Published: 2023
Author: Julie Wright
Genres: YA Realistic Fiction, Mental Health, Contemporary
Audience: Grades 9–12
Number of Stars: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Goodreads Link: Swimming in a Sea of Stars
Content Warnings: Suicide attempt (recovery focus), physical and sexual abuse, bullying, and domestic violence.
Publisher’s Summary
A single kindness can save a life.
Journal entry: Heading to school. I know what everyone will say. There goes the girl who tried to kill herself.
Addison is no stranger to feeling stressed, insecure, and sad. Her therapist recommended she keep a journal to help her understand those feelings better, which she really needs today. It’s her first day back to school, several weeks after she survived her suicide attempt. She knows there are rumors about why she did it: A lousy home life? Bullying? Heartbreak? None of them are true, but it doesn’t matter because Addison still feels like she’s drowning. She still holds secrets she’s not ready to share.
During the school day, Addison encounters four other students struggling with their own secrets:
- Booker is anxious about seeing Addison. They were sort of a couple until he tried to kiss her. She fled and then tried to end her life. Those two things couldn’t be related, could they?
- Celia feels trapped by her mother’s abusive boyfriend. She can guess why Addison did what she did.
- Damion is TikTok-famous and thinks befriending Addison could boost his followers. But what no one knows is he needs the world to remember him since his sick mom doesn’t anymore.
- Avery is considered a loner and doesn’t know Addison, but they have neighboring lockers. With Avery’s older brother in jail for dealing drugs, Avery is desperate for meaningful human connection.
Swimming in a Sea of Stars is a poignant and gripping novel about how we’re all interconnected, like the stars in the night sky that form constellations and map out the universe, and if even one star goes missing, the effect is profound.
Full Review
Swimming in a Sea of Stars offers a gentle, hopeful look at the ripple effects of depression and the power of reaching out. The novel takes place entirely over the course of one day—Addison’s first day back at school after a month-long hospitalization. Through Addison’s journal entries, we see her grappling with past trauma and the triggers that led to her attempt, while the perspectives of her peers highlight the invisible struggles many students face.
Unlike other “suicide stories” that can feel melodramatic or glorifying, this book focuses firmly on the trajectory of recovery. The tone is surprisingly light-hearted and optimistic; the characters genuinely want to support one another, and the message—that everyone is dealing with something—is clear.
While it may not be a “literary masterpiece” due to a slightly overcrowded cast of characters (each dealing with a different major trauma like foster care, drug addiction, or cancer), the book is a successful depiction of teenage resilience. It stretched reality a bit to have so many heavy issues converge in one group on one day, but the interconnected “constellation” theme remains poignant. It is a worthwhile addition to any high school collection.
🎒 Classroom & Curricular Connections
- Health & Wellness (Mental Health Literacy): Use the book to discuss Warning Signs vs. Protective Factors.
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Activity Idea: Have students identify the “protective factors” that help Addison on her first day back (e.g., her journal, a supportive teacher, or a kind peer).
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- ELA (Narrative Structure): Analyze the “One Day” timeframe. How does restricting the story to 24 hours create urgency? Discuss the use of Epistolary Writing (Addison’s journal entries) and how it provides a more intimate look at her psyche than standard dialogue.
- Social-Emotional Learning (Empathy): The book posits that “anyone can be struggling.”
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Activity Idea: Conduct a “Paper Crumple” exercise. Students write a hidden struggle on a piece of paper, crumple it, and toss it into a pile. When they pick up a random paper, they realize the weight others are carrying, mirroring the “Sea of Stars” theme.
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- Media Literacy: Compare the book’s depiction of suicide to Thirteen Reasons Why. Discuss the Safe Reporting Guidelines for media regarding suicide (avoiding glorification, focusing on help-seeking) and evaluate which book follows them more effectively.
