A review by firstbreaths
The Man in the Water by David Burton

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I think this would be a good book for teenage boys as it deals with issues like toxic masculinity and domestic violence in a subtle but meaningful way. As someone who grew up in Queensland I also think it was excellent in its depiction of small town life and the impact that mining has on regional communities. However, The Man in the Water was also a sign that I'm growing out of YA books, because I definitely had more sympathy for the adults who told two boys not to get mixed up in a murder investigation than anything else and I didn't think the mystery was that riveting or suspenseful. This feels like a slightly more diverse version of something I would have read in high school English... which is a good sign for the future of #loveozya. 



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