Swim Team

 Christmas, Johnnie. Swim Team. Harper Alley Publishers. 2022.

Book Talk:

In this marvelous graphic novel, Bree and her father have moved to a new town.  She is looking forward to starting school at her new middle school, Enith Brigitha, home of the Mighty Manatees.  

Until - that fateful first day of school when Bree discovers that the only elective open to her is Swim 101. Bree is terrified of swimming and does not want her classmates to know that she doesn't know how to swim. But the day that Bree falls into the pool in her apartment complex and almost drowns... and is rescued by an elderly resident of the community named Etta becomes a turning point in Bree's life.

Etta was a swim team captain when she attended Enith Brigitha and she is determined to help Bree get over her fear of the water, learn how to swim, and participate in swim meets with the swim team. A rigorous training session helps Bree and Etta turn the team around.

As the Mighty Manatees become a swimming powerhouse, the question in everyone's mind is - will they be able to make it to States? And win?

My thoughts:

I think what struck me the most about this book was the history behind black children and swimming pools. Many black children find themselves denied access to swimming pools. In the past, it was segregation that kept the children out and now, it is economic segregation in that the pools are either priced too high or not located in neighborhoods where poor children can not access the pools and never learn how to swim or get over the fear of the water. Swim Team does a great job of exploring our history.

The plot of this story is so strong. I was rooting for Bree and the Manatees up until the very last page. I'm also a swimmer, and the author does an excellent job of capturing the work that goes into swimming, being part of a team, and participating in swim meets.  

*Keep an eye on this title. I think we're going to see it appear again on some award lists this winter.*

Five stars from me!

Author's Web Site: https://johnniechristmas.com/