Despair tests young love
Eileen Merriman is fast becoming one of New Zealand's biggest voices in the young adult market. Her latest, Invisibly Breathing, is only her third novel but she already has a string of award nominations and positive reviews to her name.
It's easy to see why. There is a lyrical beauty to her work that doesn't condescend to her audience, painting bold images and treating the romance at the heart of her latest novel with sophistication and respect.
Invisibly Breathing follows Bailey Hunter, a judo practitioner with a crippling stutter, as his family moves to Wellington because of financial difficulties.
Arriving at his new school, he meets and quickly falls for Felix Catalan, an awkward, anti-social boy obsessed with prime numbers and Lego figurines.
Merriman writes their relationship with a mature grace. The uncertainty of exploring a same-sex relationship and first love is handled well, and both boys feel largely authentic in that respect. She slightly stumbles with their dialogue and actions, the two 16-year-olds coming across as far younger, but she should be commended for not censoring their love.
Unfortunately, as the story progresses, and Bailey and Felix's romance is tested by outside forces, a feeling grows that there is something irresponsible about the angle Merriman takes. Both boys feel ashamed of their romance, face bullying at school and have parents who struggle to support them.
A domestic violence storyline that intensifies throughout the novel is particularly triggering and is written for maximum drama propped up by what, I thought, were illogical actions from teens and adults alike.
Merriman can't be faulted for bringing variety in the young adult market and the story excels when exploring young love and all its earnest possibility. Yet, considering New Zealand's appallingly high rates of mental health issues among teens, Invisibly Breathing could have benefited from offering readers and its characters more hope throughout the story.