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stephxsu's review against another edition
4.0
SEA is a wonderfully solid, emotional, and un-put-downable debut by a highly talented YA novelist.
Heidi Kling writes her characters with assured realness. Sienna thinks and sounds like a 15-year-old with a tragic past: she has the fears and (occasionally petty) concerns appropriate for her age and situation. Instead of finding her naivete annoying, then, Sienna’s (and, thus, Heidi’s) seamless teen voice completely won me over.
This is the first YA novel I’ve read that deals with the tragedy of the Indonesian tsunami, and it does it in an immersive, knowledgeable, and respectable way. Through Sienna’s eyes, we experience the strange and sometimes terrifying world of post-tsunami Indonesia without being overwhelmed or too emotionally distant. I loved the control that Heidi Kling has over her knowledge of Indonesian phrases, customs, and concerns. She writes these things—whether they be major scenes central to the plot, or simple details easily overlooked—with an appreciable confidence that makes us latch our trust securely on her as an author.
Perhaps more powerful in SEA, however, is the poignancy of the many different relationships within. With just a few lines of dialogue or description, each character wins us over. We are able to see Sienna’s father’s genuinely good intentions despite his being in the difficult position of being the father of a motherless teen girl. We understand Sienna’s trepidation at her father’s budding relationship with her former therapist. But most of all, we are completely able to believe Sienna’s relationships with two very different boys. To elaborate, Deni may be decidedly a guy who seems almost too perfect to be true, but the way his and Sienna’s romance unfolds has all the sweet subtlety of a truly sigh-worthy teen romance.
Sienna’s voice skews slightly more towards readers who enjoy a younger YA voice, but her experiences are anything but trite or age-limited. Read this, and I dare you to not in some way be affected Sienna’s unique and heartwrenching journey of discovery in Indonesia.
Heidi Kling writes her characters with assured realness. Sienna thinks and sounds like a 15-year-old with a tragic past: she has the fears and (occasionally petty) concerns appropriate for her age and situation. Instead of finding her naivete annoying, then, Sienna’s (and, thus, Heidi’s) seamless teen voice completely won me over.
This is the first YA novel I’ve read that deals with the tragedy of the Indonesian tsunami, and it does it in an immersive, knowledgeable, and respectable way. Through Sienna’s eyes, we experience the strange and sometimes terrifying world of post-tsunami Indonesia without being overwhelmed or too emotionally distant. I loved the control that Heidi Kling has over her knowledge of Indonesian phrases, customs, and concerns. She writes these things—whether they be major scenes central to the plot, or simple details easily overlooked—with an appreciable confidence that makes us latch our trust securely on her as an author.
Perhaps more powerful in SEA, however, is the poignancy of the many different relationships within. With just a few lines of dialogue or description, each character wins us over. We are able to see Sienna’s father’s genuinely good intentions despite his being in the difficult position of being the father of a motherless teen girl. We understand Sienna’s trepidation at her father’s budding relationship with her former therapist. But most of all, we are completely able to believe Sienna’s relationships with two very different boys. To elaborate, Deni may be decidedly a guy who seems almost too perfect to be true, but the way his and Sienna’s romance unfolds has all the sweet subtlety of a truly sigh-worthy teen romance.
Sienna’s voice skews slightly more towards readers who enjoy a younger YA voice, but her experiences are anything but trite or age-limited. Read this, and I dare you to not in some way be affected Sienna’s unique and heartwrenching journey of discovery in Indonesia.
yuliyono's review against another edition
3.0
karena setting Indonesia-nya lah yang bikin betah baca. per bab pendek, bahasa mudah dimengerti. berharap lebih banyak tentang traumanya, tapi justru romance-nya yang bejibun. hmm... instant love-nya kebangetan. gegar budayanya warbiyasak, tapi ya, namanya orang asing. berharap lebih ke bahas trauma tsunami-nya dan kisah haru-birunya, tapi ya... kebanyakan romance-nya. hufft.
"We'd like Sienna to join us for about two weeks at an Indonesian orphanage, a pesantren. We think you could really help us with the kids who survived the tsunami, honey."
--pg.9
"...ugly things are really happening in the world, and if I can, I'm going to do something to help. If I can't help stop it, I'll do something to help heal the wounds."
--pg.20
"When you work abroad, you adjust to local customs."
--pg.108
"We'd like Sienna to join us for about two weeks at an Indonesian orphanage, a pesantren. We think you could really help us with the kids who survived the tsunami, honey."
--pg.9
"...ugly things are really happening in the world, and if I can, I'm going to do something to help. If I can't help stop it, I'll do something to help heal the wounds."
--pg.20
"When you work abroad, you adjust to local customs."
--pg.108
fluorescentbookworm's review against another edition
5.0
Sea is a touching, thrilling and romantic story. Sienna Hope Jones is a girl who lost her mother at 12 years old. But she still believes she's somehow alive, near her, at least as a spirit, 3 years after her death. The kind of girl who doesn't give up hope and dreams. Deni lost his family in the 2004 tsunami with the epicenter near Aceh. Like Sienna, he still hopes. He hopes he'll find a relative someday. I believe Sienna and Deni are one of the cutest couple ever! I can't say a lot, I'll let you be curious about it and read it :). I only can say that Deni and Sienna do not end together. But, fortunately, Sienna recovers from her phobia of planes and water and becomes Sea again because she still has her family and friends.
I loved and enjoyed each and every page of it. Sea is the book of the summer so you definitely have to check it out before autumn comes ;)
I loved and enjoyed each and every page of it. Sea is the book of the summer so you definitely have to check it out before autumn comes ;)
kaitrosereads's review against another edition
5.0
I knew Heidi Kling's debut novel would be good but I had no idea exactly how good. From the very first sentence I was captivated and that is unusual for me. I normally have a super hard time getting drawn into contemporary lit but that was not the case with Sea. There are no dull moments in this book and it is ridiculously hard to put down.
Sienna Jones has changed in the three years since her mother's plane went down over the Indian Ocean. She used to be Sea, a carefree girl with nothing to worry about. Now she is just Sienna, a girl with no real joy in life and only one true friend. All that changes when she goes to Indonesia with her dad to help out in an orphanage full of survivors of the tsunami. With the help of one traumatized boy, Sienna just may become Sea again. But how will she survive back home when she has to leave him behind?
You know, I honestly don't think there was a single thing that I didn't like about Sea. The plot, the characters, the writing, everything was perfect for me. It was nothing like other contemporary books that I have read in the YA genre and I loved that. I loved being away from the high school scene and I loved watching Sienna grow with the help of the orphans. The setting of Indonesia was so unlike all other YA books and I loved learning about the culture through Sienna's interactions with the people. It was definitely a bit depressing because of the destruction of the tsunami but it was so much more than that. It was a story about facing your fears, getting past your grief, and coming back to yourself.
Sienna was a great character. At the beginning she was scared and alone but by the end she had changed so much. She was no longer alone and she was no longer afraid. She faced her fears and she managed to beat them. By the end of the book she was a brave girl that I loved. Deni was great too but I didn't feel like I really knew him until the end. I thought that I wouldn't like that but it just kind of added some mystery to him. He was intense and traumatized but so good to Sienna. Although I loved both Deni and Sienna my two favorite characters were Elli and Spider. Elli was the cutest little girl ever and I felt so bad for everything that she had to go through. Spider was pretty much the opposite of everyone else. He never went through anything bad so he was kind of the happiest person in the book. He was sweet and funny and just a pretty cute guy. Pretty much every character was amazing.
Overall, Sea is a beautifully written debut that deserves every bit of praise that it has been given. I don't know what Heidi Kling has in store for readers next but I am eagerly awaiting it's release.
Sienna Jones has changed in the three years since her mother's plane went down over the Indian Ocean. She used to be Sea, a carefree girl with nothing to worry about. Now she is just Sienna, a girl with no real joy in life and only one true friend. All that changes when she goes to Indonesia with her dad to help out in an orphanage full of survivors of the tsunami. With the help of one traumatized boy, Sienna just may become Sea again. But how will she survive back home when she has to leave him behind?
You know, I honestly don't think there was a single thing that I didn't like about Sea. The plot, the characters, the writing, everything was perfect for me. It was nothing like other contemporary books that I have read in the YA genre and I loved that. I loved being away from the high school scene and I loved watching Sienna grow with the help of the orphans. The setting of Indonesia was so unlike all other YA books and I loved learning about the culture through Sienna's interactions with the people. It was definitely a bit depressing because of the destruction of the tsunami but it was so much more than that. It was a story about facing your fears, getting past your grief, and coming back to yourself.
Sienna was a great character. At the beginning she was scared and alone but by the end she had changed so much. She was no longer alone and she was no longer afraid. She faced her fears and she managed to beat them. By the end of the book she was a brave girl that I loved. Deni was great too but I didn't feel like I really knew him until the end. I thought that I wouldn't like that but it just kind of added some mystery to him. He was intense and traumatized but so good to Sienna. Although I loved both Deni and Sienna my two favorite characters were Elli and Spider. Elli was the cutest little girl ever and I felt so bad for everything that she had to go through. Spider was pretty much the opposite of everyone else. He never went through anything bad so he was kind of the happiest person in the book. He was sweet and funny and just a pretty cute guy. Pretty much every character was amazing.
Overall, Sea is a beautifully written debut that deserves every bit of praise that it has been given. I don't know what Heidi Kling has in store for readers next but I am eagerly awaiting it's release.
ruby_roo's review against another edition
2.0
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I think this book was interesting, and I appreciate the motivation behind it, but it just wasn't for me. The subject matter was a little heavier than I tend to enjoy.
I definitely recommend this book for people who enjoy reading about difficult topics and who like their endings a bit open ended.
I think this book was interesting, and I appreciate the motivation behind it, but it just wasn't for me. The subject matter was a little heavier than I tend to enjoy.
I definitely recommend this book for people who enjoy reading about difficult topics and who like their endings a bit open ended.
samantha_89's review against another edition
3.0
I loved Sea. I've been wanting to read it since I started following Heidi R. Kling on Twitter. After quote a bit of time I was finally able to get my hands on a copy, and even with school being busier than ever I managed to finish this fast book in just a few days.
I loved how different this book was from everything else I've read recently. I loved learning about the culture and how everyone was affected by the tsunami. Everything tied together very neatly in the end.
Sienna was very fifteen. I don't really like reading about characters so much younger than me but the fact that Sienna was obviously fifteen made it a little easier. I do feel that considering her parents had gone to third-world countries previously the extent of her culture shock might have been a bit much. I mean, did she really expect there to be indoor plumbing? However, being fifteen meant her selfish actions were more true, had it been the same book with a seventeen-year-old... oy vey! I think the people saying that she was selfish and ungrateful seem to forget how fifteen-year-olds don't always see the whole picture, or a big part of the picture... or any of the picture. I think that Sienna was a very well formed character but she had very little connection to those around her. More on that later though.
Deni... I wasn't feeling it for him. In romance books there's supposed to be this certain about charisma for the love interest and I wasn't feeling it. Maybe because Sienna was fifteen, maybe because it was just infatuation and rebellion. I'm not sure, but it wasn't there for me. I would have liked to see more foreshadowing from him about the ending. The excuse that it was too hard to talk about made it seem like Kling just came up with the ending at a split second and went with it. Foreshadowing is a lovely technique and everyone knows a little mystery can go a long way in creating charisma for a character.
Now, Spider, I wanted to know more about Spider!I actually would have liked to know about Spider and Bev and Sienna from before the accident. There seemed to be this very believable friendship there and I really wanted more of that. The thing with Deni almost made it seem like Kling was trying to whole (way too popular) love triangle thing. I wasn't for it.
There were two characters that really could have been something amazing; Ellie and Amelia. To me, it seemed like Kling was trying to create two people that changed Sienna. If that was case, I liked the idea but it didn't seem to play out that well. Had those two characters been stronger and more present I really could have loved the book.
Ultimately not my favorite book and it didn't live up to the hype. But I also didn't hate the book. It would be a fun summer read.
I loved how different this book was from everything else I've read recently. I loved learning about the culture and how everyone was affected by the tsunami. Everything tied together very neatly in the end.
Sienna was very fifteen. I don't really like reading about characters so much younger than me but the fact that Sienna was obviously fifteen made it a little easier. I do feel that considering her parents had gone to third-world countries previously the extent of her culture shock might have been a bit much. I mean, did she really expect there to be indoor plumbing? However, being fifteen meant her selfish actions were more true, had it been the same book with a seventeen-year-old... oy vey! I think the people saying that she was selfish and ungrateful seem to forget how fifteen-year-olds don't always see the whole picture, or a big part of the picture... or any of the picture. I think that Sienna was a very well formed character but she had very little connection to those around her. More on that later though.
Deni... I wasn't feeling it for him. In romance books there's supposed to be this certain about charisma for the love interest and I wasn't feeling it. Maybe because Sienna was fifteen, maybe because it was just infatuation and rebellion. I'm not sure, but it wasn't there for me. I would have liked to see more foreshadowing from him about the ending. The excuse that it was too hard to talk about made it seem like Kling just came up with the ending at a split second and went with it. Foreshadowing is a lovely technique and everyone knows a little mystery can go a long way in creating charisma for a character.
Now, Spider, I wanted to know more about Spider!I actually would have liked to know about Spider and Bev and Sienna from before the accident. There seemed to be this very believable friendship there and I really wanted more of that. The thing with Deni almost made it seem like Kling was trying to whole (way too popular) love triangle thing. I wasn't for it.
There were two characters that really could have been something amazing; Ellie and Amelia. To me, it seemed like Kling was trying to create two people that changed Sienna. If that was case, I liked the idea but it didn't seem to play out that well. Had those two characters been stronger and more present I really could have loved the book.
Ultimately not my favorite book and it didn't live up to the hype. But I also didn't hate the book. It would be a fun summer read.
camihawk's review against another edition
4.0
I have never read anything like Sea before, it was intriguing, enchanting, and made me cry. Sea was so new a fresh, it was great how Heidi mixed, Sienna’s (the main character) past and the tsunami together. The two parts seemed to fit seamlessly together, it seemed that Heidi put a lot of thought into the story and how to weave it together. The romance was steamy, so I kept wanting more while also heartfelt as two broken people learned to heal.
I loved learning about the tsunami in Indonesia, because even though I have heard about, seen pictures, ect, it is still hard to fully comprehend the tragedy. Sea does a fantastic job of showing the emotional, and physical repercussions of the tsunami, while also bringing in Indonesia’s culture. At times I would find myself unexpectedly with sympathy for tsunami survivors as I got a glimpse into their head. From the start of Sea I could feel how Sienna’s mother’s death lingered over her, it felt so accurate to me.
The ending was perfect for the story, the way the story finally came together. The ending was not I expected but I loved it more for it, I didn’t see it coming. In all I think Sea is a book you must pick up, it has well thought out plot, great ending, and it is an original idea.
I loved learning about the tsunami in Indonesia, because even though I have heard about, seen pictures, ect, it is still hard to fully comprehend the tragedy. Sea does a fantastic job of showing the emotional, and physical repercussions of the tsunami, while also bringing in Indonesia’s culture. At times I would find myself unexpectedly with sympathy for tsunami survivors as I got a glimpse into their head. From the start of Sea I could feel how Sienna’s mother’s death lingered over her, it felt so accurate to me.
The ending was perfect for the story, the way the story finally came together. The ending was not I expected but I loved it more for it, I didn’t see it coming. In all I think Sea is a book you must pick up, it has well thought out plot, great ending, and it is an original idea.
jlove731's review against another edition
5.0
I finished this book last night, and all night I had Sea, Deni, and Spider's words running through my head. This isn't a book you easily forget. It's a story about finding yourself, what it means to lose everything, love, heartbreak, and it's written beautifully. I couldn't put this one down, it was just so captivating and I loved it.
Sienna, Sea, Jones is afraid of flying and constantly haunted by dreams of her mother's disappearance. Ever since her mother has died, she has never been the same. So on her 15th birthday when her dad decides to go to Indonesia, he wants Sienna to go along to help. After debating with herself, she goes. While there Sea meets Deni. Deni is hot, troubled, and somehow just like Sienna. I loved these two characters. They helped each other in so many ways that it was just amazing. Heartbreaking (I was upset - I don't know how Sienna did it), but amazing.
Now we can't forget the other characters... one who happened to be probably my favorite, which was Spider. Hot surfer boy sweetheart, Spider. I just loved how he was there for Sienna. He's such a good-hearted kid and believe me, if I could have my own Spider... I would go get one now! Haha. Also I loved Elli. She was adorable and the way Sienna helped her was just meant to be.
Hearing the stories from the tsunami, during this book, just broke my heart. I can't even imagine what it must have been like and how these children kept going. I would have been devastated. Thankfully, this book shows you that, there are people who are willing to help you along the way, you just have to let them.
This story was beautiful, and I can't get it out of my head. Heartbreak, finding youself, love, helping, friendship, and letting go. This book has it all. If you get a chance this book is a must read. :)
Sienna, Sea, Jones is afraid of flying and constantly haunted by dreams of her mother's disappearance. Ever since her mother has died, she has never been the same. So on her 15th birthday when her dad decides to go to Indonesia, he wants Sienna to go along to help. After debating with herself, she goes. While there Sea meets Deni. Deni is hot, troubled, and somehow just like Sienna. I loved these two characters. They helped each other in so many ways that it was just amazing. Heartbreaking (I was upset - I don't know how Sienna did it), but amazing.
Now we can't forget the other characters... one who happened to be probably my favorite, which was Spider. Hot surfer boy sweetheart, Spider. I just loved how he was there for Sienna. He's such a good-hearted kid and believe me, if I could have my own Spider... I would go get one now! Haha. Also I loved Elli. She was adorable and the way Sienna helped her was just meant to be.
Hearing the stories from the tsunami, during this book, just broke my heart. I can't even imagine what it must have been like and how these children kept going. I would have been devastated. Thankfully, this book shows you that, there are people who are willing to help you along the way, you just have to let them.
This story was beautiful, and I can't get it out of my head. Heartbreak, finding youself, love, helping, friendship, and letting go. This book has it all. If you get a chance this book is a must read. :)
kblincoln's review against another edition
5.0
I thought I was going to give this book a 4 because sometimes the characters were just waaaaaaaaay to wise, and the ending is a bit too pat....but I couldn't.
I had to give it 5 starts. Even with those faults, the book really satisfies on so many levels.
Haunted by nightmares mostly surrounding the death of her mother in a plane crash over the Indian Ocean, Sienna agrees to go with her father, a noted PTSD psychiatrist to an orphanage (pesantren) in Indonesia for two weeks to help with tsunami survivor orphans' therapy.
At the pesantren, Sienna meets Deni, a boy who has lost so much and survived so well, that Sienna begins to heal her own hurts while helping him discover what happened to his father.
Okay, so the good things are that we get a great view of Indonesia. Deni isn't afraid to tell Sienna things like only tourists say "thank you" in a certain way, or to explain and share his countries' customs with no sense of apology.
Sienna is a believable and sympathetic character despite her white-American privilege. Watching her deal with primitive conditions at the orphanage with a normal reaction of disgust without making too much of an issue of it in front of the orphans was a deft handling of this particular problem.
While Deni sometimes seemed too wise beyond his years ("We do not choose what happens to us. We can only choose what we do after. What we do now. We can only choose to keep going.") and sometimes his English too skillful, his relationship with Sienna was poignant, honest, and exciting. I mean, how romantic is stealing away at night from a gender-segregated orphanage to ride around the streets of Java on a moped scooter with your arms wrapped around a beautiful boy?
I loved watching Sienna break out of her grieving shell of a persona and begin to understand and appreciate her life and the people in it.
This Book's Food Designation Rating: Nasi Goreng (Indonesian Fried Rice ) chock full of shrimp, chicken, and luscious vegetables with a hint of fire for the romance.
I had to give it 5 starts. Even with those faults, the book really satisfies on so many levels.
Haunted by nightmares mostly surrounding the death of her mother in a plane crash over the Indian Ocean, Sienna agrees to go with her father, a noted PTSD psychiatrist to an orphanage (pesantren) in Indonesia for two weeks to help with tsunami survivor orphans' therapy.
At the pesantren, Sienna meets Deni, a boy who has lost so much and survived so well, that Sienna begins to heal her own hurts while helping him discover what happened to his father.
Okay, so the good things are that we get a great view of Indonesia. Deni isn't afraid to tell Sienna things like only tourists say "thank you" in a certain way, or to explain and share his countries' customs with no sense of apology.
Sienna is a believable and sympathetic character despite her white-American privilege. Watching her deal with primitive conditions at the orphanage with a normal reaction of disgust without making too much of an issue of it in front of the orphans was a deft handling of this particular problem.
While Deni sometimes seemed too wise beyond his years ("We do not choose what happens to us. We can only choose what we do after. What we do now. We can only choose to keep going.") and sometimes his English too skillful, his relationship with Sienna was poignant, honest, and exciting. I mean, how romantic is stealing away at night from a gender-segregated orphanage to ride around the streets of Java on a moped scooter with your arms wrapped around a beautiful boy?
I loved watching Sienna break out of her grieving shell of a persona and begin to understand and appreciate her life and the people in it.
This Book's Food Designation Rating: Nasi Goreng (Indonesian Fried Rice ) chock full of shrimp, chicken, and luscious vegetables with a hint of fire for the romance.