BOOK REVIEW: WATERMARK BY ELISE SCHILLER

Watermark

by Elise Schiller

Published: April 8th, 2016

Paperback, 292 pages

MY GOODREADS RATING 4/5 STARS

(Thanks to Smith Publicity, I received a copy of this book to review)

SYNOPSIS:

"COMING-OF-AGE MYSTERY EXPLORES HARSH REALITIES OF INNER-CITY LIFE" 

"Through swimming, Angel Ferente found relief from the troubles of home—a refuge from the responsibility of caring for her three younger sisters. But now, instead of being scouted by schools and getting ready for college, the talented high school senior in Elise Schiller’s debut novel, Watermark, has disappeared without a trace.

Raised by a drug-addicted mother and criminal step-father, Angel became her younger sisters’ only hope—and the rock that held her family together. Now, Angel is nowhere to be found. Last seen on public transit in the middle of the night, the talented competitive swimmer with an independent streak could have ended up just about anywhere. But on the rough streets of inner-city Philadelphia in the early 90’s, in a community plagued by drugs and violent crime, her family and friends are finding plenty of cause for concern.

“Narrated by Angel’s troubled younger sister Jeannine and her swim teammate Alex, Watermark explores the challenges of growing up in the inner city in the midst of the crack epidemic and how one girl found refuge through swimming  and the steadfast support of her team,” says Schiller. “Alex and Jeannine form a bond as they find ways to cope with Angel’s absence.”  

With the help of their coach, CJ, and his local church, Angel’s teammates must work quickly to unravel the mystery of her disappearance and locate the talented young teen before it’s too late."

MY THOUGHTS:

       I really enjoyed this book, within the first two chapters I was hooked. The story was enthralling and and it really kept me hanging on every word. 
       I liked the fact that there were differing points of view, and neither was the main character, which made it different from any other book I read. The characters were extremely easy to relate to, emotions-wise. Even though I never went through any of the same experiences, I could easily empathize with their situations. Because Angel didn't narrate her own story, you really got a sense of her from an outside point of view. The author did an amazing job narrating both point of views, which were from two completely different backgrounds.
      I got through this book extremely quickly for two reasons. One was because the story flowed, it was written concisely and easy to read. The second was because it was so gripping I didn't want to put it down. I felt like I needed to see where Angel's story was going and how the story was going to end.
     Overall, I would highly recommend this book If you are looking for a quick thought provoking read. It has just the right amount of mystery and diversity.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

"A lifelong resident of Philadelphia, PA, Elise Schiller has spent more than three decades providing education and youth services in inner-city communities through her work in non-profit organizations, including her most recent 16-year position as the associate executive director at EducationWorks. Though she has published several short stories over the years, Watermark is her debut novel."

"Watermark is available in e-book and paperback format from Amazon, Barnes&Noble.com and select independent retailers. 

Learn more and connect with the author on Facebook,  Goodreads, and LinkedIn."