Caught Between Worlds
by Lance V. Packer
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Pub Date 28 Apr 2021 | Archive Date 15 Dec 2021
Lance Packer | MJV Literary
Description
In the wilderness of culture conflict, maturation, and Alaska, three teenagers struggle to control their lives…
Catherine and Cal are starting their high school senior year in a small, isolated fishing town, and Paul is beginning his seventh-grade adventure. All must decide how to meet the many worlds of society and nature menacing their snug, routine lives.
But brewing conditions of events beyond their control force them to confront decisions that shatter their realms of familiarity and expected futures—problems with ethnic identity, love, and unforeseen disasters. In this setting, they are increasingly confronted by the world of the Outside—life elsewhere beyond home—which they know little about, and are torn between its appeal and their suspicion.
What is waiting for them after the school year ends, and how will they find answers to the pressing question, “Who am I?”
Available Editions
EDITION | Ebook |
ISBN | 9781737006503 |
PRICE | US$3.99 (USD) |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Caught Between Worlds is a coming of age story that explores how this transition is made much more complex by identity, cultural conflict, socio-economic status, and family/community relationships. It is set in rural Alaska, which is an interesting setting to delve into these questions and struggles. While these are universal experiences, they are positioned in a place that is very far removed from anything within my own experiences.
The book follows three young characters. Two are about to graduate high school and must consider their options after graduation, and the third is a younger boy who has left his village and family behind to continue his education after the village school is closed. All three characters are dealing with similar problems as they straddle different cultures and try to figure out exactly what their own identities are. With pressures from their family and community this process is made much more complicated.
The idea behind this novel is intriguing, however it felt very dry to read. The book rarely provoked any emotional reactions for me, and it felt difficult to connect to the characters. This is mostly due to the third person narration that never really goes beyond exposition. I felt like I was waiting the whole book for the book to really get started.
What kept me reading though, were the beautiful (and what seemed authentic) depictions of life in this remote region. The simple prose captured how living in this area is sometimes brutal, and sometimes inspiring. This book is an interesting read and I would recommend it to anyone interested in this region of Alaska or who enjoys reading a narrative that is more of a character study.
I received a free copy from NetGalley. Growing up on an very small Alaskan island a 7th grader is forced to move to a small town for school. Then two from the high school talk about growing up in the small town as well and dreams of "outside" in larger Alaskan cities. A story of the struggle to grow up but also the struggle of culture and lifestyle choices as the "old" ways no longer support life and the internal conflict this creates. Kind of a slow story for teens, I think it will actually be appreciated more by adults.
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Sci Fi & Fantasy