The cover illustration of Sea of Tears was just lovely. The wake of a boat curving into a big ‘S’, a little girl looking out at the sea … It was a cover I could keep looking at.
The book could have been better, though. I enjoyed much of it, but there were parts that left me cold. In many places, Jasmine’s emotions were sudden and unexpected, leaving the reader far behind. I realise over and over again that the difference between fact and fiction is that fiction needs to be believable.
Jasmine is a twelve-year-old whose parents decide to move from London to Barbados because they are increasingly alarmed at the things happening in London. Jasmine’s cultural identity is beautifully portrayed as a mixture between her racial roots and upbringing, and London life around her. Jasmine’s father speaks out of the pages of the book, emerging as a traditional father, who would not think of consulting his growing daughter before making a decision. Jasmine, on the other hand, is angry with her parents for making such an important decision without asking her opinion. Lonely and confused, Jasmine thinks of ways to leave Barbados and return to England in the hope that she will be able to make her parents understand how unhappy she is.
As with several books about the Caribbean or people from the Caribbean, I found myself identifying with much of the story. That kept me reading, even through parts where I did not quite enjoy the style and narration.
| Title | Sea of Tears |
| Author | Floella Benjamin |
| Genre | Children’s Fiction |
| Rating (out of 5) | 3 |
| Age-group | 10+ |
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