Review Detail

Rose Colter is adrift. She can't be where she was staying for the holidays but she can't go home yet either. When her car breaks down in the middle of the night, something unexpected happens: she hears the voice of her dead best friend, Gaby, come through the radio, saying the words she left in her last voicemail. Rose tracks a local radio tower to Lotus Valley, a curious small town where multiple prophets live and seemingly otherworldly beings dwell. One prophet, Cassie, was expected Rose. Rose is part of a prophecy that claims she will bring the Flood with her. The Flood that will destroy the town. If they want to stop the Flood, they will have to fully remember the past and ask themselves what it means to change.

Reasons you should read THE VALLEY AND THE FLOOD (audiobook edition especially):

1.) The strangeness of Lotus Valley- There's something so fascinating about small towns with something specifically weird about them. For Lotus Valley, they have ancient beings, prophecies, odd gifts, and more. It reminded me a bit of how Kate Alice Marshall incorporates the path in RULES FOR VANISHING, though the tones are completely different.

2.) The PTSD representation- While PTSD representation isn't nearly as rare as it once was in YA, there still isn't a plethora of depictions. Rose's PTSD stands out in a unique way because it doesn't fit the stereotypes of what society thinks would cause PTSD or who would be most likely to get it. It shows that we all have our own responses to traumatic events in our lives, that our emotions and brains manifest in different ways, and there's nothing wrong with that. I particularly appreciated the inclusion of Rose's therapy journey.

3.) The beautiful writing- I listened to THE VALLEY AND THE FLOOD on audio, read by Phoebe Strole, who did an amazing job. Pairing the melancholic, witty, and even hopeful tone of Rose's narration with Strole's smooth narration was a perfect match. There are frequent scenes where Rose's surroundings revert to her past memories, and through the word choice and Strole's expertly timed pauses and pacing, the emotions really got to set in and grab you.

While I would recommend reading THE VALLEY AND THE FLOOD in any format, the audiobook read by Phoebe Strole adds a particularly wonderful layer to the reading. Rebecca Mahoney combines the emotion gut punch of Courtney Summers with the weirdness of Kate Alice Marshall (in the best way) and weaves an original story of wonder, mental health, and remembering who you are.