Tin Heart

by Shivaun Plozza

• ISBN10: 1250312787
• ISBN13: 9781250312785
• Publish Date: 14 April 2020 (first published 12 March 2019)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Flatiron Books
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 336
• Language: English

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Marlowe was born with a congenital heart condition, and after being very ill for many years, she had accepted her imminent death. All that changed one rainy night, when a car accident resulted in the death of another teen, and a new lease on life for Marlowe.

After receiving her new heart, Marlowe wasn't sure, who she was anymore. She had gotten used to being the dying girl without a future, but now she had a second chance. Marlowe spent a good part of the story trying to figure out who she was, but she did so, while dealing with the fact, that she had a future, because her donor didn't. She wanted, no needed, to know more about the donor, and another portion of the story was dedicated to her working through that.

I really felt all the emotional weight of this transplant. Plozzo did a wonderful job conveying the feelings and the inner conflicts Marlowe was battling with. She had to re-integrate into the world around her. She had to make new friends. She had to deal with her feelings of emptiness. She even had to deal with ridiculous twits, who teased her about her transplant (really?). But, everything she faced was a growing experience for her, and grow she did.

Plozzo won me over with this story, but her characters stole my heart. Marlowe was super complicated and dealing with a lot, so I empathized endlessly with her. But, her world was filled with such quirky and wonderful people for me to adore as well. Her mother was so over the top sometimes, but I admired her conviction and her unfailing love for her children. Her brother, Pip, was so, so precious. His love of Project Runway and crazy, inventive costumes was something I started to look forward to. He also loved so fiercely, and saw it as his duty to bring joy to the world. How could I NOT adore this kid.

And then, there was the butcher's son, Leo. You have to understand, Marlowe's mother owned a vegan store and they were staunch vegans - no gluten, no sugar, no meat, NOTHING! There is even a point where the mother says, "Honey, if you had brought home a conservative I'd be less disappointed." So, the fact that Marlowe and Leo develop a friendship and a romance was quite humorous, but you know what? I loved him. There was nothing cute about their meet-cute, but you could see the sparks, the banter was terribly fun, and seeing them realize they had more in common then they thought was very sweet.

Overall: A heartwarming, and often hilarious, look at one young woman's journey from dying-girl to her true self, which tugged at my heartstrings and left me with a smile on my face.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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[Kelly]

Seventeen year old Marlowe Jensen was diagnosed with a congenital heart condition, the resilient young woman the recipient of an organ transplant bestowed by a sixteen year old young man. Since the transplant, Marlowe is experiencing a dissociation of identity. Recipients are forbidden to contact donor families but Marlowe is resolved to uncover her anonymous donor, compelled by gratitude and appreciation for the perpetual sixteen year old boy.

Marlowe is an extraordinary young woman. Although the transplant was successful, Marlowe attends monthly hospital appointments to ensure her body remains healthy. Encouraged by her progress, Marlow is returning complete her education. Naturally her peers are curious and Marlowe is feeling overwhelmed by the unwanted attention. Especially the effortlessly stylish and popular Zan Cheung. The tentative friendship between Marlowe and Zan was lovely. Zan is a Chinese Australian young woman who challenges stereotypes, sexuality, racism and advocates for equality.

Marlowe's single mother is a vegan warrior, opening a small business selling vegan products next to a family owned butcher. Her brother Pip's flamboyant costumes and idolisation of David Bowie is infectious, her mother's protests are theatrical and wonderfully confrontational, igniting a rivalry between Marlowe and apprentice butcher Leo. Leo is charismatic and incredibly attractive but beneath the debonair exterior, Leo and Marlowe both share parental constraint. Leo is pressured to abandon his education for the family owned business while Marlowe's mother is affectionately overbearing. The romance was wonderfully tender and delightfully entertaining.

Through the online group established to introduce donor families and transplant recipients, Marlowe believes she may have found her donor. Although morally ambiguous, Marlowe finds her donor's sister Carmen and befriends her under an assumed name, convoluted by Zan's attraction to Carmen's friend Kari. Although I don't condone her deception, I sympathise with Marlowe as unconsciously, she had been preparing for her own passing with only her mother and brother unable to accept her diagnosis.

The transition to recovering survivor is a journey of realisation and acceptance for Marlowe, gradually feeling a sense of control and empowerment of her environment. Marlowe's experience is prevalent throughout Australia. Last year in Australia, over fourteen hundred members of our communities were the recipients of an organ transfer from over fife hundred patients. Marlowe's journey represents the thousands of organ and tissue donors and recipients throughout our communities each year. Those waiting for the opportunity to begin their lives. Organ donation is rarely spoken about until a family is confronted with the death of a loved one and although Marlowe is a fictional character, the narrative encourages discussion.

Shivaun Plozza is an exceptional and revered Australian young adult author. Captivating until the final page.