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A Map Of The Known World
Cora Bradley dreams of escape. Ever since her reckless older brother, Nate, died in a car crash, Cora has felt suffocated by her small town and high school. She seeks solace in drawing beautiful maps, envisioning herself in exotic locales. When Cora begins to fall for Damian, the handsome, brooding boy who was in the car with Nate the night he died, she uncovers her brother's secret artistic life and realizes she had more in common with him than she ever imagined. With stunning lyricism, Sandell weaves a tale of one girl's journey through the redemptive powers of art, friendship, and love. They say no land remains to be discovered, no continent is left unexplored. But the whole world is out there, waiting, just waiting for me. I want to do things-I want to walk the rain-soaked streets of London, and drink mint tea in Casablanca. I want to wander the wastelands of the Gobi desert and see a yak. I think my life's ambition is to see a yak. I want to bargain for trinkets in an Arab market in some distant, dusty land. There's so much. But, most of all, I want to do things that will mean something. -- From A MAP OF THE KNOWN WORLD.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2009
31 people are currently reading
4163 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Ann Sandell
6 books328 followersI was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware, where I'm told that I was forever buried in books. I began scribbling my own short stories in a spiral bound notebook when I was six. Books and writing were--and still are--a haven for me, and I count myself so lucky that I have a chance to share my stories with others. I currently live and work in New York City where, when I'm not writing, I'm riding my bike, taking a sculpting class, or playing with my dog, Molly.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews
March 30, 2009
The real reason I picked this one up: I dig the cover. Hadn’t read anything by Sandell, but I had heard good things about Song of the Sparrow. Really awesome cover + good vibes from a recent book = maybe I should read this one!
Another great novel. I’ve been reading so many lately! A Map of the Known World deals with grief, first love, family, and coming of age. It’s apparent almost from page one that this family is suffering. Each one dealing with their loss in different ways, individually. I suppose you could say this is a story of healing, because ultimately it is.
I really enjoyed reading Sandell’s writing. It was simply beautiful, utterly captivating. It was just as expressive as an artist.... her novel was her canvas and her paintbrush her words. Corny, I know, but how can I not reference art when it is so prominently displayed in this novel.
Cora’s character unquestionably embodied the awkward transition from middle school to high school. I recall feeling the same awkwardness. And Sandell perfectly captures the emotions of Cora’s despair with her parents and the pain of an ostracized teen, there isn’t anything quite like being ditched by your best friend.
The plot was intriguing, maybe a little bit slow in areas. The relationship between Cora and Damian was slow to develop as well. It was an interesting dynamic, falling for your big brother’s best friend maybe somewhat typical, but falling for your dead brother’s best friend, now that’s a unique take.
The ending was inspiring. While everything wasn’t resolved you can see the start of the process beginning. Excellent novel, I will most likely continue to pick up Sandell’s novels.
Another great novel. I’ve been reading so many lately! A Map of the Known World deals with grief, first love, family, and coming of age. It’s apparent almost from page one that this family is suffering. Each one dealing with their loss in different ways, individually. I suppose you could say this is a story of healing, because ultimately it is.
I really enjoyed reading Sandell’s writing. It was simply beautiful, utterly captivating. It was just as expressive as an artist.... her novel was her canvas and her paintbrush her words. Corny, I know, but how can I not reference art when it is so prominently displayed in this novel.
Cora’s character unquestionably embodied the awkward transition from middle school to high school. I recall feeling the same awkwardness. And Sandell perfectly captures the emotions of Cora’s despair with her parents and the pain of an ostracized teen, there isn’t anything quite like being ditched by your best friend.
The plot was intriguing, maybe a little bit slow in areas. The relationship between Cora and Damian was slow to develop as well. It was an interesting dynamic, falling for your big brother’s best friend maybe somewhat typical, but falling for your dead brother’s best friend, now that’s a unique take.
The ending was inspiring. While everything wasn’t resolved you can see the start of the process beginning. Excellent novel, I will most likely continue to pick up Sandell’s novels.
April 6, 2009
A Map of the Known World was a beautiful balance of serious sadness, romance, and art. I often fear "sad" books but I loved the way this one balanced itself out. For every heartbreaking passage there was another about finding a romantic connection, a new friend, or creating a beautiful piece of artwork. It worked really well for me.
Cora's situation seemed so hopeless at first, a family living in silence, forever changed by the loss of their brother and son, struggling to understand him and understand what happened. Cora's parents choose to place blame on Damian, their son Nate's friend that was in the car with him. Surprisingly, to both Cora and Damian they find a connection through this shared tragedy and begin spending time together. Their connection also happens to include a love for the arts, I LOVED how much art played into this story. The summer before the current school year, Cora had escaped through her drawn maps of foreign countries, daydreaming about what it would be like to be there. It was beautiful and I wish I got the opportunity to read about artistic people like the ones in this story more often!
While I really enjoyed this book, for some reason the ending wasn't really surprising. Not that I really wanted to be surprised or that I didn't want it to end the way it did. I'm not sure, something was missing. I could have used a little more. But overall I really liked this book! A great perspective on a hard topic.
Cora's situation seemed so hopeless at first, a family living in silence, forever changed by the loss of their brother and son, struggling to understand him and understand what happened. Cora's parents choose to place blame on Damian, their son Nate's friend that was in the car with him. Surprisingly, to both Cora and Damian they find a connection through this shared tragedy and begin spending time together. Their connection also happens to include a love for the arts, I LOVED how much art played into this story. The summer before the current school year, Cora had escaped through her drawn maps of foreign countries, daydreaming about what it would be like to be there. It was beautiful and I wish I got the opportunity to read about artistic people like the ones in this story more often!
While I really enjoyed this book, for some reason the ending wasn't really surprising. Not that I really wanted to be surprised or that I didn't want it to end the way it did. I'm not sure, something was missing. I could have used a little more. But overall I really liked this book! A great perspective on a hard topic.
May 18, 2011
The cover:
The collection of scrap pieces forming the heart is beautiful (though perhaps a more spray-painted effect would've made it more realistic). Black as a background, however, doesn't fly -- it just looks lazy on the book designer's part. A faintly patterned darkish background would've worked better.
The book:
As expected of this kind of "healing" novel, it opens with much first-person musing. Thanks to Cora's gentle-worded narration, the reader makes it through relatively easily. In fact, her soliloquoys are often what develop her character best, in the most pleasing way.
The secondary characters shine as well: Damian is suitably moody, but not flashingly hot like so many paranormal genre stars; think "handsome", which is refreshing. His attention and affection towards Cora makes their relationship a heartwarming one ot read about. Helena is bubbly without being too girly-girl-ish, and we love her all the more for bringing Cora out of her shell.
Themes of discovery and redemption through art fit well into the story, especially when dealing with the parents' situation. They do tend to overpower the acutal plot so that the whole storyline is about recovering, healing. Maps pop up again and again, becoming almost a kind of symbolism for escape. It's an excellent way to establish the setting, too.
A Map of the Known World touches base as a love story, a story of becoming, of redefining. A quiet read well worth your time.
The collection of scrap pieces forming the heart is beautiful (though perhaps a more spray-painted effect would've made it more realistic). Black as a background, however, doesn't fly -- it just looks lazy on the book designer's part. A faintly patterned darkish background would've worked better.
The book:
As expected of this kind of "healing" novel, it opens with much first-person musing. Thanks to Cora's gentle-worded narration, the reader makes it through relatively easily. In fact, her soliloquoys are often what develop her character best, in the most pleasing way.
The secondary characters shine as well: Damian is suitably moody, but not flashingly hot like so many paranormal genre stars; think "handsome", which is refreshing. His attention and affection towards Cora makes their relationship a heartwarming one ot read about. Helena is bubbly without being too girly-girl-ish, and we love her all the more for bringing Cora out of her shell.
Themes of discovery and redemption through art fit well into the story, especially when dealing with the parents' situation. They do tend to overpower the acutal plot so that the whole storyline is about recovering, healing. Maps pop up again and again, becoming almost a kind of symbolism for escape. It's an excellent way to establish the setting, too.
A Map of the Known World touches base as a love story, a story of becoming, of redefining. A quiet read well worth your time.
June 16, 2011
I got this book from the library and sat down thinking, 'Okay, it's not that big. It isn't my type of book at all. Why did I get this again?'. Then i remembered my friends wonderful review and I decided I would go ahead and read it. And I am so glad that I made that decision!
Lisa Ann Sandell not only wrote about a girl who's passion was art, she painted a beautiful and enchanting story. I loved it thoroughly! From the first page I was captured, with the amazing detail and the want to go away, see something new, similar to my own. Lisa Sandell's descriptions were so well done that I could close my eyes and see each scene, each room, each place, each piece of art. The characters were well... layered. Every conversation was written smoothly and the feelings behind each were well received.
I truly loved this book and, again, I am so glad that i read it!
Athena
Lisa Ann Sandell not only wrote about a girl who's passion was art, she painted a beautiful and enchanting story. I loved it thoroughly! From the first page I was captured, with the amazing detail and the want to go away, see something new, similar to my own. Lisa Sandell's descriptions were so well done that I could close my eyes and see each scene, each room, each place, each piece of art. The characters were well... layered. Every conversation was written smoothly and the feelings behind each were well received.
I truly loved this book and, again, I am so glad that i read it!
Athena
January 12, 2009
Since the death of her older and beloved if reckless brother Nate, Cora has been a little lost. Sure, she can skillfully sketch beautiful maps of foreign places, places she’ll probably never see, but she doesn’t know how to think or act. Her parents don’t seem to notice much anymore unless Cora breaks one of their many strict rules, and even Cora’s best friend Rachel seems distant. It’s all Cora can do just not to get lost within her fried and confusion. The start of high school brings its own trials, but surprisingly, it also brings Cora some solace in the form of art class and Damian, the boy who was Nate’s best friend—the only person who was there when Nate died. Cora finds herself drawn to Damian and his artwork, even if her parents forbid their association because of Damian’s connection to Nate’s death; but Cora can’t stay away, especially after Damian reveals a side of Nate that Cora never knew existed. In this beautiful story lies a truth of loss, love, and finding the strength to move on.
A Map of the Known World was so much better than I ever expected. Sandell’s writing is so beautiful that I could go on praising it for quite a long time. Her words paint vivid pictures in the reader’s mind, her lyrical prose is like flowing music, her writing is art. There is something so captivating about Sandell’s style that brings her stories and characters to life. Sandell successfully captures the awkward transition between middle and high school in a way all teens can relate to, complete with the family and friendship problems, and the inclusion of art and its importance to Nate’s memory is woven in so gracefully. Cora’s and Damian’s characters are so wonderfully constructed, although they did have their awkward moments. There are so many scenes that are so well written and beautiful that they made me cry for these characters that I felt such a connection to. A Map of the Known World is just one of those incredible stories that makes one appreciate the beauty in life.
A Map of the Known World is a novel for artistic types or anyone looking for a moving and hopeful read. Despite its dreary subject of death, this story isn’t depressing at all, and fans of Alyson Noël’s Saving Zoë will enjoy it. I consider A Map of the Known World pretty close to being a masterpiece and a huge step up from the similar Goldengrove by Francine Prose.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
A Map of the Known World was so much better than I ever expected. Sandell’s writing is so beautiful that I could go on praising it for quite a long time. Her words paint vivid pictures in the reader’s mind, her lyrical prose is like flowing music, her writing is art. There is something so captivating about Sandell’s style that brings her stories and characters to life. Sandell successfully captures the awkward transition between middle and high school in a way all teens can relate to, complete with the family and friendship problems, and the inclusion of art and its importance to Nate’s memory is woven in so gracefully. Cora’s and Damian’s characters are so wonderfully constructed, although they did have their awkward moments. There are so many scenes that are so well written and beautiful that they made me cry for these characters that I felt such a connection to. A Map of the Known World is just one of those incredible stories that makes one appreciate the beauty in life.
A Map of the Known World is a novel for artistic types or anyone looking for a moving and hopeful read. Despite its dreary subject of death, this story isn’t depressing at all, and fans of Alyson Noël’s Saving Zoë will enjoy it. I consider A Map of the Known World pretty close to being a masterpiece and a huge step up from the similar Goldengrove by Francine Prose.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
April 6, 2009
Being a high school freshman is usually traumatic enough. For Cora Bradley, however, it’s worse than average: she lives in the shadow of her older brother, Nate, a notorious misunderstood troublemaker who killed himself when he drove into a tree. The Bradley household, once a warm and friendly place, is now cold, silent, and overbearing. So Cora throws herself into art, drawing elaborate maps of far-off places in her futile attempt to escape the ghosts of her small town.
Cora must deal with normal teenage girl troubles, too, though. As she and her ex-best friend drift apart, Cora finds solace in the unlikeliest of places: in Damian, Nate’s best friend, who was in the car with him that fatal night. Damian shows her things about Nate that Cora never knew before, but her parents despise Damian and blame him for their son’s death. What will happen when all these different points of view clash? Will Cora come out stronger in the long run?
After hearing amazing things about Lisa Ann Sandell’s stunning writing, I was more than disappointed in A MAP OF THE KNOWN WORLD. There is wonderful descriptive prose, yes—the kind that makes you want to stop after every period and drink in the sentence you’ve just read, the kind that makes you think, Wow. This is what writing is about.
Unfortunately, this lyrical language is interspersed with really elementary dialogue and predicaments. Cora may be a high school freshman, but high school freshmen do NOT need to sound so whiny, shallow, explosive, and unreasonable. I hardly felt any connection to the characters at all, and instead wanted to smack them on their heads for being so one-dimensional. The story, too, is predictable; you hardly need to read the book in order to know what the ending is.
All in all, A MAP OF THE KNOWN WORLD an admirable attempt at lyrically dealing with the difficult subject of death. However, the lack of connection I felt to the characters undermined the attempt. Read it once to savor the occasional delicious line of prose, but not to feel as if this is a world that you can believe in and empathize with.
Cora must deal with normal teenage girl troubles, too, though. As she and her ex-best friend drift apart, Cora finds solace in the unlikeliest of places: in Damian, Nate’s best friend, who was in the car with him that fatal night. Damian shows her things about Nate that Cora never knew before, but her parents despise Damian and blame him for their son’s death. What will happen when all these different points of view clash? Will Cora come out stronger in the long run?
After hearing amazing things about Lisa Ann Sandell’s stunning writing, I was more than disappointed in A MAP OF THE KNOWN WORLD. There is wonderful descriptive prose, yes—the kind that makes you want to stop after every period and drink in the sentence you’ve just read, the kind that makes you think, Wow. This is what writing is about.
Unfortunately, this lyrical language is interspersed with really elementary dialogue and predicaments. Cora may be a high school freshman, but high school freshmen do NOT need to sound so whiny, shallow, explosive, and unreasonable. I hardly felt any connection to the characters at all, and instead wanted to smack them on their heads for being so one-dimensional. The story, too, is predictable; you hardly need to read the book in order to know what the ending is.
All in all, A MAP OF THE KNOWN WORLD an admirable attempt at lyrically dealing with the difficult subject of death. However, the lack of connection I felt to the characters undermined the attempt. Read it once to savor the occasional delicious line of prose, but not to feel as if this is a world that you can believe in and empathize with.
January 3, 2011
I really wanted this book to be so much more. I loved the title of the book and I was initially drawn to the cover as well. I thought I was going to get lost in this world of a girl who puts herself in other places to escape the pressure of every day life. I wasn't expecting fantasy, but I wasn't expecting boring.
The writing was so average. It felt so much like a step by step process and it forced me to skim. It also felt like I was reading lots of things that didn't matter in terms of the whole arc of the story.
I really tried to care about these characters, but they honestly turned into cookie cutter caricatures. I think the author was trying to go for genuine, but it came up short. And the writing didn't help that at all.
I think the book needed more time to stew in the authors head. Maybe it wouldn't feel so rushed too. And for some reason, it felt like I was reading a YA book from the 90's. The whole art class and creating art pieces out of objects feels so done to me.
The one thing I will give this book is having a bi-racial love interest. It was very refreshing to read about.
If you want a great book on dealing with sibling death, read the whole Jessica Darling series.
The writing was so average. It felt so much like a step by step process and it forced me to skim. It also felt like I was reading lots of things that didn't matter in terms of the whole arc of the story.
I really tried to care about these characters, but they honestly turned into cookie cutter caricatures. I think the author was trying to go for genuine, but it came up short. And the writing didn't help that at all.
I think the book needed more time to stew in the authors head. Maybe it wouldn't feel so rushed too. And for some reason, it felt like I was reading a YA book from the 90's. The whole art class and creating art pieces out of objects feels so done to me.
The one thing I will give this book is having a bi-racial love interest. It was very refreshing to read about.
If you want a great book on dealing with sibling death, read the whole Jessica Darling series.
April 27, 2009
First things first. The cover is gorgeous; I think it’s even better in person and it suits the story perfectly.
Now to the book. Cora’s brother Nate dies in a car accident which suddenly breaks the entire family as each one of them tries to deal with his death in their own ways. The house is not the same, her parents are not the same and everyone in school thinks she is a freak. Moreover she is starting high school the same year. Could it be any more difficult? And then there is Damien, her brother’s friend who her parents think is responsible for the accident even though he wasn’t the one who was driving. Cora tries to avoid him but gradually they come closer because of a common bond, Nate, or his death for that matter. When Cora discovers something about Nate and Damien she does not know what to make of it. She finds out that there is more she has in common with Nate than she thought she did.
Her mother tries to keep her home most of the time for the fear of loosing her too. All this tends to bring out the rebellious streak in Cora. Being an artist she finds solace in her paintings and eventually everything sorts out, as it usually does in novels.
I loved the way the author shows how different people handle grief differently. For instance Cora deals with everything through her sketches. She sketches places far off, places she has never been to, as a means to escape. By the end of the story, not only do you understand Cora really well but pray that everything works out well for her. The prose is beautiful and the editing is perfect. I don’t think I would omit even a single sentence from the book.
Even though the book deals with a difficult topic, the death of a loved one, it was nowhere overly sad or depressing. Yet, the writing brings out the sadness of the story really well. Although I would say the secondary characters were not very well developed, I feel this was essentially Cora’s story.
Although everything is not perfect at the end, there is a possibility of it. I’ll definitely be checking out Lisa Ann Sandell’s other books.
Originally reviewed at http://violetcrush.wordpress.com/2009...
Now to the book. Cora’s brother Nate dies in a car accident which suddenly breaks the entire family as each one of them tries to deal with his death in their own ways. The house is not the same, her parents are not the same and everyone in school thinks she is a freak. Moreover she is starting high school the same year. Could it be any more difficult? And then there is Damien, her brother’s friend who her parents think is responsible for the accident even though he wasn’t the one who was driving. Cora tries to avoid him but gradually they come closer because of a common bond, Nate, or his death for that matter. When Cora discovers something about Nate and Damien she does not know what to make of it. She finds out that there is more she has in common with Nate than she thought she did.
Her mother tries to keep her home most of the time for the fear of loosing her too. All this tends to bring out the rebellious streak in Cora. Being an artist she finds solace in her paintings and eventually everything sorts out, as it usually does in novels.
I loved the way the author shows how different people handle grief differently. For instance Cora deals with everything through her sketches. She sketches places far off, places she has never been to, as a means to escape. By the end of the story, not only do you understand Cora really well but pray that everything works out well for her. The prose is beautiful and the editing is perfect. I don’t think I would omit even a single sentence from the book.
Even though the book deals with a difficult topic, the death of a loved one, it was nowhere overly sad or depressing. Yet, the writing brings out the sadness of the story really well. Although I would say the secondary characters were not very well developed, I feel this was essentially Cora’s story.
Although everything is not perfect at the end, there is a possibility of it. I’ll definitely be checking out Lisa Ann Sandell’s other books.
Originally reviewed at http://violetcrush.wordpress.com/2009...
May 15, 2009
The dead-brother-leaves-behind-little-sister-who-falls-in-love-with-the-guy-(who happens to be the only one that’s ever understood him)-that’s-"responsible"-for-said-brother's-death reminds me of the Korean drama "Snow Queen" Minus the terminal illness. So, it was a much softer version. I was expecting a bad ending but it was very gentle. I feel sorry for Damian though, poor guy had no chance to be anything but misunderstood with a name like that.
September 29, 2015
This book was amazing this story was all about love mostly friendship and working together.
The genre of my book was young adult and relastic fiction because the girl feel in love with her brothers best-friend after her brother died. I thin that this book was amazing and very descriptive and also very dramatic because you really didn't know what was going to happen most of the time. Spoiler*** Damian and Cora fall in love and end up dating.
The setting in my book was mostly the school,the park,and the farm out in the country side that Damian and Nate used to work on their work. Cora wanted to survive her school year going to high-school when her brother just died like 1 month ago. But as the school year went on she started to realize that her brother had some art work that nobody every knew about and he was a artist person before he died.So she started to explore the farm where her and her brother used to work on art and she and her brothers best-friend Damian worked on. Then she finally fell in love with her brothers best-friend damian even though her family or anybody at school wanted her to be in love with her brother's killer. So at the end she fell in love with her brothers best-friends and i quote she said 'Love will be my map' The conflict of my story was that Cora couldn't understand that her brother made art and he never shared his beautfuil work with the world and the school like in the story she went to the farm with Damian and when she saw that her brother had made all this beaufuil work just with metal and old car parts.So i say that this book was person vs person because she also has a problem with her parents. The theme of the story is is love i say because she feel in love with her brothers best friend and they started going out but everyone didn't except that she was dating the boy who was in the car crash with her brother but he didn't die.
The 1st person point of view affects the story because its telling me mostly how Cora felt when her brother Nate died and going to the school where everyone like the teachers and the students thought of him as a big trouble maker like in the story I quote it says "Nate Bradley made sure that every teacher and student or administrator knew who he was" I will be known as the Nate Bradley little sister. The main event was when Cora started going to school and she started talking to Damian about how she wasn't really his fault that her brother died and he couldn't have done anything to help Nate because he was a bad listener. It changed the character because she started to realize that her parents were maybe mostly the reason why Nate crash in the car because they were always pushing him and yelling at him mostly every single day. Like in the story Cora had said that he was late for christmas because he didn't go to sleep on time and he ended up missing them get presents and got their late to eat food So the mom and the dad started yelling at Nate the whole christmas day that was the worst christmas ever.
I was suprised when Cora and Damian started liking each-other and dating because Damian was in the car with Cora´s brother Nate when he crashed the car and Damian wasn't killed and only her brother died. I liked the author wrote the story like first Cora would be all mad and be screaming and yelling at her parents but then she would get all happy when she saw Damian in her art class because she would start to blush a lot or would keep staring at his big dreamy silver eyes. An insteresting thing I learned in this story is you never know a person until you meet and them so don't judge anyone ever.
I rate this book 5 star because this book was very emotional to me i started to crying in some of the parts when she would yell at her parents or be flirting with Damian. I would recommend this book to anybody that wants to read a dramntic story with a cliff hanging endings. This book will make you cry laugh and feel really bad for Cora that her life was so messed up and also this book is like somebody's real life but relastic fiction.
The genre of my book was young adult and relastic fiction because the girl feel in love with her brothers best-friend after her brother died. I thin that this book was amazing and very descriptive and also very dramatic because you really didn't know what was going to happen most of the time. Spoiler*** Damian and Cora fall in love and end up dating.
The setting in my book was mostly the school,the park,and the farm out in the country side that Damian and Nate used to work on their work. Cora wanted to survive her school year going to high-school when her brother just died like 1 month ago. But as the school year went on she started to realize that her brother had some art work that nobody every knew about and he was a artist person before he died.So she started to explore the farm where her and her brother used to work on art and she and her brothers best-friend Damian worked on. Then she finally fell in love with her brothers best-friend damian even though her family or anybody at school wanted her to be in love with her brother's killer. So at the end she fell in love with her brothers best-friends and i quote she said 'Love will be my map' The conflict of my story was that Cora couldn't understand that her brother made art and he never shared his beautfuil work with the world and the school like in the story she went to the farm with Damian and when she saw that her brother had made all this beaufuil work just with metal and old car parts.So i say that this book was person vs person because she also has a problem with her parents. The theme of the story is is love i say because she feel in love with her brothers best friend and they started going out but everyone didn't except that she was dating the boy who was in the car crash with her brother but he didn't die.
The 1st person point of view affects the story because its telling me mostly how Cora felt when her brother Nate died and going to the school where everyone like the teachers and the students thought of him as a big trouble maker like in the story I quote it says "Nate Bradley made sure that every teacher and student or administrator knew who he was" I will be known as the Nate Bradley little sister. The main event was when Cora started going to school and she started talking to Damian about how she wasn't really his fault that her brother died and he couldn't have done anything to help Nate because he was a bad listener. It changed the character because she started to realize that her parents were maybe mostly the reason why Nate crash in the car because they were always pushing him and yelling at him mostly every single day. Like in the story Cora had said that he was late for christmas because he didn't go to sleep on time and he ended up missing them get presents and got their late to eat food So the mom and the dad started yelling at Nate the whole christmas day that was the worst christmas ever.
I was suprised when Cora and Damian started liking each-other and dating because Damian was in the car with Cora´s brother Nate when he crashed the car and Damian wasn't killed and only her brother died. I liked the author wrote the story like first Cora would be all mad and be screaming and yelling at her parents but then she would get all happy when she saw Damian in her art class because she would start to blush a lot or would keep staring at his big dreamy silver eyes. An insteresting thing I learned in this story is you never know a person until you meet and them so don't judge anyone ever.
I rate this book 5 star because this book was very emotional to me i started to crying in some of the parts when she would yell at her parents or be flirting with Damian. I would recommend this book to anybody that wants to read a dramntic story with a cliff hanging endings. This book will make you cry laugh and feel really bad for Cora that her life was so messed up and also this book is like somebody's real life but relastic fiction.
March 23, 2009
A big thanks to Scholastic for sending me an advanced copy of Lisa Ann Sandell's A MAP OF THE KNOWN WORLD. Ever since I read and loved Sandell's Song of the Sparrow, I have been eager to see what she would write next. I knew it would probably be something quite different. It both was and it wasn't. Where Song of the Sparrow was an Arthurian novel in verse told from the perspective of Elaine of Ascolat, A MAP OF THE KNOWN WORLD is a contemporary prose novel about a girl named Cora's struggle in the wake of her brother's death. What they share is a young woman's attempt to make sense of (and leave her mark on) the changing world around her.
Cora's brother Nate died in a car crash six months ago. And Cora's been on her own ever since. Grief inhabits all corners of her world now. Her parents effectively collapsed in on themselves after Nate's death, her best friend doesn't know how to talk to her anymore, and Cora is afraid she will forever be known as the little sister of that boy who died. As she prepares to start high school, Cora desperately hopes the horrible stasis she's been existing in will somehow change. Any change will do, really. But one for the better would be nice. Change comes in the form of Damian Archer--her brother's best friend, the boy who was in the car with Nate when it crashed, and the one person everyone blames for Nate's untimely death. Damian gifts Cora with a wealth of unknown details about her brother and unwittingly gives her the key to changing her life.
This is a story about grief, art, family, and first love. It is a story filled with sadness and Sandell balances this by weaving in those moments of breathless understanding and discovery that only come when one is fifteen. I liked Cora. I found her incredibly strong for being able to withstand her parents' suffocating despair, her friend's gradual defection, and the painful realization that she didn't really know her brother at all. Sandell's storytelling is meticulous and genuine. And it was so refreshing to read about an adolescent girl who seems utterly normal, yet so intent on seeing her world clearly. Cora is definitely fifteen and impressionable. She thinks and talks like a fifteen-year-old, squeeing and ranting at all the appropriate times. Yet she is not content with mundanity. She strives for something more. It was a pleasure to spend time with her (and Damian) and, once again, I look forward to reading whatever Ms. Sandell writes next.
Cora's brother Nate died in a car crash six months ago. And Cora's been on her own ever since. Grief inhabits all corners of her world now. Her parents effectively collapsed in on themselves after Nate's death, her best friend doesn't know how to talk to her anymore, and Cora is afraid she will forever be known as the little sister of that boy who died. As she prepares to start high school, Cora desperately hopes the horrible stasis she's been existing in will somehow change. Any change will do, really. But one for the better would be nice. Change comes in the form of Damian Archer--her brother's best friend, the boy who was in the car with Nate when it crashed, and the one person everyone blames for Nate's untimely death. Damian gifts Cora with a wealth of unknown details about her brother and unwittingly gives her the key to changing her life.
This is a story about grief, art, family, and first love. It is a story filled with sadness and Sandell balances this by weaving in those moments of breathless understanding and discovery that only come when one is fifteen. I liked Cora. I found her incredibly strong for being able to withstand her parents' suffocating despair, her friend's gradual defection, and the painful realization that she didn't really know her brother at all. Sandell's storytelling is meticulous and genuine. And it was so refreshing to read about an adolescent girl who seems utterly normal, yet so intent on seeing her world clearly. Cora is definitely fifteen and impressionable. She thinks and talks like a fifteen-year-old, squeeing and ranting at all the appropriate times. Yet she is not content with mundanity. She strives for something more. It was a pleasure to spend time with her (and Damian) and, once again, I look forward to reading whatever Ms. Sandell writes next.
March 29, 2009
A Map of the Known World is an elusive book. I cannot seem to grasp the right words needed to form a complete thought. So let us start from the beginning—my expectations.
I was quite ecstatic that it was actually written as a novel rather than a verse poem. I wanted to see how Ms. Sandell would use her poetic method into paragraph forms. Will it still contain the lovely lyrical melody? Or would it fall flat like a sinking rock? There were some scenes where I can definitely see the melody she once had in the Song of the Sparrow. It came alive when she described the artworks—vivid imagery and creative use of mediums. Many authors would have stuck to paint or graphite but she went out of the way and used organic materials as well as metals—moss, fabrics, nuts and screws. But aside from that, the tone was strictly basic. But still good nonetheless.
I thought that Ms. Sandell captured the relationship with Nate and Cora well. It was through flashbacks that she presented Nate before the self-destructive persona came along. The caring brother and his road to anger came and went relatively quick. I think that if she spread it over the course of chapters then it would have had a greater effect. But it was still nice to find little hidden treasures of Nate everywhere.
Damien, however, was in and out. I felt like he was forced into the scene then forced out. The relationship between Cora and Damien was iffy and tremendously fast paced for me.
Speaking of Damien, in the book she mentions that his mother is black and his father is white. It seems to me that international backgrounds are becoming less scarce. Think about it, first there were Perfect Chemistry with Latinos, then North of Beautiful and the Chinese background, and now Damien with his mixed heritage. I think it is quite nice to find an expansion of this. Either that or the authors are writing about some fantasies—oh la la la…I am so off topic now. Moving on…
Overall: A Map of the Known World was a creative and fun outlet. Fans of Song of the Sparrow will be pleasantly surprised by this latest novel.
I was quite ecstatic that it was actually written as a novel rather than a verse poem. I wanted to see how Ms. Sandell would use her poetic method into paragraph forms. Will it still contain the lovely lyrical melody? Or would it fall flat like a sinking rock? There were some scenes where I can definitely see the melody she once had in the Song of the Sparrow. It came alive when she described the artworks—vivid imagery and creative use of mediums. Many authors would have stuck to paint or graphite but she went out of the way and used organic materials as well as metals—moss, fabrics, nuts and screws. But aside from that, the tone was strictly basic. But still good nonetheless.
I thought that Ms. Sandell captured the relationship with Nate and Cora well. It was through flashbacks that she presented Nate before the self-destructive persona came along. The caring brother and his road to anger came and went relatively quick. I think that if she spread it over the course of chapters then it would have had a greater effect. But it was still nice to find little hidden treasures of Nate everywhere.
Damien, however, was in and out. I felt like he was forced into the scene then forced out. The relationship between Cora and Damien was iffy and tremendously fast paced for me.
Speaking of Damien, in the book she mentions that his mother is black and his father is white. It seems to me that international backgrounds are becoming less scarce. Think about it, first there were Perfect Chemistry with Latinos, then North of Beautiful and the Chinese background, and now Damien with his mixed heritage. I think it is quite nice to find an expansion of this. Either that or the authors are writing about some fantasies—oh la la la…I am so off topic now. Moving on…
Overall: A Map of the Known World was a creative and fun outlet. Fans of Song of the Sparrow will be pleasantly surprised by this latest novel.
August 23, 2010
Personally I think this to be one of the most beautifully written books I have ever read. The detail is so vivid, it's like looking at a painting. The more you get into the book, the more it's like getting closer and closer to the painting and realizing it had details you could have never even thought would be there. The pain, grief, sorrow, happiness, confusion, and joy that is in this book will project into your own feelings. I found myself crying when Cora cried and feeling the confusion and curiosity she got around Damian.
My favorite thing about this book is that it doesn't exactly end "happily ever after". Now, I realize that most book these days don't, but some give the impression that nothing changes much after the story is over and that the characters remain content. In this book it gives you a taste of realism. It doesn't at all give any impression that Damian and Cora stayed together. That, I think, gives this book a big step up above others. To me, there is nothing more annoying than a book that ends too perfectly. It loses its touch of believability. Even in a fantasy book I think we all want something that we can wish could happen. If it's fantastic story but it leaves the feeling of something that could never happen, it leaves you empty. If there's no connection between the real world and the fantasy one, like a doorway, a portal, or a magic train, something that takes you to that world, it feels out of reach. Nothing but something that takes you away for a while. For books like this one, that have no make-believe world, the ending serves as the connection. It is that doorway.
This has turned out to be my favorite book.
My favorite thing about this book is that it doesn't exactly end "happily ever after". Now, I realize that most book these days don't, but some give the impression that nothing changes much after the story is over and that the characters remain content. In this book it gives you a taste of realism. It doesn't at all give any impression that Damian and Cora stayed together. That, I think, gives this book a big step up above others. To me, there is nothing more annoying than a book that ends too perfectly. It loses its touch of believability. Even in a fantasy book I think we all want something that we can wish could happen. If it's fantastic story but it leaves the feeling of something that could never happen, it leaves you empty. If there's no connection between the real world and the fantasy one, like a doorway, a portal, or a magic train, something that takes you to that world, it feels out of reach. Nothing but something that takes you away for a while. For books like this one, that have no make-believe world, the ending serves as the connection. It is that doorway.
This has turned out to be my favorite book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2009
Cora Bradley is lost. Ever since her older brother Nate died she hasn't known what to do with herself. Her family is falling apart and she can't seem to relate to her only friend anymore.
Cora and her older brother Nate didn't actually get along very well in his final years of life but now that he is gone it seems like he was the only thing holding their family together. Her father now drowns his problems in alcohol and her mother now spends all her time focusing on how to keep Cora out of trouble. That means strict rules and basically no life.
Cora doesn't really mind at first, but then she starts to get to know Damian. Damian was in the car with her brother the night he died. She and her parents both blamed Damian for what happened to Nate, not knowing that Damian also secretly blamed himself. But what Cora doesn't know and that Damian can show her, might heal some of the rifts in her family.
I fell in love with the book from the very first page. I had never read anything by Lisa Ann Sandell before this and I was just amazed. Sandell brilliantly portrays the grief, love, and hope in Cora's heart. The details used in the book were amazing. Everything was so intricately linked and just seemed to flow off the page.
I kept turning the page wanting to know more but never wanting it to end. I would recommend this book to anybody, really. I can't say that it wasn't sad at parts but it was also such a hopeful read it leaves you feeling kind of happy and grateful for the beauty of life.
Cora and her older brother Nate didn't actually get along very well in his final years of life but now that he is gone it seems like he was the only thing holding their family together. Her father now drowns his problems in alcohol and her mother now spends all her time focusing on how to keep Cora out of trouble. That means strict rules and basically no life.
Cora doesn't really mind at first, but then she starts to get to know Damian. Damian was in the car with her brother the night he died. She and her parents both blamed Damian for what happened to Nate, not knowing that Damian also secretly blamed himself. But what Cora doesn't know and that Damian can show her, might heal some of the rifts in her family.
I fell in love with the book from the very first page. I had never read anything by Lisa Ann Sandell before this and I was just amazed. Sandell brilliantly portrays the grief, love, and hope in Cora's heart. The details used in the book were amazing. Everything was so intricately linked and just seemed to flow off the page.
I kept turning the page wanting to know more but never wanting it to end. I would recommend this book to anybody, really. I can't say that it wasn't sad at parts but it was also such a hopeful read it leaves you feeling kind of happy and grateful for the beauty of life.
April 15, 2009
Cora is starting high school, the high school where her dead older brother, Nate, was known as a screw-up and a waster. He died several months ago in a car accident, driving without the headlights on. Now her life is marked by his loss. Her mother is hovering, critical and verging on hysterical while her father drinks away his feelings alone and isolated in his den. Cora escapes from their chaotic life through her art, drawing places on the map and dreaming of actually being there. In high school she is in an advanced art class where she meets Damian, Nate’s best friend and the boy who walked away from the fatal crash. Damian is the focus of Cora’s parents’ anger, but as Cora gets to know him, she learns more about her brother and finds connections with him that she hadn’t known existed.
Sandell’s writing is quite simply amazing. From the first page, I was thoroughly hooked as she drew me into Cora’s life with poetic grace and unobtrusive style. She writes with a confidence and ease that carries the reader along, sure that there is something worthwhile to discover here. The dialogue is pitch perfect, including the hurtful, hateful fights with her parents that are so raw that the reader almost bleeds. The use of art as a connecting and bridging force is also well done. Not overly played upon, but important and soulful. Cora is a girl worth spending time with, her character deep and fascinating.
Highly recommended, this book is beautiful, tense, haunting and glorious all in the same breath. Simply amazing. Appropriate for ages 13-15.
Sandell’s writing is quite simply amazing. From the first page, I was thoroughly hooked as she drew me into Cora’s life with poetic grace and unobtrusive style. She writes with a confidence and ease that carries the reader along, sure that there is something worthwhile to discover here. The dialogue is pitch perfect, including the hurtful, hateful fights with her parents that are so raw that the reader almost bleeds. The use of art as a connecting and bridging force is also well done. Not overly played upon, but important and soulful. Cora is a girl worth spending time with, her character deep and fascinating.
Highly recommended, this book is beautiful, tense, haunting and glorious all in the same breath. Simply amazing. Appropriate for ages 13-15.
January 6, 2012
Cora's family are struck with grief after the death of her brother Nate. They live in silence and everything seems to have changed for the worst. Cora's parents blames Nate's death on his best friend Damien, who was in the car with Nate the night he died. However, Cora and Damien share a passion for art and Damien unfolds a secret about Nate that no one else knew. Cora is so grateful to have found out about this secret and she feels herself healing slowly as she becomes determined to let everyone know about Nate's talent.
What I really didn't feel for was the relationship between Damien and Cora. I like both of them as separate characters but the age difference to me really stuck out and normally, I don't have problems with age gaps but I found this one to be very obvious which made me dislike the book just a tiny bit.
Even though Helena was not the main character she was by far my favourite character in the book, she was just lovely and set on helping anybody in anyway she could, she had a very positive look on things and I'd really love to have a book from her point of view or a similar character. Also her and Cam's relationship was just the cutest!
The ending was no surprise to me and it was exactly how I wanted things to work out so I'm not complaining!
A map of the known world was a very emotional book and Sandell really opened my eyes to the pain of losing a family member. I also really enjoyed seeing the world through Cora's eyes and her artistic mind.
What I really didn't feel for was the relationship between Damien and Cora. I like both of them as separate characters but the age difference to me really stuck out and normally, I don't have problems with age gaps but I found this one to be very obvious which made me dislike the book just a tiny bit.
Even though Helena was not the main character she was by far my favourite character in the book, she was just lovely and set on helping anybody in anyway she could, she had a very positive look on things and I'd really love to have a book from her point of view or a similar character. Also her and Cam's relationship was just the cutest!
The ending was no surprise to me and it was exactly how I wanted things to work out so I'm not complaining!
A map of the known world was a very emotional book and Sandell really opened my eyes to the pain of losing a family member. I also really enjoyed seeing the world through Cora's eyes and her artistic mind.
November 16, 2012
First off, I would like to start by explaining why this book was so good. The first thing is the author's writing style. Her writing is beautiful and really lyrical. When you read the author's descriptions you just want to sit there for a moment after each sentence and just drink in the feel of the words, the way they work together and the image they create. I think reading Ms. Sandell's writing is like eating chocolate, you just want to savour every last taste. The second thing is her characters. Her characters, although could have been better, I found were still real and especially the way characters reacted to other characters. I liked the relationship between Cora and Damian. It wasn't a steamy whirlwind teen love story. I found it sweet and endearing and I like the way that they didn't have a violent, erratic, all or nothing romance going on. It was slow and subtle and wonderful.
However, there were reasons why this book lost one star. The main reason is the length. I would have liked more development on Cora and Damian's relationship. I would also have liked for Cora and her parents to really develop their relationship and problems and the solutions to their problems more, I felt as though the ending was a bit rushed. Also, because the author's writing style is so beautiful, you just want to read more, so I do wish she could have written a bit more to the story.
Overall, this was a great book, beautiful, but not exceptional, therefore it deserves four stars.
However, there were reasons why this book lost one star. The main reason is the length. I would have liked more development on Cora and Damian's relationship. I would also have liked for Cora and her parents to really develop their relationship and problems and the solutions to their problems more, I felt as though the ending was a bit rushed. Also, because the author's writing style is so beautiful, you just want to read more, so I do wish she could have written a bit more to the story.
Overall, this was a great book, beautiful, but not exceptional, therefore it deserves four stars.
April 9, 2009
Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com
Anger and pain consume Cora; they have since last year when her brother died.
Now her family's broken, barely speaking to each other and barely surviving. Nate's the one who died, but Cora feels the brunt of her parent's disappointment, sadness, and anger.
She's not allowed out after dark, she must come straight home from school, and she can't get into a car without a parent's approval. .
All summer long, she's spent the days inside her room imagining the places in the world she'd rather be, while drawing maps and pictures of her travels. Now she must face reality and start high school.
She doesn't enter as an unknown, but as the sister of her dead brother. Everyone knew Nate, but not everyone liked him.
Cora's just trying to survive, but along the way her heart opens. She talks to her brother's best friend, who was in the car that night, and things change. He shows her a side of her brother she didn't know.
Lisa Ann Sandell writes a breathtakingly beautiful and heart-wrenching novel that will haunt you long after you're finished.
Anger and pain consume Cora; they have since last year when her brother died.
Now her family's broken, barely speaking to each other and barely surviving. Nate's the one who died, but Cora feels the brunt of her parent's disappointment, sadness, and anger.
She's not allowed out after dark, she must come straight home from school, and she can't get into a car without a parent's approval. .
All summer long, she's spent the days inside her room imagining the places in the world she'd rather be, while drawing maps and pictures of her travels. Now she must face reality and start high school.
She doesn't enter as an unknown, but as the sister of her dead brother. Everyone knew Nate, but not everyone liked him.
Cora's just trying to survive, but along the way her heart opens. She talks to her brother's best friend, who was in the car that night, and things change. He shows her a side of her brother she didn't know.
Lisa Ann Sandell writes a breathtakingly beautiful and heart-wrenching novel that will haunt you long after you're finished.
January 21, 2011
While the books starts off slow and corny, it becomes rich once Cara finds a purpose-- that purpose is to showcase the artwork of her dead brother (the artwork she knew nothing about when he was alive since he was a bad-ass troublemaker). Cara's family life is all but destroyed, as Cara describes her family and house as a cemetary-- her father isolating hiimself and drinking and her mother perpetually sad and uncommunicative. And the person Cara shouldn't be with, Damian, Nate's best friend who was in the car when Nate crashed it, is the person she finds the most comofort with.
The second half of the story turns out beautifully, with discussions about life and death and purpose, art and beauty, family, loss and grief, and friendship (especially when friends become distant because they don't know how to handle a tragedy).
I loved the cover, which I why I picked it up in the first place, and was pleasantly suprised by the end. Just stick with it through the first third of the book.
The second half of the story turns out beautifully, with discussions about life and death and purpose, art and beauty, family, loss and grief, and friendship (especially when friends become distant because they don't know how to handle a tragedy).
I loved the cover, which I why I picked it up in the first place, and was pleasantly suprised by the end. Just stick with it through the first third of the book.
June 24, 2009
When I first started reading this, it was so eerily reminiscent of Twenty Boy Summer, which I had just finished, that I almost stopped reading it. But I'm glad I didn't.
While the two were similar, I liked A Map of the Known World better. I'd give this a 4.5 if I could.
Cora's brother Nate died one night in a car crash. Nate's best friend Damian was in the car as well, but he was able to walk away from the accident. Now Cora's family blames Damian for the crash.
When Cora finds out Damian is in her art class, she freaks. But, she learns, getting to know Damian means getting to know her brother in ways she didn't know before.
I really did enjoy it. I liked Damian even when he was doing something stupid because he thought he was helping Cora in some way or another.
While the two were similar, I liked A Map of the Known World better. I'd give this a 4.5 if I could.
Cora's brother Nate died one night in a car crash. Nate's best friend Damian was in the car as well, but he was able to walk away from the accident. Now Cora's family blames Damian for the crash.
When Cora finds out Damian is in her art class, she freaks. But, she learns, getting to know Damian means getting to know her brother in ways she didn't know before.
I really did enjoy it. I liked Damian even when he was doing something stupid because he thought he was helping Cora in some way or another.
July 5, 2009
I really could not stand the narrator of this book. She went from weeping to happy and helping others, to angry - well, she was just a mess, but it all seemed so flat. Maybe it's just not my kind of book, but the character grated on me.
The saving grace of the book was the involvement in art. I really did like that aspect, the way she could connect to her dead brother through his artwork and her own. I don't like how everything settled so quickly towards the end. Her mom went from evil witch of the west to understanding and kind. Sorry, just don't see it happening.
The writing was well done, but I just could not connect to the character at all and it seemed a little false. Everything was extreme but not. It's hard to describe. I don't dislike a lot of books, but this one really was hard to get through.
The saving grace of the book was the involvement in art. I really did like that aspect, the way she could connect to her dead brother through his artwork and her own. I don't like how everything settled so quickly towards the end. Her mom went from evil witch of the west to understanding and kind. Sorry, just don't see it happening.
The writing was well done, but I just could not connect to the character at all and it seemed a little false. Everything was extreme but not. It's hard to describe. I don't dislike a lot of books, but this one really was hard to get through.
October 21, 2014
Honestly I didn't finish it. The whole thing just felt too depressing and well none of the characters really stood out to me. Honestly I think the writer was trying to go for a lot of drama, but I didn't really feel any of it, since my connection to the characters was weak.
I'm not sure if the main character was well defined in the writer's mind, because I found her hard to grasp. It all just seems like it's been done before, the high school scene, the best friend that suddenly wants to be popular and date the "cute" sports player. I don't want to be harsh but it all just seemed too generic. I'm not into those sorta things to begin with, so for me it would have taken strong characters to pull this through, but I just didn't feel any.
Maybe it would have gotten better as it went on, but I just didn't want to continue.
I'm not sure if the main character was well defined in the writer's mind, because I found her hard to grasp. It all just seems like it's been done before, the high school scene, the best friend that suddenly wants to be popular and date the "cute" sports player. I don't want to be harsh but it all just seemed too generic. I'm not into those sorta things to begin with, so for me it would have taken strong characters to pull this through, but I just didn't feel any.
Maybe it would have gotten better as it went on, but I just didn't want to continue.
March 30, 2012
I've cried many times reading this. A very heartwarming and touching story about loss, friendship and family.
February 25, 2016
This was a little gem of a book.
Full review to follow soon...
Full review to follow soon...
April 14, 2025
This book was pretty good; parts, like the rule list, seemed absurd. Not many parents have a 4:00 curfew. Also, blaming a kid who wasn't behind the wheel while driving isn't right; he couldn't have stopped the crash. Each person in Cora's family is dealing with a different type of grief. Sandall's writing was done beautifully, it was captivating, and very expressive. The plot, while interesting, was slow at times, yet I still enjoyed it. The book was better than I expected it to be, and the people were painted to be real (pun intended). I loved how art played a large role in most parts of this story, and I couldn't hope for a better ending.
The book starts a little after Cora's older brother dies, and her family feels a little lost. She is an exceptional map artist, but she knows her controlling mother will never let her go anywhere she paints. Cora's best friend, Rachel, is slipping out of her grasp. Now going into high school, she expects new hardships. Damian, the boy who was in the car with Nate, her older brother, is in her art class. She finds herself talking to him and being drawn to him. Her parents will never let them be together, but she knows she has to because Damian revealed a side of Nate that Cora never knew existed.
The book starts a little after Cora's older brother dies, and her family feels a little lost. She is an exceptional map artist, but she knows her controlling mother will never let her go anywhere she paints. Cora's best friend, Rachel, is slipping out of her grasp. Now going into high school, she expects new hardships. Damian, the boy who was in the car with Nate, her older brother, is in her art class. She finds herself talking to him and being drawn to him. Her parents will never let them be together, but she knows she has to because Damian revealed a side of Nate that Cora never knew existed.
July 7, 2025
**4 stars**
Cora just started high school and she’s the girl whose brother died in a car accident 6 months ago. Cora struggles with all of the feelings one would have in the same situation, and these things are compounded by her grieving parents, a best friend who is growing into new social groups, and befriending new people as she starts school.
I found Cora to embody exactly how grief could be for a 14 year old girl. Yes, she’s laughing one minute then crying the next, she’s confused, she’s impulsive and she often makes poor choices. But isn’t that being 14?
Personally this book feels like a perfect YA novel for those experiencing grief whether it be their personal grief, that of a friend or an acquaintance. Understanding that grief is not linear and is not easy is well played out here, and an important lesson for those lucky enough not to understand.
Cora just started high school and she’s the girl whose brother died in a car accident 6 months ago. Cora struggles with all of the feelings one would have in the same situation, and these things are compounded by her grieving parents, a best friend who is growing into new social groups, and befriending new people as she starts school.
I found Cora to embody exactly how grief could be for a 14 year old girl. Yes, she’s laughing one minute then crying the next, she’s confused, she’s impulsive and she often makes poor choices. But isn’t that being 14?
Personally this book feels like a perfect YA novel for those experiencing grief whether it be their personal grief, that of a friend or an acquaintance. Understanding that grief is not linear and is not easy is well played out here, and an important lesson for those lucky enough not to understand.
September 22, 2025
This would have been good enough for readers who liked art and for those going through grief specifically the loss of a brother but then even there it came short. Unfortunately, I was promised stunning lyricism in the blurb but did not get it anywhere here, instead I just sped through the dialogues that sounded more of a grade schooler than Cora’s actual age, making all that unnecessary drama so hard to connect to her. There were also mentions of Casablanca, the Gobi desert and an Arab market which caught my interest thinking this was gonna be a sort of adventure style story but then again nada.
September 14, 2024
Read in high school, so memory may be off. Did not finish
would be 5 stars but I didn't like the ending.
I loved the story, learning about the brother, getting though grief as a broken family, the blossoming relationship (friendly or familial NOT ROMANTIC) with the brother's best friend too, it was all good, but then they fell in love? I know its a common troupe (younger sibling falling for the older sibling's friend), and there were likely signs that that was the way the story was going, but it still shocked me when they kissed at the (frozen?) pond, it felt rushed. or when they were fighting? i stopped reading after that, i had already checked out when they started dating, it was like it was a different book. I felt/ feel it wouldve been better if they stayed platonic, and we got to grow with the girl and how she handles this grief of losing a brother she didnt like, starting new friendships and highschool (sucks in general) AND her parents. But i 10/10 loved the art and how it was talked about. :)
I do plan on rereading though, so if my opinion changes, ill update.
would be 5 stars but I didn't like the ending.
I loved the story, learning about the brother, getting though grief as a broken family, the blossoming relationship (friendly or familial NOT ROMANTIC) with the brother's best friend too, it was all good, but then they fell in love? I know its a common troupe (younger sibling falling for the older sibling's friend), and there were likely signs that that was the way the story was going, but it still shocked me when they kissed at the (frozen?) pond, it felt rushed. or when they were fighting? i stopped reading after that, i had already checked out when they started dating, it was like it was a different book. I felt/ feel it wouldve been better if they stayed platonic, and we got to grow with the girl and how she handles this grief of losing a brother she didnt like, starting new friendships and highschool (sucks in general) AND her parents. But i 10/10 loved the art and how it was talked about. :)
I do plan on rereading though, so if my opinion changes, ill update.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2022
This book had excellent pacing; I grabbed it off my shelf, not knowing what it was about, and finished it 3 hours later.
It's a good story of mourning and how death can change the people left behind.
There were a few parts I felt didn't really need to be a part of the story & there could have been better character development, because I really didn't have a strong connection to any of them, but those are really my only negatives.
It was an enjoyable, easy read.
It's a good story of mourning and how death can change the people left behind.
There were a few parts I felt didn't really need to be a part of the story & there could have been better character development, because I really didn't have a strong connection to any of them, but those are really my only negatives.
It was an enjoyable, easy read.
July 13, 2023
I thought the "A map of the known world" was a beautiful exploration of grief, art, and innocent romance. I think this book only looses points for me as I thought that the resolution was shallow. It seemed rushed and unplanned. Other than that everything was wonderfully written and I will probably read more works from this author in the future.
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