Dear Medusa (A Novel in Verse) — Content Guide for Parents
Themes present
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Content themes
Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.
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Religious themes
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
"This is more than a story about sexual violence—this book is about race, sexuality, love, and how anger can be a catalyst for healing."
—Gabrielle Union, bestselling author, actress, and producer
Sixteen-year-old Alicia Rivers has a reputation that precedes her. But there’s more to her story than the whispers that follow her throughout the hallways at school—whispers that splinter into a million different insults that really mean: a girl who has had sex. But what her classmates don't know is that Alicia was sexually abused by a popular teacher, and that trauma has rewritten every cell in her body into someone she doesn't recognize. To the world around her, she’s been cast, like the mythical Medusa, as not the victim but the monster of her own story: the slut who asked for it.
Alicia was abandoned by her best friend, quit the track team, and now spends her days in detention feeling isolated and invisible. When mysterious letters left in her locker hint at another victim, Alicia struggles to keep up the walls she's built around her trauma. At the same time, her growing attraction to a new girl in school makes her question what those walls are really keeping out.
"[This] fierce and brightly burning feminist roar…paints a devastating and haunting portrait of a vulnerable young woman discovering the power of her voice, her courage, and her rage." —Samira Ahmed, New York Times bestselling author of Internment and Hollow Fires
Frequently asked questions
Is Dear Medusa (A Novel in Verse) appropriate for a 7-year-old?
The book addresses sexual assault, specifically detailing the experience of a 16-year-old girl who is assaulted by a teacher, and the subsequent social repercussions she faces. No elements of horror or frightening content are indicated in the search results.
Does Dear Medusa (A Novel in Verse) have violence?
The book addresses sexual assault, specifically detailing the experience of a 16-year-old girl who is assaulted by a teacher, and the subsequent social repercussions she faces.
Does Dear Medusa (A Novel in Verse) have scary content?
No elements of horror or frightening content are indicated in the search results.
Does Dear Medusa (A Novel in Verse) have religious themes?
No religious practices, beliefs, or ceremonies are mentioned in the narrative of the book.
Does Dear Medusa (A Novel in Verse) have racial/cultural content?
The book features a racially diverse cast, including a Black character and a Pakistani-American character, and discusses issues of racism and social assumptions related to race.
Does Dear Medusa (A Novel in Verse) have profanity?
No explicit profanity is reported in the search results related to the narrative of the book.
Does Dear Medusa (A Novel in Verse) have climate change?
No themes related to climate or environmental issues are present in the narrative of the book.
Does Dear Medusa (A Novel in Verse) have sexual identity?
The narrative includes themes of sexual assault and the impact it has on the protagonist's life, as well as her exploration of sexuality following the trauma.
Does Dear Medusa (A Novel in Verse) have gender roles?
The narrative critiques patriarchal values and the policing of women's bodies, highlighting themes of agency and internalized misogyny in the context of the protagonist's experiences.
Does Dear Medusa (A Novel in Verse) have lgbtq+ themes?
The main character, Alicia, is bisexual, while Deja is asexual and Geneva is a lesbian. The narrative includes themes of sexual identity and explores the experiences of queer characters.
