SuitabookHigh dive
Tammar Stein
- Reading
- Consider reading alongside a conversation about grief and military separation, pausing if the emotional material feels close to home. Afterwards, discuss whether Arden’s openness feels earned and what remains unresolved.
- Themes
- Grief and memory: Arden is grieving her father and dreads returning to the family home in Sardinia, where memories of earlier family life remain significant. The story presents avoidance as understandable but ultimately moves towards facing painful memories and allowing vulnerability.
- Separation and fear: Arden’s mother is deployed to Iraq, while Arden fears for her safety and has limited contact with her during the journey. The book’s stance on this remains unclear.
- Vulnerability and relationships: Arden travels with three near-strangers and has unresolved feelings for Peter, whose friendship matters greatly to her. The narrative appears to value emotional honesty while showing why Arden protects herself from possible further loss.
- Worth knowing
- Pay attention to the combination of sudden bereavement, a parent’s military deployment and persistent fear that further loss may occur. Romantic uncertainty and references to religious faith also form part of Arden’s reflections.