This book was absolutely fantastic. I've already added it to our library collection and will recommend it to students.

I really love when authors take on tough subject matters. Mather created a very vivid character in a very real situation teenagers can find themselves in. A must read!

This book still brings tears to my eyes, just thinking about it.  A truly touching story dealing with tough issues!
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read and review Learning to Breathe by Janice Lynn Mather. Indy comes from a dysfunctional family except for her loving grandmother who would do anything for her, but she’s not always close enough to help and doesn’t own a phone. Indy has been sexually abused and ended up pregnant and she feels alone, with no one to turn to. She’s living with her Uncle, his wife and her two cousins. Her Uncle cares for her but he’s gone a lot on business. Aunt Patrice treats Indy with disgust. Her cousin Smiley is friendly to Indy but busy being a teenage girl. Her cousin Gary is the one who abuses Indy. This story holds many messages in its pages: you don’t know who you can trust; don’t judge quickly or make assumptions; there are good people in the world; perseverance and resilience are important skills; friends can be found in the most unexpected places and your choices are your own to make. Truly a touching story dealing with some tough issues, 4 stars!

One of the hard parts about reading YA as an adult is finding a way to connect to the characters and situation in some stories. This was sadly one of those books for me. As interesting as the premise sounded, I could not get into the story. The heavy subject matter was even “heavier” than I expected, and I wasn’t as comfortable reading the topic as I had thought I would be. Still, this is a beautifully written story and I think it is so important. I’m hoping to go back and give it a reread at a later time to see if a fresh perspective could help me better engage with the story. It is definitely a story I will suggest to someone who can better handle heavy subject matter.

Indy has spent her whole life trying to separate herself from her mother's reputation. When she is sent to Nassau to live with an aunt, she finds that the reputation follows her, and then, due to her circumstances, she is thrust into an awful situation. She finds a yoga retreat, and she begins to learn how to calm herself down, among other things.


This book is very important to the world of YA Lit. It's graphic, heartbreaking, sad, disgusting, and beautiful. The sexual assault that occurs is really hard to read about, and poor Indy is still admirable in the face of something so terrible.

While I did think that parts were slow, I still am giving this book 4 stars because I think it's so important. It would also be a great foray into reading about sexual assault survivors (thinking young adults who are sheltered) since there's a lot about victim blaming.

Indy's mother has a bad reputation, and she does everything she can to avoid following in her mother's footsteps. She's respectful, gets good grades, and stays away from boys. Her life changes when she is sent to live with relatives and her worst fears come to fruition. Feeling alone and betrayed, Indy has to make some tough decisions and learn how to trust again.

This is a really hard book to review because although it dealt with some very serious and realistic issues, and I am completely empathetic to Indy's trauma, I just didn't connect with this story. The book was slow-paced and predictable but on the other hand, it delivered a powerful message. So, while I didn't necessarily love it, I think it could be an impactful read for others.

I liked the plot and the character development. I think overall the hard subject matter was handled well but the stylistic writing made it a harder book to really get into because of difficulty following the story without re-reading parts.

I was given a free advance edition from NetGalley for an honest review. This was a beautiful, important and difficult read, that may not be for everyone. Indeed sexual assault survivors may have a tough time reading this novel--the assault scenes are graphic and the panic attacks Indy has are so real I found myself having to slow my own breathing with her. But, this is a vital read that will stick with readers for a long time afterward. 4.5 stars