experience and gently encourages those who have experienced sexual assault.
I recommend The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water by Erin Bartels to brave readers who desire a complex story. As hard as this novel may be to read, it brings awareness to the effects of sexual assault and the need for healing.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of
this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
What a powerful review. Sexual assault is a tough thing to read about, and even tougher to write about. I can see why you had to read this in short settings.
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