The Starboard Sea

The Starboard Sea follows Jason Prosper, a teenager from a wealthy family who transfers to Bellingham Academy for his senior year after leaving his previous boarding school under troubled circumstances. Set in 1987, the story chronicles Jason's attempt to make a fresh start at this last-chance school for privileged youth who have run into problems elsewhere. At Bellingham, Jason meets Aidan, an unconventional girl who helps draw him out of his self-imposed isolation. Their developing relationship unfolds against the backdrop of competitive sailing - a sport that represents both escape and redemption for Jason after the loss of his former sailing partner and best friend, Cal. The novel explores privilege, guilt, sexuality, and the complex bonds between young people navigating the transition to adulthood. Through Jason's story, the narrative examines how trauma and loss shape identity, and what it means to find one's moral compass in a world of wealth and status.

Readers note strong character development and rich descriptions of sailing, with many highlighting the authentic portrayal of prep school culture and complex relationships. The prose style draws consistent praise for being lyrical without becoming pretentious. Positive reviews focus on: - Detailed sailing terminology and scenes - Treatment of sexuality and identity themes - Atmospheric New England coastal setting Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in the middle sections - Too many subplots that don't fully resolve - Some found the protagonist difficult to connect with Review Scores: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (4,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (180+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (250+ ratings) "The sailing sequences transported me completely" - Goodreads reviewer "Beautiful writing but the plot meandered" - Amazon reviewer "I wanted to love these characters more than I did" - LibraryThing reviewer

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🌊 Like her protagonist Jason, author Amber Dermont was an avid competitive sailor and spent significant time on the water during her youth. 📚 The book's title comes from a sailing term - the "starboard sea" refers to the water on the right side of a boat when facing forward. 🏫 While the fictional Bellingham Academy is set in Massachusetts, Dermont drew inspiration from her experiences teaching at several prestigious prep schools. ⛵ The novel's 1987 setting coincides with the historic "Black Monday" stock market crash, which serves as a backdrop for themes of privilege and loss. 🏆 The Starboard Sea was named one of the "Best Books of 2012" by Vogue and earned Dermont comparisons to John Knowles (A Separate Peace) and F. Scott Fitzgerald.