Between Two Skies

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Description

Hurricane Katrina sets a teenage girl adrift. But a new life and the promise of love emerges in this rich, highly readable debut.

Bayou Perdu, a tiny fishing town way, way down in Louisiana, is home to sixteen-year-old Evangeline Riley. She has her best friends, Kendra and Danielle; her wise, beloved Mamere; and back-to-back titles in the under-sixteen fishing rodeo. But, dearest to her heart, she has the peace that only comes when she takes her skiff out to where there is nothing but sky and air and water and wings. Its a small life, but it is Evangelines. And then the storm comes, and everything changes. Amid the chaos and pain and destruction comes Tru a fellow refugee, a budding bluesman, a balm for Evangelines aching heart. Told in a strong, steady voice, with a keen sense of place and a vivid cast of characters, here is a novel that asks compelling questions about class and politics, exile and belonging, and the pain of being cast out of your home. But above all, this remarkable debut tells a gently woven love story, difficult to put down, impossible to forget.

Reviews

What separates Evangeline's story from the myriad others that have come and gone in the wake of one of the nation's worst natural disasters is O'Sullivan's deft lyricism...O'Sullivan's light touch and restraint will allow readers to follow Evangeline as she stands howling into the wind that howled into her.
Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

OSullivans debut novel excels in its expressive language and the use of place: a colorful home, a city that contrasts what Evangeline has lost, and the aftermath of the storm that destroyed nearly everything she holds dear. Told in a strong, purposeful voice filled with controlled emotion and hope, the impact of Katrina on families is as compelling as Evangelines drive to regain her sense of self and belonging.
Booklist (starred review)

Between Two Skies by debut author Joanne O'Sullivan is a delicate, captivating story; her descriptions of Katrina and its monstrous damage are vivid and heartwrenching...Resonating with emotion and daring to bring readers into the heart of the south at a time of great sorrow and great joy, Between Two Skies is a multifaceted look at the places we call home and what it means to return.
Shelf Awareness for Readers (starred review)

This tale reminds readers that there were millions of people all over the gulf affected by [Hurricane Katrina] and that for many, the horror of the event was only beginning, not ending, when the skies cleared. A compelling novel with a tender romance, this debut is a great choice for teens who appreciated Jewell Parker Rhodess Ninth Ward or Denise Lewis Patricks Finding Someplace.
School Library Journal

OSullivans first novel, an elegantly written coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of Hurricane Katrina, opens in the village of Bayou Perdu on the Gulf of Mexico on the eve of Evangeline Rileys 16th birthday...OSullivan creates suspense on several fronts and gives Evangeline a lyrical and endearing voice.
Publishers Weekly

This is an interesting exploration of the changes that come well after a disaster is over, and it would especially make a thoughtful addition to the books that cover Hurricane Katrinas more immediate effects.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

This is a good romance and family story, as well as one that depicts the effects of depression. Readers will also learn about the people who lost their homes and ways of life after Hurricane Katrina. Young adult readers who want a realistic romance with lots of emotion will enjoy this book.
School Library Connection

In addition to an engaging and poignant depiction of Evangelines tale, OSullivan treats us to the elegant presentation of salty-sweet characters in an engaging cant-put-it-down read.
USA Today

Author Bio

Joanne OSullivan is a journalist for the Asheville Citizen-Times. She lived in New Orleans for several years and returns to southern Louisiana frequently. Between Two Skies is her debut novel. She lives in Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband and children.