Coral
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Coral has forms of synesthesia—sounds and emotions are linked to colors. Discuss the contrast between Coral’s vibrant world in the beginning and the gray world Brooke sees throughout the story. What did you notice regarding how the world they see changes based on where they are in their journeys?
Jordan and Jonah are closed off, stoic, and cold—they see emotions as a “Disease.” Discuss Coral’s/Brooke’s growth as she learns the value of emotions and allows herself to feel and process the things she has faced.
The topic of mental illness can be a difficult one in our culture. There is a lot of negative stigma surrounding words like suicide, depression, PTSD, and anxiety. Do you believe mental illness should be approached from a different perspective? If so, how can you be a part of that change?
Merrick, who suffers from survivor’s guilt, blames himself for Amaya Hope’s death. How did his perspective alter following the conversation he had with his dad in chapter 45?
Compare and contrast the characters in Coral with the well-known characters we have come to know in both Disney’s and Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid.” How are they the same? How are they different?
Explore the symbolism of the elements such as “Red Tide,” the “Abyss,” and even the name “Coral.” Did you find deeper or multiple meanings behind each one? If so, discuss what you believe they represent for each character.
Which character did you relate to the most and why?
Discuss what you believe the line “there is more than one way to drown” alludes to.
Fairy tales are often made up of heroes and villains, though sometimes they are more obvious than others. Who or what did you find to be the main hero or villain in this story?
Acknowledgments
This novel has only reached its end by the unfathomable grace of God. After three rewrites and countless tears, he finally helped me find the heart of this story. For that I have no words.
My momma in heaven introduced me to “The Little Mermaid.” She encouraged me to believe in fairy tales. I will never stop thanking her for reminding me what true love looks like.
My husband deserves at least 50 percent of the credit for this book. This man never complained through each soul-wrenching deadline. Caiden, you are a true prince if there ever was one.
My darling children have more patience than any mom could ask for. I love you, babies. You are my world.
My parents on all sides: Dad, Mom (Jodi), Paul (other dad), Jen (other mom), Erika (also other mom), Tosh (also other dad), and Aunt Terri (might as well be my mom)—all of you deserve more thanks than I could ever give.
Jim Hart—my agent—thank you for supporting, for listening, for serving.
Nadine Brandes, Mary Weber, and Ashley Townsend—your friendships have blessed my heart. For all the insecurities you validated and the doubts you snuffed, thank you. I love you.
To my AMAZING group of Phoenix writer friends: Liz Johnson, Lindsay Harrel, Tina Radcliffe, and Jennifer Deibel. You are priceless—I love you all.
To my sisters in life and love: Madisyn Carrington, Brooke Larson, Janalyn Owens, Mandi Alva, Elizabeth VanTassel, Kayla Kunkel, Gabrial Jones, Carolyn Schanta, Deena Peterson, Laura Pol, Arianna Fourt, Anna Fehr, Cheryse Ligabo, Vanessa Uphoff, and Tiffany Barlow—so many words and so little space. Thank you for always caring and encouraging. Hugs!
To my team at Thomas Nelson: Becky Monds, Amanda Bostic, Jodi Hughes, Allison Carter, Paul Fisher, Matt Bray, Kristen Ingebretson, Kristen Andrews, Julee Schwarzburg, Whitney Zapffe, and everyone else I am failing to mention both in the states and internationally—thank you for your tireless efforts to get this story into the hands of readers.
My writerly folks without whom I could not survive this crazy career: Sarah Grimm, Lindsay A. Franklin, C. J. Redwine, Beth Revis, Marissa Meyer, RJ Metcalf, Shannon Dittemore, Dana Black, Kara Swanson, Kayla Grey, Taylor Bennett, Katherine Reay, Kristy Cambron, Christen Krumm, Stephanie Warner, Heidi Wilson, Katie Phillips, Lauren Mansy, Annie Sullivan, Brianna Tibbetts, Melissa Ferguson, Emilie Hendryx, Emileigh Latham, and the many others who have given me their precious time over the years—thank you.
My #Bookstagram family—there are too many of you to name within my word limit! I see you. I am so grateful for you! For every gorgeous photo, shout-out, or kind comment—each one of you makes a difference. You bring light and joy to my life.
My influencers and street team (aka Bookish Belles) who never fail to support me—you are the reason my books are seen. Without you, Coral would be lost on a back shelf at the bookstore. Thank you for your time and energy and unfailing faithfulness.
Finally, to my sensitivity readers, including Dr. Michael Callaway—you saw this story at its very worst. Your experiences are more valuable to this story (and to me) than I can express. Thank you for helping steer these characters in the right direction, despite any triggering it might have caused. You believed in this story enough to risk reliving your own pain. You are seen. You are loved. You are not alone.
About the Author
Photo by E. A. Creative Photography
Sara Ella is the award-winning author of the Unblemished series. She spends her days throwing living room dance parties for her two princesses, raising her little prince to be a king, and conquering realms of her own imaginings with her swoony husband by her side. She may or may not be obsessed with #Bookstagram, which feeds her current addiction to bookish tea and candles. A lover of fairy tales, she believes “Happily Ever After is Never Far Away.”
* * *
Visit Sara online at saraella.com
Instagram: saraellawrites
YouTube: Sara Ella
Facebook: writinghistruth
Twitter: @SaraEllaWrites
Pinterest: Sara Ella
Advance Praise for Coral
“I was not prepared for Coral. Sara Ella strikes every emotional chord imaginable, sweeping the reader into a breathless, powerful journey of the heart and mind—raw, beautiful, and as real as it gets. Coral is a painful, resonate tale that will linger long after The End.”
—Lindsay A. Franklin, award-winning author of The Story Peddler
“Part fantasy, part reality, this heart-wrenching tale will pull you under its spell. Coral is an in-depth look at the lives we lead, the ones we lose, and how we get through it all.”
—Annie Sullivan, author of A Touch of Gold and Tiger Queen
“As magical as a fairy tale, Coral is a beautiful reimagining full of heart, hope, and the powerful healing of unconditional love.”
—Lauren Mansy, author of The Memory Thief
“Sara Ella gives readers an honest, candid portrayal of depression that’s sure to resonate with readers.”
—Christina June, author of It Started with Goodbye, Everywhere You Want To Be, and No Place Like Here
Praise for the Unblemished Trilogy
“Wow! What an exquisite conclusion to the thrilling Unblemished trilogy . . . [Unbreakable] leaves no Reflection unturned. A feast of pop culture and literary references, masterful worldbuilding and heartfelt allegory, the entire series is not to be missed—and this last book ties it all together in stunning fashion.”
—RT Book Reviews, 4 stars
“The story highlights friendship, loyalty, and perseverance with likable characters and engaging writing.”
—World for Unbreakable
“Ella masterfully creates a realistic fantasy world, a story . . . filled with excellent narratives, engaging characters, and truths—and plenty of plot twists!”
—Christian Library Journal for Unbreakable
“Unblemished may have set the stage, but Unraveling will forever bind you to this story like a Kiss of Accord. Sara Ella’s exquisite writing left me gasping at new revelations and rereading whole chapters just because. Unraveling is a sequel that outshines its already brilliant predecessor. Read it. Now. Then come fangirl with me.”
—Nadine Brandes, award-winning author of the Out of
Time trilogy and Fawkes
“With plenty of YA crossover appeal, this engaging and suspenseful debut urban fantasy features superb world building and a tightly paced story line. Reading groups will find plenty to discuss concerning self-image, the nature of good vs. evil, and the power of the marginalized to change the world.”
—Library Journal, starred review for Unblemished
“Sara Ella’s debut novel is a stunning journey into a fascinating new world of reflections. Intricately plotted, the story is complex, but not difficult to follow. Eliyana is a strong heroine, yet also has a vulnerable side that readers will definitely identify with. The other characters are also well‐developed and have many hidden secrets revealed throughout the course of the tale . . . It will be fascinating to see where the author takes the characters next.”
—RT Book Reviews, 41/2 stars, TOP PICK! for Unblemished
“Ella has created a captivating, relatable protagonist and never hesitates as she keeps things moving briskly through the many twists and turns.”
—Publishers Weekly for Unblemished
“A breathtaking fantasy set in an extraordinary fairy-tale world, with deceptive twists and an addictively adorable cast who are illusory to the end. Just when I thought I’d figured each out, Sara Ella sent me for another ride. A wholly original story, Unblemished begins as a sweet melody and quickly becomes an anthem of the heart. And I’m singing my soul out. Fans of Once Upon a Time and Julie Kagawa, brace yourselves.”
—Mary Weber, award-winning author of the Storm Siren trilogy
“Lyrically written and achingly romantic—Unblemished will tug your heartstrings!”
—Melissa Landers, author of Alienated, Invaded, and Starflight
“Self-worth and destiny collide in this twisty-turny fantasy full of surprise and heart. With charm and wit, Sara Ella delivers Unblemished, a magical story with a compelling message and a unique take on the perils of Central Park.”
—Shannon Dittemore, author of the Angel Eyes trilogy
“Unblemished is an enchanting, beautifully written adventure with a pitch-perfect blend of fantasy, realism, and romance. Move this one to the top of your TBR pile and clear your schedule—you won’t want to put it down!”
—Lorie Langdon, author of the Amazon bestselling DOON series
Other Books by Sara Ella
The Unblemished Trilogy
Unblemished
Unraveling
Unbreakable
Copyright
Coral
© 2019 by Sara Carrington
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.
Published in association with Hartline Literary Agency, Pittsburgh, PA 15235
Thomas Nelson titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please email SpecialMarkets@ThomasNelson.com.
Publisher’s Note: This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. All characters are fictional, and any similarity to people living or dead is purely coincidental.
ISBN 978-0-7852-2445-7 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-0-7852-3238-4 (audio download)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Carrington, Sara, 1985- author.
Title: Coral : The little mermaid reimagined / Sara Ella.
Description: Nashville, Tennessee : Thomas Nelson, [2019] | Audience: Ages 13+ | Audience: Grades 10-12 | Summary: The worlds of Coral, Brooke, and Merrick, teens wounded by mental illness and family problems, collide and they must choose what to leave behind in order to survive and start fresh.
Identifiers: LCCN 2019026469 (print) | LCCN 2019026470 (ebook) | ISBN 9780785224457 (hardcover) | ISBN 9780785224464 (epub) | ISBN 9780785232384 (epub)
Subjects: CYAC: Loss (Psychology)--Fiction. | Mental illness--Fiction. | Suicide--Fiction. | Family problems--Fiction. | Love--Fiction. | Mermaids--Fiction.
Classification: LCC PZ7.1.E435 Cor 2019 (print) | LCC PZ7.1.E435 (ebook) | DDC [Fic]--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019026469
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019026470