Title: A Matter of Heart
Author: Amy Fellner Dominy
Publication: May 10, 2016
Publisher: Ember
Genre: Teen, YA Fiction
Pages: 320
SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)
Readers will happily sink into this emotionally grounded, contemporary young adult novel about the sudden end of one girl’s Olympic swimming dreams and the struggles she endures before realizing there are many things that define who we are.
Sixteen-year-old Abby Lipman is on track to win the state swim championships and qualify for the Olympic trials when a fainting incident at a swim meet leads to the diagnosis of a deadly heart condition. Now Abby is forced to discover who she is without the one thing that’s defined her entire life.
REVIEW:
A Matter of Heart tells the story of a young swimmer with big Olympic dreams. Abby Lipman supposedly has it all – great athleticism, gorgeous boyfriend, loyal best friend, and supportive parents. But when doctors discover a problem with Abby’s heart, she must reevaluate her swimming dreams. This is a tale of self-discovery for Abby. Who is she if she’s not a swimmer? How will she ever find her place in the world without swimming? And will people still love and adore her for just being Abby Lipman, not Abby Lipman the best swimmer at Horizon?
For me, the story line of A Matter of Heart was just so-so. It was an average book, not a great read. A plus of this book was that I did find it really easy to lose myself in the chapters. They flowed very well from event to event and kept me interested; yet, I wasn’t really itching for more. I feel a book should inspire you and push you to want to read more. This book didn’t really do that for me.
All in all, this book had a lot of typical teenage drama, but nothing too racy or inappropriate. I did appreciate that about it because sometimes YA authors throw in sex, swearing, drinking, etc just to try to appeal to readers. Kudos to the author for rising above when, at times in the book, it would have been easy for her to go the other way. Bottom line – if you are looking for a quick and easy read, this will do the trick.
Make your own call on this book by picking up a copy at Amazon or Barnes and Noble. You can also add it to your To Reads list on Goodreads and leave feedback for the author.
