Title : Sea of Tears
Author: Floella Benjamin
Release Date: 6th October 2011
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Jasmine is a typical British born South London girl – smart, independent, plenty of attitude. But her parents are worried sick about the dangerous society in which they are raising their precious, only daughter. They are determined to move the family to Barbados for a quitter, safer life.
Jasmine is devastated – and when she starts school on the island she is even more miserable, bullied by other kids, who see her as an unwelcome outsider. All she can think about is finding a way to get back to Britain – and that’s when she spots the empty motor yacht…
What will happen to Jasmine, out at sea in a stolen boat? Can the fisherman’s son, Delvin, help her? Will Jasmine ever be happen in her paradise prison…?
Jasmine comes home one day to find her parents have made a life changing decision. Without consulting her they have decided to move to Barbados. From that moment on, Jasmine undertakes life threatening risks in order to make them change their mind and even when they move away, she continues to act recklessly and without thought in her attempts to get back to the UK. While being rejected by her new classmates and worrying her friends back home have forgotten her, Jasmine makes a new friend, Devlin. Will she finally learn to accept her new life?
Within this novel there are some amazingly vivid descriptions. However, at times I felt it was a little disjointed and I felt sad that the only time Jasmine spends in the UK is her dangerous escapades. Then suddenly, she is in Barbados and everything has changed. When Jasmine does get to Barbados, the fun starts but I felt it took this step to get the narrative off the ground.
I understood Jasmine’s feelings of displacement and anyone who has ever started a new school can understand that, let alone moving to a new country! For me though, Jasmine wasn’t the character that I identified with the most because she is often selfish in her behaviour and doesn’t think about how her actions affect others until the very end. Devlin is definitely my favourite character because he is strong enough to tell people what he believes and also offers Jasmine a friend when she needs it the most.
As well as offering an insight into Jasmine’s life, the book deals with the issues her parents face in dealing with a new way of life. As both children and adults face bullies in the playground and the workplace, Jasmine and her parents face day to day challenges with fitting in.
I would just suggest when reading this book that you persevere. It is really interesting and gives an insight into a different culture and way of life once Jasmine gets to Barbados. The book is lovely in its clear descriptions of the landscape and is a really beautiful read because of this. Jasmine definitely has a strong characterisation, at times I disliked her because of her reckless behaviour but she becomes more likeable as she begins to behave more sensibly. In fact, the happy ending of the book is really strong and throughout we see a huge development of character which makes the ending even more powerful.
3/5 A lonely girl becomes a great character.
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