Brunskill, V.L. Waving Backwards: A Savannah Novel. Tallahassee, FL: Southern Yellow Pine Publishing, 2015.

I have been exploring novels that have been categorized as New Adult. I have been a bit curious about where this group his heading. I’m not sure this title clarified my curiosity at all.

In this novel, Lara is trying to solve the mystery of her birth. She has always known that she was adopted and often felt very different than the Italian family into which she was adopted with her red hair and fair skin. She discovers a note in her family Bible that leads her to use her college loan money to head south to Savannah to try and find her biological mother. She has a name, Pearce and a clue, the waving girl statue erected in the city. Armed with a little bit of cash and quite a bit of moxie, Lara heads South.

I love the premise of the novel. The young adult seems to beg for work that explores the notion of finding identity. Many readers will relate to Lara's desire to know more about her biological roots. The element of mystery is intriguing as well as Lara tries to unravel the secrets of the note. The 1991 setting will throw some of the readers as Lara relies on print encyclopedias, microfiche at the library, and a paper phone book to conduct her research. A glossary might not have gone amiss. Likely the millennials can benefit a bit from reading about the old days. The actual historical flashbacks also added variety and interest to the story. A cast of colorful characters populate Savannah and help Lara on her way.

The characters didn't all ring entirely true, relying on types a bit, and their accents sort of came and went, somewhat jarring. I didn't feel so much as if I was getting to know them, often the narration told me what each was thinking rather than allowing the narrative to show me. The prose as a whole varied as well. Some of the text had stronger, almost lyrical,moments, reminiscent of the South in which it is set. At other times the language felt forced, painful alliteration and awkward imagery. The relationships, especially the romantic entanglement just didn't ring true. I felt awkward and intrusive.

Clearly, this particular venture into New Adult had mixed results for me, but the main character came along way toward acceptance and self awareness, something I like to see in a work. Lara's journey was an interesting step in my own.