The Loss of the Burying Ground

by J. Anderson Coats

In this twisting, page-turning read, shipwrecked teen girls from opposing sides of a long war must find common ground in order to survive.

When the Burying Ground goes down in neutral waters, it sends the delegations from two warring nations—and the peace treaty they were about to sign—to the bottom of the ocean. The only survivors are a pair of teen girls: Cora, daughter of a Duran newspaper man, and Vivienne, lady’s maid to an Ariminthian princess. Neither has known a time when war between their two countries did not rage, but now they must learn to trust each other if they are to find sustenance, avoid dangerous pirates, and have any hope of rescue from the remote island they washed up on. However, in the midst of a conflict steeped in fierce national identity, propaganda, disinformation, and radicalization, finding a common path forward seems nearly impossible, for both Cora and Vivienne and their respective countries. But when the teens’ politically charged rescue seems likely to extend the war, Cora and Vivienne realize they do have a shared purpose: peace. If only it isn’t too late.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Pirates, Survival, Adventure, Dystopia, Audiobook

288 pages, Hardcover

First published September 3, 2024

About the author

J. Anderson Coats has received five Junior Library Guild selections, two Washington State Book Awards, and earned starred reviews from Kirkus, School Library Journal, the Horn Book Review, and Shelf Awareness. Her newest book is The Loss of the Burying Ground, a YA action-adventure about two warring nations, one fragile peace treaty, a ruinous storm, and two girls who are just starting to realize who the enemy really is. Her next middle grade historical, The Unexpected Lives of Ordinary Girls, is forthcoming from Atheneum Books for Young Readers in 2025.

Reviews

[Chelsea]

DNF @ Page 156 (65%) - Things were more interesting while they were on the island. I thought the characters were a bit flat overall. I ended up skimming to the end and I’m okay with not finishing this one.

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Praise to J. Anderson Coats for another amazing historical fantasy novel for ages 14 and up. 

This author is an auto-buy for me. She has a unique way of combining elements into creative out-of-the-box plots with her historical research. This novel spirals from the narration of one character lost after a shipwreck, then to two, then into a complex society of perpetual war. It makes us feel a panoply of emotions.

The Burying Ground sinks in neutral waters with the delegations of two nations with different regimes: one ruled by a monarchy, and another by a parliament. There are at least two survivors: our protagonists. One from the Duran society, trained since childhood for war, and another from the Ariminthian who served her princess well. They have different skills and different upbringings. According to tradition, they are enemies, but soon they realize that there's more in common than they think. They are the same and the most important commonality is that they both want peace. 

Before they can trust each other and learn to see their reality through another's eyes, they will cease fire to survive the island, then the pirates hunting them on the island, and after, the only chance they'll have to make sure the war will end. 

If a book could translate how our current society and world make me feel overwhelmed, this would be it. The feeling of wanting to act but seeing all paths corrupted and pointless, understanding that the leaders prefer to rule with lies and blame to keep profitable wars going. But... these characters also give us the courage to stick to our beliefs, to do the right thing, and never give up. I believe in the path of fighting back and activism that is not based on violence and retaliation. Instead, I prefer to think that education, knowledge, communication, and acceptance of diversity can win more battles, as these characters do.

It is an amazing read that will start many discussions in the classroom or just keep us thinking for a while, not only regarding the leadership of nations, types of government, and the meaning of war/peace but what are we doing about the wrong things. Do we prefer to stay hidden on a desert island, or face the truth?

Thank you author and publisher for the advance reader copy.

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Loss of the Burying Ground by J. Anderson Coats is a solid standalone YA fantasy. Of the novel, I definitely preferred the portions where they're on the island. The way it ended and with the political elements made me think it was going to actually be a series opener rather than a standalone read. I also wanted the world and characters to be a little more richly developed to hook me more than it did. Otherwise, though, it's a fine adventure.

[Nannette McMurtry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun adventure—thought it was a standalone but definitely feels like the start of a larger series. I feel like it’s a good start and will be made better by the next books.

[Karissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I got a copy of this in hardback as a gift.

Thoughts: I enjoyed this story quite a bit. I did not realize that this is the first book in a series, that surprised me because most of Coats books are stand alone novels. However, I always absolutely love Coats' writing style, it is so easy to fall into, engage with, and enjoy for me. Prior to reading this book I had also read "The Wicked and the Just" (loved it) and "The Green Children of Woolpit" (liked it). I would like to read more of her books at some point.

The story alternates POV between Cora and Vivienne. Cora is the daughter of a Duran news-reporter and has undergone basic survival training but is definitely not prepared to wake up stranded on an island all alone. She despairs that the treaty to end the war between Duran and Ariminthia is lost with the wreck of the Burying Ground. Vivienne is the lady's maid to the Ariminthian princess, when she wakes up alone she is in despair...her whole life has been dedicated to serving the princess...it is all she's ever known. The two girls are forced to set aside their differences when pirates invade the island. They find out they could be the key to peace for both of the countries.

I liked this. I enjoyed both Cora and Vivienne as characters. Their voices are each very unique and I always knew which characters' point of view I was reading from because of how distinct they were from each other. I liked the survival and adventure elements to this as well.

I didn't enjoy the story quite as much once we got deeper into the politics of everything. However, this part was well done. I liked how so many elements from the girls' past and families tie into both the events around them and the politics everyone is enmeshed in. As I said, I didn't realize this was part of a series, so I was disappointed in the fact that there wasn't any resolution here.

My Summary (4/5): Overall I really enjoyed this, especially the beginning of the book. I enjoyed the characters, the easy to read and engaging writing style, and how everything started to tie together. I plan on reading the next book in this series when it releases and plan on reading more books by Coats in general.

[ReadingWright · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half was good but the second half was pretty boring. The writing also got a bit confusing the second half. Not sure if there'll be a second book but probably wouldn't read it if there is.

[biba ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad - just not great, either. I was expecting some high-stakes, high-twist, intense YA story that left me out of breath, but it didn't do that. It felt more middle grade, even though it centers on a war. It was kind just...quiet. Yes, there are high stakes because countries are at war, but it almost felt too calm. I never felt the rush.

The Burying Ground was supposed to bring peace. The whole Ariminthian royal family would attend, as would the Duran head of state (I think that's what they're called?). Sent out on neutral waters, with one reporter, a peace treaty would be drafted and signed. All would be well, right?
Expect it isn't, because the ship that should've been expertly built falls apart due to a storm - and there's no wreckage and no survivors. Well, almost no survivors. Two girls, Cora and Vivienne, survive against all odds. And they want to get home and stop the war before it's too late.

Seems pretty intense, right? But it just didn't read like that, unfortunately. It's not so much about the politics, but more about the characters. Cora and Vivi don't interact for much of the first half, until they're forced together to survive. Even then, they spend a lot of time talking about their different forms of government and culture. This book did a decent job showing how neither system is better than the other (monarchy vs democracy).
It also did feel slightly repetitive. The two are constantly thinking/talking about their governments, comparing them, and talking about why they need to get back and that the princess (who is dead by the way, but it's part of the Arimithian culture) needs them to do this because that. At some point I just wanted them to MOVE ON. I got their motivations, now can we please talk about the politics?

This ends on a cliffhanger (kinda), but it's not super obvious if a second book is coming (nothing on Goodreads yet, but it is a little early considering this came out a couple of months ago). As in, there's enough of a story left for there to be one, since so much of it is left unresolved. If there is one, I'll pick it up. But I wouldn't say I'd rush to the bookstore to get the second one.

Overall, it's not a bad book. It would be good for a younger audience who are interested in very light political themes, or someone who's looking for a more character-driven story. It's really simple to read. Maybe 10+? It felt more middle-grade to me because of the writing style. There's also no bad language, nothing sexual, and nothing violent other than the mentions of the war - and the characters don't even see that. I can see why a younger person might enjoy this one.

I also freaking love the cover, it's gorgeous.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[emily! · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could definitely have used one more round of revision, but it was enjoyable! I really liked Cora and Vivienne as separate characters and as a duo, but their fragmented ending did leave me a little unsatisfied. The political themes were intriguing but often got too complicated or messy to follow, but the message still stands. It was a very fun read with compelling, likable characters, but the messy plot definitely did it a disservice. Long story short, things were much more interesting when they were on the island.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

The embedded thorns of prejudice and hate come face-to-face with the need to find acceptance in order to survive.

The Burying Ground is the meeting point of delegations from two nations, which have warred for years and are hoping to find peace. Before the treaty is signed, the ship meets disaster and ends up on the bottom of the ocean with all but two passengers dead. Cora, the daughter of a newspaper man from one side of the war, and Vivienne, maid to the princess on the other side, are the sole survivors. At first, they are unaware that the other has made it to the island alive, but when they finally do meet, their hate runs deep. The island and the dangers around them threaten to kill them both, but if they hope to survive, they must find a way to get along...especially when their own peace might later change the path of their nations as well.

The book is broken down into four sections, each opening up to the next stage of the plot. The reader first meets Cora and Vivienne just as they realize they've washed up on shore, not knowing the other exists or has survived. By staying in first person and switching between each point of view, the thoughts, fears, and hopes of both individuals become clear. This allows the girls to gain sympathy separately before they meet and clash. All the while, a third and unknown character has their own perspective and tale thrown in here and there, which adds a touch of mystery while also giving more depth to the world beyond the island and a taste of the stakes surrounding the war.

The first fifty pages (or so) allow each character to develop individually. While this sets the foundation for the driving message, it also holds a slightly lower pace. First, at around page 80 or so, the pacing picks up and steadily increases after that as the two characters face one unexpected challenge after the next. By the end, the tension is palpable, and it's hard to see how everything will work out. I was also surprised a little by the pretty modern day language usage despite the setting, but then, remembered this isn't historical but fantasy. This lends the story familiar aspects with a slightly unique style.

Both characters are easy to root for, and this makes the message come across with potency. It's not hard to notice how society and history has molded their opposing thoughts, and how a little open mindedness can clear away the storm. The darker side, however, isn't totally forgotten as strings of intrigue, greed, and more also come into play. The extra twist of the world outside is well done and adds needed tension as well as unexpected twists. Fans of enemies turning to friends against dangerous odds while facing danger around them will enjoy this one. I picked up a DRC through Edelweiss and enjoyed the world and characters.

[Rachel Feeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Loss of the Burying Ground is an introspective novel about Cora and Vivienne, two girls from warring countries who are caught in the aftermath of a failed diplomatic expedition and the storm of intrigue, propaganda, and covert operations that come in its wake.

Beautifully written and told in dual points-of-view, this story is quieter than what might be expected for a war novel. Cora and Vivienne separately wash up on a deserted island just after a massive shipwreck, and there the journey of survival begins. The sinking of the ship is mentioned in passing, but that sort of action isn’t the focus. Instead, the inner conflict and personal struggles of the girls are front and center, and the first half of the book is entirely about basic survival.

Cora and Vivienne are a highlight of the book. Their relationship is generally contentious, at best, and underlines the differences in worldview, temperament, and upbringing which they both recognize in each other, and either wonder about or despise. Cora comes from a more progressive nation, where soldiers instruct children in wilderness survival and leaders are determined by election. In contrast, Vivienne is a palace servant with a reverence for nature and spiritual intuition, and obedience to customs which even she admits are restrictive. Through comparison, neither side is labeled as consistently right or wrong, and the ideas are explored, both on an individual level and as an analogue for the national policies and wartime attitudes of the girls’ respective nations. The enemy is not a man holding a gun – it is the circumstances, misinformation, or manipulation that put him there.

As I mentioned, despite the wartime setting, daring escapades are few and far between, and it may feel particularly slow in the first half. This section deals with the girls’ individual survival, and even after they are aware of one another, they continue to act independently for some time, until additional threats force them together. These scenes highlight their resourcefulness, differences in upbringing, and struggles with nature, but each chapter feels the need to restate their circumstances/motivations which grows repetitive. And although the pace picks up significantly in the second half, the story still feels more rooted in commenting on the facts of the war rather than the people who are living it.

Anyway, pick this up for a tale of survival and how ordinary people can be forever changed by the smallest part of a war.

*Thanks to the author and publisher for the opportunity to review in partnership with YABC. See YABooksCentral for more reviews!*

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Representations: MCs' race and sexuality are not described, LGBTQ+ relationships normal in this world
TW: drowning, abandonment, terrorism

The premise: two warring nations agree to sign a peace treaty. Their delegations with top government officials on both sides board the ship The Burying Ground to sail from a neutral port to neutral waters to sign the treaty. A storm capsizes the ship, and all aboard drown except for a palace servant on one side and the daughter of a reporter on the other. They must work together to be rescued and try to secure the peace that their governments had agreed to. Awesome, I thought...

The writing: the worldbuilding is haphazard and nonsensical in places. For example, the king's consort dies with him but the Queen Mother survives. "Queen Mother" usually refers to the mother of the current king, but in this world, she is the child bearer for the king, who is gay. This exposition would have been helpful AT ANY POINT before several conversations about the Queen Mother's inability to ascend the throne. Also, instead of focusing on the political intrigue surrounding Duran parliament or the Ariminthian royal court, the writer pens the internal musings of the two MCs, which might be okay if they had more than one thought each. They are so single-mindedly focused, that each character literally repeats the same thought they had earlier in the book to show that they are musing about their lives. MORE THAN ONCE! I could go on, but you get the drift.

Skip this snooze fest.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another gripping, deep, wonderful book by J. Anderson Coats—and this one, although set in an imaginary place, has a lot to say about the world we are all living in today. NOBODY does “political intrigue plus complex human relationships plus the nitty-gritty details that go into surviving bad situations” better than Coats. Two girls from two countries at war end up stranded on an island together—already a good premise. They have a lot to learn about each other, but even more to learn about themselves and (especially) how their views of the world have been constructed over the years. But then J. Anderson Coats ups the stakes: they are “rescued” (well, sort of), and then we see how complex the political camps are in this world. We are not talking about some singular “gray area”: in this story, there are layers upon layers of gray, a whole artist’s palette of grays! In a world like this, how does one figure out how to be one’s own self? That is the challenge. And while the novel is making us think (hard!) and rethink, it is also making us care deeply about these girls, Cora and Vivienne, both of whom have lost so much over their lives. The world doesn’t expect either of them to show independence, and yet each of them does, in her own way. Read this for the survival story, the political intrigue, the “pirates,” the twists and turns, the depth of the thinking that has gone into building this troubled world. Read it and be amazed!

[Katherine Van Halst · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was in high school, my favorite English teacher made me read George Orwell's classic 1984... and I absolutely hated it. But oh how it made my little librarian heart happy to have that knowledge of it now, as I read this book and realized how wonderful a replacement it would be for 1984 in a high school English class.
Let's talk about government manipulation and driving division to keep class structures in place, let's talk about propaganda and brainwashing, let's talk about dehumanization of an enemy and wars that we don't fully understand. Let's talk about lacking a happy ending! Now I will say, 1984 ends in a worse place where it begins, more impactfully illustrating the frustration of trying to make any change in a world that's so far out of your control. In this book there is more hope, but I think that for a young adult audience, that's all the better. It also features actual young people, and young women no less.
I think that you really could criticize this book for lacking much of a plot. But you would call this a book about a peace treaty in the same way Dune is about the intergalactic drug trade-- nothing happens but it DOES and I LIKED IT.
You might like this one if you liked Zara by S. Jae Jones, Seasparrow by Kristin Cashore, or The Queen of Atolia by Meghan Wallen Turner.

[Jay G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JayGTheAwkw...

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*

3.5/5 Stars

The Burying Ground goes down at sea, with two opposing sides of a war on board. There are only two known survivors, washed up on an island. Cora, a Duran, trained since childhood for the war, and Vivienne, who was the Ariminthian Princess' maid. At first, they do not know the other is on the island, but when they meet, they must work together to escape the pirates.

I enjoyed this more then I initially thought I would. I liked how it was told in dual POV between Cora and Vivienne. I think it allowed the reader to understand how each side viewed the other in the war and how they were essentially brainwashed to hate the other. There is also a third mystery POV, which I felt added to the story. I liked the time they spent on the island more then once they were off, but it was still enjoyable overall.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't a fantasy where there's actual magic, but an alternate world with alternate tech and resources. Two countries are at war. Who is winning, who wants the war to continue, and who are the casualties? This is a great exploration of what truth is, what propaganda is, and how it takes a long time for 2 people stuck on a deserted island to gradually realize that what they've been told the whole time isn't true (or is only a warped version of the truth). Their mutual realizations come to a head when they are "rescued," and nobody thinks what they witnessed (the truth) important enough to listen to. Despite their efforts, war continues, but they have been changed and they separately vow to continue to seek the truth. As readers who see things from 3 POV, we have a good guess as to what happened, but the search for truth is the lesson.

[Chris G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dara’s war with Aramithia is meant to end with a peace treaty signed on the Burying Ground, an Arimithian ship built just for this mission. To avoid any treachery, the rulers of both countries and their families are aboard along with Cora, whose journalist father has been chosen to keep the official record, and Vivienne, the servant of the Arimithian King’s youngest daughter.

When the Burying Ground mysteriously sinks, Cora and Vivienne are stranded on a deserted island and must learn to overcome their mistrust and cultural misunderstandings - especially when the pirates arrive. A stirring plot, intriguing plot twists, and a cliff-hanger ending will leave readers eagerly awaiting a sequel. EARC from Edelweiss.

[Pennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great story. I loved the dual point of view of Cora and Vivienne.

I am always obsessed with anything dealing with the sea. And the fact that this starts pretty much with a shipwreck and it’s a historical era of a story, had me intrigued. You get to watch these two go through survival for most of the book.

A wonderful YA book that I encourage not only the young, but even adults to check out.

I also want to mention how beautiful the cover is. Once it arrived I instantly said “Wow!”

I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. The review was not influenced in anyway.

[Addison Vallier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why on earth would you send EVERY important person in your country's politics on the same ship?? Forget "unbreakable wood," you could all be taken out by one person who's really good at pushing people off of a deck!

An interesting premise but everyone in both country's politics was pretty stupid for that choice.

On a more serious note, I thought the book was somewhat intriguing. The worldbuilding was cool but the characters fell flat for me. I wanted to find out was going to happen, which was my main motivator for finishing the book. However, I didn't really feel invested in the characters.

[Jennybeast · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spectacularly well written ship adventure, with tons of political intrigue and characters constantly trying to make their ways through shifting sands and betrayals. It ultimately feels like a deep meditation on war and politics -- that leaves you questioning every motivation, as we should. I really love J. Anderson Coats, but I think I have to accept that her work will be bleak. Realistic? Perhaps. Not entirely without hope, but that hopefulness is found within each person's will and determination and decisions. It's a hard lesson, and one I dislike.

[Addie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

This book has so much potential 😭. I loved the world building and character development but all in all everything felt very flat. There was zero relationship between Cora and Vivienne after they left the island...and I mean 0. I could look past that if there was a fast developing plot but there just wasn't. There was no climax so it left the reading simply wanting more. Also characters kinda just disappear and aren't really mentioned again. So in summary I loved the idea of this book, just not the execution.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was a miss for me, the characters felt flat and the plot never really caught my attention. The synopsis and promotion of this book made it look like a standalone but it very much ends on a pause of the plot to set up a second book which is disappointing.

While the individual narrators on the audiobook weren’t bad, they all sounded so similar that it was easy to lose track of which character was narrating the chapter, with the two main protagonists from different countries, I had hoped they would have each had their own unique accent.

[Latha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending was definitely unexpected. It looks like there is a sequel planned, which I wish I knew before I started reading the book. Keeping in mind that the 2 main characters are young minors, the book is an interesting read on how they see politics, and how it affects them. The idea that people in power are willing to let innocent countrymen die, sometimes children, just as a reason to keep the war going, is ruthless and disgusting but unfortunately realistic. A disturbing amount of realism for a book meant for younger readers.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was about lesbians but it turned out to be about international diplomacy, which is even better, and I thought it was a stand-alone, but apparently there's going to be a sequel OR AT LEAST THERE HAD BETTER BE. I loved this. 4.5.

ETA: No sequel announcement? Just an open-ended ending where Cora vows to cause problems on purpose and I get to imagine her shenanigans? That's fine too but I still hope this turns out to be a Megan Whalen Turner situation.

[Dorothy Shackelford · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel weird rating it because it feels like half a book. I would’ve read a book that was double the length if it meant meant we got some closure and not something that feels like a mid chapter scene change. Like, one more little tidbit of Knight or SOMETHING would’ve been a great cliffhanger.

Personal icks- I HATE when fantasy novels use too much current slang/the language feels too much like what I’d hear in a high school (unless it’s more of a “magical realism/urban fantasy” story, which this isn’t). And I also really couldn’t tell where the two nations were technologically/culturally/religiously. I don’t need massive infodumps, but give me something.

It started strong and just faltered at the end, which is a huge bummer. Not sure if I’ll read the next one.

[Cecilia Rodriguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Narrated by Cora daughter of a Duran newspaper reporter; and Vivienne a Lady’s maid to an Ariminthian princess.
When the ship: The Burying Ground sinks in a storm, Cora and Vivienne are the only survivors.

The plot has a very strong anti war theme.

[Laura Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great J. Anderson Coats read! Unique, interesting and exciting story. A must read!

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNFed at 20%

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. Would be good for a government or history class. Very political.

[Sharon Buxton · Rating 2 out of 5]

D+. YA, fiction; shipwreck of two girls; found it difficult to follow

[Madz Roach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but mostly world building and set up for a sequel/series