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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
This was stunning. There isn't much else I can say other than how amazing it was. I loved this and the characters were so perfectly flawed just the way I like them. This was similar to another book I have read, yet I loved them both. I'm so happy I was able to get my hands on this ARC and recommend it to everyone.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
revolves around a girl recovering from ptsd after a school shooting. it's a bit jarring and all too relatable
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Mass/school shootings
SUCH A FEEL GOOD SUMMER BOOK. I geared up as I read the last page. If you're someone who's dealing with harboring anger for a person who's done you wrong, this book is so right for you.
"I don't hesitate. I just let it go."
"I don't hesitate. I just let it go."
I thought that the exploration of mental illness and grief was sound, and there were definitely a few moments regarding Morgan's past that shook me to the core. Certain chapters were so profoundly harrowing that I honestly had to set the book down at parts just to process the full weight of what had just happened. But despite all of this, I still felt that Underwater was pretty trite for the most part, mainly because of an ill-conceived, underdeveloped romance. And it's so frustrating because this story held so much promise and Reichardt can obviously write and write well well, but in attempting to make this "more YA-marketable," all of that potential just falls flat. I think that had Reichardt focused more on Morgan's backstory in regards to the incident and its psychological implications, rather than making this into another gimmicky book about a guy-who-helps-a-girl-get-her-life-back-together, this would've definitely become new favorite of mine. But now, I'm just left feeling . . . dissatisfied.
Morgan is afraid. After surviving a school shooting, she feels safer in her small apartment, which she hasn't left for the past 6 months. But when Evan moves in next door, she begins to remember what life was like before. Slowly, as Morgan works though what happened that day in October, she searches for the person she was again.
A few quick things (this ended up longer than expected):
This book is extremely timely. The MC Morgan asks the question during the book "don't you think it's ok to prepare yourself for the worst case scenario?" and it made me think about how my kindergartener (the same age as Morgan's little brother Ben) did a whole day active shooter drill at school so that they'd know what to do if one ever happened. Her class even got an award for handling the different scenarios so well. It's hard to believe that in addition to fire and hurricane drills, we're preparing for guns. It is something that scares me, but I'm also thankful that schools are teaching children strategy and preparedness.
This book made me think a lot about after how many people are affected by a school shooting, whether they were in the school, or related to someone who was. How one person's destructive choice has lifetimes affects on all the people it touches. And everyone's experience and healing process is different.
I really liked Morgan's relationship with Brenda her therapist. It was rewarding to watch as Morgan makes real changes in her life. But I loved seeing the trust they built and the way Brenda pushed her forward.
The romance with Evan was sweet, and though they have some bumps, this book doesn't have the same Big Break later in the story that most contemporaries do, and I enjoyed the gradual building of their relationship. I wish we'd have been able to see more of Morgan rebuilding her friendship with her school friends, but I'm glad that was included as well.
The parallels between Morgan and her father's journeys with PTSD, gave me another layer to consider, and I think it's realistic that his situation isn't resolved perfectly at the end.
Love Triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger Scale: Standalone
A few quick things (this ended up longer than expected):
This book is extremely timely. The MC Morgan asks the question during the book "don't you think it's ok to prepare yourself for the worst case scenario?" and it made me think about how my kindergartener (the same age as Morgan's little brother Ben) did a whole day active shooter drill at school so that they'd know what to do if one ever happened. Her class even got an award for handling the different scenarios so well. It's hard to believe that in addition to fire and hurricane drills, we're preparing for guns. It is something that scares me, but I'm also thankful that schools are teaching children strategy and preparedness.
This book made me think a lot about after how many people are affected by a school shooting, whether they were in the school, or related to someone who was. How one person's destructive choice has lifetimes affects on all the people it touches. And everyone's experience and healing process is different.
I really liked Morgan's relationship with Brenda her therapist. It was rewarding to watch as Morgan makes real changes in her life. But I loved seeing the trust they built and the way Brenda pushed her forward.
The romance with Evan was sweet, and though they have some bumps, this book doesn't have the same Big Break later in the story that most contemporaries do, and I enjoyed the gradual building of their relationship. I wish we'd have been able to see more of Morgan rebuilding her friendship with her school friends, but I'm glad that was included as well.
The parallels between Morgan and her father's journeys with PTSD, gave me another layer to consider, and I think it's realistic that his situation isn't resolved perfectly at the end.
Spoiler
A huge message in this book is Morgan forgiving the shooter to be able to move on and forgive herself. Although the situation is horrible, we almost exclusively see Morgan's perspective of the shooting day. Aaron is shown in somewhat of a sad and sympathetic light, as a boy who was constantly ridiculed. It's a very different perspective than we would get from the press, which was interesting. I think forgiveness is important for healing, and everyone's experiences are different, so I don't want to lessen Morgan's. But don't think everyone would agree or take the same approach as Morgan did, and I wish we'd gotten more of others' perspectives. I know the letter to Aaron was a big symbol of Morgan's healing but her whole statement of forgiving him felt very quick (and simple) to come, once she approached it. Though I would never say Morgan's progress in the book was simple.Love Triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger Scale: Standalone
Cerita di buku ini berfokus pada Morgan yang sedang mengatasi traumanya akibat kejadian di sekolahnya. Morgan tidak berani keluar dari apartemennya bahkan berbulan-bulan setelah kejadian itu. Sebenernya dari cover belakang, sudah bisa ditebak kejadian traumatis apa yang dialami Morgan. Evan, memiliki peran yang cukup penting dalam penyembuhan Morgan. Aku suka melihat hubungan Morgan dengan setiap tokoh di buku ini.
1. Morgan dengan psikolognya, Brenda. Hubungan mereka tidak terlihat seperti seorang konselor dengan pasiennya. Brenda memiliki sifat luwes sehingga Morgan bisa dengan nyaman menceritakan semuanya pada Brenda.
2. Morgan dengan Evan. Mereka punya hubungan yang manis. Karena mereka punya latar belakang yang sama, Evan bisa mengerti keadaan Morgan, walaupun ada satu hal yang dilakukan Evan yang menurutku tidak bijak.
3. Morgan dengan ibunya dan Ben, adiknya. Ibunya sangat mendukung dan memahami keadaan Morgan. Lalu Ben, adiknya yang masih 5 tahun, Morgan sangat menyayangi Ben dan mau melakukan apapun untuk Ben walaupun itu berarti ia harus keluar rumah.
Adalagi sedikit kisah yang dibahas, seperti ayahnya Morgan yang juga membutuhkan bantuan profesional. Juga bagaimana teman-teman Morgan setelah kejadian di sekolah. Di buku ini diperlihatkan bagaimana proses Morgan sampai akhirnya bisa berdamai dengan dirinya sendiri. Menjelang akhir, cerita agak sedikit monoton tapi berakhir dengan baik untuk semua tokoh.
1. Morgan dengan psikolognya, Brenda. Hubungan mereka tidak terlihat seperti seorang konselor dengan pasiennya. Brenda memiliki sifat luwes sehingga Morgan bisa dengan nyaman menceritakan semuanya pada Brenda.
2. Morgan dengan Evan. Mereka punya hubungan yang manis. Karena mereka punya latar belakang yang sama, Evan bisa mengerti keadaan Morgan, walaupun ada satu hal yang dilakukan Evan yang menurutku tidak bijak.
3. Morgan dengan ibunya dan Ben, adiknya. Ibunya sangat mendukung dan memahami keadaan Morgan. Lalu Ben, adiknya yang masih 5 tahun, Morgan sangat menyayangi Ben dan mau melakukan apapun untuk Ben walaupun itu berarti ia harus keluar rumah.
Adalagi sedikit kisah yang dibahas, seperti ayahnya Morgan yang juga membutuhkan bantuan profesional. Juga bagaimana teman-teman Morgan setelah kejadian di sekolah. Di buku ini diperlihatkan bagaimana proses Morgan sampai akhirnya bisa berdamai dengan dirinya sendiri. Menjelang akhir, cerita agak sedikit monoton tapi berakhir dengan baik untuk semua tokoh.
Never thought i would love this book the way I do. Ini debut Marisa Reichardt, dan buku ini jg blm terlalu populer.
Menceritakan Morgan pasca melalui sebuah peristiwa tragis, (spoiler dikit) high school shooting, sehingga dia tdk bisa mengatasi situsi berada diluar rmh. Dia merasa rumah itu tempat amannya. Sebelumnya Morgan adlh murid yg berprestasi & tergabung dlm tim renang yg juga berprestasi.
Quote :
Terkadang hal yg positif juga ada negatifnya. Org yg berprestasi berlebihan terkadang berakhir depresi stlh sesuatu yg tragis terjadi. Itu merupakan reaksi untuk menyadari bahwa kita tdk dpt mengendalikan segalanya.
Suka endingnya, krn dgn Morgan memaafkan pelaku, dia memafkan dirinya sdr. Morgan juga mencapai closure terhadap hubungan dengan ayahnya.
Menceritakan Morgan pasca melalui sebuah peristiwa tragis, (spoiler dikit) high school shooting, sehingga dia tdk bisa mengatasi situsi berada diluar rmh. Dia merasa rumah itu tempat amannya. Sebelumnya Morgan adlh murid yg berprestasi & tergabung dlm tim renang yg juga berprestasi.
Quote :
Terkadang hal yg positif juga ada negatifnya. Org yg berprestasi berlebihan terkadang berakhir depresi stlh sesuatu yg tragis terjadi. Itu merupakan reaksi untuk menyadari bahwa kita tdk dpt mengendalikan segalanya.
Suka endingnya, krn dgn Morgan memaafkan pelaku, dia memafkan dirinya sdr. Morgan juga mencapai closure terhadap hubungan dengan ayahnya.
A little heartbreaking, a little uplifting -- I finished it in one day.
This book was so powerful and moving. It is inspiring and full of hope and I urge you all to go read it. Now.
Reichardt did such a fantastic job with this. Morgan and the aftermath of what she went through feels SO real. Her panic attacks, thought processes and feelings are so true to life and depicted so well. This book tugged on my heartstrings massively. I also super loved the relationship between Morgan and her brother, Ben.
This was full of beautiful characters, who I loved every single one of, and such a lovely story line.
This will forever be a favourite.
Reichardt did such a fantastic job with this. Morgan and the aftermath of what she went through feels SO real. Her panic attacks, thought processes and feelings are so true to life and depicted so well. This book tugged on my heartstrings massively. I also super loved the relationship between Morgan and her brother, Ben.
This was full of beautiful characters, who I loved every single one of, and such a lovely story line.
This will forever be a favourite.