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sunshinebacon's review
4.0
This is a good read on a tough (but important) subject. The tension feels true, and Morgan's progress feels genuine. Reichardt also uses beautiful metaphors throughout.
avajade's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
faeriesparks's review against another edition
4.0
I requested this book from MyKindaBook/Macmillan, so thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy!
So this book is about Morgan who is a survivor of a school shooting and now suffers from PTSD. She is afraid to leave the house so she stays at home, continues school online and just doesn't leave her home. The book follows her dealing with her PTSD and her trying to get better.
While this book and the story weren't anything spectacular or profound, I still enjoyed it so much. There were a few things that made this book so amazing in my opinion. For example the characters in general; they felt like real people. Since Morgan never leaves her home and doesn't do any exercise, she gains a bit of extra weight. Evan (the love interest) has pimples. These are quite minor details but I think things like this are important in YA.
I also loved the family dynamic. Morgan lives with her mother and younger brother and they're relationship with each other was so nice to read about. Morgan's mother plays such an important part in her life and the way the talked with each other and handled certain situations was amazing.
The relationship between Morgan and her therapist Brenda was one of my favorite things. Often therapists are demonized in YA and the fact that Morgan accepts the help from Brenda and works together with her and listens to her and trusts her was wonderful.
Yet another thing I absolutely loved about this book was that Morgan made progress in healing (mostly) by herself. When the love interest Evan was introduced I was afraid her healing process and things would be focused around him. While he did support her, the focus wasn't on him or their relationship and I LOVED that.
There were some things that I didn't like but they were so minor and overall I still really, really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it!
So this book is about Morgan who is a survivor of a school shooting and now suffers from PTSD. She is afraid to leave the house so she stays at home, continues school online and just doesn't leave her home. The book follows her dealing with her PTSD and her trying to get better.
While this book and the story weren't anything spectacular or profound, I still enjoyed it so much. There were a few things that made this book so amazing in my opinion. For example the characters in general; they felt like real people. Since Morgan never leaves her home and doesn't do any exercise, she gains a bit of extra weight. Evan (the love interest) has pimples. These are quite minor details but I think things like this are important in YA.
I also loved the family dynamic. Morgan lives with her mother and younger brother and they're relationship with each other was so nice to read about. Morgan's mother plays such an important part in her life and the way the talked with each other and handled certain situations was amazing.
The relationship between Morgan and her therapist Brenda was one of my favorite things. Often therapists are demonized in YA and the fact that Morgan accepts the help from Brenda and works together with her and listens to her and trusts her was wonderful.
Yet another thing I absolutely loved about this book was that Morgan made progress in healing (mostly) by herself. When the love interest Evan was introduced I was afraid her healing process and things would be focused around him. While he did support her, the focus wasn't on him or their relationship and I LOVED that.
There were some things that I didn't like but they were so minor and overall I still really, really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it!
nikolinaza's review against another edition
5.0
Baca buku ini, sekilas aku teringat buku dengan tema serupa yang berjudul 'Hate List'. Bedanya, Underwater jauh lebih ringan dan lebih heartwarming.
Underwater mengisahkan tentang Morgan, remaja yang mengalami trauma pasca kejadian mengerikan di sekolahnya. Akibat kejadian itu, Morgan tidak pernah mau keluar rumah. Dia kehilangan minat terhadap segala sesuatu yang disukainya dan terus mengurung diri. Suatu hari, tetangga barunya yang bernama Evan datang dan mengetuk pintu rumah Morgan. Evan mengingatkannya pada segala hal yang disukainya, salah satunya air. Tanpa gadis itu sadari, Evan adalah salah satu pembuka jalannya untuk melawan rasa takutnya dan hidup normal kembali.
Aku suka kemistri para tokoh di buku ini. Ibu Morgan, meski lelah dengan beribu beban di bahunya, dia selalu ada untuk anak gadisnya. Lalu ada Ben, sosok adik kecil yang lucu dan pintar. Ada juga Brenda yang siap mendengarkan cerita-cerita Morgan dengan sabar. Kemudian Evan, si cowok manis tetangga sebelah yang menumbuhkan perasaan nyaman di hati Morgan dengan pertemanan baru mereka. Aku suka melihat orang-orang di sekitar Morgan begitu suportif terhadapnya dan selalu sabar menghadapinya ketika dia mulai bertindak 'tidak masuk akal'.
Alur buku ini cukup cepat. Penulisannya pun simpel dan tidak bertele-tele sehingga enak dibaca dan tidak membosankan. Sudut pandang orang pertama yang digunakan membuat pembaca benar-benar mampu memahami apa yang dirasakan tokoh Morgan setiap harinya, dan semua masalah yang diderita gadis itu tidak semudah kelihatannya. Penulis menuliskan trauma yang dialami Morgan dengan sangat baik.
5 bintang lah pokoknya, bikin kepengin baca buku lain yang sejenis juga.
Underwater mengisahkan tentang Morgan, remaja yang mengalami trauma pasca kejadian mengerikan di sekolahnya. Akibat kejadian itu, Morgan tidak pernah mau keluar rumah. Dia kehilangan minat terhadap segala sesuatu yang disukainya dan terus mengurung diri. Suatu hari, tetangga barunya yang bernama Evan datang dan mengetuk pintu rumah Morgan. Evan mengingatkannya pada segala hal yang disukainya, salah satunya air. Tanpa gadis itu sadari, Evan adalah salah satu pembuka jalannya untuk melawan rasa takutnya dan hidup normal kembali.
Aku suka kemistri para tokoh di buku ini. Ibu Morgan, meski lelah dengan beribu beban di bahunya, dia selalu ada untuk anak gadisnya. Lalu ada Ben, sosok adik kecil yang lucu dan pintar. Ada juga Brenda yang siap mendengarkan cerita-cerita Morgan dengan sabar. Kemudian Evan, si cowok manis tetangga sebelah yang menumbuhkan perasaan nyaman di hati Morgan dengan pertemanan baru mereka. Aku suka melihat orang-orang di sekitar Morgan begitu suportif terhadapnya dan selalu sabar menghadapinya ketika dia mulai bertindak 'tidak masuk akal'.
Alur buku ini cukup cepat. Penulisannya pun simpel dan tidak bertele-tele sehingga enak dibaca dan tidak membosankan. Sudut pandang orang pertama yang digunakan membuat pembaca benar-benar mampu memahami apa yang dirasakan tokoh Morgan setiap harinya, dan semua masalah yang diderita gadis itu tidak semudah kelihatannya. Penulis menuliskan trauma yang dialami Morgan dengan sangat baik.
5 bintang lah pokoknya, bikin kepengin baca buku lain yang sejenis juga.
mehsi's review
5.0
This, this was just amazing. What a ride this book was! I loved every moment of it. Highly recommended.
Another one of my most anticipated reads, and another book that I loved to bits. A book that moved me, a book that made me cheer so hard for the MC, a book filled with tears, hope, loss, family problems.
Because while the book focusses on Morgan, while Morgan and what happened at her school is important, there is an undercurrent of something different as well. I will discuss that later in the review.
First up Morgan. I adored the girl, I could feel her fear, even if I never experienced what she did, even if I never have felt fear to leave my house, I could feel her fear, her sadness, her worries. At first we have no clue what caused Morgan to be stuck in her house. Following lessons online, never going outside, getting panic attacks when she see stuff that reminds her of that one day. That one day that changed everything. Because as the story continues we see snippets of what happened at her school, and why she slowly, but surely lost herself and went hiding in her home.
I have to say it was very effective, the way the author didn't immediately shows us what has happens, but instead goes for the snippets and hints here and there. A memorial wall, a news bulletin on her school, her school closed, her neighbour and his connection, and so much other hints. Slowly, we can piece together that fateful day that changed so many lives. And it was horrific, the event that happened. I won't say what, you will just have to read the book to find out.
I felt so sorry for Morgan, especially when we find out what her biggest fear/secret is about that day.
But, but, Morgan is trying. She is talking to a therapist, she is getting help, and with the addition of a lovely neighbour, who tries his best to help her, she is getting there.
At times it felt a bit rushed. One moment she would be afraid to go out, but the next she would be able to go so much further, and I wondered if it really was a logical pace. But then you would see Morgan going in hyperventilation mode, panic mode, and you knew that she was straining herself to get out there, to find the world again, to not be afraid of each and everything. Still I was wondering how we went from not daring to step out, to going outside and shop at a store. And sure, it was difficult, but it felt hurried. We were running towards events that wouldn't be complete if Morgan was just staying inside her house.
Ben, Morgan's little brother, was really cute and he was a great addition to the book. How Morgan smothered him, loved him, and did so much for him, it was amazingly sweet.
Then we have Evan. Awww, I just loved Evan. One or two times he wasn't that nice though, but I could imagine it must be so frustrating for him to see Morgan do all sorts of things and then go back to how she was. Shut-in, alone, afraid, crying, losing it. Not knowing how to handle her negativity while also battling loss and other things.
But, he is also sweet and wonderful. He truly cares about Morgan, and I think he was a great addition to this book. The romance (duh, no spoiler there, it is immediately clear what these 2 are/will be) was sweet and totally not rushed or hurried. It felt all perfectly in place, like finding that one jigsaw puzzle piece you still needed to complete your puzzle. They make such a sweet couple, and Evan is always there for her when she needs him. He will calm her down, he will do amazingly sweet things for her that will make you go awww.
Brenda was a really sweet character, and I loved how she helped out Morgan. She is an amazing woman and she deserves all the praise.
Now we still have that one other thing that is there in the story next to the whole what happened on that fateful day. And that is Morgan's dad. His troubles, his problems, what he did, what happened to him during his military days. How his family thinks of him, how that causes problems. As the story continues, we find out more and more about him each time, and it was really interesting and I like that it was added. When we first encountered stuff I was worried it would be overwhelming, or it would draw away from the first story, but it doesn't do that. If anything it adds so much more to the first story itself.
The ending was just perfect and I was just smiling and cheering all the time. I hope that Morgan will be fine, I hope that she will be able to move further in her life. With Evan, with friends, with family.
Like I said at the beginning, I would highly recommend this book!
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Another one of my most anticipated reads, and another book that I loved to bits. A book that moved me, a book that made me cheer so hard for the MC, a book filled with tears, hope, loss, family problems.
Because while the book focusses on Morgan, while Morgan and what happened at her school is important, there is an undercurrent of something different as well. I will discuss that later in the review.
First up Morgan. I adored the girl, I could feel her fear, even if I never experienced what she did, even if I never have felt fear to leave my house, I could feel her fear, her sadness, her worries. At first we have no clue what caused Morgan to be stuck in her house. Following lessons online, never going outside, getting panic attacks when she see stuff that reminds her of that one day. That one day that changed everything. Because as the story continues we see snippets of what happened at her school, and why she slowly, but surely lost herself and went hiding in her home.
I have to say it was very effective, the way the author didn't immediately shows us what has happens, but instead goes for the snippets and hints here and there. A memorial wall, a news bulletin on her school, her school closed, her neighbour and his connection, and so much other hints. Slowly, we can piece together that fateful day that changed so many lives. And it was horrific, the event that happened. I won't say what, you will just have to read the book to find out.
I felt so sorry for Morgan, especially when we find out what her biggest fear/secret is about that day.
But, but, Morgan is trying. She is talking to a therapist, she is getting help, and with the addition of a lovely neighbour, who tries his best to help her, she is getting there.
At times it felt a bit rushed. One moment she would be afraid to go out, but the next she would be able to go so much further, and I wondered if it really was a logical pace. But then you would see Morgan going in hyperventilation mode, panic mode, and you knew that she was straining herself to get out there, to find the world again, to not be afraid of each and everything. Still I was wondering how we went from not daring to step out, to going outside and shop at a store. And sure, it was difficult, but it felt hurried. We were running towards events that wouldn't be complete if Morgan was just staying inside her house.
Ben, Morgan's little brother, was really cute and he was a great addition to the book. How Morgan smothered him, loved him, and did so much for him, it was amazingly sweet.
Then we have Evan. Awww, I just loved Evan. One or two times he wasn't that nice though, but I could imagine it must be so frustrating for him to see Morgan do all sorts of things and then go back to how she was. Shut-in, alone, afraid, crying, losing it. Not knowing how to handle her negativity while also battling loss and other things.
But, he is also sweet and wonderful. He truly cares about Morgan, and I think he was a great addition to this book. The romance (duh, no spoiler there, it is immediately clear what these 2 are/will be) was sweet and totally not rushed or hurried. It felt all perfectly in place, like finding that one jigsaw puzzle piece you still needed to complete your puzzle. They make such a sweet couple, and Evan is always there for her when she needs him. He will calm her down, he will do amazingly sweet things for her that will make you go awww.
Brenda was a really sweet character, and I loved how she helped out Morgan. She is an amazing woman and she deserves all the praise.
Now we still have that one other thing that is there in the story next to the whole what happened on that fateful day. And that is Morgan's dad. His troubles, his problems, what he did, what happened to him during his military days. How his family thinks of him, how that causes problems. As the story continues, we find out more and more about him each time, and it was really interesting and I like that it was added. When we first encountered stuff I was worried it would be overwhelming, or it would draw away from the first story, but it doesn't do that. If anything it adds so much more to the first story itself.
The ending was just perfect and I was just smiling and cheering all the time. I hope that Morgan will be fine, I hope that she will be able to move further in her life. With Evan, with friends, with family.
Like I said at the beginning, I would highly recommend this book!
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
etinker's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
cypriaturge's review
5.0
I haven't read a book with voice and characterization this good since Catcher in the Rye. Luckily, Morgan is a far more likeable character than Holden.
In addition, this is a fantastic and beautifully written picture of severe PTSD, an engaging reaction to emotional trauma and one that inspired more than a few teary revelations from me.
I don't think I could recommend this book highly enough.
In addition, this is a fantastic and beautifully written picture of severe PTSD, an engaging reaction to emotional trauma and one that inspired more than a few teary revelations from me.
I don't think I could recommend this book highly enough.
hazelnuthaze's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
slow-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Addiction, Death, Gun violence, and Suicide
michalice's review against another edition
4.0
Morgan's life hadn't been the same since October 15th, when her school was attacked by armed person, killing students and teachers. Morgan is trying to recover from this event and get on with her life, but something is holding her back, and she physically can't leave her house. The thought of stepping outside her door brings on panic attacks. Now, her days are spent going to school online, watching TV, and eating the same food for dinner.
Underwater was a book that drew me in for several reasons, not only am I in love with the UK cover, I also needed to know what was going on, what event lead to Morgan unable to leave her house. When I began reading I was drawn into Morgan's mundane life, day after day she does the same thing, her only chance in this monotonous routine is a visit from a therapist who is trying to help Morgan.
Morgan lives with her Mum and younger brother, her Dad not really in the picture. Morgan's Mum does all she can to help her out, and her brother is thankfully too young to really understand what is happening. He is so sweet in how he behaves towards Morgan, he knows she is sick and does his best to make her feel OK. His need to have her at it school performance and not understanding her situation really makes him say the cutest things.
I liked the addition of Evan, a new neighbour, and how he has a connection with Morgan, but lets her tell her story on her own time. He is supportive and understanding, and may have been an ass at one point or another, but is one of the people who help Morgan when she needs it.
Underwater is a book that draws you in, enables you to become emotionally invested in Morgan and her situation, but also gives you an ending you deserve. Underwater made me really think about Morgan's problem and how hard it can be. It also made me smile and cry.
Final Verdict
Underwater is a book you have to pick up, not only for the gorgeous cover, but also for the story inside.
Underwater was a book that drew me in for several reasons, not only am I in love with the UK cover, I also needed to know what was going on, what event lead to Morgan unable to leave her house. When I began reading I was drawn into Morgan's mundane life, day after day she does the same thing, her only chance in this monotonous routine is a visit from a therapist who is trying to help Morgan.
Morgan lives with her Mum and younger brother, her Dad not really in the picture. Morgan's Mum does all she can to help her out, and her brother is thankfully too young to really understand what is happening. He is so sweet in how he behaves towards Morgan, he knows she is sick and does his best to make her feel OK. His need to have her at it school performance and not understanding her situation really makes him say the cutest things.
"It's okay if you clap the loudest. I won't be embarrassed. I want you to come."
I liked the addition of Evan, a new neighbour, and how he has a connection with Morgan, but lets her tell her story on her own time. He is supportive and understanding, and may have been an ass at one point or another, but is one of the people who help Morgan when she needs it.
Underwater is a book that draws you in, enables you to become emotionally invested in Morgan and her situation, but also gives you an ending you deserve. Underwater made me really think about Morgan's problem and how hard it can be. It also made me smile and cry.
Final Verdict
Underwater is a book you have to pick up, not only for the gorgeous cover, but also for the story inside.
ameserole's review
3.0
Underwater was an okay book. It didn't really make an impression on me and if I wasn't catching up on reviews today.. well, I probably would've scrolled right past this and kept on writing.
Morgan was an okay character. I don't really have anything positive or negative to say about her. Other than the fact that I felt bad for her throughout the book. Yet, she wasn't my favorite or really memorable to me. I did, however, like Evan's character but again, this book was just meh to me.
Speaking of these two, their relationship was enjoyable to read but I just couldn't get behind Morgan's character. The girl lives in so much fear every day that it was just exhausting to read about. I can't even imagine about living that way. Of course her reason to live in fear everyday isn't something to completely hate her for. She lived through something tragic, a school shooting. However, not moving on from the event or terrible memories of that day was just.. kind of annoying. It might've been the overall pace of the book.. but she just kept living in this forever nightmare day in and day out.
Morgan had people in her corner that were trying to help her move on from everything. I did like certain characters or situations in this book - but liking those few moments weren't going to make me fall in love with this book. Her secret was pretty interesting and definitely kept me reading it but once it was revealed.. again, I was just like okay. I moved on.
Overall, it could've been better in my eyes.
Morgan was an okay character. I don't really have anything positive or negative to say about her. Other than the fact that I felt bad for her throughout the book. Yet, she wasn't my favorite or really memorable to me. I did, however, like Evan's character but again, this book was just meh to me.
Speaking of these two, their relationship was enjoyable to read but I just couldn't get behind Morgan's character. The girl lives in so much fear every day that it was just exhausting to read about. I can't even imagine about living that way. Of course her reason to live in fear everyday isn't something to completely hate her for. She lived through something tragic, a school shooting. However, not moving on from the event or terrible memories of that day was just.. kind of annoying. It might've been the overall pace of the book.. but she just kept living in this forever nightmare day in and day out.
Morgan had people in her corner that were trying to help her move on from everything. I did like certain characters or situations in this book - but liking those few moments weren't going to make me fall in love with this book. Her secret was pretty interesting and definitely kept me reading it but once it was revealed.. again, I was just like okay. I moved on.
Overall, it could've been better in my eyes.