Annaka

A touching story of family, memories, and seeking the future.

Annaka is in eleventh grade in Halifax when her grandfather dies of a heart attack in a small town in Nova Scotia. Annaka hadn't been back to her grandparents' house in years, and among the things she left behind are the journal her grandfather gave her and her imaginary friend, Clay. When Annaka's grandmother, who is suffering from Alzheimer's, doesn't remember her, Annaka finds her old journal, bringing back memories of her imaginary friend -- who isn't imaginary after all. Annaka, Clay, and Annaka's friend Tia try to bring Annaka's grandmother's memories back using the journal and Clay's special abilities, but as they find out more secrets Annaka starts to learn that sometimes the past must be left behind so that there can be a future.

Annaka is stubborn, emotional, and demanding, but she is the kind of character I could care about. And I did. Her struggles with grief, her mother, and changing schools felt real, and she grew throughout the book in a way that is always satisfying to see. She is half African-Canadian and half white, which helps give her depth and makes her stand out from the clichéd feisty girls that are so popular in YA books. The characters are really what drive the story, and they make it worth it.

The writing could be better; especially at the beginning it feels a bit clunky. I wanted to tell the author to show me things instead of telling me. Annaka is frustrated? Why isn't she slamming doors, or clenching fists, or showing frustration? There was also a bit of an information dump at the beginning; Annaka's past didn't come out naturally. It felt like a debut book. But the mix between memories and the present was well done, and all in all it was an enjoyable read. Worth my time, but it could be better.

Note: there is a fair amount of swearing. Annaka attends a party where her friends get drunk, and later visits a bar where men are drinking. Annaka's mother was never married, and Annaka never met her father. Alzheimer's and dealing with grief are major themes.

3.5 stars

Anna, formerly known as Annaka, learns at the start of the novel that there has been a death in her family. This upends not just her emotional state but also every other aspect of her life, and it becomes the impetus for a very unusual brand of self-reflection.

I love how creatively Fenton treats the ideas of grief, processing, death, and moving forward. Annaka's struggles seem - in MOST ways - extremely realistic and relatable, and any teen (or reader in general) who has experienced loss or uncertainty about aspects of their identity will appreciate the way Annaka operates here.

This part verges on spoiler-y:
My main source of conflict is Clay. I think that Clay is a fantastic character, and I love what he represents. Since I try to avoid spoilers in all cases, I'll be vague and say that I did not like Clay's move from internal to external. Clay went from a riveting symbol of Annaka's mind and struggle to a paranormal entity appearing for some kind of shock value, and I found this distracting and disappointing for the remainder of the novel.

Fenton presents a creative and engaging portrait of the aforementioned themes, and I am excited to read more from this author.

This is a great book that I will definitely be recommending to students at my school! The author's ability to combine so many themes (including science fiction) and not confuse the reader is a testament to their talent.