Half sisters, Tara and Sky, lead totally different lives, seem to have totally different personalities; yet, when Sky goes through heartbreaking loss, it is Tara who supports her and helps her to heal. Traveling through many states, stopping so Tara's band can play their concerts, Sky experiences the prejudice that Tara and her partner/lover experience in racially charged circumstances.
Sky, first born, has always resented her sister. After the death of her father, Sky and her mother were fine, but her mother missed a man in her life....and quickly, too quickly married again. When Tara was born, she seemed to always be angry, different, and difficult. Their lives didn't grow apart; there was never any closeness. Pearlman's story of a tragedy which results in forced togetherness leads to angry recriminations and acts of understanding and kindness.
At first, it was hard for me to understand Tara's life, living and working in what seemed to be a wildly different culture. But, once you understand Tara's loves and fears....once you see the steady love of Aaron, her life doesn't seem like it's lived strictly to rebel and be different. Sky's job, friends, and life with her husband are more like mine. The sadness of Sky's life seems unlikely; yet, unfortunately, I've experienced some of the same heartbreak. I liked the sentiment that you should "love regardless, not to the destruction of yourself, but in spite of yourself". However, even though I can relate to situations and characters in the book, the story just had too much death...and Tara's life was just too different for me to really relate to them.
*Complimentary copy received for this review, does not affect my opinion in any way*
