ARC Review: Underwater by Marisa Reichardt (Blog Tour + Giveaway)



Title: Underwater
Author: Marisa Reichardt
Genre: Contemporary 
Source: NetGalley 
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux
Publication Date: January 12th 2016

Summary: 
Morgan didn’t mean to do anything wrong that day. Actually, she meant to do something right. But her kind act inadvertently played a role in a deadly tragedy. In order to move on, Morgan must learn to forgive—first someone who did something that might be unforgivable, and then, herself. But Morgan can’t move on. She can’t even move beyond the front door of the apartment she shares with her mother and little brother. Morgan feels like she’s underwater, unable to surface. Unable to see her friends. Unable to go to school. When it seems Morgan can’t hold her breath any longer, a new boy moves in next door. Evan reminds her of the salty ocean air and the rush she used to get from swimming. He might be just what she needs to help her reconnect with the world outside. Underwater is a powerful, hopeful debut novel about redemption, recovery, and finding the strength it takes to face your past and move on.


This book was a direct hit to all my emotions. Sadness. Anger. Hope. I read this in the early morning hours before I got up for my day, and the whole day afterwards I kept thinking about it. It also got me thinking. This is such a sad reality, not Morgan being afraid to leave her house. But mass shootings. They leave people emotionally and physically hurt. This book is a light of hope for one girl though. 

After a shooting at Morgan's school, she can no longer leave her house. She is terrified. She can't control what's on on the outside. Until one day a boy moves in next door, suddenly Morgan is reminded of everything she use to have before it was taken away from her. Now Morgan wants to live. Not be afraid of the outside. But Morgan is harboring a secret, and believes as a result that the events of October fifteenth are just as much of her fault as the shooter.  

My review won't do this book enough justice. It is terrifying real, you can feel Morgan's pain. The story tackles a tough subject, something that will really hit home for many people. Marisa's writing it beautiful, sensitive and clear. I look forward to reading more by Marisa in the future. She couldn't have made a better introduction in the YA world then with Underwater. 


Rating:




 photo addtogoodreadssmall_zpsa2a6cf28.png photo B6096376-6C81-4465-8935-CE890C777EB9-1855-000001A1E900B890_zps5affbed6.jpg


Follow the Underwater by Marissa Reichardt Blog Tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.





I'm a SoCal native and high school writing instructor. I currently live in Los Angeles and can usually be found huddled over my laptop in coffeehouses or swimming in the ocean. My debut YA contemporary novel, UNDERWATER, will be out 1/12/16 from Macmillan/FSG and 4/7/16 Macmillan Children's UK. I love all books and all genres. While I do keep track of all the books I've read here, I generally don't do ratings or reviews.




Make sure to check each blog! Each giveaway is individual so you have multiple chances to win! 
  • - Open to US ONLY.
  • - Must be 13 or older to enter.
  • - Giveaway starts DATE until DATE.
  • - All entries are double-checked and false entries will be disqualified
  • - Winner will be notified via email and needs to answer in 48 hours letting us know if he/she accepts the prize and send us his/her full name and address.
  • - Your personal information won't be used or be seen unless you're the winner of the giveaway. We won't sell it nor use it in a bad way. But please note that your full name and address will be sent to Fierce Reads in order for you to get your prize.
  • - Tour Hosts as well as the member of the FFBC Tours are not responsible for any lost or stolen items.
  • - One participant cannot win more than one prize in a same giveaway. See our Tour Guidelines in our website for more information.





5 comments

  1. I used to be a swimmer so this sounds really good in that regard. So glad to hear that everything was so well-written and so genuinely emotional. Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous review! ♥

    ~ Zoe @ Stories on Stage

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Zoe! There is so much I could say about it, but none of it could express how much I adored this book

      Delete
  2. My daughter would love to read this book. I teach 6th grade, and I think my students would like it as well. Thank you for the giveaway!
    Dianna

    ReplyDelete
  3. how many entries you have to have?

    ReplyDelete

Please note that if your comment doesn’t appear right away, it’s because we have to approve it. Make sure to click the Notify Me box so you can check back once your comment has been approved! ❤️