What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:
1. *Annabelle is a middle-school student. She has a few close friends. She is a strong and successful swimmer on the middle-school swim team. She does struggle with some of her academics.
2. *As the school year comes to a close, Annabelle learns that she will need extra tutoring for her classes. She also finds out the high school swim team would like her to be a member.
3. *During the summer months, Annabelle navigates the "waters" both in and out of the pool.
4. *She has decisions to make about her middle-school life and the new life she is experiencing with the high school crowd.
5. *On a personal note, Annabelle is also dealing with a father that is absent and struggling to make sense of why he left, where he is now, and if he can be a part of her life now.
What I Thought Of the Novel - FIVE Observations/Reflections...
1. *As I mentioned, I was excited to get this ARC. I had read her novel Every Shiny Thing and truly enjoyed that story.
2. *Annabelle was an authentic and interesting character. I could feel her confusion between being a middle-school student and trying to fit in with the other high-school swimmers.
3. *The author did a wonderful job of describing Annabelle's relationships with the other characters in the novel. I was pleased that the "step-father" character was portrayed in a positive light.
4. *The themes of friendship, acceptance, and fitting in were well developed and handled with grace and dignity.
5. *It was also fun to read a novel about the sport of swimming since that is not a sport that is usually highlighted in middle-grade stories.
Who Should Read It: This would be the perfect novel for the middle-grade reader (grades 5-6). I know that middle-school readers would also enjoy Annabelle's story. If you know of a young female reader that is also a swimmer, you should put this book in her hands. Happy Reading!
Rating: 4 STARS out of 5 Stars!
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