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Meagan Macvie quickly reveals her talents as a writer in the opening pages of her debut novel: The Ocean in my Ears. There are moments of lucid prose that gave me pause with their rhythms and beauty and complexity. More often than that, though, I found myself lost in the characters, the dynamics between them, their choices and interactions. The traditions of the stifling Alaskan town threaten to send the high-school-age characters in this story down well-worn, rutted paths. But what happens as the story unfolds is far from predictable. We find as many surprises as there are dangers; as many moments of deep connection as there are moments of betrayal. I was utterly smitten with compassion and concern for the main character, Meri. Her increasing thoughtfulness and desperation in the stark environment around her make for as compelling a characterization as I have read in quite a long while. You should read this book. It is one that sticks with you. You may find yourself, as I did, unable to move quickly on to other reading activities–unwilling to leave these characters and this Alaskan landscape behind.