Bad soul
Synopsis
On the island, not everyone comes and goes the same way. There are those who arrive with the May sun and depart with the first September rains. There are those who commute back and forth every day, no longer wondering which shore they truly belong to. And then there are those who, faced with a crossroads by life, had to choose between staying or embarking on a departure that could mean a farewell. Both choices leave an invisible and profound mark. Mia learned this as a child through her family history—her mother Teresa stayed, believing the island was the only possible reality, while her aunt Nietta left as soon as she could—and she continues to experience these conflicts as a teenager alongside Giulia, Anna, and Nello, her lifelong friends. But now, Marina, the city girl who won't leave with the September rains, has arrived to wreak havoc. So different and at times aloof, Marina attracts conflicting emotions: from curiosity to contempt, from attraction to envy. Mia, on the other hand, sees in her above all the charm of someone who comes from a distant elsewhere. Yet Marina carries ancestral ties with her—her mother, Lia, is inextricably linked to the island through trauma and her longtime friendship with Teresa—and seems destined to uncover unspeakable secrets. With enveloping prose and a solemn pace, Rosita Manuguerra has written a luminous coming-of-age novel, which, starting from the setting of a small island, explores universal themes.
Reviews
Rachele Serra
De Amicis High School of Cuneo, 2C
What struck me most was how the author managed to convey the emotions we teenagers experience, such as jealousy towards our friends, the desire for freedom, and at the same time the fear of leaving everything we know; without ever coming across as false or exaggerated. The writing is engaging and full of thorough and intriguing descriptions. In some places, I personally found the pace too slow, and this made me lose concentration a bit, especially towards the middle of the book. Overall, I highly recommend it; it speaks about friendship and growth in a sincere and profound way. While it wasn't the most compelling story I've ever read, it left me feeling self-reflective.
Arianna Daniele
De Amicis High School of Cuneo, 3G
The book seemed a bit slow at first: the descriptions made it less fluid. On the other hand, the character-driven action sections were very light and easy to read. The style was very simple, with no complex words to understand. The themes covered, such as the children's education, their roots, family ties, and conflicts between friends, enriched the narrative. I really liked the ending of the book: an ending that, in its simplicity, is very moving. I would recommend the book to middle and high school students; it's a light-hearted book, but with a profound and truthful meaning
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