Reviews tagging 'Death'

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow

10 reviews

ghostlyprince's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Hate crime, and Outing

Moderate: Bullying and Death of parent

Minor: Ableism, Cancer, Death, Gun violence, Self harm, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Stalking, Cultural appropriation, and Classism

greatexpectations77's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This was extremely interesting, and I think this book could be really helpful for young people who are wading into social justice issues. Would definitely read this author again - I really appreciated the extent of the world-building.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Racism

Moderate: Cancer, Confinement, Death, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Minor: Chronic illness, Mental illness, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

booksthatburn's review against another edition

It's very slow to start and I'm having trouble getting into it. I generally have trouble with YA contemporary and this feels more YA contemporary/fantasy than I'd like.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, and Murder

Minor: Self harm

TW for Harry Potter reference.

alsoapples's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, Outing, Cultural appropriation, and Gaslighting

Minor: Eating disorder

the_grimdragon's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

I've been branching out more with reading young adult novels here & there, especially if they are diverse! Also, with 2020 being what it was, I just couldn't sink into a thicc book like I normally would. My mental headspace just hasn't been there, so I've been getting through some leaner books, as well as standalones.

A Song Below Water is the debut young adult novel from Bethany C. Morrow. Since I don't read a ton of YA, it was this cover that initially pulled me in. I mean.. LOOK AT HOW BEAUTIFUL THE ARTWORK IS!!

A Song Below Water is a dual-perspective narrative with powerful themes of racism, bigotry, police brutality, misogyny, identity & sisterhood.

Plus-- Mermaids! Sirens! Pixies! Gargoyles!

It's funny & awkward, brutal & joyful. This absolutely deserves to be read!

That being said, it didn't fully come together for me. Ultimately, I prefer more magic with my magical realism! However, the bones are there & I'm definitely planning on reading the companion book, A Chorus Rises, when it comes out later this year!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Racism, Violence, and Police brutality

Moderate: Death

onemamareads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Self harm

Minor: Suicide

jourdanicus's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

A creative, original, modern fantasy that I really enjoyed.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Racism, Xenophobia, and Police brutality

Minor: Death and Grief

zombiezami's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Hate crime, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, and Kidnapping

babayagaofficial's review against another edition

emotional inspiring medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Misogyny, Racism, and Police brutality

Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Confinement, Death, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Minor: Fatphobia and Kidnapping

anne311's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Hate crime, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Police brutality, and Grief