Book Review: All the Wind In the World

Synopsis: Sarah Jacqueline Crow and James Holt live in a near future America where much of the land has become harsh desert-like conditions and the only work available is back-breaking harvesting in fields. But, Sarah Jac and James have a plan – they’ll work until they save enough money to purchase their own home near the ocean, but it’s not as easy as it looks when everyone’s out to save themselves at whatever the cost. Sarah Jac and James have to keep their love a secret and when an accident occurs they must run to a ranch that most steer clear of.. Real Marvelous.
It’s here where their dreams are challenged by the possibly cursed ranch and their love might not be strong enough to save them.

Review: First of all, I love this cover, the swirling colors, the two characters with their backs against each other and the birds of prey who bring a sort of foreboding to the whole thing.

I fell whole-heartedly into this story. The setting is almost like a character in that you can taste the dust in your mouth, feel the sweat drip down your shoulder blades and feel the apprehension in the air at every turn and shadow. Sarah Jac is a well-formed character with a complete backstory that doesn’t necessarily make her choices better, but you do understand why she makes them. My heart broke for her over and over again as she dealt with the ramifications of hiding her love for James and the choices she made to protect herself.

I loved how Samantha Mabry was able to weave magic seamlessly into the story to the point where you’re not sure what’s real and what has an air of magic surrounding it. I’d love to say more about this story, but I think you have to read and experience it yourself (I don’t want to spoil this beautiful story for anyone!) This is a YA novel and one that I’m excited to share with some teens at work! Oh, and don’t forget, it made the longlist for the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature… so yeah.

Twitter Booktalk (140ish characters or less): Sarah Jac and James must keep their love a secret if they are ever to survive the back-breaking work in the field, but is their love strong enough to survive an accident, a curse and fate?

Title: All the Wind in the World
Author: Samantha Mabry
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Publication Date: October 10, 2017
Page Number: 272 pgs.