UNSINKABLE CAYENNE: An Outstanding MG Book Review by Elliott Kurta

Audience: 6th – 9th graders

In Three Words: poetic, empathetic, clear-eyed

One Sentence Synopsis: Cayenne’s family begins to fracture after they abandon their nomadic lifestyle and settle in a small town.

Final Verdict: 4.5/5 stars

REVIEW

            Unsinkable Cayenne is a new take on a classic coming-of-age story perfect for middle schoolers who are ready to take on a more challenging and complex book. Set in 1985, the story sees Cayenne, a 7th grader raised by her two freewheeling hipster parents, thrown from her nomadic lifestyle and into a traditional school system after her father decides to settle down and find a stable job. The transition is jarring, to say the least, and Cayenne finds herself ostracized by her classmates and overlooked by her distracted and overworked parents.

A protagonist of unique grace, empathy, and tenacity, Cayenne proves a role model for young readers. Cayenne faces numerous dilemmas throughout the novel—losing her home, facing peer pressure, and managing her crush on classmate Beau—but meets each struggle with quiet resolution. She encourages readers to act with empathy and eschew conformity, embodying a unique brand of quiet strength even among the awkward missteps that come from being the new kid. 

Cayenne’s unique poeticism adds a new twist to the story. Told in verse, the novel will enrapture fluent readers, but may prove difficult for the average middle schooler. In Jessica Vitalis’s hands, motifs collide, becoming inverted and multi-fauceted: the sinking of the Titantic comes to symbolize Cayenne’s struggles to hold her family together as well as the dehumanizing effects of poverty; birds represent freedom and Cayenne’s strained relationship with her mother; and even the scent of patchouli oil and honey, previously a comfort, becomes a mark of ostracization. Similarly, the novel’s many plotlines and character arcs build to create a complex storyline. While many middle-school novels are propped up by one central conflict—say, a main character struggling academically, unable to make friends, or dealing with their parents’ divorce—Unsinkable Cayenne touches on the setbacks and triumphs Cayenne faces within her school, home, and friend group.

While emotionally moving, Unsinkable Cayenne references some heavier subjects. Specifically, Cayenne’s father is frequently found smoking marijuana, with Cayenne herself alluding to her father experiencing PTSD after the Vietnam War. Not much backstory is given, leaving readers to deduce the source of her father’s presumed addiction, with author Vitalis expecting that her readers will understand the basic context behind the Vietnam War and the political climate in the 1980’s. Younger readers, especially those unfamiliar with the past few decades of history, are likely to find the story’s time period and themes confusing. A few additional casual references to 80’s culture (say, by introducing dated slang; referencing a popular musician, like Prince or Michael Jackson; or having Cayenne engage in a conversation that alludes to the Vietnam War) would go a long way in helping readers better understand and relate to the pop culture of the 80’s.

Despite some of the more complicated themes it addresses, with a little context and guided discussion beforehand, reading Unsinkable Cayenne can be a valuable exercise in empathy. The novel’s thematic and linguistic complexity make it a uniquely rewarding experience for mature readers, but younger readers can still benefit from reading the novel with the guidance of a parent or teacher. Overall, Unsinkable Cayenne is unmistakably worth reading.

Elliott Kurta is a writer, student, and book reviewer. Currently a junior in high school, he enjoys reading and cross-country running in his spare time. He lives in Charlotte, NC with his family and dog. He has won multiple awards for his writing, including a silver key in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.

Make sure you check out other fine middle-grade book reviews on Greg Pattridge’s MMGM blog.

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