I would rate this book 3 1/2 stars out of 5.

This is a short read told by the author about her time growing up in New Orleans starting around the age of fourteen with a mother you could say at best was flighty and making the author the ultimate latchkey kid to the extreme. At the start of this book, it felt like it was all over the place like each paragraph thrown together but the story settles down as describes her day-to-day struggles and wondering whether her mother is coming back. The story takes a dark twist when she talks about being raped and the attempts to cope with this. The story starts to move forward into her adulthood and her work as a counselor and moves back and forth. There are parts that are educational such as what happened in China when they tried to eradicate the sparrow and what the ramifications when they almost succeeded and other part that were educational but also tragic when it concerns statistics on women and girls who have been violated. It was definitely sad when she talks about a cartoon clip and how it relates to one of her clients. I was surprised how the story comes full circle.

"It was the summer of secrets and imaginary numbers." (loc. 368*)

1973: Smith's mother set off for the summer, leaving fourteen-year-old Smith alone in their home. In theory, Smith was supposed to use the time to thrive; in practice, she found herself fighting—sometimes literally—for survival.

"Sorrow's tears look like an aerial photo after a tornado has blown out half the town. The high school is gone. All you can see are the foundations and angles where homes used to stand and well-traveled streets are now broken in half. But the tears full of laughter have swimming pools in back yards and parks full of swings—the town before the tornado arrived." (loc. 522)

The book takes on a somewhat dreamy structure, slipping easily from one moment into the next, tied together with imaginary numbers and difficult growth. It took me a moment to get into the writing, but once I was in, I was more or less captivated throughout. It's an emotionally complicated story, focusing on that 1973 summer and the way the summer's events reverberated but also taking Smith deep into adulthood, to (and through) the point at which she became her mother's caregiver for good. Smith explores what it means to be a caregiver, especially when the person for whom you are caring has in fact failed to care for you—again, complicated and without easy answers.

Beautifully written and with a depth disproportionate to the book's short length.

*Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.

"Everywhere the Undrowned" by Stephanie Clare Smith is a mesmerizing exploration of a world both hauntingly familiar and exquisitely strange. Smith's prose weaves a tapestry of lyrical beauty and dark mystery, immersing readers in a vivid dreamscape that blurs the lines between reality and fantasy.

The novel follows the journey of its enigmatic protagonist through a landscape of submerged memories and forgotten truths. Smith's keen sense of atmosphere creates an eerie yet enchanting backdrop for a narrative that unfolds like a haunting melody. Themes of loss, identity, and the resilience of the human spirit resonate throughout the pages, leaving readers both contemplative and emotionally stirred.

Smith's ability to craft multidimensional characters adds depth to the narrative, making it easy for readers to empathize with the struggles and triumphs of the protagonist. The novel's pacing is expertly calibrated, maintaining a delicate balance between introspection and action.

"Everywhere the Undrowned" is a poetic and thought-provoking journey that lingers in the mind long after the final page. Stephanie Clare Smith has crafted a compelling work of speculative fiction that transcends genres, offering a unique and unforgettable reading experience.