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A Map for Wrecked Girls by Jessica Taylor

Publication Date: August 15th, 2017
Genre:Young-Adult Contemporary
My Goodreads Rating: 3/5
Source: Own Copy

Emma's life had forever revolved around the actions of her elder sister, Henri. This wasn't some sort of eternal punishment or trap she couldn't escape- Emma simply adored Henri to the extent that she worshiped her every step and molded her life to fit Henri's. While this may seem like an unhealthy relationship to some, Emma and Henri had perfected their routine- sharing a seamless experience together for all their teen years.

Suddenly, after a devastating fight (left a mystery to the audience), the siblings find themselves awash on an island after a boating trip gone wrong, with only a fellow teen to guide them. They must find their way back to each other to find their way home- but with their shattered past, can the sisters shape a new future?


Contrary to the summary, the book isn't just about girls stranded on an island. It explores the very beginnings of sibling relationships by going back and forth between the island and the girls' hometown, progressing in a non-linear pattern. The plot establishes an oxymoron relationship that is both strong and weak, moving between scenes to prove both points.

The big fight is revealed at the end, as the sisters move towards the salvation of their relationship. I won't spoil the plot by telling you where they end up- but I will tell you this, the process was both interrupted unnecessarily and contributed to greatly because of the presence of a young boy on the island. This additional character adds a lot more depth to the novel as the sisters must now embrace their problem with an unfamiliar person, but unfortunately leads down the road to romance, which I felt was not a good theme for this novel.

I enjoyed Taylor's light writing, surprised that she managed to maintain this tone regardless of the emotional scenes she described. However, this book remained with me not as an amazing young adult read, rather as a quick, vacation read that while explores essential themes, does so in a manner befitting a read to pass the time.

I'd recommend this book to fans of light fiction, although this is definitely not to be confused with that. I'd also recommend it to readers interested in family relationships, who may have enjoyed the novel "Far From the Tree" by Robin Benway. 

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