Dive

by Stacey Donovan

This complex and lyrical coming-of-age novel portrays the messiness of teenage life as V learns to confront her problems.

Virginia "V" Dunn is alone when a hit-and-run accident leaves her dog, Lucky, bleeding and helpless. Suddenly, the monotony of her suburban life dissolves: Lucky is in a cast, her best friend is avoiding her, her mother's drinking is getting worse, and her father is sick with a mysterious illness. Although V is surrounded by family, she is the loneliest girl in town.

In her search for answers to life's difficult questions-about death, friendship, family and betrayal-V is floundering. Until she meets the captivating Jane.

But her new love also leads to confusion, until V realizes the only way forward is to dive in, even if it means breaking every rule.

Acclaimed author Stacey Donovan's thought-provoking novel, Dive is filled with the poetry, drama, and beauty of young love, and touches on the importance of finding out who you really are.

• ISBN10: 0140379622
• ISBN13: 9780140379624
• Publish Date: 27 June 1996 (first published 1 January 1996)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 30 January 2010
• Publish Country: AU
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Puffin
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 240
• Language: English

Reviews

[Kim Deister]

Dive is a truly poignant book about love and loss, friendship and family. The story revolves around Virginia, a 15yo girl who is going through one of the worst times of her life. And because personal tragedy is never enough, just about everything around her seems to be rising against her. Isn't that the way it always seems to be in life? This truly is what made the book so relevant to me as a reader, a person has been through their own fair share of loss and personal tragedy. Perhaps because of that, I read this a little differently. For me, it was the feeling of not being alone.

This is a book that is extremely character-driven. We spend the book inside the head of Virginia, feeling her confusion, her pain, and even her moments of joy and happiness. Through her we get to know her parents, her siblings, and her friends. And every one of them is a very different person. Her mother is a bit of a drinker and that is getting worse by the day, putting Virginia in positions she should never have to be in at her age. Her father seems to be a bit on the oblivious even before he becomes so sick. Her brother Edward (and I love the random use of rude takes on his name throughout the book) is pretty apathetic most of the time. But it is her little sister, Baby Teeth, that shines. She is smart and quirky and, in some ways, the true heart of the book. Virginia is understandably overwhelmed and I think she spends much of her time a bit emotionally. And if all of her family problems aren't enough, her dog is run over and her best friend starts being unreasonably mean and avoiding her, just when Virginia needs her the most. But then there is Jane, who unwittingly becomes Virginia's anchor.

At the center of the story is Virginia's fear and sadness. It is overwhelming and pervasive, just as it is in real life. She is barraged with so many things, each one of them enough to take her down by itself. But she is dealing with all of it all at the same time all by herself. There were moments that this was not an easy read because of the depth of the emotions, but it is a powerful read. It is also a read with unexpectedly funny moments and moments of happiness and joy. It is a book that truly gives you the feels!

I gave this 4.5 mugs!