Thames: Sacred River by Peter Ackroyd

Thames: Sacred River by Peter Ackroyd

This book meanders gloriously, rather as the river does itself: here are Toad of Toad Hall and Julius Caesar, Henry VIII and Shelley, Turner and Three Men in a Boat. The reader learns about the fishes that swam in the river and the boats that plied on its surface; about floods and tides; hauntings and suicides; sewers, miasmas and malaria; locks, weirs and embankments; bridges, docks and palaces.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Suicide
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A Game for Swallows by Zeina Abirached

A Game for Swallows by Zeina Abirached

When Zeina was born, the civil war in Lebanon had been going on for six years, so it’s just a normal part of life for her and her parents and little brother. The city of Beirut is cut in two, separated by bricks and sandbags and threatened by snipers and shelling. East Beirut is for Christians, and West Beirut is for Muslims. When Zeina’s parents don’t return one afternoon from a visit to the other half of the city and the bombing grows ever closer, the neighbors in her apartment house create a world indoors for Zeina and her brother where it’s comfy and safe, where they can share cooking lessons and games and gossip. Together they try to make it through a dramatic day in the one place they hoped they would always be safe–home.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Explosions
  • War themes
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A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus

A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus

It is 1940 and Anna, 9, Edmund, 11, and William, 12, have just lost their grandmother. Unfortunately, she left no provision for their guardianship in her will. Her solicitor comes up with a preposterous plan: he will arrange for the children to join a group of schoolchildren who are being evacuated to a village in the country, where they will live with families for the duration of the war. He also hopes that whoever takes the children on might end up willing to adopt them and become their new family–providing, of course, that the children can agree on the choice.

Moving from one family to another, the children suffer the cruel trickery of foster brothers, the cold realities of outdoor toilets, and the hollowness of empty tummies… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Child abuse & neglect
  • War themes
  • Graphic animal death
  • Bullying
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Resilient Heart by Annabeth Albert

Resilient Heart by Annabeth Albert

Army IT specialist Xander keeps his emotions wired as tight as his NETCOM gear, but when he’s seriously injured by an IED, his whole life unravels. Running out of options, Xander must accept help from his ex-friend-with-benefits, Mackey. However, Xander’s had feelings for Mackey for years, and close quarters only complicates his emotions. Further, Xander doesn’t know which is worse: combating his inner demons or dealing with Mackey’s guilty kindnesses.

Mackey’s always kept his emotions close to his chest, but now he’s got a secret that could destroy his one chance with the man he cares far too much for. Both men will have to heal their wounded hearts to ensure a future together.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Depression
  • Suicidal ideation
  • Loss of limb in an IED incident
  • Military service recounted
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Mr Right Now by Annabeth Albert

Mr. Right Now by Annabeth Albert

When Russ suffers a Thanksgiving disaster, his gorgeous neighbor Esteban is there to save the day. And after an innocent mix-up leads to the former Hollywood hottie playing the role of Russ’s date, Russ thinks scoring Esteban as his fake boyfriend is a huge win. The newly discharged marine is healing inside and out and could use some holiday cheer.

For his part, Esteban is intrigued by his big, bad neighbor. He likes how his matchmaking cat brings out an unexpected caring side of Russ. Desire flares as the reasons to continue their ruse pile up for both men… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Queermisia
  • Physical injury mentioned
  • MIlitary service mentioned
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Paper Hearts by Meg Wiviott

Paper Hearts by Meg Wiviott

A novel in verse, Paper Hearts is the story of survival, defiance, and friendship. Based on historical events about a group of girls who were slave laborers at the munitions factory in Auschwitz.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Slavery
  • Executions
  • Concentration camps
  • World War Two
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This is My Song by Richard Yaxley

This is My Song by Richard Yaxley

In the 1940s, musician Rafael Ullmann is sent to a Nazi concentration camp.

In the 1970s, Annie Ullmann lives a lonely life on a Canadian prairie.

Three decades later, in Australia, Joe Hawker is uncertain about himself and his future … until he discovers a song, written by his grandfather many years ago.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Antisemitism
  • Concentration camps, including Auschwitz
  • World War Two
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27 Hours by Tristina Wright

27 Hours by Tristina Wright

Rumor Mora fears two things: hellhounds too strong for him to kill, and failure. Jude Welton has two dreams: for humans to stop killing monsters, and for his strange abilities to vanish.

But in no reality should a boy raised to love monsters fall for a boy raised to kill them.

Nyx Llorca keeps two secrets: the moon speaks to her, and she’s in love with Dahlia, her best friend. Braeden Tennant wants two things: to get out from his mother’s shadow, and to unlearn Epsilon’s darkest secret… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Ableism & ableist language
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Panic attacks
  • Blood & gore depiction
  • Physical injury
  • Death of a friend
  • Death of a mother & father mentioned
  • Death of a parent by a cave collapse
  • Death from drowning
  • Explosion
  • Fire
  • Colonialism & war themes
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City of Secrets by Victoria Ying

City of Secrets by Victoria Ying

Ever Barnes is a shy orphan guarding a secret in an amazing puzzle box of a building. Most of the young women who work at the building’s Switchboard Operating Facility, which connects the whole city of Oskar, look the other way as Ever roams around in the shadows. But one of them, Lisa, keeps an eye on the boy. So does the head of the Switchboard, Madame Alexander . . . a rather sharp eye. Enter Hannah, the spunky daughter of the building’s owner. She thinks Ever needs a friend, even if he doesn’t know it yet. Lisa and Madame Alexander are each clearly… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Hospitalisation for injury & blood depiction
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a father recounted
  • Murder & attempted murder
  • Death from a fall
  • War themes, including a missile strike
  • Child homelessness & poverty

The Girl the Sea Gave Back by Adrienne Young

The Girl the Sea Gave Back by Adrienne Young

For as long as she can remember, Tova has lived among the Svell, the people who found her washed ashore as a child and use her for her gift as a Truthtongue. Her own home and clan are long-faded memories, but the sacred symbols and staves inked over every inch of her skin mark her as one who can cast the rune stones and see into the future. She has found a fragile place among those who fear her, but when two clans to the east bury their age-old blood feud and join together as one, her world is dangerously close to collapse.

For the first time in generations, the leaders of the Svell are divided. Should they maintain peace or go to war with the allied clans to protect their newfound power?… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Alcohol consumption
  • Graphic blood & gore depiction
  • Decapitation
  • Death of a child by drowning mentioned
  • Murder & mass murder
  • Knife violence & stabbing
  • Physical assault recounted
  • War themes & battle scenes
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