Even the names are quirky and a bit too on the nose - Fernweh means 'wanderlust' in German, for example. But the constant angst over her lack of magical powers grows tiresome quickly and makes her appear uncharacteristically oblivious to the many hints that most readers will pick up on almost instantly.ĭespite their relatable qualities, author Katrina Leno overloads her characters with quirkiness, describing their personal aesthetics more than giving them depth.

Readers can relate to Georgina and her anxieties about the future as well as her romantic insecurities, which she handles with support from her friends and a fair bit of (occasionally morbid) humor. With diverse characters, a quaint setting, and a touch of mystery, this story has a whimsical tone but often feels contrived and muddled. The plot deals with mature themes like violence and sexual assault, but there are no graphic moments. There's some peril, and a teen wields a gun at one point, but no one gets shot. And while this is a romance, that doesn't dominate the story. Characters swear frequently, including 'f-k,' 's-t,' 'bitch,' and 'a-hole.' Teens drink and smoke pot at parties, go skinny-dipping in the ocean, and talk about dating and sex. Witchcraft and magic are central to the story, with one scene involving a Ouija board. It's told from the perspective of 17-year-old Georgina, who struggles with living up to her family's magical legacy and the anxiety of leaving home - not to mention dealing with the ups and downs of being one of the only out lesbians on the tiny island where she's lived her whole life. Parents need to know that Summer of Salt is a coming-of-age story that blends magical realism, mystery, and romance. References to being hung over.ĭid you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide. All of them make for a fun, mini, mental vacation as summer comes to its finish.Teens drink hard alcohol, smoke pot at parties. Some are deserted, and others are full of fairies (or dinosaurs, or mermaids, or wrong-sized animals). Some islands are tropical paradises, while others are chilly, rocky outposts in the cold northern sea.

The 'mysterious island' genre is weird and wide-ranging. So if you're looking for a last minute getaway before summer comes to a close, here are some of the greatest books set on mysterious islands that are almost as good as the real thing. I can't speak for the rest of you, but I've gone the whole summer without discovering a single uncharted continent or getting shipwrecked with a majestic wild stallion even once.

I mean, yet another summer has come and gone without a single deserted island romance, swashbuckling adventure, or horrific, island-based mystery. I know that this happens very nearly every year, but I still can't help feeling just a tad disappointed. In a shocking turn of events, it's already August and summer is more than halfway over.

Summer of salt by katrina leno