Lisa Ann Sandell's A Map of the Known World is a touching story for every teenage girl, about love, loss, heartbreak, and growing up. Published in 2009 by Scholastic Press, young adult novel, A Map of the Known World, is a heartwarming and brilliantly written, coming of age story.
A Coming of Age Young Adult Novel
Fourteen-year-old Cora Bradley is just entering her first year of high school and dreading even the thought of it. After the recent death of her older brother, Nate, nothing at home is as it once was, nor is Cora comfortable at school. Worried about always being seen as, “the girl whose brother died,” Cora feels out of place, except when she is drawing and revelling in her love for art and maps.
When Damian Archer, the best friend of Cora's late brother, helps reveal to Cora that Nate was also an artist – a brilliant, talented artist – she begins to understand a little of what she never knew.
With her vibrant writing, Lisa Ann Sandell brings to life the character of an artsy, creative teenage girl who is still growing up in many ways. Cora is a girl who is grieving for her brother, and at the same time, wanting to travel, to move on, and to make her life and her family better.
A Map of the Known World An Inspirational Story
A Map of the Known World is written with such passion in the vivid descriptions and unveiled emotions that it touches the heart of readers in many ways. Lisa Ann Sandell's use of metaphors and descriptive phrases make Cora's first person narration sound older and wiser than her fourteen years. Yet, with glimpses into Cora's thoughts and memories, she is simply a young, unsure, and endearing girl. The two styles flow naturally together.
Within the story of A Map of the Known World is a message on love and family, and on overcoming grief and finding beauty in the world. As Cora grows into her teen years, she determines to find a way to escape the sadness in her home, and to revive the love and happiness she knows is deep inside. A Map of the Known World becomes an inspirational story as readers are drawn by every emotion – heartfelt tears, fits of anger, utter loneliness, and blossoming joy – presented therein.
Lisa Ann Sandell's A Map of the Known World is a beautifully written, coming of age young adult novel, a young girl's inspirational story of freedom from grief, love, family, and friendship.
TLE101
Michelle Wright - Michelle is an avid reader and writer, with a focus on book, film and music reviews, gluten free recipes, and fiction writing "how-tos."
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