Song Below Water vs PET

We at DSM found both books unique and the writing style sometimes annoying. One person hated both books with an emphatic UGH! It was hard to engage and become emotionally attached. These are heavy, dark themes.

Song Before Water 

Mermaids, Gargoyles, Soul Sisters and Black Lives Matter. This story tackles racism, sexism and the oppression of black women in society. Wow, it is timely, but a lot to take in. This society fears women with a voice. Think of Aretha Franklin’s voice. Mmm Hmm, pure power. The story features two young, black women with magical powers which are, at first, unknown and withheld.  The two main characters, Tavia and Effie, come to understand they actually have power and can use it. One is a Siren who uses vocal magic on others. They have a true sisterhood, just not by birth. The book is really about finding your true self and not being afraid to show your true self especially as a young black woman. That being said, the language is definitely for higher level YA readers. The fantasy elements of the story are confusing and hard to follow. The gargoyle on the roof although thrilling (I want one on my house) sat heavy on my shoulder, smirking while I read. After reading the story I still don’t know what an eloko is. It was too long. I found myself saying when is this going to end. Halfway through I started “skimming” until the last chapter. Magical Realism is not my thing! There were redeeming qualities. It has a good message. This book may resonate with the right reader. Others might go UGH!.

PET

Some of the team could not get into PET at all. 2 of us didn’t dislike it. Child abuse and angels vs monsters are the themes of this unique book which has a fairy tale vibe. I had to sit and digest the story for a while after reading. It certainly made me think about the child abuse happening right now in our society. Jam is a transgender girl who is selectively verbal. She often signs to communicate. She is loved and accepted by her parents and society. Her trans status normalized. Her friend’s parents are in a polyamorous relationship and one of them uses the pronouns they/them. Jam unknowingly summons a creature from within one of her Mother’s paintings because of a drop of her blood. The creature is here to hunt a monster, unseen but lurking in her friend’s house. It is about the unseen evil around us. Evil we can’t see or choose to ignore. Angels look like monsters and monsters look like regular humans. The Mother’s accent annoyed me. I loved the inclusivity. It is both a weird and wonderful book. A dark fable for our times.

It was not unanimous. Song Below Water moves on.

Valeen and the DSM Team