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Cover of Thicker Than Water

Thicker Than Water

Penelope Farmer (1989)

SubgenreHigh Fantasy
Age groupMiddle Grade 8-12
Content ratingPG
Pages (Standard (250-400))
Setting
CSM age10
Goodreads3.16
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Content levels

ViolenceMild
Sexual contentNone
LanguageNone

Trigger warnings

Death of ParentGriefChild DeathChild Harm

Positive tags

Found FamilyHealing ArcFriendshipComing of Age

Hero archetypes

Coming-of-Age HeroOrphan

Protagonist archetypes

Ghost / Undead ProtagonistComing-of-Age Protagonist

Tropes

Ghost StoryComing of AgeFound FamilyHaunted LocationFish out of WaterHistorical Ghost

Themes

Grief and LossAdjusting to New FamilyHistorical InjusticeChild LaborFamily BondsIdentityAcceptance

Synopsis

Both Will and his cousin Becky have some adjusting to do when he comes to live with her family after his mother's death, especially when the ghost of a child coal miner begins his insistent haunting of Will.

Is Thicker Than Water appropriate for my child?

Suitable for most readers 10 and up.

A thoughtful middle-grade ghost story about grief and adjustment following a parent's death. The haunting child miner may be emotionally intense but violence is minimal.

What to know going in

This book has mild violence, no sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include child harm, death of parent, child death, and grief.

Who'll love this

Readers who like ghost stories with heart will connect with Will's journey adjusting to a new family while being haunted by a mysterious coal miner.

Tags

Historical FantasyGhost StoryContemporary Fantasy