This is a book I reread every few years or so to connect to that 13 year old Erika who read this and was impacted. Not like, SUPER light-hearted, but very cozy and whimsical. Big feelings about the ocean and being a preteen and being confused about God.
Oct 4, 2024
Related Recs
Haven't read it since I was 11, so not sure if it holds up, but this book had a hold on my lil middle school heart. I re-read it so many times, my copy was tattered!
I remember also liking Island of the Blue Dolphins when we read that in school!
May 8, 2024
👁
first read these when i was in elementary school. i’m on the last book now of my early-20s reread. the writing is clever and emotional. i’m just shocked by how much depth and language play is contained in these—things i surely missed in my first read. i recommend reading or rereading these at any age!
Dec 30, 2024
😃
loved this one as a tween
Mar 3, 2024
Top Recs from @erikrikrika
🦷
I encourage you to rip into me if you disagree because shying away from disagreement is what??👂 OUT!
IN
• Reading books
• Folk-rock and folk-country
• Doing stuff on the computer and not your phone like god intended (social media, online shopping, etc.)
• Clothes-wise: colored tights, mini skirts, scarves
• Being late to work
• Talking to strangers, in the same vein: making new friends
• Writing
• Taking the bus and the train
• Saying what you need to say and doing so succinctly
• Unionizing your workplace
OUT
• Boring convos with coworkers
• Wearing clothes you don’t really like
• Minnesota nice (see also: being nice is not always the same as being kind)
• VAPING OHHH MY GOD. WRAP IT UP!!!
• Caring about makeup, unless you’re a drag queen or a goth. Like you get 15 minutes max
• Shying away from disagreement
• Fast casual chain restaurants - go eat local and sit down for a while
• Paw Patrol (copaganda)
• Ass kissing
• Being under 25
Dec 23, 2024
I mean. Wow. I wish I could formulate coherent literary analysis but I think I just need to sit with this for a month. Humanity, gender, politics, fear, love. The heart of culturally long-lasting, impactful sci fi is when the sci is merely a background to the fi, ya know?
Tried to pick a quote but can’t right now. If you hear shrill screaming in the distance just know it’s me wailing over this book
Illustration by David Lupton
Jan 30, 2025
💔
Even though it hurts like hell. Even though it’s wildly inconvenient. Even though you feel stupid or embarrassed for feeling it. Even though you’ve psychoanalyzed yourself to death and traced the issue all the way back to your childhood mistreatment. The only way out is through here.
Oct 20, 2024