Salt the Water

De: Candice Iloh

Narrado por: Mila Myles

A Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book

Cerulean Gene is free everywhere except school, where they’re known for repeatedly challenging authority. Raised in a free-spirited home by two loving parents who encourage Cerulean to be their full self, they’ve got big dreams of moving cross-country to live off the grid with their friends after graduation. But a fight with a teacher spirals out of control, and Cerulean impulsively drops out to avoid the punishment they fear is coming. Why wait for graduation to leave an oppressive capitalist system and live their dreams?

Cerulean is truly brilliant, but their sheltered upbringing hasn’t prepared them for the consequences of their choice—especially not when it’s compounded by a family emergency that puts a parent out of work. Suddenly the money they’d been stacking with their friends is a resource that the family needs to stay afloat.

Salt the Water is a book about dreaming in a world that has other plans for your time, your youth, and your future. It asks, what does it look like when a bunch of queer Black kids are allowed to dream? And what does it look like for them to confront the present circumstances of the people they love while still pursuing a wildly different future of their own?

©2023 Candice Iloh (P)2023 Listening Library

Reseñas de la Crítica

A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year

★"Daring, beautiful, and necessary."—Kirkus, starred review

★“Iloh delivers another electric novel in verse. … A necessary reminder to young adults that there’s no shame in standing up for yourself.”—Booklist, starred review

★ “Iloh’s lyrical words, impactful text formatting, and raw emotion imbue this story with authentic joy and pain…[T]his timely exploration of the many shortcomings of the U.S. public education system will be sure to generate much discussion among students and teachers alike… A heartfelt lament for what America could be but chooses not to, this is a must-purchase for high school libraries. Recommended for fans of Ibi Zoboi and Amber McBride.”–SLJ, starred review

A masterpiece!

The words, the themes, the dialogue, the characters! Such a beautiful offering. I was floored.

Flat out Incredible - Top 5

An amazing story of a young person of color developing into an adult with a strong foundation. It walks you through her the self development and self doubt everybody is challenged with. The most unbelievable part is it’s completely made up of poems; something I didn’t know was possible. Easily one of the most beautifully written books I’ve read.