From the Bookshelf of Challenge Corner…

Where the Drowned Girls Go (Wayward Children, #7)

Seanan McGuire

Start date: April 1, 2024

Finish date: April 30, 2024

Discussion: Book of the Month

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 8 topics — 673 comments total

Book of the Month

This topic has been closed to new comments.

* Previous BOTMs
By Felicia · 11 posts · 738 views

last updated Dec 27, 2024 06:25AM

* BOTM Polls!
By Alaina · 25 posts · 225 views

last updated Oct 21, 2025 05:28AM

showing 10 of 27 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Feb 03, 2022 Elizabeth Aguilar rated it it was amazing

Triger Warnings: PTSD, suicidal ideation, internalized and external fatphobia, mention of suicide attempt

When I first picked up Beneath the Sugar Sky, I was surprised by the imo misleading summary about Rini being the main POV character but it being Cora. But then I was surprised again when it really was Rini's story and Sumi's but also part of Cora's. I really wanted to learn more about her world then, but I'm glad we waited. Where the Drowned Girls Go does a wonderful job of revealing more abo ...more

11 likes · Like · see review

Apr 06, 2022 Dr. Andy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: queer-author, asian-rep, fat-character, latine-x-rep, queer-side-character, queer-rep-trans, mental-illiness-suicidal-ideation, mental-illness-anxiety, queer-af, read-2022

The ending made me a little teary.

Where the Drowned Girls Go follows Cora as she continues to deal with the Drowned Gods that are plaguing her. Cora realizes she needs something different and she begs Eleanor to transfer her to the Whitethorn Institution. But when Cora arrives, she realizes the Institution is not what she thought and she's not sure she'll be able to get out before it's too late.

This book is much darker than the others. It discusses the harm fatphobia does and how bullying can The ending made me a little teary.

Where the Drowned Girls Go follows Cora as she continues to deal with the Drowned Gods that are plaguing her. Cora realizes she needs something different and she begs Eleanor to transfer her to the Whitethorn Institution. But when Cora arrives, she realizes the Institution is not what she thought and she's not sure she'll be able to get out before it's too late.

This book is much darker than the others. It discusses the harm fatphobia does and how bullying can tear a person down from the inside. It also discusses suicide and suicidal thoughts. Cora has struggled with all of these things and since leaving her door, she hasn't found a place she's felt she's truly belonged since. To add to that, the Drowned Gods are screaming for her and she refuses to answer their call even though her body screams for the sea.

I loved that we got to see the Whitethorn Institute in this one. It had been mentioned throughout the series and I was getting really curious. I hope one of the next books will deal with the consequences of what Cora and her friends do at the end of this one for Whitethorn. Because I feel like there's so much potential to build from this.

Cora was such a great main character, I loved that we got to know her more. I also loved seeing her relationship with Sumi deepen and how she befriends Regan! I loved seeing Regan again. This book was short, but it was powerful and I really enjoyed it!

Rep: white fat queer female MC with anxiety, white intersex female side character, Japanese American cishet female side character, Mexican-American cishet male side character, white trans male side character, various female side characters.

CWs: Fatphobia, body shaming, bullying, forced institutionalization, gaslighting, suicidal thoughts, past suicide attempt, confinement, emotional abuse, mental illness (anxiety), panic attacks. Moderate: animal death, death, grief, self harm, abandonment. Minor: child abuse, blood, murder, violence, war, injury/injury detail. ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Jan 16, 2022 Tanya Patrice rated it really liked it

Shelves: audiobooks

As a fan of this series, I really enjoyed this new installment - although it's not my favorite. In this book, Cora k=feels she's not being helped at Eleanor West's school. She's heard there's another and begs to go there. Be careful what you wish for - as they say. This series, and this book are A+ for imagery and imaginative Worlds. I think the "hero" bit was overdone and heavy handed, but I loved the diversity and the representation that this author always brings. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Oct 27, 2022 Elle rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

4.5 stars.

While this wasn't my favorite read in this series, it seems to open a lot of doors (pun intended) for future installments. The mysterious Whitethorn Institute is introduced, raising an awful lot of questions but not necessarily resolving them. That was a bit frustrating, but I have to trust that Seanan McGuire will be taking care of those issues down the line.

I know for a lot of readers, these "schoolbound" installments are not as intriguing and entertaining as the portal fantasy one ...more

1 like · Like · see review