Kidlit – Page 116 – Trigger Warning Database

The Year We Fell Down by Sarina Bowen

The Year We Fell Down by Sarina Bowen

She expected to start Harkness College as a varsity ice hockey player. But a serious accident means that Corey Callahan will start school in a wheelchair instead.

Across the hall, in the other accessible dorm room, lives the too-delicious-to-be real Adam Hartley, another would-be hockey star with his leg broken in two places. He’s way out of Corey’s league. Also, he’s taken… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

Ableism
Misogyny
Child neglect
Substance addiction mentioned
Paralysis

Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen

Simi prayed to the gods, once. Now she serves them as Mami Wata–a mermaid–collecting the souls of those who die at sea and blessing their journeys back home. But when a living boy is thrown overboard, Simi goes against an ancient decree and does the unthinkable–she saves his life. And punishment awaits those who dare to defy the gods. To protect the other Mami Wata, Simi must journey to the Supreme Creator to make amends. But all is not as it seems. There’s the boy she rescued, who knows more than he should. And something is shadowing Simi, something that would rather see her fail. Danger lurks at every… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

Slavery discussed
Alcohol consumption (wine)
Emesis
Blood and injury depiction
Sword and axe violence
Strangulation, on-page
Kidnapping and captivity of children
Drowning, on-page
Shipwreck and boating accidents, on-page
Lightning storms ,on-page
Mentions of war
Animal death mentioned (cows, goats)
Animal attack (hyena, shark, birds)

It Only Happens in the Movies by Holly Bourne

It Only Happens in the Movies by Holly Bourne

Audrey is over romance. While dealing with her parents’ contentious divorce, a breakup of her own, and shifting friendship dynamics, she has every reason to feel cynical. But then she meets Harry, her fellow coworker at the local cinema. He’s brash, impulsive, and a major flirt. And even though Audrey tries to resist, she finds herself falling for his charms. But in this funny, insightful, and ultimately empowering novel, love—and life—isn’t what it’s like in the movies.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

Depression
Suicidal ideation
Self-harm
Recreational drug use

What’s a Girl Gotta Do by Holly Bourne

What’s a Girl Gotta Do? by Holly Bourne

Lottie is starting a supersonic feminist experiment. For one month she’s going to call out every instance of sexism she sees. But when her project hits the headlines, the trolls come out to play – and they are VICIOUS. Lottie’s not a quitter, but best friends Evie and Amber are worried. What if Lottie’s heading for burnout…or worse?

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

Misogyny
Slut shaming
Sexual assault, implied
Sexual harassment
Alcohol consumption

How Hard Can Love Be by Holly Bourne

How Hard Can Love Be? by Holly Bourne

All Amber wants is a little bit of love. Her mum has never been the caring type, even before she moved to California, got remarried and had a personality transplant. But Amber’s hoping that spending the summer with her can change all that.

And then there’s prom king Kyle, the guy all the girls want. Can he really be interested in anti-cheerleader Amber? Even with best friends Evie and Lottie’s advice, there’s no escaping the fact: love is hard.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

Parent with alcoholism
Alcohol consumption & abuse
Emesis

The Manifesto on How to Be Interesting by Holly Bourne

Bree is by no means popular. Most of the time, she hates her life, her school, her never-there-parents. So she writes.

But when Bree is told she needs to stop shutting the world out and start living a life worth writing about, The Manifesto on How to Be Interesting is born. A manifesto that will change everything… but the question is, at what cost?

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

Slut shaming
Teacher-student relationship
Revenge pornography
Self harm
Alcohol consumption
Emesis

Bruised by Tanya Boteju

Bruised by Tanya Boteju

To Daya Wijesinghe, a bruise is a mixture of comfort and control. Since her parents died in an accident she survived, bruises have become a way to keep her pain on the surface of her skin so she doesn’t need to deal with the ache deep in her heart.

So when chance and circumstances bring her to a roller derby bout, Daya is hooked. Yes, the rules are confusing and the sport seems to require the kind of teamwork and human interaction Daya generally avoids… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

Parental abandonment
Self-harm
Death of a parent
Car accident

Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens by Tanya Boteju

Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens by Tanya Boteju

Perpetually awkward Nima Kumara-Clark is bored with her insular community of Bridgeton, in love with her straight girlfriend, and trying to move past her mother’s unexpected departure. After a bewildering encounter at a local festival, Nima finds herself suddenly immersed in the drag scene on the other side of town.

Macho drag kings, magical queens, new love interests, and surprising allies propel Nima both painfully and hilariously closer to a self she never knew she could be—one that can confidently express and accept love. But she’ll have to learn to accept lost love to get there.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

Homomisia & homomisic slurs
Misgendering
Parental abandonment
Domestic violence
Alcohol consumption
Emesis
Bullying

Unspoken by Marie Brennan

Unspoken by Marie Brennan

Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met… a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

Child abuse mentioned
Murder & attempted murder
Knife violence
Near-drowning incident
Animal death

If I Disappear by Eliza Jane Brazier

If I Disappear by Eliza Jane Brazier

Sera loves true crime podcasts. They make her feel empowered in a world where women just like her disappear daily. She’s sure they are preparing her for something. So when Rachel, her favourite podcast host, goes missing, Sera knows it’s time to act. Rachel has always taught her to trust her instincts.

Sera follows the clues hidden in the episodes to an isolated ranch outside Rachel’s small hometown to begin her search. She’s convinced her… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

Depression
Alcoholism
Miscarriage
Animal death