We are Okay by Nina LaCour

 

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
LaCour, Nina. 2017. WE ARE OKAY. New York: Dutton Books. ISBN 9780525425892.

B. PLOT SUMMARY
Marin lived with her Gramps by the beach. They baked. They talked. They did each other’s laundry. Their lives were their own, until the night that Gramps went missing. Marin thought she knew her grandfather. She thought she knew what kind of life they had together. As they say- “ignorance is bliss” until it isn’t.

C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)

Wow. This book felt intense.  The loss and loneliness that Marin experiences is intense.  This poor young woman experiences immense sadness. LaCour writes her internal dialogue so well. As the reader, you can really feel Marin’s sorrow.  Her initial detachment seemed to be a survival instinct. Sometimes a young person’s brain can only process and handle so much devastation.

I loved the allusions that LaCour writes into the story.  There are several literary and art allusions throughout. The connection and explanation that Marin makes with Frida Kahlo’s work is very interesting. Marin uses a particular painting, The Two Fridas, to explain her feelings to Mabel. Also, Jane Eyre is one of my favorite books, so I loved that Marin had an affection for that work as well.  

The flashbacks that LaCour writes include Marin’s grandfather and their unique relationship.  The way she describes him is somewhat ambiguous, but with enough substance to make him endearing.  His quirks just seem to make him more lifelike and three dimensional. I did not pick up on any clues that he was mentally ill.  That revelation was as surprising for me as it was Marin’s character. 

LaCour’s characterization of Marin is passive, even lethargic. Her description comes out slowly and sometimes second-handedly.  Perhaps because Marin struggles with her own identity and is even in the process of redefining herself, LaCour only leaves dots that have to be connected.

Marin’s sexuality is never defined in terms, but the reader assumes she falls in the LGBTQ+ spectrum. Mabel’s character appears to be bisexual, because she has been in a physical relationship with Marin, but then dates and professes love for a boy named Jacob.  Honestly, the love that Marin and Mabel share feels deeper and stronger than just a teenage dating relationship.  They are best friends, and even family. Mabel’s forgiving and even selfless love for Marin is beautiful. 

LaCour creates darkness and light in this story. Marin’s grief and isolation cause darkness to enter her mind and heart. But Mabel’s and Ana’s- and even Javier’s- love bring strength and light. Their love is a true lifeline for Marin. The ending feels abrupt in some ways, but I like that it ends with hope of brighter days ahead.

D. AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS

Michael L. Printz Award, 2018

Booklist starred, December 2016: “Raw and beautiful, this portrait of a girl searching for both herself and a sense of home will resonate with readers of LGBTQIA romances, particularly those with bisexual themes, and the poignant and affecting exploration of grief and betrayal will enchant fans of character-driven fiction.”

Kirkus Reviews starred, December 2016

Publishers Weekly starred, December 2016

School Library Journal starred, December 2016: “Though there's little action, with most of the writing devoted to Marin's memories, thoughts, and musings, the author's nuanced and sensitive depiction of the protagonist's complex and turbulent inner life makes for a rich narrative. Marin is a beautifully crafted character, and her voice is spot-on, conveying isolation, grief, and, eventually, hope. With hauntingly spare prose, the emphasis on the past, and references to gothic tales such as The Turning of the Screw and Jane Eyre, this is realistic fiction edged with the melancholy tinge of a ghost story.”

E. CONNECTIONS

Grief fiction is an important sub-genre in YA novels. It is therapeutic, and it can help adolescents process and name their feelings. Other exceptional YA books that address grief are Clap when you land by Elizabeth Acevedo, The boy in the black suit by Jason Reynolds, An Appetite for Miracles by Laekan Zea Kemp, and I’ll give you the sun by Jandy Nelson.