Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates

14 reviews

aardwyrm's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Racial slurs, Gaslighting, Trafficking, Violence, Torture, Sexual violence, Rape, Racism, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Grief, Emotional abuse, Death, and Confinement

Minor: Alcohol, Death of parent, and Death

therainbowshelf's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful 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

What if the Underground Railroad had some help from incredible magic powers? Hiram Walker, a man born into slavery, finds his life unexpectedly entangled with the Underground when strange happenings in his own life catch their attention. 

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were interesting, and the book really took a hard look at the lives of enslaved black people in US history. I also liked that the story worked magic into the amazing work of the Underground Railroad without being reductive.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Physical abuse, Racism, and Slavery

Minor: Racial slurs, Sexism, and Sexual assault

deepfriedaries's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

This book tells an incredibly story of resiliency in the face of racism and the history of enslaved people on the deep south. It is a slow paced narrative, and I struggled to engage with the main plot given the main character spends a lot of time in introspective thought. I found the mysteries captivating, and what adventures there were, breathtaking. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, and Violence

thevietvegan's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad slow-paced

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

4.5

A beautiful and heartbreaking story (based on a true story) with twists and turns I did not expect, and magical elements that were delightful and powerful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, and Trafficking

Moderate: Sexual assault, Physical abuse, and Rape

Minor: Infidelity