Deep Dark Blue: A Memoir of Survival

Gr 9 Up—Polo Tate was a promising student who had been selected to attend the United States Air Force. At first, she excelled at her studies, made new friends, loved her volleyball team, and had found particular favor with the captain, here named Tip Attila. Little by little, Attila insinuated herself into all aspects of Tate's life, until Tate realized the relationship was not healthy. Before Tate was able to extract herself from the situation, Attila sexually assaulted her. In the months that remained of her freshman year, Tate picked up the pieces of her life and had to decide what to do next. The author does not pull any punches. Throughout, Tate and the rest of her squad are subject to both mental and physical abuse by those who outrank them. Male recruits belittle the female recruits with crass language and horrible jokes. The writing is direct and authentic, and through Tate's honest account, readers come to understand her determination to survive. However, there are many distracting metaphors and awkward flashbacks that render the narrative a bit choppy.