At its heart, Undrowned is an enemies-to-friends story about two teens. Jasper, impulsive screwup, accidentally releases a shapeshifter (oops) and Harissa, professional manipulator, lies against him in court to protect her mother. Jasper winds up with a divine deadline: interview for a position in the Underworld in a month or get dragged there permanently. Both on the run, the last disaster they expect to trip over is each other. After an explosive face-off, enemies Jasper and Harissa form a reluctant alliance to survive a betrayal woven into the fabric of their world. This playlist hits just as hard as their story. Angsty, cinematic, and on fire.
Everybody’s Fool | Evanescence
For me, Evanescence’s snarling alt-rock anthem perfectly channels Harissa’s frustration at having to wear so many masks and play so many roles. Unhealthy coping skills? Absolutely.
Wake Me Up When September Ends | Green Day
Melancholy on repeat, this one echoes the pain and regret over stolen years, impossible to get back.
Heathens | Twenty One Pilots
This would be the eerie, claustrophobic vibe playing in the background while Harissa tells her mom she’s only killed one person. Nothing says mother-daughter bonding quite like a murder confession.
Fire in These Hills | Imagine Dragons
Jasper’s guilt-tripping theme is like him—a big, epic chorus for a kid who can’t stop feeling like an aimless screwup.
Burn the House Down | AJR
All the kooky, determined energy captured in this song exactly mirrors how fed-up Jasper is with lies and how throwdown-showdown ready he is to face off against Harissa when she rolls into town.
Animal | Miike Snow
This one’s for the shapeshifters, the chameleons like Harissa and Gallium, who’ve worn so many disguises they’ve forgotten their true identities—until someone finally sees past all the masks.
Way Down We Go | Kaleo
The deep, haunting weight of this song echoes Jasper’s literal plunge into the eerie depths of the Underworld.
Stronger | The Score
And this hammering alt-rock drives home Jasper’s stronger, braver return from the Underworld, now fueled with purpose.
Saturn | Sleeping at Last
Bittersweet and heartbreaking, this song voices Harissa’s loss and the tragic appreciation Jasper finds after his brush with the Underworld. “How rare and beautiful it is to even exist.”
Won’t Stop Running | A Great Big World
Irresistibly catchy with a determined beat, this song nails the way Harrisa and Jasper commit to their alliance while refusing to let setbacks keep them from trying.
Chickasaw author G. M. DiDesidero blends Chickasaw tales with modern YA fantasy in Undrowned, a Percy Jackson-style adventure published by Chickasaw Press. A former teacher, biologist, and Peace Corps volunteer in Belize, DiDesidero has traveled the world and infuses her passion for intercultural understanding into her writing. She now lives in Florida with her family, and an ever-growing stack of books.
