Review: Dark Yet Hopeful
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 6, 2013
**4.5 Stars**Sink or Swim is a very fitting title for this story. It takes you to the very depths of despair, then elevates you to hopefulness and joy. Sink or Swim is not a light and fluffy story but it is a well written one and one that leaves you feeling hopeful in the end.Allie Porter is a young girl who has suffered much in her short life. Her home life is so miserable she left and lived on the streets, literally, rather than continue enduring it. She returns home only to take care of her mother. Allie is courageous both for the reasons she left home and the reason she returns. I admired her desire to be with her mother despite the consequences she knew she'd suffer by returning home. One of those consequences is facing Dean, the boy she's know her whole life. The boy whom she left behind without a word.Dean Ritter has gone through his fair share of hardship as well. He's resilient and does what has to be done to take care of his family. His mom and sisters depend on him and Dean proves himself more than dependable. He and Allie live across the street from one another and have always been close and even dated. He was devastated when she disappeared and he wants some answers upon her return. And he's just stubborn enough to hold out for them.I can't imagine experiencing the tragedy that life has been for Allie and Dean. But through it all they've clung to one another. Allie wasn't as honest with Dean as he would have liked but she wanted to protect him from the pain she was suffering. The lengths to which both Allie and Dean were willing to go to in order to protect the other is a testament to their bond. They each are brave, even though Allie doesn't see herself that way.Sink or Swim is not a light read due to its subject matter. However, it is well written and well developed. It's a character driven story and Ms. Canosa does a fine job of providing characters I couldn't help but feel for and root for. She offers a strong supporting cast of characters as well. Dean's mother and sisters, in particular, are relatable and offer a lot to the story. My one gripe with this story is the extreme use of profanity. I'm not naive and I know teenagers use profanity but this is a YA novel and I felt the profanity was overused.Overall, Sink or Swim is dark and gritty but keeps you turning the pages for that proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. And I was satisfied when I reached it.