Tag Archives: Animal Illness & Injury

This page lists books that contain trigger warnings for the depiction of animal illness and injury and animal dead bodies.

See also Animal abuse & cruelty, Hunting, and Animal Death.

Spare by Prince Harry and J.R. Moehringer

It was one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother’s coffin as the world watched in sorrow—and horror. As Princess Diana was laid to rest, billions wondered what Prince William and Prince Harry must be thinking and feeling—and how their lives would play out from that point on. For Harry, this is that story at last. Before losing his mother, twelve-year-old Prince Harry was known as the carefree one, the happy-go-lucky Spare to the more serious Heir. Grief changed everything. He struggled at school, struggled with anger, with loneliness—and, because he… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Racism & racial slurs
  • Parental divorce & infidelity and familial estrangement
  • Paedophilia & child sexual abuse mentioned
  • Agoraphobia. anxiety & panic attacks
  • Suicidal ideation mentioned
  • Alcohol consumption & drug use (cigarettes, psychedelics, cocaine, marijuana)
  • Pregnancy, childbirth & miscarriage
  • Weight loss & gain mentioned
  • Physical injury & illness (frostbite, trench foot)
  • Death of a mother in a car accident
  • Death of an ex-partner from suicide
  • Death of a friend in a car accident & avalanche
  • Death of grandparents & great-grandmother mentioned
  • Stalking & harassment by the paparazzi and news organisations
  • Military service & deployment
  • Animal death including hunting & butchering
  • Injury of a pet dog

*Context : Mentions of intimate photos released without consent; mentions of Prince Harry’s uncle being accused of paedophilia and sexual violence.

Virals by Kathy Reichs

Tory Brennan, niece of acclaimed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (of the Bones novels and hit TV show), is the leader of a ragtag band of teenage “sci-philes” who live on a secluded island off the coast of South Carolina. When the group rescues a dog caged for medical testing on a nearby island, they are exposed to an experimental strain of canine parvovirus that changes their lives forever. As the friends discover their heightened senses and animal-quick reflexes, they must combine their scientific curiosity with their newfound physical gift… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Murder
  • Kidnapping
  • Bullying
  • Animal injury & cruelty including medical experimentation

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

In 1345, China lies under harsh Mongol rule. For the starving peasants of the Central Plains, greatness is something found only in stories. When the Zhu family’s eighth-born son, Zhu Chongba, is given a fate of greatness, everyone is mystified as to how it will come to pass. The fate of nothingness received by the family’s clever and capable second daughter, on the other hand, is only as expected. When a bandit attack orphans the two children, though, it is Zhu Chongba who succumbs to despair and dies. Desperate to escape her own fated death, the girl uses her brother’s identity to enter a monastery as a young male novice. There… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Misgendering
  • Slavery mentioned
  • Depression
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Plague
  • Nonconsensual castration recounted
  • Emesis mentioned
  • Starvation
  • Cannibalism mentioned
  • Death of children
  • Murder & mass murder
  • Torture, off-page
  • Bombings
  • War themes
  • Animal injury
  • Animal death

The Poison Waves by Sayantani DasGupta

Kiya and Kinjal have succeeded in their first quest in the magical world of the Kingdom Beyond, but it quickly becomes obvious that whatever good they achieved might not be enough. Their faithful flying horses Snowy and Raat reappear and whisk them back to the Kingdom at the behest of the magical Princess Pakkhiraj. There, she tells them the water pari–winged merpeople–are slowly being poisoned and it is up to the twins to figure it out and put a stop to it. Fortunately Kiya has the know how to solve this mystery…if only she can put the pieces together before the evil serpent king Sesha knows they’ve reentered the Kingdom!

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Arrow violence
  • Fire
  • Earthquakes & mud slides
  • Animal illness & death (horse, fish)

The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta

Indir is a Dreamer, descended from a long line of seers; able to see beyond reality, she carries the rare gift of Dreaming truth. But when the beloved king dies, his son has no respect for this time-honored tradition. King Alcan wants an opportunity to bring the Dreamers to a permanent end—an opportunity Indir will give him if he discovers the two secrets she is struggling to keep. As violent change shakes Indir’s world to its core, she is forced to make an impossible choice: fight for her home or fight to survive… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Animal cruelty
  • Animal injury (dog)

Pax by Sara Pennypacker and Jon Klassen

Pax was only a kit when his family was killed, and “his boy” Peter rescued him from abandonment and certain death. Now the war front approaches, and when Peter’s father enlists, Peter has to move in with his grandpa. Far worse than being forced to leave home is the fact that Pax can’t go. Peter listens to his stern father—as he usually does—and throws Pax’s favorite toy soldier into the woods. When the fox runs to retrieve it, Peter and his dad get back in the car and leave him there—alone. But before Peter makes it through even one night under his grandfather’s roof… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Death of a mother
  • Animal attack
  • Animal injury
  • Animal death

Wings of Shadow by Nicki Pau Preto

Veronyka is no longer an orphaned stable boy or a nameless Phoenix Rider apprentice: she is the daughter of Pheronia Ashfire, the last queen of the Golden Empire…and the niece of Avalkyra Ashfire, the resurrected rebel queen who tore the empire apart. Now that the secret is out, everyone at the Eyrie treats Veronyka differently, and with Tristan still a hostage of the scheming Lord Rolan—and Sev with him as a spy—Veronyka feels very much alone. Except for her beloved phoenix, Xephyra, of course, and her new friend, Kade, who has his own reasons for wanting to… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Physical injury
  • Murder
  • Knife violence
  • Kidnapping
  • Fire
  • War themes

The Last Fallen Realm by Graci Kim

Riley Oh wasn’t born into her family. Instead, as she recently discovered, she tumbled down to the earth many years ago as the last fallen star. Riley Oh also wasn’t born to be a witch. Like, at all—even her status as a divine celestial being comes with zilch in the magical powers department. And Riley Oh definitely wasn’t born to be a leader. But now the entire magical community thinks she and her soul-twin, Dahl, are meant to lead the world into the Age of the Final Eclipse (or whatever it is that the Haetae keeps saying they’re “destined” to do). Greeeat. But ever since Riley killed… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Self-sacrifice
  • Drugging
  • Blood & injury depiction
  • Death of a child from sword violence
  • Captivity & confinement of minors
  • Animal injury (fictional animal)

Skandar and the Phantom Rider by AF Steadman

The Island shall have its revenge. Skandar Smith has achieved his dream to train as a unicorn rider. But as Skandar and his friends enter their second year at the Eyrie, a new threat arises. Immortal wild unicorns are somehow being killed, a prophecy warns of terrible danger, and elemental destruction begins to ravage the Island. Meanwhile, Skandar’s sister, Kenna, longs to join him – and Skandar is determined to help her, no matter what. As the storm gathers, can Skandar discover how to stop the Island tearing itself apart – before it’s too late for them all? 

Goodreads

Trigger & Content Warnings

Hate, Discrimination & Oppression

Sex & Sexual Violence

Abuse & Relationships

Mental Health & Suicide

Alcohol & Drugs

Pregnancy & Childbirth

Medical, Gore & Injury
  • Mentions of a child who is comatose for three weeks after falling from a cliff
Death & Loss

Violence & Crime
  • Battle/fight scenes involving fire and weapons
  • Loss of autonomy (possession)
War & Genocide

Natural Disasters
  • Earthquakes
  • Floods
  • Tornadoes & lightning storms
Animal Death & Cruelty
  • Animal injury
  • Animal death & cruelty
    • A unicorn is found dead
    • Animals are imprisoned and forced to compete in fighting rings where some die.

Tattered Stars by Catherine Cowles

Tattered Stars by Catherine Cowles

Be brave. Just for sixty seconds. Twenty breaths. It took every ounce of my courage to return to the small town I fled all those years ago. But I should’ve known he’d hate me. How could he not when my father’s blood still runs through my veins? Yet here I am, desperate for a chance to make things right. Even if it means facing the family my father almost destroyed and the boy with the dark eyes—now grown—who still haunts my dreams. I never expected just how explosive things would turn between us. He’s the last person I should want. Yet, somehow, I keep drawing closer—so close I know I’ll… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Child abuse recounted
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a parent
  • Attempted murder
  • Gun violence
  • Physical assault
  • Stalking
  • Arson
  • Kidnapping & attempted kidnapping
  • Animal cruelty & injury, on-page (dog)