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The Ocean in My Ears
Meri Miller lives in Soldotna, Alaska. Never heard of it? That's because in Slowdotna the most riveting activities for a teenager are salmon fishing and grabbing a Big Gulp at the local 7-Eleven. More than anything, Meri wants to hop in her VW Bug and head somewhere exciting, like New York or L.A. or any city where going to the theater doesn't only mean the movies. Everything is so scripted here--don't have too much fun, date this guy because he's older and popular, stay put because that's what everyone else does.
But when her senior year should be all boys, SAT prep, and prom drama, Meri feels more and more distance between herself and the people she loves. Her grandma dies, her brother gets hurt, and even her best friend checks out to spend more time with some guy. As she struggles with family, grief, friends, and hormones, Meri must decide if she really is ready for the world beyond her backyard.
Meagan Macvie's debut novel, The Ocean in My Ears, raises questions of love, purpose, and the power to choose your own future even when your future's the thing that scares you the most.
But when her senior year should be all boys, SAT prep, and prom drama, Meri feels more and more distance between herself and the people she loves. Her grandma dies, her brother gets hurt, and even her best friend checks out to spend more time with some guy. As she struggles with family, grief, friends, and hormones, Meri must decide if she really is ready for the world beyond her backyard.
Meagan Macvie's debut novel, The Ocean in My Ears, raises questions of love, purpose, and the power to choose your own future even when your future's the thing that scares you the most.
300 pages, Paperback
Published November 7, 2017
5 people are currently reading
666 people want to read
About the author
Meagan Macvie
1 book58 followersMeagan grew up in Alaska writing poems about injustice and hot boys. She left Alaska to study poetry and literature then spent fifteen years in government communications before breaking up with her career to pursue creative writing. She earned her MFA in fiction at Pacific Lutheran University’s Rainier Writing Workshop. She currently lives in The Netherlands.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
August 29, 2017
Writing for Ooligan Press has put me in touch with a lot of amazing writers, and Meagan Macvie is definitely one of Ooligan’s shining stars. Her debut novel, The Ocean in My Ears, tells the story of Meri Miller, a high school senior torn between her life in small, sleepy, and sometimes brutal Soldotna Alaska and her dreams of going away to college. That story—with its adolescent hopes and desires—is enough to satisfy, but the novel is like a house that is bigger on the inside than the outside, a small window looking out on an enormous Alaskan wilderness.
In beautiful prose that reads just like a teenage voice yet wiser and more poetic, Macvie paints a portrait of rural America: the struggles of working families and the tensions between religious faith and everyday reality. Most of all, she explores the gender divide that still drives a wedge between men and women, brothers and sisters, people and their dreams.
The Ocean in My Ears is a timely novel, and Macvie’s is a voice we need today. In a country that is becoming increasingly divided between urban and rural, conservative and liberal, those who left the family farm or business or hometown and those who stayed behind, Macvie writes with clarity and compassion for all. But the novel is neither a dreamy nostalgia trip (although you will brim up with nostalgia for your bittersweet youth) nor a scornful critique of small town life. Instead, Macvie uses young Meri Miller’s high school experiences to paint a portrait of everything that is beautiful, honorable, troubled, and broken about Soldotna, Alaska. And Soldotna, in turn, stands in for all those places where people work hard and love each other but where opportunities are limited and where an accident or an unintended pregnancy can put an end to a lifetime of dreams. Readers will cheer for Meri Miller as she struggles to navigate the challenges of getting into college as a first-generation college student. At the same time, they will come to realize, as Meri does, how much she loses if she leaves.
In beautiful prose that reads just like a teenage voice yet wiser and more poetic, Macvie paints a portrait of rural America: the struggles of working families and the tensions between religious faith and everyday reality. Most of all, she explores the gender divide that still drives a wedge between men and women, brothers and sisters, people and their dreams.
The Ocean in My Ears is a timely novel, and Macvie’s is a voice we need today. In a country that is becoming increasingly divided between urban and rural, conservative and liberal, those who left the family farm or business or hometown and those who stayed behind, Macvie writes with clarity and compassion for all. But the novel is neither a dreamy nostalgia trip (although you will brim up with nostalgia for your bittersweet youth) nor a scornful critique of small town life. Instead, Macvie uses young Meri Miller’s high school experiences to paint a portrait of everything that is beautiful, honorable, troubled, and broken about Soldotna, Alaska. And Soldotna, in turn, stands in for all those places where people work hard and love each other but where opportunities are limited and where an accident or an unintended pregnancy can put an end to a lifetime of dreams. Readers will cheer for Meri Miller as she struggles to navigate the challenges of getting into college as a first-generation college student. At the same time, they will come to realize, as Meri does, how much she loses if she leaves.
October 31, 2017
When I first began reading this coming of age YA novel, I found the main character, Meri, truly aggravating-- and then I recognized that it's simply because as a 42 year old grown woman, teenage girls ARE sometimes aggravating. The story is set in Soldotna, Alaska, about 55 miles from where I live now, but in the early 90's when I was a teenager. That aggravation I felt when I started the book bloomed into recognition, and then it was off to the races, I didn't want to put the book down. The story feels genuine in a way that many YA novels fall short, all the way from hanging out at 7-11 hoping to run into cute boys to sort of cheesy free verse poetry. Brava!
September 28, 2017
Meagan Macvie’s big heart shines on every page of this thoughtful, generous, observant novel. I am lucky enough to have read an advance copy and glad to have an opportunity to post a brief review and recommendation for others. Full disclosure: I know Meagan and have written alongside her for several years. More disclosure: I went to high school in the Midwest in the 60s. Even though Meri Miller’s story unfolds in Alaska 35 years later, The Ocean In My Ears transported me emotionally and viscerally right back to that time. Meri is unique but her struggles, anxieties and successes are universal – loss and fear, love and understanding. Her story and her circumstances draw you in quickly. She is a flawed and beautiful young woman -- kind and self-absorbed, awkward and brave. Meagan skillfully conveys the tumultuous events of Meri’s senior year in a voice that is searching and true. I cared deeply about these characters, including not only Meri but her best girlfriend Charlie, her brother Alex, and her new friend Joaquin. I think you will, too.
March 15, 2018
When I picked up this book and saw that the first word was “fornication,” I knew I was in for a wild ride. But despite such an evocative opening, The Ocean in My Ears wasn’t an excessive, overdramatic young adult novel. While it does address serious subjects like life-threatening accidents, teen pregnancy, and abusive relationships it also has moments of charming and angsty humor that set the tone for Meri’s view of her hometown. Each character fits into relatively clean categories as either the party friend, the attractive bad boy, or the good guy, but all of them are really brought to life through their words. As someone who appreciates strong dialogue, I was impressed with the way Macvie breathed life into her characters. Overall, a great read!
August 9, 2024
I love a good coming-of-age Young Adult novel. These stories show the complexity of the human condition, and just how messy life can be, but always have a hopeful, if bittersweet, ending. The Ocean in My Ears is no exception. Meri's story is engaging, and all of the characters feel real due to Macvie's impressive dialogue.
April 14, 2018
Oof, this book felt very true. Honest. Real. Painful. I think it would have meant a lot to me in my late teens and early twenties. The last scene, when Mari is on the plane leaving home for college really struck home for me.
June 8, 2018
quite the fan. i really like young adult books about alaska (yes, i know it's a niche market but i've read a couple now and they're fun). also, what a 90s vibe we had going!!! this book was like the alaskan young adult novel version of lady bird, and i freaking loved lady bird.
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February 23, 2018Brilliant writing, an interesting setting, and a story you won't forget! I loved visiting Soldotna in the 1990s, and I can vouch for the authenticity of her Alaska details. Macvie brought the highs and lows of adolescence to life. I fell in love with Meri and Joaquin. Hope to read many more books from this author!
Note: not G-rated
Note: not G-rated
November 9, 2017
Meagan Macvie delivers a dead-on coming-of-age tale set in her own tiny hometown of Soldotna, Alaska. Meri faces a senior year full of stress; her boyfriend, her brother, her best friend, her grandmother, her prom, her SATs, her parents, and even the adorable guy for whom she secretly pines; they're all problematic. Trying desperately to untangle from the drama around her, Meri keeps her eyes on the future: her college years -- her ticket out of Soldotna. Macvie's characters have real depth (except for the jerks!), and she writes with a wickedly dry sense of humor. The Ocean in My Ears is a first rate young adult novel that will make you cringe -- and giggle -- remembering your own coming-of-age.
July 1, 2019
A really good YA book, and I love those! Good lessons to learn. Couldn't put it down.
December 8, 2017
Meagan's coming-of-age story, "The Ocean in my Ears" feels kind of like a tease, which, in this case, is a good thing.
Throughout the story, we follow the narrator, Meri Miller, through her last year of high school, from summer to graduation. Having Meri is the narrator is a good thing because it shows readers the depths of this character. Had Meri not been the narrator, I think she would have come across as a bit of a bitch, one who readers would find unsympathetic. Because we do get Meri's whole story, we get to see how much crap the poor young woman is actually dealing with, and it creates a rich, complex world defined by poor communication, loneliness, feelings of abandonment, and the delicate sharp edges of existence. Meri then becomes a relatable protagonist who the audience can root for, especially considering that life at this age really is quite difficult for anyone, but specifically for Meri, as most of the situations that she finds herself in are beyond her control. Luckily, she is smart enough (dare I say mature enough) to reach out to those people who could actually help her when she really needs it.
In a reading she did in Olympia, WA, author Meagan Macvie mentioned that she was able to bring a little world wisdom to Meri, maybe give her just enough nudge to push her from being High School girl, to girl with a chance in a challenging life. I think this novel is ultimately saved by the author's decision to do that. There is a lot of wisdom in "Ocean" - not just pedantic or rote understanding of life, but also the emotional wisdom that comes across in a simple reaction - like to a friend's lack of reaction to world-changing events, or of a refusal to be talked down to by a man who clearly has no idea what he is talking about.
The final bit of this review is personal, because one thing that this story did well was to bring back my own flight from my hometown. While I never had the driving urge of a salmon (as Meri's need to escape was brilliantly compared to at one point in the story), a conversation that I had with one of my own high school friends came back to me. It was a question about my own future, of marrying one of the girls in my hometown and settling down there. In looking at the faces of everyone in the small town of Soldotna, Alaska, I saw exactly the same people that I spent my high school years with: those that would leave, those that would never leave, those that would make peace with the simple madness of life there. I also saw myself, the jerk, the unsympathetic protagonist, who only wanted to get out, and whose Ahab-like obsession hindered my inability to see all the glory of my own hometown. Meri, however, was not so blind, and in her own eyes, I could see my own small town upbringing in all the positive light that such wonderful natural beauty and simplicity brought with it.
Throughout the story, we follow the narrator, Meri Miller, through her last year of high school, from summer to graduation. Having Meri is the narrator is a good thing because it shows readers the depths of this character. Had Meri not been the narrator, I think she would have come across as a bit of a bitch, one who readers would find unsympathetic. Because we do get Meri's whole story, we get to see how much crap the poor young woman is actually dealing with, and it creates a rich, complex world defined by poor communication, loneliness, feelings of abandonment, and the delicate sharp edges of existence. Meri then becomes a relatable protagonist who the audience can root for, especially considering that life at this age really is quite difficult for anyone, but specifically for Meri, as most of the situations that she finds herself in are beyond her control. Luckily, she is smart enough (dare I say mature enough) to reach out to those people who could actually help her when she really needs it.
In a reading she did in Olympia, WA, author Meagan Macvie mentioned that she was able to bring a little world wisdom to Meri, maybe give her just enough nudge to push her from being High School girl, to girl with a chance in a challenging life. I think this novel is ultimately saved by the author's decision to do that. There is a lot of wisdom in "Ocean" - not just pedantic or rote understanding of life, but also the emotional wisdom that comes across in a simple reaction - like to a friend's lack of reaction to world-changing events, or of a refusal to be talked down to by a man who clearly has no idea what he is talking about.
The final bit of this review is personal, because one thing that this story did well was to bring back my own flight from my hometown. While I never had the driving urge of a salmon (as Meri's need to escape was brilliantly compared to at one point in the story), a conversation that I had with one of my own high school friends came back to me. It was a question about my own future, of marrying one of the girls in my hometown and settling down there. In looking at the faces of everyone in the small town of Soldotna, Alaska, I saw exactly the same people that I spent my high school years with: those that would leave, those that would never leave, those that would make peace with the simple madness of life there. I also saw myself, the jerk, the unsympathetic protagonist, who only wanted to get out, and whose Ahab-like obsession hindered my inability to see all the glory of my own hometown. Meri, however, was not so blind, and in her own eyes, I could see my own small town upbringing in all the positive light that such wonderful natural beauty and simplicity brought with it.
July 15, 2024
The Ocean in My Ears is not a typical pick for me, but after taking a Young Adult Publishing course last quarter, I was up for something in the same vein.
Meri is the quintessential teenage narrator. Macvie absolutely encapsulated the voice of a teenage girl who just wants to get the hell out of her home town. She is raw and vulnerable, and so brutally honest and open sometimes that you're even annoyed with her character or perspective on things-- so teenager!
I loved Joaquin, the brother, and especially Charlie. Charlie serving as a foil to Meri was fantastic, and just the way she ditches her bff for a boy is sooo high school. Nostalgiac in the worst way possible!
I also was intrigued to learn so much about Alaska life, in glimpses about the night and day transitions, dipnetting, and other references that serve as a backdrop to the main plot. The setting is like another character, hiding in the background that you slowly get to know better. It's a great anchor to the plot, and serves to really motivate Meri to get out of this small town where the only thing to do for fun is crash snowmobiles.
Some aspects were a little more explicit than I anticipated, and Meri sometimes got on my nerves (as teenagers do), but overall I found it an engaging, realistic coming-of-age story that left me satisfied without being predictable.
Meri is the quintessential teenage narrator. Macvie absolutely encapsulated the voice of a teenage girl who just wants to get the hell out of her home town. She is raw and vulnerable, and so brutally honest and open sometimes that you're even annoyed with her character or perspective on things-- so teenager!
I loved Joaquin, the brother, and especially Charlie. Charlie serving as a foil to Meri was fantastic, and just the way she ditches her bff for a boy is sooo high school. Nostalgiac in the worst way possible!
I also was intrigued to learn so much about Alaska life, in glimpses about the night and day transitions, dipnetting, and other references that serve as a backdrop to the main plot. The setting is like another character, hiding in the background that you slowly get to know better. It's a great anchor to the plot, and serves to really motivate Meri to get out of this small town where the only thing to do for fun is crash snowmobiles.
Some aspects were a little more explicit than I anticipated, and Meri sometimes got on my nerves (as teenagers do), but overall I found it an engaging, realistic coming-of-age story that left me satisfied without being predictable.
August 23, 2018
This was a well written realistic fiction for young adults. Told consistently in Meri's POV, but covers a variety of characters in this method. The only reason I would hesitate to recommend this title is to avoid promoting a main female character who has to figure out she's being treated like a doormat. Hopefully a lot of young people will read it, while their inner voice say "Stop! He's a loser! You deserve better than that!" I understood her desire to leave the small town of Soldotna, Alaska. She doesn't lose sight of bigger/better places, which comes from within herself. Someone please share your take why some teen fiction take a place in the 80s, when my teen years took place. Yes, I love the 80s. Is it now retro? ;-)
March 16, 2018
"Fornication" is the first word we hear ringing in the ears of of Meri Miller, the protagonist of Meagan Macvie's lyrical YA Coming-of-Age tale, "The Ocean in My Ears." When we first meet our MC, Meri is a good Christian girl attending church with her family in the remote, small town of Soldotna, Alaska in the early 90's. The pastor's warnings about the dangers of pre-marital sex evoke the exact opposite response in 17-year-old Meri, who has become smitten with Joaquin, a beautiful Latino boy from a nearby school. Meri believes her parents won't approve of Joaquin and though Macvie doesn't overplay the race card - the reader infers that this parental disapproval stems from Joaquin's latino heritage.
Macvie’s writing is wry and authentic as we see the world through Merri’s hormone-drenched, rebellious teenage mind. We empathize as we witness her struggling with her family and friend’s expectations of her. Should she be the bright, responsible, and conventional girl that she’s always been? Or should she break through the boundaries and seek fornication . . . and love?
“Secrets are sometimes the only gateway to knowing.” - Meri Miller
Throughout our journey with Meri, we meet the guardians of her young life, the people who shape her: her boy-crazy, MIA best friend, Charlie, her annoying little brother, Alex, her over-protective Mother and dismissive Father and even her wise and understanding dying Grandmother - each character rings true-to-life with just enough of an edge to earn them a place in fiction. As Meri navigates each intimate relationship, we experience all the different sides of her as she tries to decide who to be.
“Love is letting every day be new.” - Meri Miller
“The Ocean in My Ears” is a love story and the Joaquin/Meri/Brett triangle frames the book but it doesn’t define it. Meri’s searching, rebellious spirit wants love but she also wants to go to college to be a writer and she wants to go far away from her small town. By falling in love with a small town boy, Meri falls in love with her hometown again. Macvie gives us a beautifully written tour of the wilderness surrounding her small town on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula where dipnetting, mudding, snow-machining, and hanging out at the 7-11 are the primary recreation activities. The lyrically rendered setting stands in contrast to Meri’s wry, wise-cracking teen voice and perfectly encapsulates the way so many teens feel in their small-town worlds. For anyone who grew up in a small town, “Ocean” will feel vivid and authentic. While the book is a quick read, I often set it down to take time to reflect on my own struggles and experiences as an unconventional teenager in a small town in the 90s.
And while the title of “The Ocean in My Ears” seems to refer to the ocean that surrounds Meri’s small town in Alaska, I think it truly refers to Meri’s inner life, her ocean of consciousness. Writers often use the ocean as a metaphor for the unconscious mind and Macvie uses it here to great effect. Meri must wade into the rivers and streams of her own biases, longings, desires, ambitions, and grief to fully discover the ocean within her ears - her true self.
“I hate regret, but I hate stupidity more.” - Meri Miller
I highly recommend, “The Ocean in My Ears” - it is a book of tremendous authenticity, humor, and heart. It’s a book for the teen of yesterday as well as the teens of today, it's for anyone who's been afraid to reach for their dreams but did it anyway. Read it and dive into your own ocean. Relive your own journey. You won't regret it.
Disclosure: I have met the author, Meagan Macvie, in-person at various times but this did not affect my review.
Macvie’s writing is wry and authentic as we see the world through Merri’s hormone-drenched, rebellious teenage mind. We empathize as we witness her struggling with her family and friend’s expectations of her. Should she be the bright, responsible, and conventional girl that she’s always been? Or should she break through the boundaries and seek fornication . . . and love?
“Secrets are sometimes the only gateway to knowing.” - Meri Miller
Throughout our journey with Meri, we meet the guardians of her young life, the people who shape her: her boy-crazy, MIA best friend, Charlie, her annoying little brother, Alex, her over-protective Mother and dismissive Father and even her wise and understanding dying Grandmother - each character rings true-to-life with just enough of an edge to earn them a place in fiction. As Meri navigates each intimate relationship, we experience all the different sides of her as she tries to decide who to be.
“Love is letting every day be new.” - Meri Miller
“The Ocean in My Ears” is a love story and the Joaquin/Meri/Brett triangle frames the book but it doesn’t define it. Meri’s searching, rebellious spirit wants love but she also wants to go to college to be a writer and she wants to go far away from her small town. By falling in love with a small town boy, Meri falls in love with her hometown again. Macvie gives us a beautifully written tour of the wilderness surrounding her small town on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula where dipnetting, mudding, snow-machining, and hanging out at the 7-11 are the primary recreation activities. The lyrically rendered setting stands in contrast to Meri’s wry, wise-cracking teen voice and perfectly encapsulates the way so many teens feel in their small-town worlds. For anyone who grew up in a small town, “Ocean” will feel vivid and authentic. While the book is a quick read, I often set it down to take time to reflect on my own struggles and experiences as an unconventional teenager in a small town in the 90s.
And while the title of “The Ocean in My Ears” seems to refer to the ocean that surrounds Meri’s small town in Alaska, I think it truly refers to Meri’s inner life, her ocean of consciousness. Writers often use the ocean as a metaphor for the unconscious mind and Macvie uses it here to great effect. Meri must wade into the rivers and streams of her own biases, longings, desires, ambitions, and grief to fully discover the ocean within her ears - her true self.
“I hate regret, but I hate stupidity more.” - Meri Miller
I highly recommend, “The Ocean in My Ears” - it is a book of tremendous authenticity, humor, and heart. It’s a book for the teen of yesterday as well as the teens of today, it's for anyone who's been afraid to reach for their dreams but did it anyway. Read it and dive into your own ocean. Relive your own journey. You won't regret it.
Disclosure: I have met the author, Meagan Macvie, in-person at various times but this did not affect my review.
August 2, 2018
This book brought me back to my own high school experience - and all the confusion and excitement and anticipation that went along with it. It's so difficult to depict that time in a teenager's life without tipping into melodrama, but Macvie keeps her story real and grounded. She writes with sympathy and humor, giving her characters relatable worries and motivations. I understood where Meri was coming from every step of the way - even when she made decisions that wouldn't end well. I wish that I'd had a book like this during my own teenage years - it would have shown me that you can mess up, be confused and still come out the better for it.
August 21, 2018
Most young women from a small town could relate to this book. I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading but was drawn in right away.
Many people could tell a story about their experiences and people they knew with a healthy dash of fiction, but Macvie does it with some eye opening clarity.
This is an excellent and inspiring read that many high school students could enjoy.
I will look forward to Macvie’s next book.
Many people could tell a story about their experiences and people they knew with a healthy dash of fiction, but Macvie does it with some eye opening clarity.
This is an excellent and inspiring read that many high school students could enjoy.
I will look forward to Macvie’s next book.
November 21, 2022
Perfect book about growing up, mother daughter dynamics, and wanting to leave your tiny hometown. It’s ladybird in the setting of twilight.
May 18, 2020
This book is a love letter to the high school senior experiencing the expected swirl of emotions that comes with being on the cusp of stepping into a new phase of life. Macvie beautifully captured the full range of angst, frustration, fear, love, sadness, and so many elements that characterize the life of an eighteen-year-old. The protagonist, Merideth, works through the relatable pull between wanting to impress the cute and older guy, but also respect yourself and your boundaries, and the lingering feelings of insecurity when you don’t conform to what’s typical. She has the opportunity to take stock of the people around her and grows to learn that when bad versions of people continuously show up, their moments of sweetness aren’t enough to outweigh that reality. And throughout the entirety of the novel she feels this strong desire to grow up and move on, but when it actually comes time to do those things, that reality is harder to step confidently into than previously thought. This book is about love, friendship, high school, family, grieving, moving on, and all the things that make this YA period of life both terrible and precious.
June 9, 2018
The Ocean in My Ears is a lovely literary YA coming-of-age novel. I really liked Meri as a character. She’s relatable, imperfect, smart, naïve, and funny. The writing was both fun and deeply genuine and perfectly reflected Meri’s complex emotions. Growing up is hard, and this book really explores how even ordinary teenage life is messy, confusing, sad, and disappointing. The characters all seem really realistic, and I could envision them making mistakes and learning from them in the small-town Alaska setting. And while the book is set in the ’90s, the struggles of Meri are still incredibly accurate to today, especially for anyone growing up wanting to escape their small town. I think this book would be lovely for any young adult trying to navigate the treacherous roads from childhood to the freedoms, responsibility, scary unknowns, and sheer chaos of adulthood.
June 3, 2023
A veritable page-turner, I couldn’t stop reading this fast-paced story. Meri’s character is described in-depth, she becomes a real living person in this novel.
Meri was born only three years later than yours truly, so I could totally relate to the late eighties / start of the nineties era that Meagan describes so accurately. On the other hand, I was brought up in the Netherlands, where - hopefully most- young adult girls got a bit more living and breathing space than Meri got from her mom. This does not diminish the fact that probably all eldest daughters in some way need to fight for their freedom in order to find their own way of life.
Meagan delineates a broad range of other subjects that are important for young adults. That is wat makes this novel a great, warmhearted and lovely jewel.
Meri was born only three years later than yours truly, so I could totally relate to the late eighties / start of the nineties era that Meagan describes so accurately. On the other hand, I was brought up in the Netherlands, where - hopefully most- young adult girls got a bit more living and breathing space than Meri got from her mom. This does not diminish the fact that probably all eldest daughters in some way need to fight for their freedom in order to find their own way of life.
Meagan delineates a broad range of other subjects that are important for young adults. That is wat makes this novel a great, warmhearted and lovely jewel.
June 2, 2018
Meri Miller's journey from bored and frustrated "Slowdatna" teenager to a young woman who knows what she wants is so realistically drawn and richly human that I forgot I was reading fiction. A beautiful, funny and uplifting book about a girl growing up and learning her self-worth. Loved it!
November 16, 2017
Having roots in small, rural towns I was emotionally catapulted back to my adolescence while reading this book. Meagan Macvie nails the conflicting feelings of being emotionally invested your hometown but also dying to cut ties with it and all it stands for. Similar to the fact that Meri is intolerant of her not-even-close to worthy boyfriend Brett lying to her parents, while she, herself, does just that... small town code is akin to someone else picking on your sibling: you don't get to bag on it unless you grew up there. Being inside Meri's head is an honor. Walking in her shoes is like a memory I don't really have. All of her problems, goals, and triumphs aren't the ones that I lived but they easily could have been. The tapestry of small-town life is pretty mass produced. Different fast food restaraunts and main drags, but pretty much the same gig. They are communities centered around church-life, old grudges, and high school sports... complete with high school parties in the shadows with their festering aggression and intolerance (and a peppering of already-graduated-has-beens). I just felt it all during my teen years... and it all came careening back to me while I journeyed with Meri through her last year of being formed by the surroundings she hadn't chosen for herself. Even if I hadn't spent my formative years in Smalltown, MT and, later, Smalltown, ID... I would identify with the girl that Meri is, was, and is becoming.
Macvie's use of words is gritty, honest, and poetic. I went over certain lines over and over just to savor her voice. Meri's thoughts range from self-indulgent to socially conscious and back again, just as the voices should in any forming human's mind. Sometimes I wished I could bestow unsolicited advice upon this struggling young girl, and other times I wished she was right in front of me to offer some guidance in my thinking.
I strongly recommend this book... especially for young adults trying to live their way to their answers and also for the young adults living-on inside of my fellow 40-somethings who want to revisit the hope, confliction, and glory of coming of age in the 90's.
Macvie's use of words is gritty, honest, and poetic. I went over certain lines over and over just to savor her voice. Meri's thoughts range from self-indulgent to socially conscious and back again, just as the voices should in any forming human's mind. Sometimes I wished I could bestow unsolicited advice upon this struggling young girl, and other times I wished she was right in front of me to offer some guidance in my thinking.
I strongly recommend this book... especially for young adults trying to live their way to their answers and also for the young adults living-on inside of my fellow 40-somethings who want to revisit the hope, confliction, and glory of coming of age in the 90's.
March 10, 2019
"Out my window the Kenai Peninsula blurs, and patterns emerge like hieroglyphs. The land becomes language, decipherable. I read: Home. This place and these people are what I know. They are all I know.
All I knew."
The Ocean in My Ears is a lovely coming-of-age tale set in Soldotna, Alaska in the 90s. At first, its 90s setting and pop culture references felt a little forced—and I was way too focused on whether or not I understood said references—but by about a third of the way through, those references eased up and became more of a backdrop for the story to unfold, which was wonderful, complicated, and so utterly what I wish more contemporary YA would be.
Meri Miller is wonderfully relatable character—one who is simultaneously trying to meet the expectations of her family, friends, and boyfriends, but also trying to stay true to herself and her needs and wants. You see her make choices that she knows is for the wrong reasons, but finds herself doing them anyway. Usually when I read similar plot lines to these, I cringe reading about the character's mistakes, and while I did that here too, I felt like I really understood why Meri does what she does, which to me is evidence of a fully developed, complex character.
I thought that both love interests in Ocean complemented each other nicely, and brought out different sides of Meri for us to see. I wasn't a huge fan of the way she continues to date them both and not tell them, since it's pretty clear from the start which one she actually wants to be with.
Finally, perhaps what I loved most was the pressure Meri feels to stay in Alaska, close to home, versus her overwhelming urge to go be somewhere, anywhere, except here. If you've ever gone out of state or so far away that going home is a twice-a-year occurrence at most, you know exactly how this feels. I also liked how her college choices are practical—she applies for her dream school, a realistic school, and a school close to home. I've read too many YA books where the characters are casually going to Ivy League schools—not that that's not realistic for many high school students, but it's nice to see an average student going to an average school.
All I knew."
The Ocean in My Ears is a lovely coming-of-age tale set in Soldotna, Alaska in the 90s. At first, its 90s setting and pop culture references felt a little forced—and I was way too focused on whether or not I understood said references—but by about a third of the way through, those references eased up and became more of a backdrop for the story to unfold, which was wonderful, complicated, and so utterly what I wish more contemporary YA would be.
Meri Miller is wonderfully relatable character—one who is simultaneously trying to meet the expectations of her family, friends, and boyfriends, but also trying to stay true to herself and her needs and wants. You see her make choices that she knows is for the wrong reasons, but finds herself doing them anyway. Usually when I read similar plot lines to these, I cringe reading about the character's mistakes, and while I did that here too, I felt like I really understood why Meri does what she does, which to me is evidence of a fully developed, complex character.
I thought that both love interests in Ocean complemented each other nicely, and brought out different sides of Meri for us to see. I wasn't a huge fan of the way she continues to date them both and not tell them, since it's pretty clear from the start which one she actually wants to be with.
Finally, perhaps what I loved most was the pressure Meri feels to stay in Alaska, close to home, versus her overwhelming urge to go be somewhere, anywhere, except here. If you've ever gone out of state or so far away that going home is a twice-a-year occurrence at most, you know exactly how this feels. I also liked how her college choices are practical—she applies for her dream school, a realistic school, and a school close to home. I've read too many YA books where the characters are casually going to Ivy League schools—not that that's not realistic for many high school students, but it's nice to see an average student going to an average school.
January 15, 2018
I loved this so much! I was a teen in 1990 myself, and this book brought the experience back to life with almost eerie vividness and accuracy. (Had I thought about the clothing store Jay Jacobs in decades? No, I had not. But it all came back to me, the floral printed jeans and the pouf-sleeved formal dresses and everything.) Macvie's writing sings, both in the narration and in the hilarious dialogue. I went from laughing to getting teary within a page, and back again, lots of times. The story is set in Alaska, and features plenty of the local color: salmon, bears, volcanoes, snowmobiles, midnight sun in summer, endless snow and cold the rest of the year. However, it doesn't matter if, like me, you've never been to Alaska, because the real story is about growing up, so we can ALL relate.
I liked narrator Meri completely, because I was like her at that age: interested in writing, highly hormonal but more or less virginal but definitely curious but..., not a fan of stupid parties, guilt-ridden about everything, flirting with and getting involved with the wrong guys because it was just nice to be wanted by *someone*, wanting to see more of the world but also being scared to death to leave home. She isn't perfect; she's REAL, and I loved that.
And 1990 setting notwithstanding, I bet millennials can relate to all of the above too. Try it. You'll like it.
P.S. Joaquin = SO hot.
I liked narrator Meri completely, because I was like her at that age: interested in writing, highly hormonal but more or less virginal but definitely curious but..., not a fan of stupid parties, guilt-ridden about everything, flirting with and getting involved with the wrong guys because it was just nice to be wanted by *someone*, wanting to see more of the world but also being scared to death to leave home. She isn't perfect; she's REAL, and I loved that.
And 1990 setting notwithstanding, I bet millennials can relate to all of the above too. Try it. You'll like it.
P.S. Joaquin = SO hot.
June 7, 2018
The Ocean in My Ears is one of those books that will resonate with many readers for a million different reasons. Even if a reader doesn't relate to the indescribable desperation to escape that can come with living in a small town, Meri and those around her are so real, even with their insecurities and flaws, that it is hard to imagine a reader who couldn't relate to some character in this book. While Meri isn't always right, or even likable sometimes, this is what makes her character so realistic. It is her arguments with her family, her problems with her best friend, and her confusion about love that makes her so relatable.
The Ocean in My Ears has things for the younger readers and a more mature audience. Those who grew up in the 90s will have the nostalgia that is seamlessly captured by Macvie as well as a greater ability or the experience to deal with the more mature themes Meri goes through such as death, life-threatening accidents, and an abusive relationship. Had I read this novel back when I was in high school, I might have connected further with Meri as I probably would have been going through some of the same things she was. I might also have been slower to recognize poor choices that (while unfairly so) made me a little annoyed with Meri or some of the other characters.
Overall Macvie has written an excellent book with impressively realistic and relatable characters, I'd definitely recommend!
The Ocean in My Ears has things for the younger readers and a more mature audience. Those who grew up in the 90s will have the nostalgia that is seamlessly captured by Macvie as well as a greater ability or the experience to deal with the more mature themes Meri goes through such as death, life-threatening accidents, and an abusive relationship. Had I read this novel back when I was in high school, I might have connected further with Meri as I probably would have been going through some of the same things she was. I might also have been slower to recognize poor choices that (while unfairly so) made me a little annoyed with Meri or some of the other characters.
Overall Macvie has written an excellent book with impressively realistic and relatable characters, I'd definitely recommend!
June 11, 2018
Meri perfectly encapsulates what it’s like to be a teenage girl. Between her deteriorating relationship with her best friend, her numerous boy troubles, and fears of the future, she truly acts like a seventeen-year-old. There’s no shortage of moments where the reader desperately wants to grab Meri, shake her by the shoulders, and yell, “What are you thinking?” Though sometimes she makes bad (or at least aggravating) choices, she is a more authentic character because of it. And despite there being fifteen years and thousands of miles between me and Meri, I related to her in a way I don’t often relate to protagonists. She felt real to me.
[spoiler ahead!] If there were one thing I could change about this book, it would be how race is handled by the characters. Meri develops a slightly nuanced view of race and how it affects Joaquin’s life in Alaska, and she rightfully worries how her family would react to her bringing him home. But when she finally does, her mother acts totally normal—and Meri doesn’t reflect on it at all. This book had a great opportunity to critically examine race and challenge its portrayal in YA literature, but it hesitated. Then again, as the author is white, it was likely a good choice to avoid it.
[spoiler ahead!] If there were one thing I could change about this book, it would be how race is handled by the characters. Meri develops a slightly nuanced view of race and how it affects Joaquin’s life in Alaska, and she rightfully worries how her family would react to her bringing him home. But when she finally does, her mother acts totally normal—and Meri doesn’t reflect on it at all. This book had a great opportunity to critically examine race and challenge its portrayal in YA literature, but it hesitated. Then again, as the author is white, it was likely a good choice to avoid it.
March 13, 2020
This beautifully written coming of age story revolves around Meri Miller, a high school senior who can’t wait to leave her tiny home town in rural Alaska. The summer before her final school years starts her days consists of getting candy from the local 7-Eleven, driving her best friend Charlie around town, and working on college applications. All the while she looks for her crush, Joaquin, a boy from the wrong side of town. Instead she finds Brett, the twenty-one year old townie who can’t imagine a life outside of Alaska.
During her senior year, Meri struggles between the desire to leave home and the familiarity of Soldotna. She grapples with her emotions between these two boys while also handling the grief of losing loved ones, arguing with her mother, feeling like she’s lost her best friend to a boy, and SATs.
This novel portrays Meri’s growth as she discovers who she really is and what she wants with her life. Is it love? Is it independence? Or is it home?
The Ocean in My Ears put me through a flurry of emotions. I laughed, cried and smiled as I joined Meri in Soldonta, Alaska. This character was very well written and is relatable on many levels allowing the reader to really feel connected to her and the small town she’s from. Meagan Macvie creates a wonderful drama that comes with the feelings everyone are familiar with; growing up, being awkward and the wanting to leave your hometown
During her senior year, Meri struggles between the desire to leave home and the familiarity of Soldotna. She grapples with her emotions between these two boys while also handling the grief of losing loved ones, arguing with her mother, feeling like she’s lost her best friend to a boy, and SATs.
This novel portrays Meri’s growth as she discovers who she really is and what she wants with her life. Is it love? Is it independence? Or is it home?
The Ocean in My Ears put me through a flurry of emotions. I laughed, cried and smiled as I joined Meri in Soldonta, Alaska. This character was very well written and is relatable on many levels allowing the reader to really feel connected to her and the small town she’s from. Meagan Macvie creates a wonderful drama that comes with the feelings everyone are familiar with; growing up, being awkward and the wanting to leave your hometown
November 6, 2017
The Ocean in My Ears is the kind of literary contemp YA that I really want to see more of. The writing is sharp, fun, and incredibly real. This book reminds me that the problems of a teenager don't have to be life or death to be high stakes, like prom and boys and family and religion. Sometimes, though, the stakes *are* life or death, and these are things teens deal with outside of dystopias and space operas and rebellions, in their normal, everyday lives.
The '90s Alaskan setting isn't just a nostalgia trip. It can't be, since I was but a wee babe in the '90s, and I found myself relating to this so much. None of the characters are perfect, and their flaws are what make them so interesting. I especially found myself connecting with Meri's experience growing up in a religious household, and pushing against that with its demands, expectations, and little hypocrisies. The struggle of loving her family but wanting to leave them, and not knowing if she's brave enough to try. As a young adult making my way in the world, having left home but still totally scared of future moves and changes and decisions, this book gets me every time I revisit it.
Also, it's a gorgeous cover.
The '90s Alaskan setting isn't just a nostalgia trip. It can't be, since I was but a wee babe in the '90s, and I found myself relating to this so much. None of the characters are perfect, and their flaws are what make them so interesting. I especially found myself connecting with Meri's experience growing up in a religious household, and pushing against that with its demands, expectations, and little hypocrisies. The struggle of loving her family but wanting to leave them, and not knowing if she's brave enough to try. As a young adult making my way in the world, having left home but still totally scared of future moves and changes and decisions, this book gets me every time I revisit it.
Also, it's a gorgeous cover.
February 28, 2018
The Ocean in My Ears is a wonderful coming of age tale. Meri is struggling between staying in Alaska- the only place she has ever known...with the only people she has ever known-and venturing on her own to discover who she really is and what the world holds for her. Growing up in Alaska in the 90s, in a Christian family, is difficult enough...but Meri must also deal with maneuvering through her stressful teenage years.
The story is told from the POV of Meri, but the reader still gets an idea of who each character is. I found myself hoping that she would realize what I had about Brett and just follow her heart to Joaquin. The plot has many peaks, eliciting a myriad of emotions from the reader along Meri's journey of self discovery.
I enjoyed this book and am happy I gave it a chance! It is filled with so many emotions that bring memories of being a teenager back. That is the most difficult time in a woman's life...self discovery.
Disclaimer: I won this book in a twitter giveaway, but it in no way impacts my review.
The story is told from the POV of Meri, but the reader still gets an idea of who each character is. I found myself hoping that she would realize what I had about Brett and just follow her heart to Joaquin. The plot has many peaks, eliciting a myriad of emotions from the reader along Meri's journey of self discovery.
I enjoyed this book and am happy I gave it a chance! It is filled with so many emotions that bring memories of being a teenager back. That is the most difficult time in a woman's life...self discovery.
Disclaimer: I won this book in a twitter giveaway, but it in no way impacts my review.
November 12, 2018
The Ocean in My Ears is a truly authentic glimpse into coming of age in the 90s. From Meri’s struggles navigating her budding sexuality to her inner turmoil coping with religion, I found myself reliving my teenage years with every page I turned. Full discloser, I’m not generally the biggest YA fan, but the characters in this book didn’t rely on the usual clichéd stereotypes often found in coming of age narratives. They felt genuine. I read it from cover to cover in one evening, wishing in the end for more.
I’ve never been to Alaska, but through the thoughtfully crafted words of Meagan Macvie, images of fly-fishing for salmon and months of living in a snow covered world swirl in my mind happily crafting my next family adventure. However, as rich as the setting is, the heart of the story will translate to teens across the country.
I wish I had this book as a teen. I felt so alone in my confusion about religion and the implications of acting on my hormonal impulses. Everyone I knew seemed so certain in either their faith or their choice to rebel against it. Knowing others felt the same way would have helped me feel less isolated growing up. This book should be on every teen’s shelf!
I’ve never been to Alaska, but through the thoughtfully crafted words of Meagan Macvie, images of fly-fishing for salmon and months of living in a snow covered world swirl in my mind happily crafting my next family adventure. However, as rich as the setting is, the heart of the story will translate to teens across the country.
I wish I had this book as a teen. I felt so alone in my confusion about religion and the implications of acting on my hormonal impulses. Everyone I knew seemed so certain in either their faith or their choice to rebel against it. Knowing others felt the same way would have helped me feel less isolated growing up. This book should be on every teen’s shelf!
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