Written by Catherine Alene
Rae is a competitive barrel racer. She and her friends compete in their town’s rodeo every year, and Rae is determined to make it to Nationals no matter what. She is struggling with the loss of her mother, who died from cancer before the beginning of the book; and her grief, her obsession with winning, as well as her competitive feelings toward a new girl in town all combine to lead her to develop anorexia. This book realistically and unsparingly shows the psychological and physical struggles people with eating disorders face, how this disease affects their relationships with their family and friends, and the sense of isolation it causes.
It’s a novel written in verse, which may deter some readers and attract others. I struggled with this format a bit at the beginning, but once I got used to it (which didn’t take very long) I didn’t notice the format and it made it a quick read.
The Sky Between You and Me is an important story because of the understanding and perspective it brings to a disease that many people face and is misunderstood by many of those who haven’t had to experience it. It’s not an easy story, but it is told beautifully and in a raw and powerful way.
Review by Jennifer Peirce, Kearns High School Media Center
Rating: ★★★★✩ (4 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 9-12
The Sky Between You and Me
Written by Catherine Alene
Sourcebooks Fire
490 pages
Release Date: February 7, 2017
An advance reader’s copy was provided by the publisher.
