Drowning Hate


Young Adult - Coming of Age
392 Pages
Reviewed on 10/23/2023
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Drowning Hate by Gregory Saur examines the journey a group of fourth graders from South Burbank County must take to overcome their differences and learn to trust each other. The teenagers are looking forward to having a wonderful summer — hanging out together and playing baseball. However, they are pitted against each other, torn apart by the color of their skin. A teacher desperate to get rich opens the floodgates of an evil that might just destroy them all. The boys must find common ground, unite, and overcome their differences to beat the evil D-Man and his sinister schemes.

This is a well-plotted narrative that offers many lessons to young readers. They will enjoy the characters with their typical behaviors of teenagers, mirroring the culture in which they have grown up. They have learned to discriminate against and judge each other because of the color of their skin and those who identify with each other share some common affinities. George and Kaden stick together, and they have a light skin color while Micah and Delvin are dark. Jeremiah is unique and could be the bridge linking both camps. Gregory Saur's novel will teach young readers what really matters in life and help them understand that human worth goes beyond wealth and physical looks. The transformation that the characters undergo as they face a strong challenge had me spellbound and I marveled at what can happen to people when they choose tolerance over their prejudices and teamwork over personal differences. Drowning Hate is a thoughtful, engaging narrative that is character-driven.