Coming August 27th, 2024 from Penguin Random House; 448 pages
About the Author: “Ellen Hopkins is a poet, freelance writer, and the award-winning author of twenty nonfiction titles, three novels for adults, and thirteen NY Times Bestselling novels-in-verse. She has published hundreds of articles on subjects ranging from aviation to child abuse to winegrowing. Ellen is a regular speaker at schools, book festivals and writers conferences across the US, and now throughout the world” (Bio from author’s website).
Find Ellen Hopkins on the following platforms:
Seventeen-year-old twins Storm and Lake, always inseparable, face new struggles after being torn from each other and placed in different homes. Storm, now in a supportive placement, finds hope in his girlfriend Jaidyn, but, when Jaidyn is assaulted, Storm’s retaliation lands him in lockup. Lake, meanwhile, is in a precarious relationship with Parker and living on the streets after running away from strict foster parents. Only their shared connection, their ‘sync,’ gives them any indication about the other’s condition. Through unsent letters to one another, Ellen Hopkins’ latest novel in verse explores their journey through the foster system and their desperate quest to reunite.
Vivid, harrowing, but ultimately life-affirming, Ellen Hopkins’ Sync might be her best work yet. This careful portrait of the foster care system is Hopkins at her most lucid, offering readers a window into a world that everyone may not be overly familiar with, but that hundreds of thousands of children and young adults experience every day. At times, I found myself resistant to continue reading such a relentlessly upsetting story. That knee-jerk reaction made me contemplate, and I realized that the cycle of homelessness, violence, and (in Storm’s case) incarceration is actually best examined through Hopkins’ free verse style. Her books tend to have young characters with the emotional intelligence of a much older person, but, in this case, I think it helps to clarify the horrors. Storm and Lake’s experiences are unfortunately common, and the subjectivity of free verse softens the blow for the reader, letting them experience the twins’ struggle within the safety of the page. The main reason I think this is Hopkins’ best is because of its message. As the title suggests, Storm and Lake’s special connection shows that even in this vicious cycle, they are tethered together. There is hope. The ending punctuates their connection in a masterful and satisfying way. I highly recommend this read for those who are looking for something raw and real.
Sync releases from Penguin Random House on August 27th, 2024.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley for sending a copy in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes may be subject to change before final publication.
Kasey Taylor, Pine Reads Review Writer