Even if the Sky Falls, written by Mia Garcia, reviewed by Stephanie Wilson

 

Summary:  Julie thought leaving home for a mission trip in New Orleans would be the answer to her problems. Her family is falling apart. Her once close relationship with her older brother Adam is faltering. Julie has walled herself off from her closest friends. The trip leader Tavis and his unwanted attention makes her uncomfortable. Julie sneaks onto another group’s bus and impulsively flees. She winds up in the middle of Midsummer Mardi Gras and in the company of a cute young stranger. They decide not to tell each other their real names. Julie calls him Miles and he calls her Lila. She and Miles spend a memorable night together exploring New Orleans. Julie and Miles soon realize that the storm brewing is stronger than expected. Miles and Julie have no choice but to ride out the storm together in the only shelter they can find.

Parts of the novel require suspension of disbelief on the part of the reader. Julie and Miles freely move about New Orleans in the middle of a festival and even get into a bar with no ID even though they are only sixteen and seventeen. Tavis happens to find Julie twice during her adventures even though she isn’t answering her cell phone and he has no idea where she is.  How does he know she running around New Orleans when she took off without telling anyone where she was going?  It seems way too coincidental.  The scenes involving the losing and finding of Miles’ bracelet also push the boundaries of credibility. Inserting “magical” elements into a realistic fiction novel does not work.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  Even if the Sky Falls is not recommended for younger teen and tween readers due to mature content. The novel features scenes of underaged drinking, sexual activity, multiple tragedies, and a character’s near suicide attempt. The novel is part romance, part adventure tale and a love letter to the city of New Orleans. I recommend this novel for fans of young adult romances.