Content levels
Trigger warnings
Protagonist archetypes
Synopsis
Kenneth Harvey has set a gripping, universal tale in an isolated outport village. That outport is Bareneed, Newfoundland, home to a vivid cast of characters who, one by one, come down with a mysterious breathing disorder. Originally published: London: Secker & Warburg, 2004; Vancouver, Ca.: Raincoast, 2003.
Is The Town That Forgot How to Breathe appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 16 and up.
Parents should know this book deals with a mysterious illness affecting an entire community, with themes of mortality and medical horror. The atmospheric dread and psychological tension may be disturbing for younger readers.
What to know going in
This book has mild violence, no sexual content, and moderate language. Content notes include death, chronic illness, and anxiety (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Teens interested in atmospheric mysteries with creeping dread and character-focused storytelling will find this engaging.