What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedSing, Unburied, Sing
Jesmyn Ward · Book · 2020
If you loved Sing, Unburied, Sing, start with Where the Crawdads Sing (Olivia Newman, 2022) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Sing, Unburied, Sing across media.
What hooked you in Sing, Unburied, Sing was the way the weight of history and trauma manifests in the lives of children.
Films on the same thread
Where the Crawdads Sing
Olivia Newman · Film · 2022
Shares a thread with Sing, Unburied, Sing: Southern Gothic.
Like Sing, Unburied, Sing, this story centers on a young person navigating profound isolation and social prejudice while forced to survive entirely on their own in a harsh environment.
A Monster Calls
J. A. Bayona · Film · 2016
Shares a thread with Sing, Unburied, Sing: Magical Realism.
Much like the ghostly presence in Sing, Unburied, Sing, this film uses supernatural elements as a visceral, haunting metaphor for the internal struggle of processing grief and childhood trauma.
Sing Street
John Carney · Film · 2016
Explores: First Love, Escapism Through Music, Brotherhood.
If the struggle of a young boy escaping a strained family life in Sing, Unburied, Sing resonated with you, this film offers a similar look at finding necessary refuge.
Sing Sing
Greg Kwedar · Film · 2024
Explores: Incarceration, Redemption, Finding Purpose.
This film mirrors the focus on the American prison system seen in Sing, Unburied, Sing, highlighting how incarcerated individuals find humanity and purpose through the power of art.
Series on the same thread
Steven Universe
Rebecca Sugar · Series · 2013
Explores: Friendship, Self-discovery, Redemption.
The way Jojo inherits the burdens of his family in Sing, Unburied, Sing is echoed here, as a young boy explores his own identity while navigating complex ancestral trauma.
13 Reasons Why
Brian Yorkey · Series · 2017
Explores: Suicide Contagion, Bullying, Mental Health.
If the heavy impact of past tragedies on the present in Sing, Unburied, Sing moved you, this series offers a similarly raw examination of how youth are defined by trauma.
When They See Us
Ava DuVernay · Series · 2019
Shares a thread with Sing, Unburied, Sing: Systemic racism.
This series explores the same systemic racism and wrongful accusation that haunt the narrative of Sing, Unburied, Sing, focusing on the devastating consequences for young people within the system.
The Singing Detective
Dennis Potter · Series · 1986
Explores: Hallucination, Disease, Memory.
The blurring of reality and hallucination in Sing, Unburied, Sing is mirrored in this story, where a man trapped by his own physical state relives his history through imagination.
Podcasts on the same thread
S-Town
Serial Productions · Podcast · 2024
Explores: small-town isolation, eccentricity, social decay.
This investigation into the secrets of a small town captures the same sense of Southern history and social decay that grounds the setting of Sing, Unburied, Sing.
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Shares a thread with Sing, Unburied, Sing: systemic racism.
If you appreciated the unflinching look at the legacy of slavery and systemic racism in Sing, Unburied, Sing, this series provides the essential historical context for those deep-seated wounds.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Sing, Unburied, Sing a story about a child dealing with family trauma?
Yes, Sing, Unburied, Sing follows thirteen-year-old Jojo, who is forced to act as a parent to his toddler sister. He manages this responsibility while dealing with a father in prison, a mother struggling with drug addiction, and the haunting presence of his late uncle.
Does Sing, Unburied, Sing include supernatural elements?
Yes, Sing, Unburied, Sing incorporates supernatural themes through the character of Jojo. He is haunted by the ghost of his uncle, Given, who died as a victim of racism. This spectral presence creates a constant source of turmoil and distress for Jojo throughout the narrative.
What is the central conflict in Sing, Unburied, Sing?
The central conflict in Sing, Unburied, Sing involves Jojo navigating the burdens of premature adulthood. He must care for his younger sibling while his parents are absent due to incarceration and addiction, all while being persistently haunted by the spirit of his deceased uncle.
How old is the protagonist in Sing, Unburied, Sing?
In Sing, Unburied, Sing, the protagonist Jojo is thirteen years old. Despite his young age, he is forced into an adult role, acting as a caregiver for his toddler sister while coping with his family's instability and the haunting presence of his uncle.