The Quiet and the Loud

Fox (How It Feels to Float) delivers an immersive, Sydney, Australia-set accounting of a teen struggling to overcome past traumas while dealing with her loved ones' varying conflicts. Whenever life begins to overwhelm 18-year-old George, she escapes to the peace and quiet of kayaking. But after she learns that her estranged father is dying of heart disease, she doesn't believe kayaking will help with her headspace, especially when she recalls a haunting memory: her father abandoning a then 10-year-old George on a kayak one night in the middle of a lake. He requests that she visit him in Seattle, saying he wants to make amends, but also asks that she not reveal his diagnosis to her mother. Meanwhile, George is unsure how to help her friend Tess, who is dealing with postpartum depression, and George's worries over Tess stall her budding romance with newcomer Calliope. Harrowing flashbacks told via George's vulnerable voice detail past experiences featuring her father's alcohol dependency, while visceral depictions of Australian wildfires add a palpable element of urgency that both mirrors and impacts George's desperation to take control of her life. George and Tess are assumed white; Calliope is of Sri Lankan descent. Ages 14-up. (Mar.)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 9 Up--After years of estrangement, 18-year-old Georgia's alcoholic father reaches out to tell her he's dying. George doesn't know what to do, so she does what she does best--buries it inside and doesn't share her indecision about visiting him in Seattle (George is a white Australian who lives in Sydney) with anyone else. Her friends are dealing with enough: Tess is pregnant and struggling with overwhelming anxiety, and Laz is a climate activist distraught by the 2019 wildfires. At home, George's life in an artistic family is a riot of color and noise, which she escapes by running and kayaking. One day while out on Sydney Harbour, she sees a beautiful girl cartwheeling in the water. An aspiring filmmaker of Sri Lankan heritage, Calliope is the first person to make George feel cared for instead of needed. As pressure to decide about her dad mounts and Tess struggles with post-partum depression, George retreats into herself. The novel intersperses George's poetry and flashbacks to her chaotic childhood amid the present-day time line. As in Fox's debut (How It Feels to Float), this work is lyrical and nuanced in its depiction of the silence and secrecy of families grappling with mental illness and addiction. Issues such as PTSD, anxiety, climate grief, and post-partum depression are explored with grace and complexity, and George's journey to speaking up for herself and deciding what she needs from the people in her life is rewarding. VERDICT A thoughtful novel with strikingly rich characterization, recommended for all collections.--Elizabeth Giles

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"The characters in Georgia's life are numerous and zany and wonderfully frustrating with their passions, anxieties, and idiosyncrasies. They shape the heart of this swiftly moving story that doesn't shy away from the disasters and pleasures, great and small, that come with living. . . As deeply enjoyable as it is reflective on childhood trauma and growing up, with sweet and yet emotionally mature romantic, platonic, and familial relationships, this book is a sure treat." —BCCB

★ "Helena Fox explores trauma, guilt and self-advocacy in this compelling and arresting novel. . . . Vivid imagery is paired with evocative prose and lyric poems, through which George comes to understand that 'you don't have to look after everyone, or protect people who have hurt you.'" —Shelf Awareness (starred review)

"Powerful, heart-tugging . . . Exquisitely encapsulates the complexity [of feeling, and] the breathtaking relief of seeking help and learning that the support of others makes you stronger, never weaker. . . . Perfect for fans of Kathleen Glasgow." —Books+Publishing

"Lyrical and evocative . . . Vivid . . . Laced throughout [are] engaging descriptions of Georgia's burgeoning romance." —Kirkus

"Heartbreaking yet uplifting and hopeful . . . with complex characters that weave their way into your heart. [Helena] Fox gives us yet another beautiful novel that we highly recommend for those who want to steep in the intricacies of life and advocating for yourself." —EveryQueer.com

"A sensitive portrayal of complex PTSD. Flashbacks and lyrical descriptions of George's art add further dimension." —Booklist

"A story about friendship and boundaries. About the end of the world and change. If you're looking for an introspective, character-driven story that manages to be both quiet and loud, then read this one. . . . A brilliant [story] with a rich emotional tapestry." —Utopia State of Mind