Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Sharks in the Time of Saviors by Kawai Strong Washburn

7 reviews

caprivoyant's review against another edition

This was a beautiful story: a touching, family-focused, character-driven novel. It was moving and compassionate and kind. It also has one of the only good scenes representing lactose intolerance I've ever read (with a mostly minor side character) that shows that people with intolerances are still loveable and funny. 🩷

However! I did have a 1 problem with the content of the book and learned later that the marketing for the book/author was disingenuous. ⬇️

Content problem: There is no need to use the r-word. 

Marketing problem: Apparently this book was marketed at a Native Hawai'ian story — the marketing also implied that the author himself is Native Hawai'ian. It might have been inspired by Native Hawai'ian myths, but this is not representative of Native Hawai'ian culture or beliefs (found this with a quick Google).

So! Read with care/caution if you choose to read at all. I didn't know. Now I know.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Drug use, Racism, Medical content, Grief, and Pregnancy

Minor: Cancer, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Alcohol

dianna_reads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Drug use, Mental illness, Car accident, Cultural appropriation, and Injury/Injury detail

Also detailed look at poverty and generational trauma of always living paycheck to paycheck without financial security

carolineeckels's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death

Minor: Sexual assault and Suicidal thoughts

georgiesutton's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious medium-paced

4.5

Whew this was incredible. Just shy of 5 stars for me. I loved the family dynamics, and learning about Hawai’i and the mythology. I might need to start a shark book collection now. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, and Grief

andrewhatesham's review against another edition

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Grief

Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Excrement, Car accident, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

kaiulanilee's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad medium-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

This book was absolutely stunning in so many ways. 
Particularly the way it wove language into beautiful but sometimes very jarring sentences and the way the author was able to capture the distinct personalities and thoughts of each character with the way he wrote their chapters was brilliant. This is an absolutely brilliant story about family, resilience, Hawaiian mythology, and our connection to the world around us and I would highly recommend it to anyone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Medical content, and Grief

Moderate: Sexual assault

bobbijopmh's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

“The kingdom of Hawai‘i had long been broken—the breathing rain forests and singing green reefs crushed under the haole fists of beach resorts and skyscrapers—and that was when the land had begun calling.”

This novel artfully blends harsh realities and magic, on a story encompassing all members of a single family and spanning decades of their lives. 

As someone who doesn't read a lot of magical realism, I wasn't really sure what to expect going into this. It's worth noting, though, that a lot of the ‘magic’ in this novel comes from Hawaiian traditional beliefs and lore.

The storyline had me gripped. With plenty of compelling twists and turns, which makes it hard to say much about the plot other than it's about finding a place where you truly belong, the relationships between family members, and the burdens that come with enormous expectations. 

Kawai Strong Washburn switches voice for the different perspectives presented perfectly; creating a deeper understanding and connection with each character through their voice and mannerism. Malia with her lyrical, poetic and emotional descriptions; Dean with his strong pidgin-Hawaiian accent; Kaui with her insecure “okay?” and “right”. It is very skillfully written. The descriptions of places, and feelings, are atmospheric and almost a sensory experience themselves. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, it was unlike anything I've personally read before, and I can't wait to see what Kawai Strong Washburnwrites next!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, and Car accident

Moderate: Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood