Book Review: “Dark Water”

by Laura McNeal
Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2010

Reviewed by Caitlin Lee, 17
California

Growing up is tough for 15-year-old Pearl DeWitt. She's discovering many not-so-pleasant family secrets, her parents are going through a divorce, and her best friend is spending more time with her boyfriend. As if life can't get any more complicated, Pearl meets a boy of her own, and from then on, her entire life is different.

While camping out in her Uncle Hoyt's guest house, Pearl meets one of his migrant workers—a boy named Amiel. Amiel captivates Pearl with his mysterious past, silent disposition, and alluring looks. Yet when her mother and cousin, Robby, disapprove of Amiel, Pearl begins sneaking out into the woods where he lives, forming a relationship and falling in love with him along the way. Just when things start looking up, a fire breaks out near Amiel's makeshift hut, which forces Pearl to make several life-changing decisions.

Laura McNeal has written a story of realistic characters, fresh plot, complicated themes and beautiful descriptions, creating a novel that sucks in the reader from the start. Though the novel starts off slowly, tension quickly builds and this momentum never falters. Dark Water goes beyond the stereotypical "forbidden romance" and proves that not all stories end with "happily ever after."