And the River Drags Her Down

Gr 9 Up–When 17-year-old Soojin’s sister Mirae drowns, Soojin knows better than to use her magic to bring her back from the dead. Regardless, her grief gets the best of her, and she proceeds with her necromancy only to find that maybe it wasn’t such a good idea. This dark novel is not only creepy but also has strong themes of grief, resurrection, and friendship. When Mirae returns to the small town of Jade Acre, she is not the same, and resurrection takes on a new meaning as the past and old truths resurface as she seeks revenge. Beautifully written, Yun’s prose is lyrical; the book brings readers into the grieving process which Soojin and her father must experience more than once. Yun whisks slower pacing with action that will allow teens to reflect on the decision made. Yun does not allow the plot to spiral out of control; instead, she writes with intention as if she is no stranger to grief. Soojin represents learning to live with grief with the help of the other characters like her father and good friend, Mark. Main characters are Korean American who interact with predominantly white secondary characters. Yun includes plenty of references to Korean culture through food and language.