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yvo_about_books's review
4.25
Finished reading: December 29th 2023
"Sometimes you don't need a key,' said Sumi. Her smile verged on feral. 'Sometimes a crowbar is good enough."
It's been a while since I last visited this series, and when I spotted it the other day I decided to add it to my priority TBR on a whim. I usually have an excellent time with the Wayward Children books, so I hoped it was going to be an excellent way to end the year... And Where The Drowned Girls Go has definitely helped me remember me why I love this series! Sure, there isn't as much magic going on this time around, but the whimsical vibe is still there and Cora's story is such an important one. A little warning is in place as this sequel has minor spoilers for the previous books, and you might not understand the full scope of the situation if you haven't read them yet... Although it can still be read quite easily if you (like myself) don't remember all the details. I loved learning more about the Whitethorn Institute, and it was interesting to see the different approaches. There are so many important topics and hidden messages incorporated, and I could really appreciate how the story shows that it is okay to be yourself and stand up for what you believe. I'm looking forward to continue the series in 2024!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Gaslighting, Violence, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Ableism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Mental illness, Self harm, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
raybudbury's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
fast-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
5.0
One of my favourites from this novella series, necessary to read all of the previous ones for this one. Lots of fatphobia towards the main character of this one just a warning.
I would say my favourite books of this series are when they involve the schools for wayward children and not the ones that only take place through one character’s door.
I would say my favourite books of this series are when they involve the schools for wayward children and not the ones that only take place through one character’s door.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Suicidal thoughts
katrinarose's review
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Very meh addition to this otherwise charming little series. Nothing very interesting or exciting happened, even Cora facing down her villain was anticlimactic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Bullying, and Confinement
Moderate: Murder
adancewithbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.0
Where the Drowned Girls Go is a much darker installment than the previous installment Across the Green Grass Fields. We return back to the story that is told from the Home for Wayward Children.
In this book we follow Cora who is tired from the constant call of the Drowned Gods in her nightmares. She is emotionally drowning in school. So she asks for a transfer to another school, Whitethorn, for a complete change. To Forget. However this school is a very different kind of school to that of Eleanor West.
It was never going to make sense for Eleanor West's school to be the only one out there. With so many doors that there are (that we learned in book 8 but shh) there would be so many more children, and all over the world. So I am glad to see this expansion of the world building in the continuance story in our world.
Cora really struggled with the call, her nightmares and herself. She can't seem to find herself in school and asks for the transfer, in the hope that the change of Whitethorn will help her. It was interesting to see how Cora's struggles were approached and I thought it was a good thing to see.
Not just Cora but the other girls that she meets at Whitethorn. Whitethorn is a hard place to be and it thoughtfully approached how that would be for these girls who already have such baggage. But it also showed why some preferred Whitethorn, why it helped them.
One of the bigger themes in this book was self-image and weight. Cora is a bigger girl. And I felt that, as a bigger girl myself. I found a new appreciation in Cora in this book with how she struggled with herself and came up ahead in the end, that I didn't have before.
In this book we follow Cora who is tired from the constant call of the Drowned Gods in her nightmares. She is emotionally drowning in school. So she asks for a transfer to another school, Whitethorn, for a complete change. To Forget. However this school is a very different kind of school to that of Eleanor West.
It was never going to make sense for Eleanor West's school to be the only one out there. With so many doors that there are (that we learned in book 8 but shh) there would be so many more children, and all over the world. So I am glad to see this expansion of the world building in the continuance story in our world.
Cora really struggled with the call, her nightmares and herself. She can't seem to find herself in school and asks for the transfer, in the hope that the change of Whitethorn will help her. It was interesting to see how Cora's struggles were approached and I thought it was a good thing to see.
Not just Cora but the other girls that she meets at Whitethorn. Whitethorn is a hard place to be and it thoughtfully approached how that would be for these girls who already have such baggage. But it also showed why some preferred Whitethorn, why it helped them.
One of the bigger themes in this book was self-image and weight. Cora is a bigger girl. And I felt that, as a bigger girl myself. I found a new appreciation in Cora in this book with how she struggled with herself and came up ahead in the end, that I didn't have before.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Bullying
suicidal ideation | emotional self-punishmentlipstickitotheman's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
3.75
I wish it was longer! Some elements felt rushed because of the novela type format. I would have wanted more of the Headmaster and teachers. Really nice addition to the world here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Bullying, and Confinement
Minor: Suicide attempt
cj13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Bullying, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Eating disorder, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
takarakei's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-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? It's complicated
3.75
Cora is one of my favorite characters in this series so it was nice to get more page time with her. It was interesting to have this other school which is pretty much the opposite of what we're used to from the Wayward Children school.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Body shaming, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Eating disorder and Suicide attempt
decie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Eating disorder
louisallama's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Confinement
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, and Suicide attempt
cappuccino136's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
4.0
Cora has been tormented by the voices of the Drowned Gods from the world of the Moors ever since returning from the quest the group of friends went on in an earlier book. It has worn her down and she is desperate to forget all of the doors and experiences she has had in other worlds. She has heard of the existence of another school for children who have returned from their other worlds through the doors. Against Eleanor's advice, she insists that she needs to transfer to Whitehall, where the approach is to enforce by strict discipline the children to deny and then forget their time in other worlds. Cora believes that this is the only way to break the connection to anything not in this world and be safe.
It is very interesting to learn about the other school and how it is run. The story is emotional and dark, par for the course in this series. It widens the worldbuilding and sets up many possibilities for more stories. Content warnings for fatphobia, suicide, and suicidal ideation.
It is very interesting to learn about the other school and how it is run. The story is emotional and dark, par for the course in this series. It widens the worldbuilding and sets up many possibilities for more stories. Content warnings for fatphobia, suicide, and suicidal ideation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Suicide attempt