The Art of Us by Julie Wright

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Book Review of The Art of Us by Julie Wright

Have you ever heard the saying that you should be nice to everyone because everyone is fighting an unseen battle? I love that phrase so much! Just be kind! I tell my kids this all the time! It’s so important! The reasons behind this philosophy play out in Julie Wright’s new book The Art of Us. There are many (hidden) difficult situations that occur in this book, and each student needs to learn this lesson. Some of them learn it the hard way, but it’s a lesson they all learn.

Blurb:

*Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection*
Falling in love is complicated when you’re both keeping secrets.
On the surface, everything seems perfect for high school senior Ireland Raine. She’s intelligent and artistically talented, and her natural beauty and quiet charm are enviable. However, Ireland harbors a secret she’ll guard at any cost—she’s homeless.

When her crush, Kal Ellis, invites her on a date, she seizes the opportunity. Ireland has never had a boyfriend before, and Kal is not just a guitarist for the local band, he’s also an artist. Their connection is instantaneous, and he suggests they collaborate on the school mural. Working and laughing alongside Kal, Ireland can momentarily forget her problems.

However, when someone exposes her secret, Ireland ends up in a foster home alongside her most despised adversary, Mara Washington. To make matters worse, Ireland discovers it was Kal who revealed her secret.

Furious, Ireland must decide if she has the strength to forgive the boy who stole her heart or if she is better off alone.

My Book Review:

Everyone is fighting an unseen battle. Ireland’s battling homelessness after her father up and leaves her. Kal’s unseen battle involves his former best friend. Mara battles her own well-kept secret. Each character in the story needs to figure out the best way to handle his or her situation. Hint! Hint!…ask an adult for help! I did find it a little frustrating that none of the characters initially go to parents or trusted adults for help in their own situations.

I liked all the characters in the story. Each character is well written and well developed. They each have a unique voice and personality, and I felt like they came across as real, authentic, and relatable. Ireland’s story pulls at my heart strings—well, they all do, actually. I love her determination, independence, and resourcefulness. Ireland may come across as a little hard around the edges, but in reality, she has a difficult time trusting people and allowing them to push through her tough outer shell.

Kal may have been my favorite character. He is such a good kid. He’s the kind of guy that I would want my daughters to marry! Kal is thoughtful, kindhearted, and a hard worker. His weakness is taking on other people’s struggles as his own. He wants so much to help and to make others feel better but needs to work on boundaries for his own mental health.

Mara is hiding a very difficult secret. A secret she should have told her parents a long time ago. One that probably requires some trauma therapy to fully heal from. She is very good at pretending she’s ok on the outside when she is falling apart on the inside. Mara puts on the cool, mean girl, popular girl facade, but is really a kind and smart girl on the inside.

I like the depth of the characters in The Art of Us. It’s a YA book, but unlike a lot of YA books that touch only surface-level problems, this book does not shy away from difficult topics or situations. The characters learn to come together, trust each other, and thankfully, to get adult help for situations that are over their pay grades. They learn to forgive, to have the hard conversations, and to let others see past their false facades.

The Art of Us is told from a dual perspective. It’s well written, engaging, and is a good “people story.” I love people stories, but I know the YA want action and adventure. There is some of that, along with lots of teenage drama to keep those YA engaged.

Many difficult situations are discussed including homelessness, consent, the death of a loved one, and the importance of telling your story (to the proper adults who can help). The three characters also learn the importance of forgiveness, understanding that no one is perfect, and actually talking to people instead of inventing stories to tell yourself.

One of the main themes of this book is relationships. Healthy relationships take time, effort, and work; relationships with yourself, family, friends, and girlfriends/boyfriends. I love the relationship between Ireland and Kal. It’s so sweet. It’s definitely immature to start out, but they’re learning and growing individually and together.

Click HERE to view my video review of The Art of Us by Julie Wright.

Content Rating: PG-13

Profanity: None
Intimacy: Moderate
- There is an assault—almost rape, but she escapes. The word rape is not fully spelled out, but it’s obvious that is what is alluded to. It is not graphically described, but it is discussed.
Violence: Moderate
- See above
Heavier Themes:
- Homelessness, consent, death