Yes, another song about domestic violence and another post about fiction that deals with this sad but real problem. A few months back I mentioned Rajdeep Paulus’s Swimming Through Clouds in my post Luka. If you haven’t snapped up this book, you are missing a fantastic story. And Rajdeep’s sequel Seeing Through Stones is even better. I almost deducted a star from my 5-star review of Swimming Through Clouds because there were dangling threads. But my reader-sense tingled and I knew there had to be a sequel. Glad I have that super-power, because both Swimming and Seeing are 5-star reads.
Without giving away anything for those who haven’t read Swimming Through Clouds, Seeing Through Stones picks up where the story left off. Well, not exactly. Chapter 1 adds a new POV character, Talia’s brother, Jesse. So minimal background. Talia and Jesse are the children of Gerald Vanderbilt. For those of my generation who saw Mommy Dearest and cringe at “no more wire coat hangers”, this generation will say “no more hot tea”. Talia and Jesse’s father make Joan Crawford look like supermom.
In Swimming, Talia gains an ally through a sticky note friendship with classmate Lagan. Life looks promising for Talia but what about her brother Jesse? In Seeing Through Stones, Rajdeep binds those loose ends with the skill of a master seamstress. While I’m sad this is only a two-book story, the ending is so satisfying that any more would be too many beads on the perfect dress.
I’ll ask it again, do you prefer escapist stories or those that cover gritty topics or a little of both?
Gretchen E K Engel 
I’d have to say a little of both. Sometimes I’m in a truly escapist mood but nitty-gritty, true-to-life stories win most of the time. I can’t wait to continue with Talia on her journey!
Just bought Swimming Through Clouds and plan to read it next!
And the answer to your question is both. I like gritty a lot, but I veer away from gritty-depressing.
Then you’ll love Swimming Through The Clouds and Seeing Through Stones. Hope is a substantial thread through both. It’s tense and dark but isn’t completely depressing. Seeing is lighter and more hopeful.
I also like both most of the time.
I’m not quite sure how to say this; you made it exmterely easy for me!