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Description
Two siblings traverse the southern island to try to find their way back to each other in this tale about grief and love and the bonds of family. Book contains profanity and explicit sexual situations.
Quick Summary
Flames is one of those rare stories that hits you right in the gut while also keeping you glued to every page. The premise is deceptively simple two siblings get separated and have to find their way back to each other across this wild, almost mythical southern island but what Robbie Arnott does with that setup is anything but simple. The grief at the story's core feels real and raw, not melodramatic, and the way the island itself seems almost alive makes the whole journey feel epic without ever being heavy-handed. If your kid loved the sibling-dynamic focus of something like Code Name Verity but wanted more of a sweeping adventure feel, this one's going to grab them. Parents should know it deals with loss head-on and does include some adult language and sexual situations, so it's really better suited for older teens who can handle that maturity. What makes this stick with you is how Arnott balances heartbreak with moments of real beauty and even dark humor, so it never feels like a total downer. It's a quick, powerful read that respects its audience enough to not tie everything up neatly, which is honestly kind of refreshing.