pickThis is an excellent mystery to be enjoyed by teens and adults alike. Bonus if you have an interest in death metal. Kasper, the MC, investigates the death of the rocker Grim from over 30 years ago with the help of Iris. The narrative style is interesting as there are dual timelines and supporting materials like appendices (I promise; they aren't boring). There is also a supernatural angle. 4 stars.
so-soI appreciate the authors unique take on showcasing depression, grief, and trauma and the back sliding that people can face when trying to overcome that. Especially as people of color and the weight of having to deal with racial discrimination on top of that. I recognize the points the author is trying to convey but the way it was delivered through this grim fairytale style didn‘t hit for me the way I wanted it too.
This book would be a great tool for students to use in order to practice reading comprehension skills and practice the skill of understanding the author‘s deeper meaning with this story as well as recognizing the authors purpose. This would also be a good diverse read for people to understand the harsh realities of the way black families view/ deal with mental health.
So far I am interested in the story in regards to mental health among black teens. The whole whimsical aspect that the author is going for to symbolize what Whimsy is going through feels almost dream like. However sometimes I‘m finding myself being a little lost within the story due to the excessive symbolism and it being too abstract.
My favorite part of this book was the three perspectives on the death of Faerry and Whimsy‘s siblings. Not only was this a crucial turning point in the narrative, but an important statement in guilt, forgiveness, and atonement. I was left wondering if their parents felt the same guilt Faerry and Whimsy did, and if they were able to finally forgive themselves (or at least remember) when the younger children returned home.
I was very impressed by the writing in this book, and the creativity the author brought to symbolizing the character‘s depression. However, I think it was a little too abstract for me to truly enjoy reading it. After finishing the book, I had to look up multiple summaries and analyses to make sense of it. I also just didn‘t connect with the characters at all, and I think I could have if there was more intentional character development.
With recommending any book, it‘s important for us to know our students so that we suggest the right book for them. Personally, I don‘t think I would ever recommend this book to a student. This is not because it isn‘t a beautifully written book, but because it addresses topics that can be very triggering for students. For some students, this could be just the book they need to feel understood. For others, it could be just a little too real.
This may be the literature nerd in me, but I was so excited to see Dante's “Inferno“ playing a prominent role throughout this piece. The narrative of the novel mirrors Dante's in several ways. For instance, they must traverse multiple environments where their wills are tested to escape “hell,“ which in Whimsy's case, is the forest. Furthermore, they have guides that assist them through this process, such as Beatrice for Dante, and Cole for Whimsy.
“The only way out is through.“ (McBride 134)
In my review post, I mentioned how I appreciated the metaphor of prevailing over depression and its association with magical realism. In this book, Whimsy and Faerry, depression becomes tangible in the form of Sorrow and her garden, where they must communicate with and support each other to survive. For students, this aspect can demonstrate how to help others in their mental health struggles.
