Coral’s debut party is coming up and her father demands she perform the song he approved, but all she wants to do is talk about the sister she lost. Brooke just arrived at the rehab facility but all she can think about is her grandmother and how she does not want to be here. Amaya struggles with self-harm, but has been doing ok, until her mom left. Merrick thinks if he finds their mom, he can fix Amaya and put things back together again. When their stories intertwine, they face their own mortality and mental health struggles while discovering how important they are for each other.
Acclaimed author Sara Ella has made a name for herself with fairy tale retellings like her reimagining of Alice in Wonderland – The Wonderland Trials. In this book, Coral, she explores Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid in a modern and dramatic way. Exploring mental health disorders and the treatments common to them, along with the social implications, Ella delivers a thought-provoking book that will help open dialogue about these struggles. This is also a supporting book, showing that readers are not alone in their own personal struggles, giving hope for what could be.
I give Coral 4 out of 5 stars. As a reader who has struggled with my own mental health struggles since adolescence, I appreciate the approach Ella took with showing several different aspects of the disease, including a negative outcome. I also appreciate the trigger warning the author includes in the book that gives more detail on what readers can expect. One challenge I found while reading this was how difficult it was to keep the characters’ stories separate and straight. It was obvious from the beginning that they connect, but it wasn’t clear how and became confusing to keep straight. The final plot twist explains why it was so confusing, but I think the author could have gotten to the same plot result in a more simplistic way.
I would caution readers against this book if you are struggling with mental health or have recently lost someone to this disease. You can find the full trigger list both in the book and on Goodreads in the author’s own review post on her book. If you liked A Constellation of Roses by Miranda Asebedo or The Deathly Grimm by Kathryn Purdie, I think you’ll like this book, too!
I chose Coral for the Read With Lindsey Reading Challenge prompt A Fairytale Retelling. I’ve been hearing about this book for some time, and The Little Mermaid was one of my favorite movies growing up! I wish this was a little happier of a story, but most traditional fairy tales really weren’t – they were dark and really gruesome.
Any time we review a book that centers on mental health, I leave you with resources to help if you find yourself in need of support for your own struggles. With recent federal budget cuts, some local and national resources have been reduced or eliminated, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t help if you need it. You can call, text, or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 – they are available to talk through emotional, mental, or addiction struggles 24 hours each day.
You are never alone.
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What I’m Reading
- Current print book: Gallop Towards the Sun, Peter Stark
- Current audio book: The Dead Romantics, Ashley Poston
- Book I’m most looking forward to: Fire Season, Phillip Connors
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