Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

The mysterious sea and a very special island and its inhabitants are the backdrop for a mystical and touching story about two young people who are searching for answers. "Tidings" takes on a new level of meaning and importance in this story about grief and reconciliation.
Ms. Lee's characters and emotions are real and their search for answers in the Tidings lead them into danger and ultimately a better understanding of their pasts, present, and future. I could smell the salt water, feel the storm, and empathize with the teens as they fight for understanding and survival in their worlds.

It's been six years since Alice's mother disappeared from the Jones family's life. Presumed drowned, Anny Jones was studying the small island whose residents have a special bond with loved ones they've lost and with whom they can communicate for just three days each year. Reading through her mother's journals, Alice is convinced that her mother is not gone forever, just not able to be found. Her father it seems has moved on and her younger sister, Clara, doesn't want to remember; so it is up to Alice to keep her mother alive. Given the chance to visit the island and meet the light housekeeper's family, Alice is determined to make the magic of the island work for her. Meeting Leo, whose late grandfather was the lighthouse keeper when her mother disappeared, gives Alice and Leo both a chance to look for those connections that they long for at least one more time. A wonderfully moving story of learning to accept loss and appreciate the family that loves you, no matter how unconventional they may be and to never give up hope that the ones we've lost are not gone from our lives forever.

There are a lot of things to love about this book. The premise is really interesting: a town in which you can send "tidings" or messages to dead loved ones is such a creative idea. I think the book starts off a little slow. I found myself thinking about other things instead of engaging in the story. Also, I felt really disconnected from Alice until the end of the story. I really, really enjoyed the Mercury family. I thought they were fascinating and pretty funny.

While it was an interesting premise, I don't think this would be a good fit for my classroom. There are some integral novel pieces that fluctuate -- the author changes some character pieces throughout the story that makes it difficult to follow at times.