Review of 'Watermark' (The Broken Bell Series, #1)

Synopsis

The oldest child in a troubled Philadelphia family, Angel Ferente struggles to care for her three sisters while pursuing her goal of attending college on a swimming scholarship. She has a problematic relationship with her mother, Pic, who uses alcohol and drugs to self-medicate and at one point lost custody for a year, and an outright hostile relationship with her stepfather, the only father figure in her life. Angel is the center of stability in the household--making sure the younger girls get to school, ensuring that holidays are observed, doing the family's laundry at her part-time job at a Laundromat, and even taking care of Pic when she is sick or depressed. It's 1993, the midst of the crack epidemic, and Angel and her sisters are witness to the everyday events of life in a community beset by poverty and drugs: dealers on the corner, shoot-outs that kill bystanders, prostitutes on the job, and more.

Then Angel goes to a team party on New Year's Eve--and doesn't come home afterward. In the wake of her disappearance, her teammates, her coach's church, and her family search the city for her. The result changes their lives forever.

Review

An emotional read, Watermark by Elise Schiller, captures the times in this evocative novel, following the disappearance of a young girl living in a troublesome neighborhood and a complicated home.

Watermark was certainly not something I would pick up on my own; I tend to go more toward fantasy when it comes to stories. However, I never turn down a recommendation. Furthermore, it was impressive.

Impressive

Watermark follows the disappearance of Angel following the perspectives of her younger sister Jeannine and friend Alex. At first, it is a bit jarring how it goes between these two perspectives because in a way, they are not that cohesive. These two perspectives come off as disjointed in the beginning, but as the story progresses, it is clear why Schiller chose these two perspectives.

The reader gets to know Angel through her sister and her friend, offering up a full person. Human beings are often different when they are in a private setting to a public one. So the reader gets to know Angel in both of these settings, seeing both sides of her to give insight into her relationships with her family and her friends.

It was a unique way to approach the story Schiller executed it well. Jeannine and Alex have distinct voices, and each perspective gives depth to the story, influencing how the reader sees Angel.

Angel is a headstrong character; she is practically the mother of the household, often keeping the family together. Her mother had her at 15, so there is a lot of resentment there, and her mother is jealous of her as well. Pic, her mother, is jealous of the chances she has in life, of how thoughtful she is, how her children prefer Angel rather than their mother. Pic is a disaster of a person; she is a recovering addict with a husband who has a sketchy side business. It is an unsafe household, and Angel is the core, she is the safety net.

Schiller goes back and forth from the past to the present to show the reader who Angel is and what may have led to her disappearance. The revelation, both startling and horrific, impacts the reader, enticing a second read to see all the hints the author dropped.

Final Thoughts

Watermark is an emotional read; it captures the turbulent times of the early 1990s, highlighting some of the struggles many faced. By following Angel through the eyes of her sister and friend, the reader is drawn into the drama and tension, relating to Angel as she struggles to save herself and care for her sisters.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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About the Author

Cynthia Bujnicki graduated from Emerson College with a BA in Writing, Literature and Publishing. She has always loved to read since she was a child. A contributing writer for YA Fantasy Addicts, she is also the Editor-in-Chief for Cyn's Workshop. She lives in sunny South Florida with her husband and son and their two cats, Mr. J the Kitten and Nyx.